BELFAST – Rick Jenness vividly remembers the last time the Red Sox were in the World Series and how his dreams for a championship trickled away on a ground ball through the legs of Bill Buckner. Jenness didn’t smash the furniture in his Belfast home… Read More
MILBRIDGE – A few of the attractions of this coastal village are readily apparent on a quick autumn drive-through: lobster boats motionless at their moorings, a quirky but up-to-date movie theater, crimson leaves drifting from the maples along Main Street, and open, ledgey blueberry barrens all around. Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – A Catholic priest has resigned as head of two South Portland churches after a church investigation into his association with a man now serving a prison term for sexual abuse of a minor. The Rev. Paul Coughlin, 69, was asked to resign… Read More
Nyer Medical Group Inc. BANGOR – Nyer Medical Group Inc. (Nasdaq: NYER) on Thursday reported revenues from continuing operations increased 8.3 percent to $61.7 million for fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, as compared to $57 million as reported for the same period ended June… Read More
For 26 years, Northeast COMBAT has responded to consumer problems received at the Bangor Daily News. By our reckoning, this is the 1,500th column COMBAT volunteers have written since “Consumer Forum” first appeared in June 1978. Over the years, Forum readers keep asking the same… Read More
Bob Fisk, spokesman for Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting, is wrong when he claims that no one in Maine has been seriously injured by a bear. In May 1991, Bernard Dube of Argyle was attacked while fishing. As he ran the bear pulled him… Read More
The 2nd Congressional District has the luxury of two strong candidates running for the House this year, incumbent Rep. Mike Michaud and president of the Loring Development Authority, Brian Hamel. Both provide solid arguments for the district to send them to Washington, but Rep. Michaud, completing his first… Read More
During his four terms representing Maine’s 1st Congressional District, Tom Allen has demonstrated the ability to stick with an issue and to bring about small changes when giant steps fail. He has been tireless in his determination to make prescription drugs more affordable and to clean up the… Read More
It is interesting to see all the complaining by town, city and state officials about the supposed consequences of passing the Palesky tax cap. To hear them tell it, passing the tax cap will put the state and towns out of business. Seems like they… Read More
I heard on the radio that the Canadian health administrator is offering flu vaccine if the country has any left over from their vaccinations. I heard the reply from our health administrator was that these medications cannot be approved by our Food and Drug Administration in time because… Read More
Why would a 77-year-old life-long Republican, who cast his first presidential vote for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, vote for Sen. John Kerry for president? There are many reasons, all of them important, but there is one overarching reason. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
There is a wide-scale misunderstanding on President Bush’s handling of stem cell research. Many appear to believe he is limiting it. They have not been educated on the following items: googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those others that have been tried from time to time.” Winston Churchill’s immortal words are more fitting than ever as we approach one of… Read More
As you read this column significant numbers of foreign students around the world who dreamed of studying in the United States will have their student visa applications rejected by U.S. embassies and consulates. Others will be advised to “go elsewhere” by embassy or consular officials. Read More
Chris Hall, a senator from southern, coastal Maine, recently offered the opinion that his section of Maine is being overtaxed to subsidize northern Maine. Hall even suggested that the solution to the state’s tax problems is to find ways to do less for our part of Maine. Richard… Read More
Those poor people! They little know what they will have to face.” So lamented an anguished Winston Churchill as he witnessed his reveling fellow citizens, unaware of pending disasters, at the time of the Munich Crisis in 1938. It was an age when the British government was pursuing… Read More
AUGUSTA – In its nationwide rating of states’ efforts to implement welfare changes under a 1996 federal reform law, the conservative Washington-based Cato Institute has given Maine an F. State officials and a representative of a Maine-based think tank, however, dismissed the ranking, countering that… Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine fills only three political offices by statewide vote, but this year – by quirk of the electoral calendar – none of the occupants is listed on a ballot. U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Republicans, are at stages of midterm. Read More
BANGOR – With fewer than two weeks to go before Maine voters decide the fate of a controversial tax cap proposal, about 20 volunteers launched a signature-gathering effort Saturday in support of what they called a better alternative. The initiative, called The Taxpayer Bill of… Read More
ELLSWORTH – President Bush might have marshaled more international support for the invasion of Iraq had he relied on his father’s United Nation’s resolution against Saddam Hussein rather than seeking and failing to get a new one, a former U.N. ambassador said Saturday. Thomas Pickering,… Read More
The obligatory October campaign swing through the northeastern part of the 1st Congressional District included the typical stops – visits to an elementary school in Boothbay Harbor and a Camden nursing home, meetings with two newspaper editorial boards in Rockland and Camden. Rep. Tom Allen,… Read More
BANGOR – While voters across Maine are thinking about who the next president should be and whether to support a statewide tax cap or bear baiting, Bangor residents will find a purely local issue on their Nov. 2 city ballots. Whether the city should build… Read More
HUDSON, N.H. – Janice Pack is bundling up these days – her thermostat set at 60 degrees – to keep up with rising fuel oil costs. “I need to make this tank of oil last as long as I can,” she said. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Hotel developer Thomas Walsh has admitted using one of his properties without a legal permit and agreed to pay the town $60,000 to settle the land use violation, according to a tentative consent agreement signed late Friday by members of the Town Council. Read More
HAMPDEN – A forum to meet the candidates running for seats in state Senate District 33 and state House District 39 will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at the Reeds Brook Middle School. Read More
WASHINGTON – The Aroostook Home Care Agency will receive a total of $264,448 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine program to assist in medical technology development, according to U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Aroostook Home Care… Read More
VAN BUREN – The Van Buren District Secondary School will hold its first quarter open house from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Nov. 12 for grades 7 through 12. Parents will be able to talk to teachers about how their children are doing and pick… Read More
FORT KENT – Registration for the Fort Kent Recreation and Parks Department’s Girls Basketball League for grades 4, 5 and 6 has begun. Registration fee is $12 for residents of Fort Kent and $17 for nonresidents and includes a team shirt. Registration forms may be… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Tickets for the Shipmates Playhouse annual fall musical at Presque Isle High School will go on sale Oct. 28. This year’s production, “Footloose,” will open Nov. 11, followed by performances on Nov. 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. All shows start at… Read More
VAN BUREN – Sen. Olympia Snowe has urged the commissioner of the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Protection to consider a petition that would allow a commercial port of entry in this Aroostook County town. Commercial haulers without a permit to cross at Van… Read More
AUGUSTA – More than 400 schools will take part in Maine’s Student Mock Election on Tuesday, Oct. 26, according to Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky. The event is part of the National Student/Parent Mock Election, a nonpartisan democracy education project that provides students in… Read More
An Indian Island man with a history of domestic violence was charged with terrorizing his ex-girlfriend Saturday night. When Alan Francis, 41, had visited his ex-girlfriend’s trailer uninvited, her juvenile son called the police saying he and his mother wanted Francis to leave. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
LAMOINE – Town voters will be asked next week to authorize selectmen to borrow $350,000 to buy 30 acres of prime real estate for future town uses. But a number of residents who attended a public hearing on the ballot question last week said many… Read More
Dover-Foxcroft District Court Cases Sept. 24-Oct. 18, 2004 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 () { //… Read More
SULLIVAN – Two 8-year-old girls were so good at playing hide-and-seek Saturday it took 13 wardens and state troopers to find them. The two friends spent about eight hours in a thickly wooded area on Thorn Road, hunkered down in a hollow, after stepping too… Read More
BANGOR – The coalition for Environmentally Safe Communities will hold a town meeting on lead poisoning from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Bangor City Hall. The event is co-sponsored by the Maine Bureau of Health, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine… Read More
Virginia finally is merging its SmartTag automated toll system with the E-Z Pass system used in many other East Coast states, allowing Virginia drivers to bypass tollbooths in the Interstate 95 corridor and vice versa. The two systems will officially become compatible Wednesday, according to… Read More
Although we have yet to respond to Halloween trick or treat requests, a local couple is already preparing for Christmas in a way that is very new and exciting for them. Richard “Skip” Young of Glenburn, a member of the Marine Corps League Detachment #1151,… Read More
AUGUSTA – Two central Maine newspapers on Sunday endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president, saying the presidency of George W. Bush has been a “disaster.” The Kennebec Journal of Augusta and the Morning Sentinel of Waterville in matching editorials said Bush is not competent to… Read More
PORTLAND – A new poll shows Democrat John Kerry with an 11-point lead in Maine over President Bush with Election Day just more than a week away. The Zogby International poll, conducted for the Maine Sunday Telegram, gives Kerry 50 percent of the vote, with… Read More
ORONO – It’s a faceoff play called the “quick strike.” And by working it to perfection, the University of Maine men’s hockey team saved itself from suffering another forgettable weekend at Alfond Arena. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
BELFAST – The Hampden Academy Broncos have been literally running together this cross country season and it helped give them an Eastern Maine Class B title at the Troy Howard Middle School 3.1-mile course Saturday. Hampden squeaked past runner-up Ellsworth 77-79 and the Eagles were… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor High football team left Cameron Stadium after a 21-14 win over Messalonskee of Oakland on Friday night believing it would return next weekend for an Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinal – at home. As it turned out, nothing less than an… Read More
ORONO – Football teaches its participants how to deal with adversity. Still, nothing could have prepared the University of Maine football team to handle the death last Monday of assistant coach Jeff Cole. After a week spent grieving and then honoring the 30-year-old cancer victim,… Read More
COLLEGE Arel Gordon 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
HIGH SCHOOL At Gorham 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
HOLE-IN-ONE Mike French 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 NAC Championship 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
CASTINE – Amy Asselin scored one goal and assisted on two others Sunday and Ashley Brooker had four goals on Saturday to lead the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners to a weekend sweep. The Mariners beat Wheelock 4-0 Sunday and downed Lesley 6-0 Saturday. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
BANGOR – George Keefe ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries and scored another TD on a 30-yard pass reception to lead the John Bapst Crusaders to their second football win of the season, 39-6 over Stearns of Millinocket Saturday night. Kyle… Read More
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Traci Rainone and Emily Dooling each scored a goal off penalty corners to lead the Maine Black Bears to a 2-1 field hockey victory over the Albany Great Danes Sunday. For the 12-4 Bears, Winslow’s Jamie Morin made six saves on 13… Read More
Eastern Maine Regional Championships At Belfast, 3.1 miles 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 () { //… Read More
CASTINE – Travis Parent scored off a Jamie Brewer assist to help lead the University of Maine at Presque Isle to a 2-1 men’s soccer overtime win over Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday. Jay Johnson scored a goal during the seventh minute for 4-11-1 UM-Presque… Read More
HAMPDEN – Isabel Cravens had the ball on her foot, no defender in sight, the goal fast approaching and an Eastern Maine Class A girls’ soccer quarterfinal in the balance as nightfall arrived Saturday. Too much going on, and no time to think. You think?… Read More
BELFAST – Mount Ararat of Topsham proved the rankings to be correct in the Eastern Maine cross country championships at Troy Howard Middle School Saturday while Old Town standout Cassie Hintz smashed another course record. The Eagles, who have been consistently on the top of… Read More
BUCKSPORT – When the final shot tally from an Eastern Maine Class B soccer playoff game is 26-6 in your favor, you’ve got to like your chances. That usually means you didn’t have to sweat out a close game or make it through a tense… Read More
EAST MACHIAS – Brandi Winters scored two goals to push No. 5 George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill past No. 4 Washington Academy 2-0 in Eastern Maine Class C girls quarterfinal action Saturday. Laura Overton assisted Winters’ first goal for 7-5-3 George Stevens and Kayla… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Natasha Deschene headed in a Nikki James corner kick with six minutes left in overtime to boost the No. 1 Presque Isle Wildcats past No. 8 Camden Hills 2-1 in Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal soccer action Saturday. James scored the game’s… Read More
BANGOR – Jocelyn Bunker scored the winning goal with three minutes remaining off a Sara Lammert assist to give the John Bapst Crusaders a 1-0 Eastern Maine Class B girls soccer quarterfinal win over Belfast here Saturday. Caroline Cassling made 16 saves for No. 3… Read More
BELFAST – The celebration was muted, but it wasn’t because the No. 1 Belfast field hockey team was expecting to beat No. 5 John Bapst of Bangor in Saturday’s Eastern Maine Class B semifinal. “We’re not going to get too excited,” Belfast coach Allen Holmes… Read More
WATERVILLE – Justin Smith threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns and Steve Markesich caught seven passes for 131 yards and a touchdown to lead Colby College to a 35-0 win over Hamilton in New England Small College Athletic Conference play Saturday. Colby (3-2, 3-2… Read More
Watching the “River’ flow Bangor Symphony Orchestra world premiere lifts, unifies community it hails
There was no red carpet, and very few, if any, paparazzi, but the world premiere of Thomas Oboe Lee’s symphony, “The Penobscot River,” was attended Saturday night by a river of people, streaming into the Bangor Auditorium. And in the music, and the coming together of the performers… Read More
One of the biggest fiascoes in the annals of Maine wildlife management occurred a century ago after state Rep. Fred I. Campbell, R-Cherryfield, decided too many trees were being destroyed by porcupines in Washington County. The result was the Great Porcupine Slaughter of 1903-1905, which eliminated nearly 150,000… Read More
Natalie MacMaster may well be Cape Breton Island’s most adorable export. And while her virtuosic fiddling skill is impressive in and of itself, it was her energy, enthusiasm and warm, down-homey charm that made her Saturday night performance at the Maine Center for the Arts truly stunning. Read More
THE FIRE BALLOON, by Ruth Moore. Blackberry Books, Nobleboro, Maine; 347 pages, $15, softbound. WHEN FOLEY CRADDOCK TORE OFF MY GRANDFATHER’S THUMB: THE COLLECTED STORIES OF RUTH MOORE & ELEANOR MAYO, edited by Sven Davisson, Blackberry Books, 247 pages, $14.59, softbound. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
In theaters THE GRUDGE, directed by Takashi Shimizu, written by Shimizu and Stephen Susco, 96 minutes, rated PG-13. 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
With the presidential election nearly upon us, it’s interesting to ponder some of the roots of those running for office. George W. Bush, like many Americans, is related to Queen Elizabeth II, Henry III and Charles II of England. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More