AUGUSTA – Maine does not have enough workers with the skills needed for the state’s emerging economy and is not providing the training and educational opportunities needed to fill jobs that are available today, according to a study given to a legislative panel last week. Read More
    WASHINGTON – President Bush again called Democrats “irresponsible” on Saturday for pushing an expansion he opposes to a children’s health insurance program. “Democrats in Congress have decided to pass a bill they know will be vetoed,” Bush said of the measure that draws significant bipartisan… Read More
    The following product recall has been announced: About 83,000 “Avant Yarde” Decorative Glaze Outdoor Candles, imported and distributed by Hayes Company Inc. and made in China, because the candle’s wax can catch fire and cause a high flame. The company has received two reports of… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Charlie Mitchell, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s state legislative office in Washington, has been named director of business and legislative relations for the Maine Community College System. Mitchell is a native of Vassalboro and served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives. Read More
    Dear Jim: I am trying to use as many natural and efficient products as possible. Is cork flooring a truly natural product, is it bad for the environment and will its insulation lower my utility bills? – Andy R. Dear Andy: When most people think… Read More
    As our beloved Boston Red Sox limp toward the playoffs, many diehards are considering upgrading their old television sets with larger ones that have much better resolution so they can watch Manny park one in the upper decks in style. Shopping in large retail stores… Read More
    It’s time to put impeachment “on the table.” On every kitchen table in our country! We, the citizens of this U.S. democracy, are losing the inalienable rights granted by the Constitution. We can no longer afford to be silent. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney… Read More
    With about 16 months left in his presidency, George Bush may have dodged an unnecessary fight by nominating Michael Mukasey to head the Justice Department. Unlike Alberto Gonzales, who left the department last week, Mr. Mukasey has bucked the administration and is known more for his judicial smarts… Read More
    President Bush helped advance the debate over a children’s health insurance bill this summer by refusing to engage in support of either the House or Senate versions, thereby driving Congress to a solid compromise on expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Now he has helped out again… Read More
    Al Brady (BDN, Sept. 13) was a big city mobster who got into bank holdups, police killing and, who knows, perhaps buying off a few Chicago officials. Local officials will lay aside Oct. 8 as Al Brady hero day. He should have been left in the original plot… Read More
    Thanks to the city of Bangor for taking a proactive stance on making Bangor a healthier and safer place to live. Over the past two years, a group called Essex Street Edge has proposed that a 5-foot shoulder be added along Essex Street for pedestrian and biking safety. Read More
    We have an all-volunteer military at the moment. “Support our troops” has been indelibly burned into our thinking. I ask, “When does that support end?” Does it end when they are discharged? Does it extend beyond discharge and to what extent and for how long?… Read More
    Every mental health professional is aware of a personality disorder characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, the necessity to be special and unique, and to associate only with those one considers worthy, the expectation that one always will be in charge in any group, the need always… Read More
    American people are dying and suffering while protecting a Shiite government, which is allied with Iran. A large majority (61 percent) of the people have told our president and congressional delegates that they want the American troops out of Iraq by April 2008. Yet, President… Read More
    As a small-town girl, having lived most of my life in Calais, I’ve come to carry a certain appreciation for the small-town way of life, especially in my travels here in Israel. Work as a journalist brings me to all sorts of places in this country, but my… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Maine’s August unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, unchanged from July’s rate, the state Labor Department said. The 4.8 percent figure was 0.10 of a percentage point higher than the rate for August 2006. It also compares with the national unemployment rate of 4.6… Read More
    This week’s aggressive construction schedule includes work on I-95 as well as on ramps and offramps in Bangor. There also will be construction activity not related to MaineDOT’s work on Stillwater Avenue this week. Sunday, Sept. 16 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    AUGUSTA – That ball of fur waddling toward you in your backyard may look cuddly and friendly, but that raccoon also could be a carrier of rabies. Every year, a handful of Maine residents and visitors fail to heed repeated warnings not to approach wild… Read More
    Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! 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
    HARMONY – School officials were surprised this month to learn that a fee will be charged for participation in this year’s Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. After years of free enrollment, each school must now pay $99 to the Scripps Howard organization for participation. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    BREWER – Saturday’s Iron Dog Competition at Bear Brook Kennel was nothing like an average dog behavior competition. Instead, 13 children laughed and shouted as they wriggled through hoops and tunnels, fetched tennis balls and raced to the finish lines alongside their pooches. At the… Read More
    BANGOR – Maine farmers will have a unique opportunity on Oct. 27 to hear from consumers about their experiences and thoughts on buying local goods. Greg Franklin, a marketing professional from New Hampshire with a background in agriculture, will facilitate a live consumer focus group… Read More
    UNITY – The Unity Farmers Market will hold a pickling party 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. There will be pickle making, pickle sampling and recipe trading. The market vendors will have lots of produce for sale for pickling. Veteran pickle makers will reveal family… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – The Pittsfield Public Library invites children to story time at 10:15 a.m. Mondays. The program is intended for preschoolers ages 2 to 5. Story time is a great way to help young children develop listening and socialization skills, librarian Lyn Smith said. “It… Read More
    CANAAN – Lake George Regional Park will hold a Public Lands Day Event on Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of a national effort. On that day, more than 100,000 Americans will volunteer time to help restore the beauty and vitality of public lands as part… Read More
    BANGOR – St. Joseph Healthcare’s monthly daytime Diabetes Support Group will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, in the Diabetes and Nutrition Center, Building 1, St. Joseph Healthcare Park, 900 Broadway. An evening support group meets the second Tuesday of each month. The next… Read More
    FAIRFIELD – Maine Grass Farmers Network will hold its fourth annual grazing conference beginning with registration at 9:15 a.m. and ending at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Kennebec Valley Community College. A lunch will be prepared with local products. Registration is $25 including lunch and $20 for… Read More
    BANGOR – Hope Lutheran Church will host the first Fall Race for Research to be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Bangor City Forest, Tripp Drive entrance. The race benefits the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Walkers and runners participating will recruit sponsorships. Read More
    BANGOR – The Maine Discovery Museum recently received an Above & Beyond Award from Penquis Community Action Program in recognition of the museum’s extraordinary support for Discovery Day, a program for pregnant and parenting teen mothers. Discovery Day recently celebrated its third anniversary. The museum works with the… Read More
    HINCKLEY – The L.C. Bates Museum, located on Route 201 in Hinckley, will host a Night at the Museum 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5. A chance to view the natural history exhibits at night, the museum will answer the question, “Why don’t we see many animals in the… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Dr. Richard Evans was honored by the Maine Medical Association earlier this month when he received its President’s Award for Distinguished Service at the annual session in Bar Harbor. The award is given to those who contribute in significant ways to the association… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – A no-cost women’s health screening day is scheduled 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Mayo Regional Hospital. Free mammograms for breast cancer screening will be offered at Mayo Regional Hospital’s Imaging Center for Women, while Pap tests and pelvic exams for cervical… Read More
    WILLIMANTIC – Two selectmen were elected and a barking-dog ordinance was approved Friday at a special town meeting. The approximately 40 residents who attended the meeting elected Tom Capraro and Linda Packard as selectmen. Both ran unopposed. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    BANGOR – Penobscot Community Health Care recently received a $45,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation to support the creation of a homeless respite program for the Greater Bangor community. The Oasis Project will provide a safe and healthful alternative to people who are homeless… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – When a town councilor attempted at a recent meeting to push for a full-time recreation department for Pittsfield, other councilors began putting on the brakes. “This is a budget decision,” Town Manager Kathryn Ruth told lame-duck Councilor Christinalyn Hamel. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    BANGOR – A fire Saturday destroyed a two-car garage and severely damaged the roof of a home on Stillwater Avenue. Nobody was home at the time of the fire, and three dogs and a cat were rescued, said Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bostock of the… Read More
    MILO – As required by the town charter, selectmen on Friday provided Town Manager Jane Jones a written list of issues that prompted the board to suspend her temporarily. Jones now has 20 days to ask for a due process hearing. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    A Glenburn man was arrested after he allegedly attacked his wife and a man accompanying her in the Ramada Inn parking lot Friday night. According to a report filed by Bangor police Detective Brent Beaulieu, Greg Benasutti, 38, was charged with domestic assault after he… Read More
    MILFORD – Law enforcement officials are asking merchants in the Bangor area to be on the lookout for a person buying goods with an unusually large amount of quarters that may have been stolen over the weekend. Between $500 and $600 in quarters were reported… Read More
    PENOBSCOT – The town is about to get a new general store. And an old one. 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
    PITTSFIELD – Four Pittsfield residents have taken out nomination papers for two open council seats, while three are vying unopposed for three school board seats. Not all those who have taken papers have returned them, Town Clerk Nicole Nicholan said. They have until 5 tonight… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – SAD 53 notified SADs 38 and 48 on Friday that the district will no longer be pursuing consolidation with either of them. Instead, the Pittsfield area district will concentrate on working with SAD 59, the Madison, Starks and Athens district. The SAD 53… Read More
    CARIBOU – A local woman was severely injured Saturday night after her vehicle collided with a cow moose on Route 1. Holly Handren, 21, suffered severe facial and head injuries in the 7:15 p.m. accident, according to Caribou police Officer Craig Peterson. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    PORTLAND – A former inmate who once described himself as a “ticking time bomb” is back in jail after his arrest on burglary, theft and violation of probation charges. Portland police say 39-year-old Norman Dickinson was arrested in connection with a burglary in July at… Read More
    ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A Maine-bound flight was diverted to Rochester and airport runways were briefly closed after a suspicious item was found in the plane’s bathroom, airline and local authorities said. The object turned out to be harmless, and the airport reopened after about an hour. Read More
    Recently released after receiving treatment at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, 15-year-old Cassandra Tripp is now resting at home in Palmyra. The daughter of Richard Tripp has been diagnosed with leukemia, and her friends and family, under the sponsorship of the St. Albans Volunteer… Read More
    PORTLAND – The Maine Humanities Council will offer the cultural heritage bus tour in which passengers will explore the history and landscape and taste the traditional food of the area running along the historic Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers from the Beauce region of Quebec to Bath. Read More
    Federal regulators are seeking public comment on a proposal to dredge a section of the Penobscot River in Brewer as part of a redevelopment project at the former Eastern Fine Paper Co. site. Cianbro Corp. is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of… Read More
    SOUTH PORTLAND – Tim Janus of New York City won what was billed as the world burrito-eating championship Saturday by eating 103/4 burritos weighing 18 ounces each in 12 minutes. The contest was held outside the Costa Vida restaurant before about 100 spectators with around… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Hundreds of motorcyclists planned to escort a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial up the Maine Turnpike on Sunday from York to Lewiston where the 240-foot-long Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall will go on display Friday at Veterans Park. The wall will remain on… Read More
    ORONO – The University of Maine’s field hockey team entered Sunday afternoon’s game against Providence College with a four-game winning streak in which they conceded just three goals. But the speedy Friars scored three first-half goals and were able to withstand a late rally to… Read More
    OLD TOWN – Saturday’s 58th annual Sectional Invitational marked the halfway point of the high school cross-country season and a number of teams are starting to climb toward their championship level of fitness. The Mount Desert Island girls and Caribou boys made great strides in… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL 58th Old Town Sectional 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
    ORONO – Leah Mattson scored two goals, including the game-winning goal with one second remaining in the second overtime, to lift George Stephens Academy of Blue Hill to a 2-1 girls soccer win over Orono Saturday. Kayla Easton made three saves on six shots for… Read More
    STACYVILLE – Neither Katahdin’s Matt Tarr nor Bangor Christian’s Sam McLeod of Bangor Christian allowed a goal in the second half or two overtimes and both teams had to settle for a 3-3 tie in schoolboy soccer action Saturday. Marshall Davis scored off an Andy… Read More
    What an intriguing title for a talk – and what a beautiful location for a fall meeting. “Curiosities and Commodities: Egyptian Mummies Downeast” will be the keynote at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, when the Maine Old Cemetery Association meets at the Wilson Museum, 107… Read More
    Street urchins roamed Bangor a century ago getting into trouble. A group of young thugs and loafers was growing up in neighborhoods that were “schools for thieving.” The Rev. Alva Roy Scott described this situation one Sunday, sounding a bit like Charles Dickens reading a chapter from “Oliver… Read More
    An Arctic eagle tore the head off A black-backed herring gull, 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