On Memorial Day, we remember fallen soldiers with symbols. Big, bright flags. Wreaths of flowers. Pictures and medals, posted everywhere. Scott and Lorna Harris have all of those tokens on display inside their Patten home to remember their son, Spc. Dustin J. Harris, who was killed last month… Read More
AUGUSTA – An odd thing happened on the closing day of the legislative session that seemed to reinforce the perception of the State House having become a better place because of the 122nd Legislature. House Speaker John E. Richardson, D-Brunswick, walked into a roomful of… Read More
LEWISTON – A high school principal is pulling out a not-so-secret weapon in the effort to curb student drinking at the prom. A handheld device used by the principal can detect the presence of alcohol in ambient air simply by waving it within 5 to… Read More
AUGUSTA – In observance of Memorial Day, the U.S. and Maine flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon Monday, May 29. At noon, flags are to be raised to full-staff. “Time and time again, our soldiers have answered the call and… Read More
An article in some editions of the State section on May 22 mischaracterized the new Women’s Health Resource Library in Milbridge. The library welcomes both men and women at all times. A story in last Monday’s edition headlined “Celebrity helps foster families celebrate” incorrectly reported… Read More
SALT LAKE CITY – Sarah Grant will be riding her 21-speed Bianchi bicycle 3,637 miles across America this summer. But she won’t be alone. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
House votes Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen 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
Several years ago in Maine we had a health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine. This was a mutual insurance company that was owned by the policyholders and therefore not for profit. What happened to this company? The powers that be decided… Read More
If the United States can have a national bird, there’s no reason it cannot also have a national language, though keeping it healthy and thriving may be trickier than protecting the American bald eagle. Several Sunday-morning commentators have asserted the debate over the language bill last week was… Read More
A recent follow-up by two state officials involved in expanding the state’s targeted property tax break, called the circuit breaker program, suggests that were the program to be used by all who qualify, almost all residents who pay high taxes would find relief. It is an encouraging conclusion… Read More
Your May 23 editorial about Iraq’s middle-class exodus left me thinking that packing up one’s family and leaving the country is an extreme action but probably the best alternative to staying and being constantly in danger. The last sentence of your editorial says: “Backed by… Read More
I wonder how many people noticed that Baldacci the Magnificent just pulled another of his disappearing acts when he was about to be confronted on his stand supporting the rape of Passamaquoddy Bay by three liquefied natural gas developers. His latest performance was at the… Read More
In the May 19 edition of the Bangor Daily News, a letter questioned if state workers are worth their compensation. I think we are. Most state jobs are extremely stressful, and without these compensations, the state will not be able to hold onto its workers. Then the public… Read More
Maine is always pushing for tourism. “Vacationland, the way life should be” is the motto. Unfortunately, this is not the way life is going to be for our border. As a businesswoman, I travel frequently to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and on returning into the… Read More
On May 19 we attended the “Eggs N’ Issues” meeting at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle, sponsored by the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce, the city of Presque Isle and Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD). On the 6 p.m. news we watched WAGM’s… Read More
Honor your dead, and you honor yourself, it has been said. Not a bad piece of advice to keep in mind on this long Memorial Day weekend when the nation traditionally pays tribute to those who have fallen in service of their country. Lord knows… Read More
On May 13 the University of Maine held a commencement ceremony where business, social work, special education and psychology students from coastal Belfast earned their degrees. In Belfast, University of Maine courses and programs are considered part of the Belfast community because of the Hutchinson Center, a state-of-the-art… Read More
Irony almost never favors Congress, so senators who were busy Thursday debating how the government should collect immigration data didn’t mention a Senate hearing taking place at the same time over how veterans’ data came to be collected recently by a burglar. The hearing’s primary… Read More
PORTLAND – The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Friday ruled that L.L. Bean was correct when it charged sales tax on the full price of merchandise before deducting the value of discount coupons. A class action suit was filed in 2000 by Rona Flippo of… Read More
WASHINGTON – Three Maine utilities may be involved in transmitting excess power generated in the U.S. to Canadian provinces under a proposal filed by Lehman Bros. Commodity Services Inc., a New York-based power marketer. Lehman Bros., which does not own any generation facilities, would buy… Read More
Cervasas Southwestern Grill on busy Route 2 in Newport may be small with just 33 seats, but that is exactly the way owners Kyle and Roxanne Russell like it. After more than 14 years of managing big-box style restaurants – chains such as Pizza Hut,… Read More
BANGOR – Even though public health officials have been warning for several years of an expected global outbreak of a deadly influenza virus, many public and private organizations have not yet developed a plan to stay operational when it does hit. At an upcoming conference,… Read More
CORINNA – The monumental cleanup of Corinna’s downtown Superfund site, which began in 1997, has been so successful that less aggressive changes to future cleanup activities are being proposed. “The bottom line is that the cleanup is working, and the groundwater contamination is not expanding… Read More
There aren’t many sandy beaches in the midcoast, but Lincolnville’s got one. And it’s not much of a secret, since U.S. Route 1 passes within yards of the beach and offers eye-catching views of lobster boats, a ferry and islands. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
To understand just how much spring fever affects college kids, and how powerful the urge is to flee the confines of campus life after a year of academia, the yard sale on College Avenue in Orono holds a mountain of clues. There, crammed into the… Read More
SEARSPORT – When freshmen at Searsport District High School earn highest honors next year they’ll be bringing home a report card marked with a 4.0 instead of an A. By unanimous vote this month, the SAD 56 board of directors approved a change in the… Read More
AUGUSTA – An Augusta man accused of choking, beating and stabbing his 74-year-old mother-in-law after an argument over a snowblower was convicted of murder Friday in Kennebec County Superior Court. Jurors deliberated less than three hours before finding David Grant guilty in the November 2004… Read More
EAST MACHIAS – An accident involving three vehicles and a mobile home being transported from New Brunswick to Hancock tied up traffic along Route 191 Thursday for more than two hours. One of the drivers, Diane Dewitt, 22, of East Machias, was taken to Down… Read More
LINCOLN – Two days into their efforts as part of a national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, Lincoln police had stopped 42 vehicles but cited only three drivers for failing to wear seat belts, police Chief Hank Dusenbery said Friday. “It appears that the majority… Read More
BANGOR – While Brenda Bell drove the highway from Portland to Bangor on Friday morning, she took note of all the boats that were being hauled by busy motorists ready to begin their Memorial Day weekend. Boating over the long weekend is common for many… Read More
NEWPORT – The Sebasticook Valley Arts Alliance has a busy summer planned, scheduling a group or individual presence at festivals and fairs in Newport, Corinna and Pittsfield. The five-year-old group has grown to nearly three dozen jewelers, art quilters, weavers, spinners and artists, many of… Read More
MILO – A local man with a degree in sports and recreation management will begin work June 7 as Milo’s recreation director. 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
BANGOR – The following are city meetings and other activities for the week ahead. All will be held in City Council chambers at City Hall unless otherwise indicated. . Monday: 10:30 a.m., Memorial Day parade begins on Exchange Street; 11:15 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at… Read More
PROSPECT HARBOR – While the sight of fishing boats along Maine’s coast is nothing new, area fishermen and lobstermen likely will be keeping a close eye on a pair of soon-to-be neighbors in the water. Stinson Seafood Co., which owns Maine’s last sardine cannery, has… Read More
WHITING – The numbers that make up the Down East Spring Birding Festival are growing – and that’s not just in the bird count. The three-day holiday-weekend event – today through Monday – is now in its third year. Organized by the Cobscook Bay Area… Read More
EXETER, N.H. – Irving Forbes of Blue Hill, chairman emeritus of the Philips Exeter Academy music department in New Hampshire, received the annual Founder’s Day Award on May 19. The Founder’s Day Award recognizes individuals who have done an exceptional service for the school. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
LINCOLNVILLE – The appeals board began hearing a challenge of the planning board’s denial of Gridcom’s and Unicel’s proposal to build a cell phone tower off U.S. Route 1 on Thursday night. Code Enforcement Officer Jana Wood said Friday the board closed its meeting after… Read More
Joseph and Joshua are brothers who are somewhat shy at first meeting, but they can be engaged easily in conversation. Joseph, 13, enjoys fishing, ice fishing, walking in the woods and being outdoors. He also likes to play video games. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – The sky was gray and the wind was cool, but the atmosphere around the Dr. Gehrig T. Johnson Athletic Complex at the Presque Isle Middle School was warm, faces were smiling and athletes were winded and toasty. Hundreds of people – athletes… Read More
FORT KENT – Following in the footsteps of central and southern Aroostook County, Fort Kent will hold a community meeting Monday, May 31, to address drug awareness. Facilitators hope the session will draw scores of people for the discussion of problems with creation, trafficking and… Read More
CARIBOU – The Caribou City Council will hold a workshop to discuss new information about the construction of a gymnasium for the recreation department at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, in council chambers. A special council meeting will be held to consider placing the gym… Read More
MACHIAS – In Augusta, members of Gov. John Baldacci’s administration ask, “Where’d the money go?” In Washington County – especially after the governor’s half-million dollar windfall gift on Thursday – the people are asking, “Where’d the money come from?” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
HOULTON – Now that it has opened its doors and started providing quality health care services to local residents, officials at the Katahdin Valley Health Center have decided that it is time to celebrate. The Patten-based center, which opened a full-time clinic at 59 Bangor… Read More
ST. AGATHA – Residents of the mid-St. John Valley could have a fitness center available to them as early as this fall, according to a municipal official Thursday. Paul Bernier, community development director for St. Agatha and Frenchville, said Thursday that the town received a… Read More
Army Pvt. Sheldon A. Levesque has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Levesque is a 2005 graduate of Van Buren District Secondary School. He is the son of Alyre and Debbie Levesque of Van Buren. Read More
DYER BROOK – Voters in Community School District 9 will be asked to approve a $4.3 million budget when they congregate for their annual budget meeting June 12. CSD 9 Superintendent Terry Comeau said Friday that the budget has increased about $386,000 over last year,… Read More
FORT KENT – Bright orange stickers shaped like law enforcement badges have been popping up on containers of beer across Maine in recent years, and more may appear, especially in northern Maine where their application has been approved as work for court-ordered community service. The… Read More
BELFAST – SAD 34 Superintendent Bob Young, on medical leave since December, was back in the office Wednesday and Thursday, district staff reported Friday. He was not in the office Friday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
Rockland District Court Cases April 3-7, 2006 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
Belfast District Court Cases April 3-7, 2006 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
Belfast District Court Cases April 10-14, 2006 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
Retiring town bookkeeper Doris J. Lowell was honored Thursday night by the Maine Legislature and the Town Council for her 25 years of service to the town. Lowell received proclamations from both legislative bodies, fulsome praise from councilors and Town Manager Eugene Conlogue, and generous hugs from state… Read More
Police seized 283 marijuana plants that were growing Friday at an Elm Street home in Milo. Acting on information, police executed a search warrant at the home, where they found plants ranging in height from 6 to 12 inches, Lt. Robert Young of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department… Read More
A 12- or 13-year-old girl was referred to the Northern Maine Juvenile Detention Facility in Charleston after she was charged with assaulting her mother at a Route 6 intersection, police said Friday. The girl and her mother got into an argument at Route 6 and Main Street on… Read More
Orono police were called to Austin Drive where an ongoing argument between a couple married for three weeks ended with the husband being taken to jail early Friday morning. James Cianni, 40, left and returned several times to his residence and argued with his new… Read More
LINCOLN – The planning board next month will review a four-store minimall that, if approved, would be built on a small parcel on West Broadway adjacent to a Hannaford supermarket and a McDonald’s restaurant, town officials said Thursday. The board will review the 4,620-square-foot mall… Read More
This Memorial Day weekend our thoughts are with members of our military, especially those who are in harm’s way. And while those brave men and women put their lives on the line every day doing their duty, many of them somehow find the time to… Read More
PLYMOUTH – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has scheduled a meeting next week with Plymouth residents to make the final determination that groundwater under a Superfund site off Route 7 never can be remedied. Because Superfund law requires that water standards be improved to usable… Read More
AUGUSTA – Memorial Day parade, 7:45 a.m. Monday, May 29, begins at the Togus Building 205 parking lot, and proceeds to the Togus National Cemetery. Local veterans organizations, Maine National Guard and Togus staff will participate in wreath-laying ceremonies in the cemetery. For information, contact Jim Doherty at… Read More
BRUNSWICK – A 51-year-old Bath man charged in connection with a fatal accident in Topsham was driving on a suspended license and has a lengthy record of driving offenses, according to police and state officials. John P. Allen was charged Thursday with reckless conduct with… Read More
LINCOLN – A District Court judge will order Edwin Goodwin to give one of his Main Street properties to the town and share proceeds from another parcel’s sale to pay $38,652 in fines accrued by the town resident’s failure to clean up an illegal junkyard. Read More
BANGOR – Two men were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Bangor in unrelated cases. A Mexican national who had been living in Jonesport was sentenced Thursday to 35 days in prison or time served for illegal re-entry after deportation. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
SANFORD – A 26-year-old woman was hospitalized Friday after being involved in a shooting with Sanford police. Jillian Christensen Daniels was shot during the course of her arrest at about 4:15 a.m. on an outstanding warrant for violating probation in connection with three armed robberies… Read More
Arjuna speaks Mind is wavering, Mind is wandering 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
In December 1995, I read something that made me very happy. I read that the entropic form of phason elasticity had been observed in a molecular-dynamics simulation using a realistic model of an equilibrium dodecagonal quasi-crystal. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
BURLINGTON – Beth Turner of Burlington is running as a Democratic candidate for state representative for District 11, which includes parts of Penobscot, Washington and Hancock counties. Issues that concern Turner include small-business development and tight control on government spending. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
Maine law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts in traffic enforcement this weekend, taking to the air, patrolling roads and setting up roadblocks to curb errant drivers. “We’re really looking to be out there and have a lot of our officers be proactive to keep… Read More
BANGOR – The inmate at the Penobscot County Jail who last year staged a four-week hunger strike pleaded guilty Friday to federal gun charges. James Emerson, 24, of Bangor waived indictment and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of being… Read More
Changes often occur in life while we are looking the other way. This NBA season may be the latest evidence of that in sports. After a regular season that was lost on the sports radar screen, the NBA playoffs have had nightly battles decided by… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Up by 37 points over host Bucksport with a mere four events remaining in Friday night’s Penobscot Valley Conference Small School Track and Field Championships, it looked like the Orono boys had their second straight PVC title sealed. Not so fast. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Having spent part of 11 consecutive days in Vermont, and playing its staunchest conference rival, the University of Maine baseball team didn’t need any extra motivation Friday night. Despite having their quest delayed nearly three hours by rain, the Black Bears used… Read More
The highlight of Mike Bordick’s recent graduation from the University of Maine 20 years after he left the school to pursue a professional baseball career came from the mouth of his 12-year-old daughter, Chandler. “She told me she was proud of me,” said the 40-year-old… Read More
PORTLAND – Portland Sea Dogs outfielder David Murphy and righthanded pitcher Barry Hertzler have been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Murphy, the Sea Dogs MVP in 2005 and the Red Sox 2005 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year, hit .273 in 42 games with three… Read More
LISLE, Ill. – A year ago, Bates College senior Keelin Godsey set the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships record in the women’s hammer throw, at 195 feet, 4 inches. On Friday at Benedictine University, Godsey’s hammer traveled far beyond that mark all… Read More
BANGOR – Tickets are still available for the recognition dinner on June 3 in honor of former Bangor High School football coach Gerry Hodge at the Spectacular Events Center. Hodge coached football for 18 seasons at Bangor after coaching Mexico High School for four years. Read More
HIGH SCHOOL Official standings as reported by the Maine Principals’ Association. 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
HIGH SCHOOL PVC Small Schools 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
MARS HILL – Amber Palmer slammed a three-run triple in top of the seventh as the Washburn Beavers rallied by the Central Aroostook Panthers 13-9 in high school softball action Friday. Kristina Goupille chipped in with five singles for the winners while Amber Reed and… Read More
CAMDEN – Miles Davee drove in James Cummons and Ben Holbrook as the tying and go-ahead runs on a single in the bottom of the fifth as Camden Hills held off Lincoln Academy 5-4 in high school baseball action on Friday. Noah Burke cranked a… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Josh Murchison’s two-run single with two outs in the fifth inning gave Mattanawcook Academy some breathing room en route to a 9-6 high school baseball win over Presque Isle on Friday. Jake Smith, Tyson Tash, and Mike Farrell each doubled, singled, and… Read More
BANGOR – The Maine Sports Hall of Fame will hold its 2006 dinner and induction ceremonies on June 4 at the Bangor Banquet and Convention Center on the Hogan Road. Inductees include Dick Barstow, Mike Bordick, James “Chico” Hernandez, Brian Higgins, Irving Kagan, Roger Reed,… Read More
Water enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to participate in the “Flotilla on the Aroostook,” which will be held on June 3. The purpose of the flotilla is to rally as many men, women and children as possible to come out on the water for… Read More
Each month the Pine Tree State offers a variety of outdoor options, but only during May can regional sportsmen participate in a traditional fin-and-fern outing. For only a few weeks each spring, anglers may venture to a neighboring waterway to catch a couple of trout and pick a… Read More
When smelts began dying and floating ashore on one of the state’s legendary landlocked salmon waters recently, it didn’t take long for Dave Basley’s phone to start ringing. “One guy called and was convinced that there was something wrong [with the smelts] because the birds… Read More
After a few warmup hikes this spring, I’ve started to think about the number. Not how many miles I plan to hike this year, although I’d like to get at least a couple of hundred, weekend warrior miles. Not the number of years I’ve been hiking, that advances… Read More
Why do people who can’t sing, laugh or tell a joke feel the need to audition for reality TV shows that require them to do so? In their own mind do they think they have talent? Did their parents feed them false information when they… Read More
Mahlon “Woody” Wood is a busy man this time of year. So is Dana Johnson. They are licensed animal damage control agents, and their phones are ringing. Ringing about squirrels, skunks, raccoons, moles, groundhogs, bats, porcupines, chipmunks, pigeons, starlings and sparrows. And if you’re a homeowner, you’re probably… Read More
My daughter Kristi, her friend Meaghan, and my sister, Sandra, and I decided to go antiquing last weekend. I love old furniture and had a vision of what I wanted – chairs with damaged caned seats or pop-off bottoms. Joking, I told the girls if there wasn’t enough… Read More
I recently gave two talks – one in Bangor, the other in Caribou – each dealing with the topic of service. As in, customer service. You may have heard of the concept. Or not. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
We love the trees of our childhood. I spent my boyhood in western Alabama in the summer shade of a southern catalpa (Catalpa bignoniodes), a tree very similar to the catalpa that will grow in Maine, the northern catalpa (C. speciosa). I have vivid memories of a large… Read More
“Date Movie”: Blind date. Here is a satire that doesn’t understand satire. Director Aaron Seltzer thinks that because you reference a film, that’s the same as pinning it to a wall with scenes that skewer it. It isn’t. It’s just reference, with a series of ‘a-ha’ moments that… Read More
There are certain individuals who are born to genius, according to Camden playwright Robert Manns, 78. George Bernard Shaw. Shakespeare. Christopher Fry. Henry Knox. Yes, that Henry Knox. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More