If island communities are – figuratively and quite literally – extended families, then the Sunbeam V is that aunt from away whose whirlwind visits seem to create holidays. When the boat pulls into harbor on an icy February afternoon, word travels the length of the… Read More
Renowned psychologist and University of Maine graduate and benefactor Doris Twitchell Allen died Thursday morning in Virginia at age 100. While she was educated and considered a pioneer in the field of psychodrama, Allen, who in 1979 was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, also… Read More
BANGOR – Problems at Eastern Maine Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care unit have forced the transfer of up to 15 children to hospitals as far away as Rhode Island since January. The sickest children, who ordinarily might have been treated in the six-bed unit that… Read More
AUGUSTA – An economic stimulus bill passed by Congress this week could help thousands of out-of-work Mainers get extra unemployment benefits. But by accelerating certain business write-offs, the measure could cost Maine as much as $30 million in revenue this budget cycle. “We don’t have… Read More
A story about Brewer’s draft school budget published in the city edition of Friday’s Maine Day should have said that the increase from the current budget would be $595,000. The school committee and administrators are considering up to $500,000 in budget cuts. — googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
Maine consistently ranks high in voter turnout and that is a good thing. Voting is the single most important right that Americans have and Mainers show their respect for that right by exercising it time and again. Our armed forces lay their lives on the line protecting this… Read More
There have been a few letters to the editor regarding the outstanding work of the road crews in Bangor and the state. However, it seems that no one realizes the effort that the Brewer Public Works Department has put forth on the cleaning of streets and sidewalks after… Read More
A Bangor Daily News Feb. 27 headline read, “Tribes discuss $300 million casino plan.” What are we in Washington County – chopped liver? Does anyone think a casino will be more profitable in Kittery when it’s pretty much a stone’s throw to Foxwoods and the… Read More
I spent my entire career, following sea duty in World War II, in the Secretariat of the United Nations, rising in 31 years from the most junior professional level to that of Assistant Secretary-General. I mention this because the first time I met Sean Faircloth I was immediately… Read More
While the University of Maine has asked most units to cut their budget by 3.5 to 5 percent, it has proposed to cut its funding of its Children’s Center by 50 percent. Reducing its support to $125,000 would mean the end of the Children’s Center, which has served… Read More
In one of your earlier columns I questioned the wisdom of the Maine Bluce Cross and Blue Shield Insurance Co.’s decision to sell out to Anthem. At that time I contacted Maine’s insurance commissioner, but all I received in reply was an epistle from an underling that was… Read More
I would like to thank Michelle Thomas (BDN letter, Feb. 16-17) for speaking out on behalf of children and teen-agers. It’s true there are young people throughout Maine (and everywhere) who are willing to lend a hand, but the opportunity to is denied them. Many… Read More
Maine’s image as projected in the national news and entertainment industry is an ongoing source of aggravation. Whether the medium is a fluffy TV show about a mystery writer/sleuth or a serious news report, the depiction of Mainers as terminally quaint people who talk funny has grown beyond… Read More
Since the Superfund was created in 1980 in reaction to the Love Canal disaster, the law of the land regarding toxic waste has been “the polluter pays.” If the parties directly responsible for an environmental disaster could not be identified or could not pay for the cleanup, the… Read More
In regard to the Indian gaming casino idea, is the $100 million-a-year figure for the state a conservative or a far-fetched figure? Who knows? But it is still $100 million for the state. What could the state do with an extra $100 million? Here are… Read More
The extremely risk-averse “Precautionary Principle” quietly governs much policy and culture in Maine. The Precautionary Principle holds that actions to prevent or combat potentially irreversible or catastrophic risks should be undertaken, regardless of uncertainty of cause or cost. The Precautionary Principle came to America from… Read More
In the past week or two we have seen news reports stating that our jails are overcrowded and sooner or later we will need newer and larger facilities. As we have judges on the bench who are more concerned with convicting protection order violators for the heinous crime… Read More
Years ago I spent many hours at Rambling Meadow Brook between Pushaw Pond and the Penobscot River. With the old bicycle track and back fields of the state hospital to enjoy the outdoors, I was in heaven, but didn’t know it. To make this heaven… Read More
The March 2-3 story, “Province seeks policy on gas sales,” in the BDN business section should have warranted front-page coverage. It looks like an early nationalistic move by New Brunswick about “Canada gas for Canada first” that could ultimately affect Maine users of the Sable Island gas, caught… Read More
The Bangor Daily News urges us to give credit to two University of Maine researchers for looking at unintended consequences of growing genetically engineered corn. (“Corn warning,” March 1 editorial). These concerns had been repeatedly raised by food and environmental scientists and only received the attention they deserved… Read More
If Maine is “the way life should be” without a $300 million casino, then what will Maine life be like after a $300 million money-grabbing casino is built in Kittery? A venture such as this is a slap in the face to all the hard-working… Read More
Back in 1996, Congress was concerned about the explosive growth of legal gambling in the United States and so created the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. The commision was given $5 million and two years to conduct a thorough assessment of the attitudes, events and trends driving this… Read More
The Senate started debating the energy bill this week. I am asking all who are concerned about our dependence on oil, and concerned about the environment, to write encouraging letters to Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Thank them for working for a strong, comprehensive national energy policy… Read More
There is nothing quite like news of a preposterous lawsuit to feed the well-honed sense of the ludicrous that many readers apparently possess. That was obvious after last week’s recounting of the story about a fugitive from justice who had bolted into the woods at Mattawamkeag when authorities… Read More
PORTLAND – Operators of Amtrak’s Downeaster and the owner of 77 miles of track have reached an impasse on the issue of speed, sending the matter back to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. A day after the stalemate was reached, the Northern New England Passenger… Read More
Richard Larkin has put the screws to the power generators – literally. He helps build power plants, about 10 or 12 of them at a time, throughout the country. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
BANGOR – On a crisp winter morning, hundreds of jets zoom high over Bangor International Airport. Most of them continue on their way, their faint contrails crisscrossing the sky. But sometimes, a pilot dealing with a violent or abusive passenger has to make an unscheduled… Read More
DETROIT – Kmart Corp. will close 284 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico, cutting about 22,000 jobs, as part of its restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company announced Friday. No stores in Maine will be closed. The stores to be closed include 271… Read More
STONINGTON – A Finnish company known for its expertise in developing weather measurement equipment is eyeing the town of Stonington as a possible site for a lightning detection station. The station would be one in a nationwide network designed by the Vaisala corporation of Vantaa,… Read More
BANGOR – The regional brokerage firms of Tucker Anthony and RBC Dain Rauscher have merged to create the ninth-largest brokerage firm in the United States and Canada. Beginning Monday, the new company will operate under the name RBC Dain Rauscher. RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. is… Read More
NEWPORT – A man and woman were arrested and jailed Thursday, charged with running a prostitution business in Newport. Their downfall was their distribution throughout town of business cards advertising the service. One of the cards, saying that “Harley and Hog” could “fulfill your fantasies”… Read More
BRISTOL, R.I. – Francis E. Hamabe, a popular Maine artist of national reputation and an art instructor in the state for more than three decades, died March 2 at his home here after a brief illness. He was the husband of Phyllis (Green) Hamabe and… Read More
ST. AGATHA – The auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Portland is expected to deliver Bishop Joseph Gerry’s decision today regarding two local priests who have admitted abusing minors, to the parishioners at the four St. John Valley parishes where those priests serve, according to a diocesan spokeswoman. Read More
Teachers who have been using their own money to purchase classroom supplies will get some tax relief thanks to legislation authored by Sen. Susan Collins and approved by the U.S. Senate Friday. The tax benefit, part of an economic stimulus bill already approved by the… Read More
When I first spoke with Pat Jordan in late January, she had been searching more than a month for her beloved granddaughter who ran away from home without leaving a clue to her whereabouts. There was a weariness in Jordan’s voice as she recalled all… Read More
FORT KENT – Valmond Thibodeau, 81, is a World War II veteran who has been traveling to Veterans Administration medical clinics at Togus and Caribou for years. Thibodeau was in the military from 1942 to 1945 and gets treatment for arthritis, back problems and asthma. Read More
PORTLAND – A Portland police officer who fatally shot a suspected armed robber last month fired his gun only after the suspect pointed a gun at the officer’s face. Sgt. Gary Hutcheson said he instinctively raised his weapon and fired twice when John Dawson pointed… Read More
VEAZIE – A state firearms charge against a 30-year-old convicted felon has been sent to federal authorities for review after a search warrant uncovered drugs and several guns inside the man’s home. James M. Barriault has been charged with possession of firearms by a felon,… Read More
VEAZIE – A Holden man and State House hopeful was arrested this week after Veazie authorities alleged that he was intoxicated when he arrived at the town office to file nomination papers. John Burke II, 46, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under… Read More
Spelling champions were crowned in four counties recently, with the winners to represent their areas in the state contest sponsored by the Bangor Daily News on March 23 in Bangor. A pupil from All Saints Catholic School won the Penobscot County Spelling Bee on Tuesday. Samantha Jennenga was… Read More
BANGOR – The city of Bangor announced Friday it has completed the sale of $34 million in pension obligation bonds which is expected to save the city $8.2 million over the next 24 years. The bonds sold at a 6.49 percent interest compared to the… Read More
BANGOR – Bangor Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor an Easter egg hunt Saturday, March 30, at the Union Street Athletic Complex for children up to first grade. The hunt, open to prekindergarten children, will be held at 10 a.m. Children in kindergarten and first… Read More
KENDUSKEAG – The annual town meeting will be a two-day event and will be held at the Kenduskeag Town Office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, and at 7 p.m. Friday, March 29, at the Fire Station. Thursday’s events will consist of… Read More
PORTLAND – Part of Interstate 295 will close Sunday, March 10. Beginning at 6 a.m., both southbound lanes between the Forest Avenue and Congress Street interchanges will be closed twice for up to 20 minutes. A one-lane closure will be in effect at other times during the morning. Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Seal Cove man remained in jail Friday on drug charges after he reportedly was discovered carrying 29 packages of heroin. Robert Goodwin, 32, was arrested Thursday evening on High Street and charged with aggravated furnishing of a Schedule W drug, heroin. Goodwin… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Acadia Senior College has announced its schedule of free lectures for the spring semester. . Bob Kates of Trenton will speak on his visions for a humane and ecologically sound future in “A Grandparent’s Guide to the Times Ahead,” at 4:15 p.m. Read More
CRANBERRY ISLES – Coast Guard officials worked Friday to draft a plan for disposal of a 47-foot-long wooden fishing boat that ran aground near Great Cranberry Island earlier this week. The abandoned boat, estimated to be worth about $47,000, can’t be saved, Petty Officer Kyle… Read More
Midshipman John Driscoll, of Surry, is serving as regimental senior watch officer at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. In the student officer position, Driscoll is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the academy’s midshipman watch system, which provides 24-hour security to… Read More
BROOKSVILLE – The state’s Department of Environmental Protection will take care of the clean-up of fuel oil that spilled when thieves stole an oil tank from the local Grange hall. Since the spill was the result of vandalism, the department will do what needs to… Read More
CORINNA – Victor Frascone, 25, of Corinna allegedly has stabbed two men in less than two weeks, according to police. But police said both incidents, which occurred at Frascone’s Greenbush Road home, appear to be self-defense. The first incident occurred Feb. 22 when Sean McGeoghegan,… Read More
NEWPORT – The town of Newport has launched a search for a volunteer coordinator to spearhead a public library expansion fund-raising effort. “We are busting out of our bindings,” a recent announcement read, and librarian Lee McCartin says that anyone visiting the tiny building can see that’s the… Read More
DEXTER – The U.S. Department of Labor has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance for displaced workers from Dexter Shoe Co., Rep. John Baldacci announced Friday. TAA is available to workers displaced on or after Feb. 5. TAA benefits are designed to help workers make the transition… Read More
PITTSFIELD – After a series of home and vehicle break-ins this week, Pittsfield police are warning residents to lock their doors. Earlier this week, David Post of Spring Road came home to find that hundreds of compact discs, his television and other electronic equipment were… Read More
CARIBOU – A South Carolina truck driver who allegedly caused a fatal accident in January in Presque Isle and fled the scene was indicted Friday by the Aroostook County grand jury. Virgil Woods, 60, was headed south across the Aroostook River Bridge on Route 1… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Problems in securing health care coverage will be discussed at a public forum at the University of Maine at Presque Isle from 10 to 11:30 a.m. today in Pullen Hall, Room 111. This meeting, similar to the prescription drug forums held two… Read More
LINCOLN – Candidates night will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Mattanawcook Academy. Democratic and Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional District will participate in a question-and-answer forum. For more information call David Kirkpatrick at 794-6981. To receive the County Independent Newsletter… Read More
VERONA – Town officials from Verona and Bucksport will meet next week with state officials and local boaters to discuss improvements to the state boat ramp located on the Penobscot River in Verona. The public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19,… Read More
STOCKTON SPRINGS – A telephone call on Friday from a Waldo County sheriff’s deputy to a residence led to an invitation to a party. That hospitality was reciprocated, however, with several invitations to jail, according to law enforcement officials. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
OWLS HEAD – A group of residents who claim the town office staff failed to assist them in filing an appeal of a planning board decision is asking a court to intervene. Ken Wexler, Barbara Wexler, Nancy Fitzgerald, John Bisignano and Kathleen Allain filed suit… Read More
WINTERPORT – Eighth-grader Aaron Sarnacki of the Searsport Middle School was declared the Waldo County Spelling Bee champion Friday, after correctly spelling the word “cringing.” The 13-year old son of Pete and Connie Sarnacki of Searsport survived 11 rounds of competition to secure the first-place… Read More
ROCKLAND – No one was injured Friday morning in a collision between an SAD 40 school bus and a Jeep, Deputy Chief Wally Tower of the Rockland police reported. The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of South Main Street and Thomaston Street. Read More
ROCKPORT – Workers at the Midcoast Solid Waste facility and the Penobscot Bay YMCA on Union Street arrived on the job Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to find that equipment had been vandalized. Sgt. Paul Pinkham of the Rockport Police Department said Thursday that on Tuesday… Read More
NORTH HAVEN – The town of North Haven will receive a $175,500 grant and a $214,500 low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand the town’s water system, U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins have announced. This funding, awarded under… Read More
CAMDEN – The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce will hold the next Business Before Hours program, about supervising and managing employees, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, March 22, at the Lord Camden Inn. “Retain Employees & Improve Productivity; Manage Them!” will be facilitated by Karen… Read More
Steuben The annual town meeting takes place at 1 p.m. today at the Ella Lewis School gymnasium. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) {… Read More
GREENVILLE – A program of Management of Maine’s Public Lands will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14 in the all-purpose Room at Nickerson School. The presentation is sponsored by the natural Resource Education Center and will feature Marc Albert and Tom Charles of… Read More
AUGUSTA – Mercury emissions in Maine have been reduced by nearly 50 percent since 1992, but mercury continues to pose serious health and environmental risks, according to a new report prepared for the Legislature. Emissions from sources within the state totaled 1,467 pounds last year,… Read More
Thanks to the efforts of International Paper Co. of Bucksport, the Maine Leukemia Foundation and other individuals, people who want to be part of the National Marrow Donor Program can be placed in its registry to help save the life of another. On behalf of… Read More
GRAY – Maine State Police arrested a Standish man Friday in connection with the death of a Westbrook woman whose body was discovered near a gravel pit. Santanu Basu, 34, has been charged with murder in the death of 29-year-old Azita Jamshab, according to Stephen… Read More
CASCO – A Massachusetts man died Friday after falling through the ice on Sebago Lake, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department said. Karl Mattson, 60, of Foxboro, Mass., crashed through thin ice about 10 feet from shore around 10:30 a.m. Mattson had run out to help… Read More
PORTLAND – Nearly six months after the deadly terror attacks, the question of why the accused mastermind began that fateful day on a commuter flight at the city’s small airport remains unanswered. The FBI special agent in charge of the Boston field office has offered… Read More
PORTLAND – Maine’s warm winter has made for easy living among much of the state’s diverse wildlife. Some ducks are migrating northward several weeks early. Owls had little trouble foraging for prey. Bears slept through it all, and will wake up early from a short… Read More
Four people have been killed in Maine in separate accidents that occurred over the last three days. A truck driver was killed early Friday when his truck overturned on the Maine Turnpike. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
AUGUSTA – After much concern was raised last fall that the tradition of timber companies leasing camp lots on their land was coming to an end, a legislative committee this week endorsed modest measures to help ease leaseholders’ fears. By a vote of 9-4, the… Read More
BANGOR – Riffat Hassan is a Muslim woman and a feminist. The two concepts don’t meld in the minds of conservative Muslims in Asia, where she was born, or in America, where she has worked for the past 26 years. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
CARIBOU – Justice Allen Hunter on Friday took under advisement the case of a Fort Kent couple suing to stop snowmobiles from using the street they live on as a snowmobile trail. Justice Hunter heard 11 more witnesses Friday in Aroostook County Superior Court in… Read More
AUGUSTA – Undertakers across the state may have found a legislative solution to the problem of cremated remains that go unclaimed by family members. Currently, many funeral directors feel compelled to store the boxes of abandoned ashes indefinitely because Maine law does not address whether… Read More
AUGUSTA – Sgt. David R. McPherson of Maine State Police Troop F in Houlton was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was officially given command of the troop during ceremonies Friday morning at Maine State Police Headquarters. He replaces Lt. Barry W. Smith of… Read More
House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri came to New England on Friday to settle some Super Bowl bets, campaign, and talk about efforts to expand health insurance coverage. Gephardt said he made 40 to 50 bets with New Englanders that the heavily favored St. Read More
BANGOR – If you travel along State Street, you’ve probably seen her flowers. Regardless of the season, the glass doorway of Martha Estelle Robinson’s stately white home with yellow awnings across from Eastern Maine Medical Center always featured a fresh floral display. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
BANGOR – With neither team having any tournament experience to rely on from last season, Friday night’s Eastern Maine Class A boys basketball semifinal came down to execution and fundamentals. Despite committing nine turnovers in the fourth quarter, the Cony Rams of Augusta advanced to… Read More
BANGOR – The Mt. Blue boys basketball team didn’t travel to the Bangor Auditorium Friday night, as coach Jim Bessey said, to lose. The Cougars of Farmington came to win. Mt. Blue didn’t come out of the Eastern Maine Class A semifinal with a victory,… Read More
ORONO – University of Maine senior goalie Matt Yeats, who led the Black Bears to NCAA Tournament berths the last two seasons, hadn’t won a game since he played the second half of an overtime win over Brown University on Nov. 21. But he came… Read More
The University of Maine men’s basketball team may be on the verge of doing something remarkable today. Something unexpected. Something … historic. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
Over the course of a 29-game season, the University of Maine Black Bears found a way to defeat most of their America East men’s basketball foes. The only teams they failed to beat: Stony Brook (which was eliminated in the first round of the America… Read More
HIGH SCHOOL KVAC Class B Basketball All-Stars googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
COLLEGE At Anchorage googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
The Maine Sports Complex, a domed facility in Hampden with artificial Sprinturf, will officially open for business at 9 a.m. today. Several time slots have already been booked, but soccer and field hockey league registrations continue. League play will begin in a week. Those teams or individuals interested… Read More
Tickets for today’s 7 p.m. girls and 9 p.m. boys Eastern Maine Class A championship basketball games will be on sale in the Bangor Auditorium lobby from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $3 (student) and $5 (adults). Read More
EASTERN WOMEN’S LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL No. 4 Maine vs. No. 5 Providence College googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Maine vs. Boston University googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Unearned runs were the difference as Walsh University defeated Husson College 5-1 and Evangel University downed the Braves 2-0 in college baseball action Friday. In the first game, Doug Yoder’s grand slam in the top of the seventh inning snapped a… Read More
If you’re an outdoor sportsman living in central or northern Maine, I don’t need to explain the feelings and emotions known as winter doldrums, stir crazy, and cabin fever. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing offer the chance to exercise and commune with nature, albeit a very frigid style… Read More
Recently, I wrote about a navigation game people play called geocaching. Here’s my next lesson in familiarizing myself with the world of GPS. Afterward I’ll tell you about a book that explains the origins of one of the components of navigation. First, chapter two in… Read More
Ever go on vacation and come back more tired and stressed out than when you left? Sometimes taking the family to Disney World and all the other theme parks in Florida can really wear on you. My son is grown today and the treks through the parks are… Read More
The trail conditions are gathered from the Maine Snowmobile Association’s Web site. The complete report is available at mesnow.com Overview googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length;… Read More
Although I am excited about the return of spring with its vanguard of long-distance migrants, after seven Maine winters I find myself longing for something more. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve come to appreciate the subtlety of spring in this state. But because it will… Read More
The creatures of the sea icome in all shapes and sizes, and Bill Curtsinger has been eyeball to eyeball with many of them. Curtsinger is a renowned underwater photographer. His work can be found in leading natural history and environmental publications the world over. He… Read More
They have taken you every single place you have been. They have taken you up the mountain on hikes and down the mountain skiing. They have danced for hours while you made a fool of yourself. But your feet are always right there, without complaint, every time you… Read More
Ah, March. The days are getting longer. The snow has melted (though it will probably come back). And while the weather doesn’t feel much warmer, the deals are really heating up. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More