STANDISH – For five innings Saturday, it just wasn’t Alex Gallant’s day. Twice he had been to the plate, and twice he had been fooled by the changing speeds of Portland lefthander Ian Boyle. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
    PORTLAND – Maine’s failure to maintain and upgrade its state parks and historic sites has left a repair backlog totaling more than $33 million, according to a new study and policy paper prepared for the Baldacci administration. Among the signs of neglect are crumbling buildings,… Read More
    Northeast CONTACT received a letter from member Sandra Watkins of Brunswick involving a business named Publishers Services Network located in White City, Ore. Watkins wrote, “Publishers Services Network somehow got my name and address last fall and keep trying to scam me. Since they are… Read More
    Dear Jim: My family likes to be cool during the summer, but the electric bills kill my budget. What are the best ways to use ventilation to stay comfortable without using the air conditioner as much? – Michael A. Dear Michael: Proper ventilation can keep… Read More
    The complaint that there’s nothing to do in Bangor after working hours has been answered again this summer. Outdoor concerts are returning to the city, but in a new location near the center of downtown. Weather permitting, browsing at the artisans’ market and listening to music in Pickering… Read More
    There has long been talk of the need for an east-west highway in Maine and for better cooperation among northeastern states and eastern Canadian provinces. A study that will soon get under way will formally marry these two concepts while cataloguing existing gaps in the region’s existing transportation… Read More
    Congress is about to consider HR 3997, a bill that weakens your consumer protections. Provisions in the bill will pre-empt Maine’s security freeze law, a highly successful measure that prevents consumer fraud when personal information has been compromised. Maine consumers must not lose their legal… Read More
    So you want me to quit smoking? Fat chance! Now let’s talk about this: it is said that 50 million people smoke in the United States. The government said it, I didn’t. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
    Recent statements in the Bangor Daily News by town officials and questions asked at the board of selectmen’s meetings show a woeful lack of knowledge on some people’s parts as to what the historical society does and what we can do for Guilford. The Guilford Historical Society was… Read More
    Recently, I drove my 76-year-old mother to Mount Hope Cemetery so she could care for the flowers placed on both my grandparents’ and father’s graves. As I was driving through the winding roads noticing the grave markers of people who have long since passed away, I felt ashamed… Read More
    Former President Bill Clinton came to South Portland recently to rally Democrats for Gov. John Baldacci and to raise money for the Democratic Party. A thousand Democrats came to him, half of them spending $500 apiece to do so, and I am sure they welcomed him with a… Read More
    I called Sen. Olympia Snowe’s Washington, D.C., office recently, as I frequently do when I’m concerned about something political. We disagree on many matters, but I assumed that the importance of a fair voting system in this country would not be one of them. I have recently attended… Read More
    PORTLAND – Religious groups brought contrasting messages to the 20th annual Southern Maine Pride Parade, a colorful float-filled procession through the downtown area put on by the local gay community. While several area churches participated in the parade Saturday, the Christian Civic League of Maine… Read More
    The Katahdin region’s federal delegation wants to see the area’s small businesses qualify for some of the billions of dollars in U.S. government contracts, and it could happen as early as Oct. 1. U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and U.S. Sen. Olympia… Read More
    AUGUSTA – With seven candidates on the November ballot, Maine has its largest gubernatorial field ever. And with three – and possibly four – of the candidates relying on public financing, the race for the Blaine House could be among the most expensive. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    OWLS HEAD – It was another million-dollar weekend for the American Lung Association and its Trek Across Maine. For the seventh year in a row, the annual charity event raised more than $1 million for the lung association. This was the 22nd trek, and more… Read More
    BANGOR – Brightly colored tank tops, flowered skirts and flip-flops filled the halls of two dorms at Husson College Sunday, worn by hundreds of girls from across the state attending the 60th session of Dirigo Girls State. Carlisle Hall bustled with some of the 330… Read More
    BAILEYVILLE – A 57-year-old New Brunswick man who was riding his motorcycle on Route 9 on Sunday was killed when a pickup truck crossed the center line and struck him, police said. Two others were injured. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    BELFAST – City police are investigating the theft of a dozen bicycles and a moped from the One Stop Bike Shop on Main Street. Patrolman Howard Dakin said the theft was reported by owner Tim Murphy when he arrived at work Sunday morning. Although the… Read More
    Brent Boyles of Mapleton was promoted to brigadier general in the Maine Army National Guard this month. Boyles graduated from Presque Isle High School in 1975. In 1983, he saw combat action as a company commander during the Grenada invasion. He has held numerous commands,… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – The organization has introduced children to athletes from around the world, helped youngsters step into skis and showed them the virtues of a healthy lifestyle. Now, the Maine Winter Sports Center is being honored by the Maine Educators Association for its work… Read More
    SHERMAN – Construction on Interstate 95 southbound, starting at Sherman-Benedicta town line and ending at the Medway-Township 2 Range 9 town line, will begin Monday, June 19, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. The project, which is contracted to The Lane construction Corp. of… Read More
    JONESPORT – Air Force Technical Sgt. Scott W. Lutz has been deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 455th Air Force Expeditionary Wing. Lutz, normally assigned to the 345th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, has served in the military for 12 years. His wife, Beverly, is the… Read More
    DYER BROOK – Construction on Interstate 95 southbound, starting at the Oakfield-DyerBrook town line and extending three miles south of the Dyer Brook-Island Falls town line, will begin Monday, June 19, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. The project, which is contracted to The… Read More
    CARIBOU – Caribou police Sgt. Ron Curtis acknowledged Sunday that he had seen a lot during his tenure as a law enforcement officer. He has busted burglars, summoned speeders and detained drug dealers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
    BLUE HILL – Area musician Richard Whittlesey will be displaying 10 guitars from his private collection at the Public Library on June 28. At the 6 p.m. event, Whittlesey will give a slideshow presentation. He will be on hand at the library to discuss the… Read More
    SEARSPORT – Children’s author Lois Lowry will read from and sign her latest novel, “Gossamer,” at Left Bank Books from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 28. In 1990, Lowry won her first Newbery Medal for “Number the Stars,” a fictionalized account based on the… Read More
    BELFAST – The first week of the Arts Center at Kingdom Falls summer program begins June 26 with classes in Montville and Belfast. Highlights of the summer include weeklong art camps for children and teens in Belfast during the weeks of June 26-30 and Aug. Read More
    BAILEYVILLE – There was a time when businesses here thrived and people lived in company houses and shopped in company stores. And it wasn’t the coal mines of West Virginia made famous in Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons” when he sang, “I owe my soul… Read More
    BOSTON – The Coast Guard on Sunday suspended its search for four people, including a father and son, aboard a sailing boat that was reported to be in distress 230 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rescuers spent three days searching for the Free Spirit,… Read More
    HOULTON – When motorists turn off Interstate 95 and head down North Street into town, they are treated to new and striking sights. Along with recently opened businesses, drivers see a pedestrian footbridge, freshly painted storefronts and a skate park. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    A Sangerville woman was injured Sunday and admitted to Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft after she rolled the vehicle she was driving into a ditch on Greeley’s Landing Road in Dover-Foxcroft, police said. Tiffany Sprague, 18, was driving from Sebec Lake at around 3 p.m. Read More
    Members of the historic Bangor Band invite you to join them for their 148th consecutive year as they proudly present their 2006 Summer Concert season. The opening concert is 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Bangor Public Library on Harlow Street. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    ORLEANS, Mass. – Officials trying to protect a threatened bird plan to ban off-road vehicles from a major stretch of a Cape beach for a month. The threatened piping plovers nest on Nauset Beach, and their eggs are expected to hatch in late June. Orleans… Read More
    PORTLAND – The city and the owner of the Scotia Prince ferry are set to enter arbitration this fall in hopes of resolving competing claims against each other for millions of dollars in alleged damages. Owners of the ferry pulled out of Portland and filed… Read More
    WEST BATH – A 51-year-old motorist arrested in connection with a fatal car accident last month in Topsham now faces a drug trafficking charge arising from what police say was a routine search of his home in Bath. John Allen sought dismissal of the charge… Read More
    BREWER – Brooke Harris was starting to feel some pressure as she pitched into the scoreless sixth inning of Saturday’s Class D state championship softball game. But late comebacks are nothing new for Lee Academy. That’s how it has thrived this year. It’s how the… Read More
    STANDISH – When a blown pickoff play, a wild pitch on a third strike and a bad-hop two-run single all combined to fuel the decisive rally in Saturday’s Class C baseball state final, Sean Johnson knew someone was looking down on the Searsport Vikings. But… Read More
    LOCAL At Bangor 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
    GREENSBORO, N.C. – Fifteen Maine high school racewalkers competed in the Nike Premiere Outdoor Track and Field Championship with five earning All-American honors by finishing in the top five in their events. In the male 1-mile racewalk, Scarborough junior and Class A state champ Taylor… Read More
    STANDISH – The Biddeford Tigers scored three unearned runs and those proved to be the difference as they defeated Cony of Augusta 5-2 in the Class A state softball final Saturday. It was Biddeford’s first state softball championship. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
    UNITY – Sidney’s Darren Doucette made his season debut at Unity Raceway Saturday night and picked up right where he left off last season, by taking both segments of the Sun Auto & Salvage Mini Truck Twin 25’s. Doucette had to battle Kevin Nutting of… Read More
    BANGOR – UBS of Bangor and Union Street Cleaners split their first Bay League games of the season as UBS won the first game of a doubleheader 4-3 and Union Street rallied for a 4-1 victory in the nightcap at the Winkin Complex. In the… Read More
    STANDISH – This was supposed to be Portland’s year. Having played second fiddle to intracity rival Deering of Portland in recent baseball seasons, this year’s Bulldogs returned virtually intact the lineup that won the 2005 American Legion state championship for Andrews Post of Portland. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    STANDISH – Jessie Farrington has worked hard the last five years on her pitching skills – and spent most of her career as a shortstop. During this, her senior season at Telstar High School, she finally established herself in the circle. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    The deaths of four Brewer High School students a few days before their graduation a century ago cast a pall over the city. Lawrence Aiken, Winfield Brown, Norman Herrick and Lamont Parker drowned during a class outing after their sailboat capsized and sank on June 12, 1906, on… Read More
    There is a place, “off neck,” where the lady’s slipper 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
    The city of Bangor has a very nice Web site at www.bgrme.org. Of great interest to genealogists is the database of interments for Pine Grove Cemetery on Hammond Street Extension, Oak Grove Cemetery on Finson Road and Maple Grove Cemetery at the intersection of Pushaw and Church roads. Read More
    In theaters: NACHO LIBRE, directed by Jared Hess, written by Hess, Jerusha Hess and Mike White, 91 minutes, rated PG. 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