WASHINGTON – At times through tears, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., testified last week at a hearing on youth suicide, a subject that resonates in Maine, where a worrisome number of young people have taken their own lives in recent years. Garrett Smith, the Oregon senator’s… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Borrowing on an infamous maneuver adopted by the Legislature in 1993, Gov. John E. Baldacci wants the state to sell one of its bridges and a building to itself in order to make $11.4 million to help balance his $160 million supplemental budget request. Read More
    In a NEWS story that appeared in a “Notebook” column in Friday’s Sports section, the prices that were quoted for sculptures by artist Forest Hart were inaccurate. Larger pieces typically sell for significantly more than the quoted price, according to Hart, while smaller pieces cost less than the… Read More
    BOSTON – A New Bedford-based fishing vessel illegally caught hundreds of lobsters, then removed the eggs from about half the females so they could be sold, the Coast Guard said Monday. Coast Guard officials said the seizure Sunday was among their most significant in recent… Read More
    CONCORD, N.H. – State Labor Commissioner James Casey tried Monday to salvage a bill that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $6 an hour, saying an increase is “the right thing to do, the compassionate thing to do.” New Hampshire’s minimum is now $5.15… Read More
    WASHINGTON – Bank of America and FleetBoston Financial Corp. won approval from the Federal Reserve on Monday for a merger creating the third-largest U.S. bank, a behemoth holding nearly $1 trillion in assets and stretching from California through the South and up to New England. Read More
    Last week a NAFTA panel agreed with the U.S. Department of Commerce that there was significant dumping of Canadian softwood lumber in the United States. “This NAFTA decision is another important victory for U.S. sawmills, millworkers, and landowners,” said W.J. Wood, chairman of the coalition… Read More
    Joseph Murphy, president and CEO of Bar Harbor Bankshares, has announced a restructuring of the company’s financial services subsidiary, BTI Financial Group, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Bar Harbor Trust Services, Block Capital Management and Dirigo Investments. “One of the principal goals underlying the restructuring… Read More
    Windsor Chairmaker Inc. in Ellsworth has added a new facet to its business by acquiring a line of handblown glass and pottery from Simon Pearce, owner Marc Blanchette announced recently. “My customers kept asking for a more formal but yet period interior accent piece to… Read More
    John F. Dionne should be more careful what he wishes for regarding a new north-south highway (“Disturbing highway news from Houlton,” BDN op-ed March 1). One only needs to look at the communities along the Interstate 95 corridor from Old Town to Houlton to realize that something negative… Read More
    On Feb. 2, the Bangor Daily News published an editorial on tax standings and on Feb. 23, in a BDN article by Mal Leary, heavy taxes on business were discussed by Christopher St. John, executive director of the Augusta-based Maine Center for Economic Policy, Dana Connors, president of… Read More
    It is no secret that Maine is losing jobs. Of the latest, we lost Great Northern in the Millinockets, then a shoe company in Wilton, and then another manufacturing plant in Westbrook. Now we appear to have lost Lincoln Pulp and Paper and its sister company, Eastern Fine. Read More
    One essential point has been missing so far from the discussion of Mel Gibson’s new film, “The Passion of the Christ” (BDN, Feb. 28-29) – its superfluousness. We already have a Passion for the ages in J.S. Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” (1727), which pairs the… Read More
    It was shocking to hear Gov. Baldacci’s cruel plan to eliminate a host of services, including Speech Therapy and Audiology, for adult Medicaid recipients. Clearly, little thought has been given to the consequences. An adult who may have a stroke or other disease may require… Read More
    However transitional, temporary or interim, the Iraqi constitution signed yesterday was a triumph of the rule of law over tyranny. Many Americans will dislike the means used to arrive at this historic point, others will object to provisions within the constitution itself. But the expressed desire of a… Read More
    Today’s headlines about wars and job losses got you riled up? Angry at the kids for leaving their toys scattered across the living room floor? Hopping mad because your favorite team lost again? Calm down and take it easy – it could save your life. Read More
    This fall, I was fortunate to be a member of the Presiding Officers’ Task Force on Creating a Future for Maine’s Youth. As a group, we developed recommendations to make Maine more attractive to youth and provide them with incentives to make their choice to live and work… Read More
    I have admired Ralph Nader for many years. I met him in 1976 while working as an assistant editor of The Progressive magazine. In the summer of 2000 my wife and I discussed his candidacy with him and subsequently contributed to his campaign. Mainstream Democrats… Read More
    PORTLAND – The sale of bankrupt Eastern Pulp and Paper Corp. now hinges on a private meeting this morning between the state Department of Environmental Protection and the prospective buyer, Paper Acquisition Corp. of Topsfield, Mass. Paper Acquisition set a self-imposed deadline of today to… Read More
    By rethinking the very definition of trash, the Brewer City Council may have hit on something that not only is fiscally farsighted but ingenious as well. In case you didn’t catch the story in last weekend’s paper, Brewer is facing a dilemma that is common… Read More
    MILBRIDGE – Sonjia Stanley of Milbridge attended the National Young Leaders Conference Feb. 17-22 in Washington, D.C. This leadership development program invites high school students who have shown scholastic merit, community involvement and leadership to spend time with today’s leaders. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    RIPLEY – It took some convincing Saturday to get three residents to agree to serve on the Ripley Board of Selectmen. Several people, including the three former board members, were nominated for the position during the annual town meeting but declined the invitation, according to… Read More
    LINCOLN – More than 50 local businesses will showcase their goods and services during a trade show and community fair from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at Mattanawcook Academy. Sponsored by the Lincoln Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, the show will include… Read More
    NEWPORT – Michael Burrell, who lost last Friday’s SAD 48 board of directors election by only three votes, decided Monday to call off his demand for a recount. Burrell said he was originally concerned by the large percentage of absentee ballots – 10 percent of… Read More
    ROCKLAND – Domestic partners of city employees will get a second chance at participating in the city’s health benefits plan, now that councilors have again approved the measure in first reading. In January, city councilors gave an initial nod to offering medical coverage for domestic… Read More
    ROCKPORT – Selectmen committed to a three-phase plan Monday night to bring property tax assessments in line with the escalating real estate sales seen in parts of town in recent years. Over the past year, the town has struggled to come up with an assessment… Read More
    Machias District Court Cases Nov. 1-30, 2003 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… Read More
    OWLS HEAD – A unit in a waterfront condominium was significantly damaged by fire Monday. The fire was blamed on an electric baseboard heater. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
    CARIBOU – Three $1,200 scholarships are available to Maine women through the BPW-Maine Futurama Foundation Scholarship Program. The Rachel E. Lemieux Youth Scholarship is awarded to a female high school senior or recent graduate who will attend college beginning in fall 2004. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – Mountain climbing is the topic for the next Adventure Presentation at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. At the presentation, UMPI President Nancy Hensel and freelance journalist Julia Bayly of Fort Kent will show their photographs and talk about their climb… Read More
    CAMDEN – The committee for the 10th annual Mid-Coast Maine Soap Box Derby on June 26 is accepting registrations. Participants must be between ages 8 and 17. The committee also is looking for businesses or individuals interested in getting involved. Jim Curtis of Mid-Coast Maine… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – A Presque Isle man remained hospitalized in good condition Monday at The Aroostook Medical Center after his vehicle rolled over him earlier in the day. Paul Larochelle, 59, of Presque Isle was trying to regain control of his vehicle in the KeyBank… Read More
    The Maine Department of Transportation is holding a public meeting noon-2 p.m. today at the Brewer Auditorium to hear what the public thinks about four alternative transportation selections for travel between Brewer and Trenton. The purpose of the Bangor to Trenton Transportation Alternatives Study is… Read More
    MILFORD – Anita Peavey-Haskell, R-Milford and Greenbush, is seeking the District 30 seat in the Maine State Senate. Haskell wants to change the state’s tax policies to try to keep businesses in Maine. She is a small-business owner and holds a master’s degree in education… Read More
    BANGOR – Early detection on the part of a tenant and quick response by the Bangor Fire Department averted what could have been much worse damage after fire struck a 171-year-old structure Sunday morning in the heart of the city’s historic downtown. According to Paul… Read More
    ABBOT – Municipal officials hope to convince SAD 4 directors tonight to embrace a fairer method of taxation for education. At a special meeting Monday, 29 of the 41 residents in attendance voted to support the creation of a new funding formula calculated on a… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – He told Piscataquis County commissioners that he would give them five years and his time is up. Robert Wilson tendered his resignation as Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency director effective June 1. His wife, Donna, who serves as his administrative assistant, also will… Read More
    NEWPORT – Nokomis Regional High School’s 177-member senior class got a living civics lesson Monday morning when they were able to ask the superintendent of schools questions about the current budget process. Voters in the six-town SAD 48 will decide a $16.8 million proposed budget… Read More
    ORRINGTON – The town’s selectmen agreed Monday to increase the Public Works projects budget by $95,000 to a total of $250,000 during the second review of the community’s fiscal year 2004-05 proposed budget. The original proposal for the road construction portion of the Public Works… Read More
    MILLINOCKET – The U.S. Air Force has selected Brims Ness Corp. for a $100,000 contract to develop a continuous monitor for arsenic concentrations in the municipal water system at Edwards Air Force Base near Fresno, Calif. The company, which has an office in Millinocket, develops… Read More
    CAMBRIDGE – Residents on Saturday soundly defeated a move to return to the red telephone system for emergency calls. A resident concerned with the delivery of 911 services from Somerset County proposed the move. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
    Hampden police summoned a Burnham woman and a juvenile from Bucksport on Sunday afternoon after they allegedly drove out of Dysart’s Travel Stop without paying for $18 worth of gas. Officer Ruth Duquette said that at about 5 p.m. a clerk at the truck stop… Read More
    BUCKSPORT – As part of its economic development efforts, the town is planning to develop an open-air market just off Main Street this summer. Economic Development Director David Milan is preparing to send out invitations to potential vendors to attend a planning meeting at 7… Read More
    THOMASTON – Injured Cianbro worker Nicholas Wark of Plymouth got good news from his doctors to help celebrate his 23rd birthday Monday. Wark fell 52 feet into a space between a cluster of silos Feb. 26 at Dragon Products’ cement plant on Route 1 while… Read More
    TRENTON – After years of preliminary and costly research, numerous residents told state transportation officials Monday they don’t like the idea of a regional bus facility in their town. The proposed facility is being planned by the Maine Department of Transportation to reduce the thick… Read More
    ROCKPORT – About 100 midcoast businesses will display their goods and services at the 11th annual Business Showcase from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at the Samoset Resort. The event will offer the following showcases: googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
    BANGOR – The Space Explorers Summer Camp to be held at the new Challenger Learning Center in Bangor still has slots available for June and July. Sessions are planned for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 21-26 and July 12-16 for pupils going into grades four and… Read More
    BLUE HILL – Blue Hill Memorial Hospital’s Community Health Education Services is providing a monthly CPR class for people requiring certification. The class will be held 5:30-9:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, in the Inservice Room at the hospital. There is a $30 fee for… Read More
    ELLSWORTH – The Next Step Domestic Violence Project of Hancock County will offer free volunteer advocate training to answer its hot line or serve as court advocates, at 63 Foster St. For information, call 667-0176 by April 2. Read More
    CRANBERRY ISLES – Annual town meeting voters took a historic step Monday when they approved forming the town’s first municipal fire department. “They really bit the bullet,” First Selectman Richard Beal said after the vote. “This was a major decision.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
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    SEDGWICK – By more than a 2-1 vote, residents on Saturday approved a six-month moratorium on subdivisions in town. The measure was proposed by the town’s planning board which, anticipating an increase in the number and size of proposed subdivisions, wanted time to review existing… Read More
    Glenburn residents Chris and Karen Ellis are looking forward to a very special event that is being planned by his parents for this weekend in his hometown. Bruce and Claire Ellis of Jackman are hosting a benefit spaghetti dinner for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 5-7… Read More
    PORTLAND – Officials say the $600,000 settlement of a lawsuit brought by a former resident of the Maine Youth Center likely will bring more changes to Maine’s juvenile corrections system. The case already has led to the removal of two high-ranking employees of the South… Read More
    NEWRY – A Maine man wanted in connection with a New Hampshire bank robbery was arrested Monday at the Sunday River ski resort, officials said. Peter Lee Robbins, 26, of Kittery was taken into custody in the parking lot of the ski resort’s Grand Summit… Read More
    Let’s be frank about why reality TV works for executives in that industry. No costs for talent or writers. Just rough out a scenario, and turn loose some money-grubbing real folk. It’s kinda like improv, only without the talent to pull it off successfully. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    Teddi-Jann Covell of Orono and her son Darren, a member of Boy Scout troop 478, are all tied up in knots – polar fleece knots, that is. Covell, an air traffic controller, crafted a scarf, blanket and pillow from the material. She helped her son’s Boy Scout troop… Read More
    No way am I paying more for a vehicle than for our first house. Call it a matter of principle, but a roof over my head, Sheetrocked walls and formerly fashionable shag carpeting surely have more combined value than do V6 engines, trailer tows and seating – heated… Read More
    SESTRIERE, Italy – Brandishing a go-for-broke style that sometimes gets him in trouble on the slopes, Bode Miller can become the first U.S. man since 1983 to win the overall World Cup title. Asked about it, he lifts his head, squints and offers a derisive… Read More
    Four skiers will represent the Maine Winter Sports Center and Aroostook County at the Junior Olympics for cross country skiing this week in Lake Placid, N.Y. Chelsae Jarvis, Heather Zimmerman and Annalise Cook will accompany Junior Olympic veteran Russell Currier at the event for high… Read More
    SHERBROOKE, Quebec – Kate Dickinson, a University of Maine-Farmington freshman, led the Maine Racewalkers to victory over the Quebec, Canada Provincial walkers with her 3,000-meter winning time of 15 minutes, 16.84 seconds here on Saturday night. She was followed by Mt. Blue of Farmington junior Carly Lochala (15:28.08). Read More
    COLLEGE Meghan Gillis 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 =… Read More
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    Criticism of Calvary players if baffling I am a former coach at a private Catholic school in Waterville. Before every game my players and I prayed for good sportsmanship, no injuries, and that they would play to the best of their ability. At the end… Read More
    FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kahler Dowling gave up five hits and one earned run while allowing no walks and striking out nine to lead St. Joseph’s College of Standish to a 2-1 softball win over Eastern Nazarene in its second game Monday. U.S. Merchant Marine defeated the Monks… Read More