INDIAN ISLAND – When Charles Norman Shay was a boy, he was aware of a small, green book his mother kept in her writing desk. On the spine, in gold letters, were the words, “The Red Man,” and just below, “Nicolar.” Shay knew his grandfather had written the… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Bangor High School boys basketball team faced high expectations this winter, both within the program and from the state’s sporting community at large. Those expectations: to win it all. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine’s first responders are upset with proposed cuts to federal programs established in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and they will get a sympathetic reception when they meet with Maine’s congressional delegation later this month. “These programs are very important to… Read More
Dear Jim: I hear how important it is to lower my thermostat setting during winter. It seems it would just take more energy to reheat the house each morning. What is the best thermostat setting for the most savings? – Don G. Dear Don: It… Read More
We all know that automobile accidents are expensive: We have to fix our cars, and, often, we have to fix our bodies, too. Sadly, today’s crooks use these realities to their advantage to defraud the public and the automobile insurance industry. Dishonest drivers have been… Read More
FORT KENT – The spectacle of the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race was not the only excitement that was going on in Fort Kent over the weekend. Just after the start of the 15th running of the event, Gov. John Baldacci joined officials from… Read More
Every time I look skyward and see the large aircraft flying overhead, I am reminded of the dedicated men and women on board those “Wings of Freedom” and what they mean to the very survival of this country. They are the first and will be… Read More
Competing bills before the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee try to draw a new line to determine when citizens must report their political activities to the state. Neither gets it right entirely, but both have elements of a solution within them. The issue affects… Read More
The Maine Development Foundation’s annual rating of the state’s living conditions, Measures of Growth, has become the most commonly relied-upon source for a snapshot of the Maine community, environment and, mostly, economy. The 13th edition of the report was released last week and a summary of that summary… Read More
The construction industry in Maine is losing good paying jobs: jobs with an average pay of $18 an hour plus benefits. This is due to the downward slide of the highway program and a lack of new funding sources. Some facts to consider: googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
Marvin Ellison’s Feb. 14 BDN article was a shocker in that he could possibly still believe that abortion is health care. Twenty-nine worldwide studies, 13 U.S., link abortion to breast cancer. Since the mid-1980s, breast cancer rates increased more than 40 percent. The increase is limited to women… Read More
I think it is important to take note when something is noteworthy. My brother Michael Cochran was murdered in the Bangor area 26 years ago. Gerald Coleman, a detective for the Maine state police, was assigned my brothers case four years ago and I knew… Read More
I read Pete Larson’s letter to the editor “When in Iran” (BDN, Feb. 23), and find myself deeply bothered by what he wrote. He is angered by Diane Sawyer being asked to cover her head, in compliance with Islamic custom while in Iran to interview the president of… Read More
I’m hoping maybe there’s an expert out there who can answer my question: Where are all the critters? For years, I’ve had bird feeders out. I have a suet feeder hanging from the eaves of my house, and it’s visited by woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. Read More
Ten years ago, the University of Maine received a wonderful gift from two of its most generous alumni, Stephen and Tabitha King. Seeing the financial base of the university eroded, the Kings gave funds for student scholarships and for hiring faculty whose work concerns humanity itself. As then… Read More
Few people alive today remember American chestnut trees spreading across the forest landscape almost a century ago. Venerable monarch of the forest, the American chestnut was greatly revered by our forefathers. Early American furniture and musical instrument craftsmen found the wood easily worked, rich in color, with fine… Read More
BANGOR – An unidentified female body was found near a garage off Union Street on Saturday evening, officials said Sunday. Bangor police received a call at 7:58 p.m. Saturday evening about a “possible deceased person” behind 148 Union St., said Bangor police Lt. Detective Tim… Read More
ROCKPORT – The Gulf of Maine probably will have a higher freshwater content as a result of global climate changes, three scientists suggested Saturday at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum. The scientists stopped short of making predictions on where the apparent trend will lead and what… Read More
AUGUSTA – Potential savings were on the minds of members of the Legislature’s Education Committee on Sunday as they continued to work through the weekend on possible ways to consolidate Maine’s far-flung school systems. Aiming to provide a report to the budget-weighing Appropriations Committee by… Read More
Five of 25 mushers remaining in the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races’ 15th annual running of the Irving Woodlands 250-mile race were in the last 100 miles of the race Sunday night and within 39 minutes of each other. Don Hibbs of Millinocket, a… Read More
BELFAST – It was a somber ceremony Saturday at the Belfast Armory as three members of the Maine National Guard 133rd Engineers Battalion’s Company A were honored for their service in Iraq. Some 80 Guard members stood at attention as Betrand Poulin, the father of… Read More
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England heard a distress call around 5:15 p.m. Sunday. The call came in saying “mayday,” and about 10 seconds later a “hello?” was heard, according to search and rescue specialist Kenneth Stuart. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
BANGOR – City officials are going to take another look tonight at plans to replace the aging Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center. The arena issue resurfaced during a January meeting of the council’s finance committee as members were considering whether to fund an update to… Read More
BANGOR – The year of the Golden Pig is a special one on the Chinese calendar, and pupils from The Bangor Chinese School marked the occasion with their parents and friends at a Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival Celebration on Sunday afternoon. The school… Read More
MACHIAS – The Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District is taking orders for the sale of brook trout and rainbow trout to be stocked in private ponds in the county. Each pond must be permitted by the Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife. Read More
St. Albans Although the proposed expenditures had been scrutinized by the town manager, the budget committee and the Board of Selectmen, St. Albans voters questioned nearly every article on the annual warrant. Voters also needed four written ballots from the floor to elect three budget… Read More
ROCKPORT – A newly formed nonprofit group announced Saturday it expects to complete the takeover of the Maine Photographic Workshops, the International Film and Television Workshops, and Rockport College from founder David Lyman in the coming week. The price of the transaction, which transfers the… Read More
WOODLAND – Maine State Police are appealing to the public for help in locating a Presque Isle man who is wanted in connection with an armed robbery that took place at a Woodland garage in January. State Police Lt. Darrell Ouellette said in a press… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – A Caribou man was killed early Saturday morning when he was struck by a vehicle while walking on U.S. Route 1 in Presque Isle. Richard Theriault, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which took place just before 2:49… Read More
SEDGWICK – A proposed contract for three peninsula towns to continue to haul trash to the Blue Hill-Surry transfer station could face tough sledding if the discussion at the annual town meeting in Sedgwick is any indication. Voters on Saturday approved the contract, but not… Read More
FORT KENT – Comedian Bob Marley will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, in Fox Auditorium at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Marley, 36, is a Maine native and has appeared in his own episode of “Comedy Central Presents.” googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
FORT KENT – The Hospice Foundation of America will host its 14th annual National Bereavement Teleconference, “Living With Grief: Before and After Death,” from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, March 23, at Northern Maine Medical Center’s Wellness Center. It will be moderated by Frank Sesno,… Read More
MACHIAS – The Bay State Winds will perform 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Centre Street Congregational Church. The Bay State Winds is a four-member chamber ensemble of the United States Air Force Band of Liberty. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
CARIBOU – Police in Caribou were working Sunday to gather additional information for their investigation into a rash of incidents that occurred over the weekend that investigators believe may be connected. Officer Doug Bell of the Caribou Police Department said that the first incident occurred… Read More
ST. AGATHA – The final chapter of the story of the creation of the Long Lake Public Library is about to be written. After more than a year of work, planning and fundraising, volunteers are preparing to open the doors of the town’s first-ever public… Read More
BANGOR – City officials have approved three measures aimed at alleviating traffic concerns in the Howard Street area. The first measure goes into effect this month, when the city implements a ban on left turns from Howard to State streets and vice versa. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
BANGOR – Sir Maximillion of Howland now has something to put in his scrapbook: a snapshot and a certificate stating, “I worked it on the runway at Petco’s Fashion Show.” Attired in a red Woolrich coat, complete with wooden toggle buttons, the 10-month-old Maltese was… Read More
CAMDEN – The Camden Hills Regional High School Latin Club will hold a fundraising spaghetti supper at 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, at the Camden Masonic Hall, Main Street. Funds raised will support the club’s trip to Italy in April 2008. A cake auction will… Read More
MILBRIDGE – Great Auk Land Trust has appointed Thomas J. Boutureira as its new executive director. He replaces Marty Anderson, who led the land trust for nearly four years. Boutureira was a technical specialist with the U.S. Peace Corps doing conservation and environmental work in… Read More
MILBRIDGE – Downeast TimeBank will offer several informational open houses about time banking. They will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the WHCA office, Milbridge and from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Sumner Memorial High School. TimeBanking… Read More
MACHIAS – Downeast Sexual Assault Services is offering a self-help support group to sexual assault survivors. The group will meet once a week from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Membership is free. For more information call (800) 492-5550. Read More
BELFAST – The River School and All About Games will hold a game fair 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at the Game Loft at 78 Main St. Game store owners and staff will conduct educational games for children and families. All games will be will… Read More
FRANKFORT – The Independent Rescue Service is looking for volunteers. Volunteers will be trained in wilderness, urban, water and ice, and high-low-angle rescue. They also will learn Firefighter I techniques and advanced first aid techniques. Volunteers also are needed to serve as support members who… Read More
BUCKSPORT – A proposed rock quarry planned for Route 46 has raised concerns of residents who live or own property in the area. Vaughn Thibodeau and Sons has filed an application with the planning board to open a 19.6-acre rock quarry on a 146-acre parcel… Read More
HOULTON – Houlton Regional Hospital is co-sponsoring a blood drive with Community Living Association and the American Red Cross from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the Center of Community Health Education. All blood types are needed but type O is in greatest… Read More
PRINCETON – The Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee will meet 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at St. Croix Regional Health Center on Mill Street. The LEPC implements the provisions of the Federal Chemical Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. The public is… Read More
BELFAST – Belfast Maskers is partnering with The Theater at Monmouth touring company to produce a unique version of “Romeo and Juliet.” There will be two performances on Saturday, March 17 at the Maskers Waterfront Theater on Front Street. The first will begin at 2 p.m. and the… Read More
BELFAST – A dialogue for Waldo County will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at Waldo County Technical Center. The title of the dialogue is Planting the Seed in Waldo County: A Farm to School Dialogue between Farmers, Food Service Director and Interested Individuals. Read More
MACHIAS – The Centre Street Church will screen “An Inconvenient Truth” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 9, in the church vestry. Alan Lewis, ecology professor at the University of Maine at Machias, will moderate a discussion after the movie. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
HANCOCK – The annual high school art contest, with District 4 of the Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs as host, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Hancock Community Center on Route 1. The contest is open to high… Read More
TRENTON – A giant indoor yard sale and free country music concert to benefit Christmas for Families, a program sponsored by American Legion Post 207, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at the American Legion Post on Route 3. Read More
CALAIS – Kindergarten and preschool registration will be held 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at Calais elementary school. Children must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 15, 2007, to be eligible for kindergarten registration and 4… Read More
WALDOBORO – The Waldo Theatre will present a youth production of “Sherlock Holmes” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 9; Saturday, March 10; Friday, March 16; and Saturday, March 17. There also will be a 2 p.m. show on Sunday, March 11. The show is directed… Read More
PALMYRA – Two people were injured, one seriously, in a head-on crash late Friday on Route 2 in Palmyra, just west of the Ell Hill intersection. Snow conditions and the possibility of alcohol use by both drivers are being blamed for the 7:30 p.m. crash. Read More
STANDISH – State Police arrested a 21-year-old man Saturday, charging him with the stabbing death of his father in a home located at 91 Manchester Road, Standish. Kristian McKay is charged with murdering Donald McKay, 60. The younger McKay is expected to appear in court… Read More
Recently I had the pleasure of talking with Walt Huffman of Old Town, who is a volunteer with the Speaker’s Forum of the Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. True to his word, Huffman provided me with information about “a renewed outreach effort”… Read More
COLUMBUS, Ohio – While U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has marked a milestone for women in national politics, women are still waiting their turn in the statehouses. Less than a quarter of state lawmakers across America are female, and the share has changed little in… Read More
BANGOR – No more woulda, shoulda, coulda for the Lee Academy girls basketball team. The Pandas did it. 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
BANGOR – The Deer Isle-Stonington Mariners left port Saturday morning for the Bangor Auditorium in search of a bounty. That bounty, the gold ball, is something the Mariners have never had on their ship. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
AUGUSTA – Winning state championships never gets old for Roger Reed, but how such achievements reflect on his career as a high school basketball coach is low on his list of priorities. “It isn’t about me, it never has been,” said Reed, Bangor High’s coach… Read More
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Maine men’s hockey team, which seemed well on its way to a ninth straight NCAA Tournament berth after an 8-0-1 start, now finds itself on the brink of elimination following Saturday night’s 5-3 loss to Massachusetts at the Mullins Center. Read More
BANGOR – Throughout the first quarter of Saturday night’s Class C boys basketball state championship game, Boothbay was dominating Calais inside. The defending state champs had a simple solution to that problem: run, run, and run. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
LEWISTON – Matt Boehmer and his new linemates found the perfect time to start working well together. Boehmer had two goals and an assist, Christian Dionne had a goal and a pair of assists and Andrew Riley stopped all 21 shots his stingy defense allowed… Read More
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Randy Couture added to his resume Saturday night, winning the world regaining the world heavyweight title of mixed martial arts with a five-round decision over Ellsworth native Tim Sylvia before a sellout crowd of 19,049 at Nationwide Arena. Read More
COLLEGE Kelly Law 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
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Maine assistant captain Josh Soares is counting the hours until the Black Bears return to Amherst, Mass., for their best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series with the Minutemen beginning Friday night at the Mullins Center. It was a muffed clearout by… Read More
AUGUSTA – A challenging senior season ended on a high note for Cony of Augusta’s Cassie Cooper. The 6-foot-1 guard, who helped the Rams win their second Class A girls basketball state championship in three years with a 46-41 victory over McAuley of Portland on… Read More
PORTLAND – Waterville Senior High School built the foundation of what could be a lengthy Purple Reign in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon. The precocious Purple Panthers capped an undefeated girls’ basketball season with their first-ever state championship in withstanding a furious comeback by Lake Region… Read More
AUGUSTA – For most Maine schoolgirl basketball players, it would have been the most unenviable of challenges – trying to contain McDonald’s All-American Ashley Cimino. For the unflappable Rachael Mack, it was merely part of her job, and a job well done. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Dexter High senior Jeremiah Barkac placed second Saturday night in the 112-pound weight class of the 43rd annual New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships held at Hillhouse High School. Barkac outpointed his first three opponents in the two-day competition to earn a… Read More
PORTLAND – With the physical ferocity of a football team, Mountain Valley of Rumford clamped down on Camden Hills and made Class B boys basketball history Saturday afternoon. Andy Shorey scored seven of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter to fuel the Falcons’… Read More
BANGOR – The Mount Abram girls basketball team arrived at the Bangor Auditorium Saturday night in a white limousine. They had one more passenger when they left – the gold ball for the Class C state championship. “We wanted to come in style, and we’re… Read More
The Maine Black Bears opened their baseball season with a strong pitching effort from Greg Norton to earn a 14-7 win over Penn on Saturday at Palm Beach, Fla. Villanova beat the Bears 7-5 on Sunday at Boca Raton, Fla. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
WINSLOW – Down two goals headed into the third period, the top-ranked Orono hockey team came at underdog Presque Isle with everything it had. Wildcats’ goaltender Ethan Hill came back with a little something of his own. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The University of Maine led by 12 points early in the second half, but scored only six field goals in the final 20 minutes as Stony Brook earned a 67-56 America East women’s basketball victory on Saturday afternoon. Coach Ann McInerney’s… Read More
BRUNSWICK – Most coaches believe it is defense that wins championships. Keene State basketball coach Keith Boucher thinks it is offense that sets Bowdoin College apart in Division III women’s basketball. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
GORHAM – The Southern Maine women’s basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Fitchburg State 65-54 in a second-round NCAA Division III tourney game Sunday. With the win USM advanced to the NCAA’s Div. III sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive season and… Read More
BOSTON – Judging from the end result whenever things weren’t going as planned for the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the Retrievers might have been better off without a game plan for Saturday afternoon’s America East quarterfinal. The fifth-seeded Retrievers capitalized on confusion to eliminate… Read More
THE BOATBUILDER’S APPRENTICE: THE INS AND OUTS OF BUILDING LAPSTRAKE, CARVEL, STITCH-AND-GLUE, STRIP-PLANKED, AND OTHER WOODEN BOATS by Greg Rossel; McGraw-Hill, Camden, Maine, 2007; 342 pages, large-format hardbound, $39.95. Boats and airplanes take up a lot of space in my boyhood memories. In 1960s summers,… Read More
EAST BOOTHBAY – It’s easy to pinpoint the spot where a road map of New Jersey hung on the wall of Richard Ford’s boathouse during the four years he spent writing his latest Frank Bascombe novel. As Bascombe meandered along the highways of the Garden… Read More
Before the medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, it has been said, doctors harmed or killed more people than they helped. Even if this were only a widespread belief with no basis in fact, it helps explain why during the winter of 1907 dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people… Read More
One of the most frequent requests we get from genealogists is for a list of Web sites. This list isn’t comprehensive, by any means, but these are sites I use a lot. E-mail to Family Ties one or more of your frequently used Web sites… Read More
As a fond mother, when the day is o’er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, 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
In theaters ZODIAC, directed by David Fincher, written by James Vanderbilt, 160 minutes, rated R. 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())… Read More