CARIBOU – Philip Berube of Madawaska sat quietly next to his attorney in Aroostook County Superior Court on Wednesday morning listening intently to legal arguments. His attorney and an assistant attorney general were debating a motion by the state to dismiss Berube’s medical malpractice lawsuit,… Read More
WASHINGTON – That refreshing breath of sea air may do more than raise the spirits. The world’s oceans could be helping to clean the atmosphere, according to a study that says salty sea spray encourages rain that washes out dust and other pollutants. “We have… Read More
AUGUSTA – Members of the Baldacci for Governor Campaign could scarcely believe it. Even as all four candidates for governor stood shoulder-to-shoulder Wednesday in the State House Hall of Flags and pledged allegiance to the Maine Code of Election Ethics, many prominent Republicans were opening… Read More
Hunters are already filling bait buckets with bruin delicacies – rancid meat, stale pastries and even chocolates – in hopes of luring a black bear into shotgun range when bear-hunting season begins Aug. 26. They’ll need to work hard to attract the bears this year,… Read More
GORHAM, N.H. – Idle millworkers whose unemployment benefits run out next week have received some good news. The state has worked out a plan for them to receive reduced benefits until they are recalled. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
WELLS – Many of the estimated 500 people at a state environmental hearing Wednesday reacted angrily to proposed new restrictions on development along coastal sand dunes. The rules proposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection would make it harder for beachfront property owners to… Read More
Following are petitions for bankruptcy filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Bangor: Eric Shorey, supervisor, five dependents, Gardiner: assets, $5,300; liabilities, $45,401. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
Legislative leaders have reason to work quickly to close the current budget gap – public employees and the people they serve need to know how much funding will be available for services and where the money will be spent. But the shortest path between the governor’s proposal for… Read More
A little-known United Nations agency has gotten caught in a political fight, and overburdened women of the world are the ultimate losers. The Bush administration has reversed course and cut off $34 million it had earlier approved for birth control in 142 countries. It cited a 1985 law… Read More
I had the best summer vacation ever! When we drove to Grandma’s we watched videos on the TV in the car. I watched TV all day long. Some of them actually went camping and took family day trips, but it still disturbs me to hear what they seem… Read More
For 10 years the US-CUBA Friendshipment caravans have been taking humanitarian donations to Cuba in violation of U.S. government regulations. The two of us were at Hidalgo, at the Texas-Mexican border, on July 18 this year when the 13th Friendshipment rolled up to the U.S. Customs station there. Read More
Twenty five years ago today, “The King” was found dead, shocking millions of his fans around the world. Bruce Nye remembers where he was when he heard Elvis Presley had died on Aug. 16, 1977. “We were living in Blue Hill, and I heard it… Read More
AUGUSTA – Eight new fires were reported yesterday in Bingham, Standish, Burlington, Greenville, Lebanon and Ogunquit. Although all fires were contained fairly quickly, the risk of out-of-control fires is great. “Fire danger levels have risen considerably over the past two weeks, as intense heat and… Read More
SANGERVILLE – A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from Portland on Thursday viewed the wreckage of a small airplane that crashed into some trees Wednesday evening off Frenchs Mill Road. Jack Bastian of Haddonfield, N.J., walked away from the crash with lacerations. He was taken by… Read More
PORTLAND – Bishop Joseph Gerry emerged after a day of prayer and fasting to lead Maine’s Roman Catholics in prayer Thursday for people who have been sexually abused by priests and church leaders. Gerry, addressing the issue directly three times during the Mass, told 400… Read More
CASTINE – Joseph Sewall wouldn’t have mapped out his life any differently, except for one thing. “I wouldn’t have smoked,” said Sewall, the 80-year-old chairman of the James W. Sewall Co., an Old Town engineering, mapping and timberlands management firm. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
ORONO – Helping to launch the world’s first school laptop program in Melbourne, Australia, 13 years ago, teacher Steve Costa knew exactly what his first order of business would be. “We had to get parents on our side. Otherwise, as soon as we mucked up,… Read More
AUGUSTA – With control of the Maine Senate up for grabs, the spirit of unity characterizing the upper house of the Legislature for the last two years officially disappeared Thursday in a partisan puff of smoke over the State House. The source of the political… Read More
A transient man denied assaulting his estranged wife early Thursday morning but admitted to preventing her from calling police and to blocking the door to stop her from leaving her apartment. The woman eventually escaped her Main Street apartment and went to the police station… Read More
HOULTON – Police on Thursday were investigating the theft overnight of a puppy from the Houlton Animal Shelter on Callaghan Road. The 2-month-old black male mixed-breed dog closely resembles a purebred German shepherd, according to Officer Mark Ganzel, who is investigating the incident. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
HOULTON – Houlton would probably be one of the last places fictional British secret agent James Bond would visit on one of his global adventures. No matter. If he were looking to buy a new Walther PPK, his preferred weapon of choice, there’s a good… Read More
FRENCHVILLE – SAD 33 has created yet another committee to look into the local property tax cost-sharing ratio of the two towns in the district. St. Agatha raised the issue, claiming it is paying nearly twice as much to educate each child than Frenchville. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
CLINTON – The Clinton Lions Club has announced that exhibitors and parade participants are needed for the annual Lions Club Agricultural Fair held Sept. 5 through 8. Cooking, canning, hanging plants, sewing, arts and crafts and photography and paintings are welcome for entry. There will… Read More
SOUTHWEST HARBOR – The planning board Thursday approved the first of several phases of the Cranberry Isles’ proposed pier and parking complex, approving a parking lot for 139 vehicles and a 24-foot access road. The board approved the application unanimously, although they agreed they would… Read More
FRANKLIN – A store that burned to the ground six weeks ago after an apparent lightning strike has reopened in a temporary structure and may have a permanent home next month. Tim Benson of Dedham, who owns the store with his wife, Catrina Benson, said… Read More
There were no problems Thursday as Canadian lobstermen moved into a disputed fishing area off Grand Manan and began setting their traps alongside Maine fishermen, according to the Maine Marine Patrol. Lt. Alan Talbot said there was a thick fog as approximately five Canadian fishing… Read More
CALAIS – To help dedicate a new fine arts studio of the Unobskey School at University College, members of the Unobskey family will be on hand at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16. The family, whose members are from as far away as Israel, donated the… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Maine Audubon Society is seeking increased community financial support for the facilities and programs at its Borestone Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. Joseph Spaulding, manager of the sanctuary, and Ginger Jones, director of development at Maine Audubon, told about 50 members of the Sebec… Read More
UNION – The 133rd Union Fair opens Sunday for a weeklong agricultural extravaganza blended with the 43rd annual Maine Wild Blueberry Festival. This year the blueberry festival portion of the attraction has been expanded to include the Wild Blueberry Acres Tent, which will feature demonstrations… Read More
BELFAST – Seven years in the making, a sweeping tale of Belfast in the 20th century has finally been published. When paired with a long-published sweeping tale of Belfast in the 18th and 19th centuries, the volumes represent a 2,200-page chronicle of a community known… Read More
NORTHPORT – It appears that residents of Bayside will soon be rid of the arsenic-contaminated well water that has plagued them for years. Residents attending this week’s annual meeting of the Northport Village Corp. voted overwhelmingly to borrow up to $500,000 to extend water mains… Read More
ORONO – A reward is being offered for information regarding the person responsible for sexually assaulting a female horse at a UM research farm last week. “Through private funds, the University of Maine is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification and… Read More
Your participation in the H.O.M.E. Inc. annual Craft and Farm Fair Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18, in Orland, means more than you can imagine. “As you recall, we sustained a pretty bad fire here,” Sister Marie Ahern said of a fire at the… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – A lighthouse at the entrance to Portland Harbor is shining again after a 60-year hiatus. About 200 people gathered Wednesday to witness the relighting of the 1875 lighthouse formally known as Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. It’s known as Bug Light to local residents. Read More
AUBURN – Fans hoping to sing along with the “Sound of Music” discovered that the practice, which is becoming popular across the country, is not one of the copyright lawyer’s “favorite things.” Once pitched as a singalong, a Tuesday rehearsal for a local production of… Read More
PORTLAND – Pressing the issue of corporate responsibility, Democratic Senate candidate Chellie Pingree on Thursday called for a national “taxpayer right-to-know” law. To symbolize her proposal, Pingree announced her plan at a supporter’s home on Wall Street, a residential street in Maine’s largest city. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
The condition of a Sullivan boy injured in an accident last month at a University of Maine aquaculture facility in Franklin has improved, according to a hospital official. George Schaefer, 16, was in fair condition Thursday afternoon at Children’s Hospital in Boston, a public affairs… Read More
OLD TOWN – The Penobscot County Master Gardeners announced its first annual Garden Gathering: A Harvest of Fertile Ideas will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Rogers Farm Demonstration Gardens. The event will feature workshops for gardeners, speakers,… Read More
WATERVILLE – An Oakland cabdriver died Thursday morning after her taxi slammed into the rear of a dual-wheel utility truck, police said. Janet Rackleff, 47, was driving south on College Avenue when she hit the Maingas truck driven by 39-year-old Edward McCausland of North Vassalboro,… Read More
BANGOR – South Bend, Ind., could have packed it in Thursday, the final day of round robin play at the Senior League Baseball World Series. The U.S. Central Region champs trailed Manila, Philippines, 8-1 in the sixth inning and appeared destined for defeat. Instead, the… Read More
PORTLAND – Sometimes, many golfers will say, it’s better to be lucky than good. Bob Darling Jr. of Lewiston was both on Thursday during the second round of the 84th Charlie’s Maine Open Golf Championship at Riverside Municipal Golf Course. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
BANGOR – For four days, the Bangor Senior League team played the role of perfect tournament hosts. They told fellow World Series competitors where to find the bathroom. They acted as tour guides on an off-day trip to Acadia National Park. And they “politely” lost… Read More
One age-old saying would have you believe that “those who can, do … and those who can’t, teach.” On Saturday, three Belfast-area coaches (and athletes) showed that in their cases, those who teach, can. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Series Notebook BANGOR – The Senior League Baseball World Series is supposed to be something the participants will remember for the rest of their lives. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
BANGOR – The members of the Curacao Senior League baseball team realize that if they don’t play good defense and get good pitching, they’re in trouble. Curacao committed 11 errors combined in its first two Senior League Baseball World Series games, but still went into… Read More
BANGOR – As the Boynton Beach, Fla., all-stars took the field to take on Russia in each team’s final game of round-robin pool play on Thursday, the tie-breaking equation at work at the Senior League World Series had made their title hopes crystal clear. Win… Read More
Do you live in Maine? Do you care about music? Then you have probably been guilty of complaining about how few world-class performers brave the back roads north of Boston to bring their magic our way. I know I have. And yet, when a band… Read More
It takes a man with a big nose for theater to put on a production of “Cyrano de Bergerac” with a group of nonprofessional actors, some of whom are barely out of preschool while others are long into retirement. But at a recent rehearsal of the swashbuckling play,… Read More
Sherman Holmes laughs. A lot. He laughs like he talks, in a wise, raspy and resonant tone. Each burst at the end of his laid-back sentences is a song unto itself. That same voice along with those of Wendell Holmes and Willie “Popsy” Dixon will… Read More
In theaters LOVELY AND AMAZING, written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, 91 minutes, Rated R. Starts tonight, Railroad Square Cinema, Waterville. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More