WASHINGTON – A signing statement attached to postal legislation by President Bush last month may have opened the way for the government to open mail without a warrant. The White House denies any change in policy. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
When people envision January in Maine, they often picture winter snowscapes, not people wearing shorts and walking barefoot in downtown Bangor. But that’s what passers-by saw Thursday as a group of young people gathered in Pickering Square to play Hacky Sack. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
Tom Stipe didn’t pay much attention to the sidewalks of Ellsworth until about 16 years ago when a freak bicycle accident landed him in a wheelchair. Since then, sidewalks have become a big part of Stipe’s life. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
BANGOR – The Senior League World Series has brought some of the world’s top young baseball players to Mansfield Stadium each of the last five summers for a week of international competition with a championship at stake. Beginning this August, the rest of the world… Read More
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwanese chipmaker System General Corp. said Thursday its board accepted a tender offer for all of the company’s outstanding shares from Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc., based in South Portland, Maine. The takeover is valued at an estimated 6.32 billion New Taiwan dollars… Read More
WASHINGTON – The job of a shopping mall security guard normally involves controlling rowdy teenagers, finding lost children and patrolling parking lots. But starting this month, malls across the country will begin training guards for another task: fighting terrorism. The 14-hour program is being developed… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – James Batey looks at Somerset County and he sees a place in transition. Once a county whose economy was wood-products based, there are just three sawmills left and no wood-turning facilities. Shoe manufacturers are nearly gone. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, even… Read More
If, as Oscar Wilde had it, second marriages are the triumph of hope over experience, second political terms may be the opposite. Maine saw Gov. John Baldacci begin his second four years as governor Wednesday having put away the vague hopefulness of his first inaugural address and instead… Read More
Why did the latest round of talks about North Korea’s nuclear weapons program end in a deadlock? The explanation by the chief U.S. negotiator was at best only a partial answer. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters recently when the talks were suspended… Read More
I so enjoyed reading your excellent coverage of the New Year’s events in downtown Bangor. However, I saw no mention of the delightful art happening that was held at Hammond Street Congregational Church. More than 150 people of all ages participated in a variety of… Read More
I’m writing in regard to “Howard Street Proposal” by Toni-Lynn Robbins (BDN, Dec. 28). This problem has been an issue for those who live in the Howard Street area and other residents that are in the Bangor Mall area. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Sally Bates and the entire Downtown Bangor organization should take a bow for a wonderful event on New Year’s eve. What a fantastic example of a vision and collective work to make downtown shine.I was so proud to see so many venues and individuals working… Read More
Recently, the home of former U.S. Vice President Hannibal Hamlin in Bangor, was advertised as available real estate. The home, if kept for historic display and used by a public domain, would promote the tourism of the area, because of Hamlin’s association with Abraham Lincoln,… Read More
The good Rev. Mark Worth (BDN Jan. 2) made a number of assertions that brings to mind the old cliche, “It’s better to let people think you a fool rather then open your mouth and erase all doubt.” Quoting Worth, “Why did President Bush start this war? Iraq… Read More
Referring to Sharon Rideout’s letter to the editor, “Hanging Saddam,” (BDN, Dec. 28) it’s no surprise that liberals are once again lumped into one neat package with the insinuation that it is something for which to be ashamed. I am fine with being one myself… Read More
The people who are turning the issue of social justice into the minimum wage, TABOR, or some other taxpayer and wage earner equality are being duped into “Wag the Dog.” There is a white elephant in the room and everyone is wearing blinders. People on… Read More
I was taught that a plan, be it business, financial or military, be composed of concrete elements, such as what, who, when, and where, which can be translated into a road map for accomplishing the goal. Instead of claiming to be a plan, Gov. Baldacci’s tax relief editorial… Read More
In the Jan. 3 issue of the Bangor Daily News it was good to see President Gerald Ford recognized for his generosity toward Indochinese refugees and doubly gratifying that the words of appreciation were from a former refugee from Vietnam. I was at the State… Read More
BREWER – At a recent disaster drill involving seven hospitals and several emergency management agencies in northern and eastern Maine, communications broke down in a big way – and not as part of the carefully orchestrated earthquake scenario. First, the plan to contact 150 participants’… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A second Bucksport High School student has been charged with terrorizing in connection with a music CD he and a friend created that included violent lyrics depicting a shooting spree at a high school. The Hancock County District Attorney’s Office has filed formal… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The daughter of a Lincoln man who fell into an elevator shaft at Brown’s Mill a year ago and later died has filed a three-count lawsuit in Piscataquis County Superior Court. On behalf of Harold Gerry’s estate, Alys Carnesi of Glendale, Ariz., is… Read More
SKOWHEGAN – A Palmyra man charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend’s 13-year-old son in November accused the woman of conspiring against him with police and aliens from outer space, according to an affidavit. The information raises questions about Todd Curry’s mental state at the time… Read More
CONCORD, N.H. – The New Hampshire Health and Human Services Department on Thursday confirmed that a young woman from Bangor, Maine, who was a student at the University of New Hampshire had bacterial meningitis when she died Wednesday. Danielle M. Thompson, 21, was home in… Read More
AUGUSTA – Part of the streamlining that Gov. John Baldacci is proposing in the budget package he unveils Friday will be a merger of two state departments with very different functions. Administration sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the governor is calling for the… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A Milo man began serving a nine-month jail sentence last week after being convicted of assaulting and threatening to kill a local woman. Lance Allen Harris, 39, received an overall sentence in Hancock County Superior Court of four years with all but nine… Read More
MACHIAS – A group of more than 50 Washington County women have banded together in a unique private-public collaboration aimed at raising awareness of available services, improving the standard of living and increasing employment opportunities for area women. “Mighty Women” consists of representatives from businesses,… Read More
HOULTON – Now that the last lines of “Auld Lang Syne” have been sung and the 2006 calendars have been discarded, the countdown in Houlton has officially begun. As of today there are 224 days left until the start of the bicentennial celebration. Propelled by… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Hal Cote has been Millinocket Regional Hospital’s director of diagnostic imaging for eight years, long enough to know when a patient is just too far gone to be saved. He puts the hospital’s 15-year-old General Electric nuclear imaging system in that category. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
GREENVILLE – Town Manager John Simko will take a message from his board to the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Policy Committee later this month. Greenville selectmen want the committee to know that property tax relief should be an overall tax reduction and not a tax… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – The SAD 1 board of directors rang in the New Year on Wednesday night by filling the top business and food service administrative posts in the district. The board approved hiring Kathy Allen as SAD 1’s food service director and Charles Anderson… Read More
SOUTH THOMASTON – Higher than acceptable levels of lead have been found in the Guilford Butler School drinking water. SAD 5 Superintendent of Schools Al Pfeiffer said Thursday that the school district sent notes to parents of students advising them of the situation. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
MACHIAS – A potential avalanche of Steuben tax abatement requests threatens to bury the Washington County commissioners. The three commissioners were told Thursday afternoon to expect up to 60 abatement requests from Steuben residents after the town’s assessor denied more than 100 tax appeals. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
TRENTON – Marmalade the cat didn’t last long as the first tenant of a new facility that opened this week on Route 3. The former stray found a new home with a retired couple from Bernard that came to the new Society for the Prevention… Read More
GREENVILLE – Sea planes buzz overhead on a daily basis, boats zip across Moosehead Lake during warmer weather, logging trucks stream down the highways, and trains chug through this small tourist community. They each bring a potential for disaster, but if Town Manager John Simko… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Residents keep making it easy for a car burglar or burglars to steal, most recently with five vehicle break-ins reported in the Little Italy section of town on Thursday, police said. The five new break-ins bring the total number of thefts from parked… Read More
HOULTON – Town councilors will join other public officials across the state on Monday evening when they discuss the subject of outdoor wood boilers in the community. Council Chairman Paul Cleary told his counterparts at a meeting last month that he wanted to discuss the… Read More
SANGERVILLE – Slippery road conditions contributed to an accident on the Douty Hill Road on Thursday, police said. Nancy Lappert, 49, of Guilford was headed to Dover-Foxcroft when she lost control of her vehicle and it struck a stump and rolled over, Sgt. Michael Gould… Read More
HERMON – In a contentious special town meeting on Thursday night, more than 75 residents crammed into council chambers to vote on whether to appropriate $150,000 for the Penobscot Snowmobile Club. The vote went in favor of expending the funds, but not without at least… Read More
Earlier this week, I spoke with Sister Lucille MacDonald, administrator for the Emmaus Homeless Shelter in Ellsworth, who told me I would be receiving two e-mails from her: One a public thank you from shelter staff and volunteers; the other containing information about a new series the facility… Read More
BANGOR – A Van Buren man who said that his shooting of a lynx was a case of mistaken identity was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 21 days in jail for possessing a federally protected threatened species. Ricky Learnard, 41, pleaded guilty to… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Beverly Osborn made the kind of mistake everybody makes once in awhile. During a stop at McDonald’s restaurant on Sycamore Street, she forgot her purse. But she did it at the worst possible time, about a week before Christmas, with $1,200 cash plus… Read More
BELFAST – A “speak out” event at which participants will register their views on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and investigating the Bush administration for unlawful conduct is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center. Political activist Richard… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine House has voted to seat two members whose contested elections led to recounts, completing the chamber’s roster for the two-year legislative session. Without discussion, the House voted Wednesday to seat Republican Rep. Gary Moore from District 102 in Standish and Democrat… Read More
PORTLAND – The ability of police, firefighters and other emergency responders in Maine to communicate seamlessly in the event of a disaster has earned the state high marks from the Department of Homeland Security. The state, and the Portland area in particular, was among the… Read More
AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci wore a tuxedo and his wife Karen wore a blue and silver gown as the first couple danced at Baldacci’s inaugural gala Thursday night at the Augusta Civic Center. The first couple smiled as they danced to the music of… Read More
AUGUSTA – A state panel is recommending replacing a failing bridge on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway with a longer, higher span that incorporates new building technology developed by University of Maine engineers. Henderson Brook Bridge near Round Pond is used by logging trucks carrying an… Read More
Sophomore right wing Vince Laise had played in just one game this season and it was an exhibition game. Sophomore left wing Chris Hahn was coming off a shoulder injury that had shelved him for four games and junior center Wes Clark had been a… Read More
ORONO – While Bracey Barker spent a month on the sideline with a fractured wrist, the University of Maine women’s basketball team learned a lot about itself. Having been seasoned by some of those struggles, the Black Bears welcomed back their senior leader Thursday night… Read More
BANGOR – Sophomore left wing Johnny Warren said he and Bangor High School linemates Matt Boehmer and Christian Dionne knew they had to have a productive night if they were going to beat undefeated archrival Brewer Thursday night. And they did, combining for all five… Read More
This personal journey through the sporting life has taken several directions, from mediocre athlete to fledgling official to broadcasting and writing. But one route it never took was toward the coaching profession. It wasn’t because of an unwillingness to teach, because a career in education… Read More
It’s only the second time in the last 21 years that Gary Thorne has faced the prospect of going through an entire winter and spring without calling any NHL action. His life as a professional broadcaster is no less hectic, but things have been unsettling… Read More
BANGOR – The Hermon vs. John Bapst schoolgirl basketball game set for tonight has been moved from Hermon to the Bangor Auditorium due to a scheduling conflict, according to Hermon athletic director Paul Soucy. The JV game will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the… Read More
HIGH SCHOOL At Newport 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
HODGDON – Parker Brown knocked down a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left to lift the Houlton boys basketball team to a 60-59 high school victory over Hodgdon Thursday. Drew Farrar paced the Shiretowners with 27 points and Ryan Hill added 13 points. Read More
BLUE HILL – Ellsworth hit five out of eight free throws in the final minute and a half to hang on to a 61-56 high school boys basketball victory over George Stevens Academy Thursday. Corey DeWitt netted 21 points and Dem Katsiaficas added 19 for… Read More
BANGOR – Morgan Chasse scored nine of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter Thursday night as Bangor Christian handed Penobscot Valley of Howland its first loss with a 49-48 girls basketball victory at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. Adrienne Ricci and Katie… Read More
The University of Maine men’s hockey team wore a new jersey during the Florida College Classic last weekend and they will wear them again later this season, according to Maine coach Tim Whitehead. Nike and Nike Bauer Hockey developed jerseys for nine teams and the… Read More
MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday, 3 p.m., Chelmsford Forum, Chelmsford, Mass. 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… Read More
Jon Bailey isn’t ashamed to admit that he still gets nervous onstage, with or without his band Belmondo. There’s a bit more at stake for him, besides simply performing his songs well. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
In theaters DREAMGIRLS, written and directed by Bill Condon, 131 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++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if… Read More
HOLLYWOOD – Before Tony Shalhoub broke through as the obsessive-compulsive detective Monk, the Lebanese-American actor had compiled a long list of supporting characters with widely diverse names: Haddad (“The Siege”), Kwan (“Galaxy Quest”), Scarpacci (“Wings”), Reyes (“Primary Colors”) and Riedenschneider (“The Man Who Wasn’t There”). This year, he… Read More
Everything about New Year’s Eve is big, or is supposed to be, anyway. The big ball drops from a tall building, a big pop when the champagne is uncorked, a big – and late – night out with a big group of people. But the… Read More
WASHINGTON – As pomp and circumstance kicked off the new 110th Congress on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, was sworn in to her third term in the Senate. Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen, also re-elected this November to represent the state, joined… Read More