BANGOR – The city’s ordinance against smoking in cars when a child is inside is headed for the State House. City Councilor Patricia Blanchette, who is also a Democratic state representative, confirmed Thursday that she has submitted preliminary legislation to make Maine one of the… Read More
    A Page One story Thursday by Boston University Washington News Service about the presidential veto of a bill expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program contained an inaccuracy. The cost of expanding the program is $35 billion over five years. Read More
    WASHINGTON – Sandford “Sandy” Blitz of Hudson has been appointed by President Bush to head the U.S. Small Business Administration in New England. Blitz takes over as the SBA’s Region I administrator on Oct. 15. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
    The Maine Commission for Community Service and University of Maine Cooperative Extension will co-host a breakfast talk by David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. Eisner will give a… Read More
    WASHINGTON – More than a half-million Chinese-made products were recalled Thursday, including “Pirates of the Caribbean” and Baby Einstein toys, because they contain dangerous levels of lead. Coin-shaped “Pirates of the Caribbean” flashlights and soft, textured Baby Einstein blocks were among the 544,000 products recalled,… Read More
    NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Kraft Foods announced Thursday it is recalling white chocolate distributed in the United States because of possible salmonella contamination. Kraft said consumers who bought its 6-ounce Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares should immediately discard the product. The recalled product was distributed… Read More
    I recently had the extreme pleasure of attending my class reunion at Old Town. Seeing many of my old classmates brought back the pride I had back in the ’60s of being an Old Town “Indian.” Watching the new Old Town “coyote” prance around, all… Read More
    Regarding the recent article on racial relations in Baileyville, I noted a term used by a town official: redneck. Having matured in the late 1960s and lived when enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was taken seriously, I find stereotypical language to be inappropriate. Read More
    While the governor and others are looking at ways to reduce state expenses and lessen the tax burden on residents, there is one area I have not seen mentioned: county government. The governor may be on to something in attempting to consolidate the administration of… Read More
    The Public Utilities Commission has a major decision to make regarding the sale of Verizon land lines to FairPoint Communications. Several issues need to be carefully evaluated. Will FairPoint Communications be committing the full resources of the company to this project or are they setting… Read More
    National Park Service administrator Pam Underhill’s assertion that global warming and mountaintop removal strip mining are “irrelevant” to the Black Nubble project is unfortunately what we have come to expect from a Bush administration official: a narrow-minded denial of the most pressing environmental crisis of our age, “Wind’s… Read More
    Re: Pat LaMarche’s column “God only knows what to do about m-words” (BDN, Sept. 26), it seems inevitable that someone would get around to blaming God for the mess this world is in. Many years ago I came to the conclusion that God does not… Read More
    Another month at the University of Maine, another report of charges against student athletes. In what has become a depressing pattern over the last year, these young adults – and sometimes their coaches – have been caught breaking the rules, breaking the law and damaging the reputation of… Read More
    One path to a solution to Iraq for the United States could be seen in a Senate vote last week – not in the contents of the nonbinding resolution senators overwhelmingly supported, but in the fact that they could come together on a bold idea strongly opposed by… Read More
    I commend Gov. John Baldacci for using his position to advocate for consolidation of Maine’s jails and urge him to stay the course despite the well-organized opposition to the plan. When I wrote about corrections reform in a book I published almost two years ago, I included the… Read More
    WASHINGTON – A Gardiner couple who adopted a Cambodian infant who was brought to the United States for treatment of an extremely rare genetic disorder were among this year’s recipients of the national Angels in Adoption Award. Mark Hughes and Susan Potter were among adoptive… Read More
    GREENVILLE – The Black Frog Restaurant has its own version of the “Naked Lunch.” Like the novel of that name by William Burroughs, which was banned in some parts of the country because of its alleged obscenity, this small restaurant’s version appears to be headed… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Alliance for Maine’s Future is drafting a citizen petition to force lawmakers to consider creating a BRAC-like commission to reduce state spending and taxes. But Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday the state can’t wait for another study. “The Base Closure and Realignment… Read More
    BANGOR – Parking issues downtown, including complaints about employees who tie up choice parking spots for hours at a time, were considered during a gathering Thursday that was part party, part meeting and part game show. The first Downtown Parking Party, which drew about 15… Read More
    ST. ALBANS – Firefighters from St. Albans, Hartland, Corinna, Harmony and Cambridge had about as much trouble finding a woods fire Thursday afternoon as they did extinguishing it. Firefighters were still on the mountain at 10 p.m., seven hours after it was first reported. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    PITTSFIELD – More than a dozen members of the SAD 53 and SAD 59 regional planning committee debated Thursday night how to blend assets, calendars, personnel, contracts, properties – right down to the leases on copier machines and the cost of school lunches. But the… Read More
    ORONO – The University of Maine will test its new comprehensive emergency notification system on Monday. The alarm system is expected to be audible in parts of Orono and Old Town starting shortly before noon and lasting for about three minutes. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    OLD TOWN – The Old Town-Orono YMCA has hired Mary Beth Kuliga as senior director of aquatics and competitive swimming. She has more than 10 years of aquatics experience and is slated to start Oct. 15 at the Old Town Y. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    The Brewer Education Association will hold a Meet the Candidates forum Oct. 23 in the Brewer High School cafeteria. The doors will open and light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the forum will begin at 7 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    MACHIAS – A 25-year-old Calais man who raped a 14-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday in Washington County Superior Court to five years in prison. Justice Andrew Horton also placed Jeffrey M. Doucette on four years’ probation. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    NOBLEBORO – The annual dinner and meeting of the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the North Nobleboro Community Hall on Upper East Pond Road. Following the meal will be the district’s annual awards. The 2007… Read More
    ST. AGATHA – Discussions between town officials and representatives from the Northern Aroostook Regional Incinerator Facility in Frenchville continue as the town explores whether the municipality could save money by choosing a different option for disposing its solid waste. The town’s Board of Selectmen has… Read More
    BELFAST – A local man was charged with two counts of assault on an officer after allegedly spitting in the face of two corrections officers at the Waldo County Jail. James A. Labarr, 19, of Belfast was arrested Monday at the jail on the charges. Read More
    WASHINGTON – The House passed a bill Thursday that contains language creating a Northern Border Regional Commission. The panel is designed to bring investment, leadership and focus to regional economic development efforts. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
    HOULTON – Voters will see some familiar names on the ballot when they go to the polls on Nov. 6 to fill municipal and school board seats. Campaign signs seeking support for candidates running for Town Council already are sprouting up in Houlton, as six… Read More
    BELFAST – Waldo County Preschool and Family Services has changed its name to Broadreach Family and Community Services. The change was necessitated by the recent mergers of Mid-Coast Children’s Services and Youthlinks, both of Rockland, with Waldo County Preschool and Family Services. “With our service… Read More
    NEWPORT – The two trailers behind the Newport Water District’s sand filtration plant on Williams Road look a bit odd: Pumps are noisily running, hoses are going in and out from nearby Nokomis Pond, water in tubes is dark on one end, light on the other. Read More
    GREENVILLE – Town officials told residents at the August town meeting that they would make every attempt to keep the tax rate low. They carried out that promise this week. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
    CALAIS – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and explosives was inside a local hardware store for a few hours Thursday morning, but no one is saying why. The mystery played out at Johnson’s True Value Hardware Store on North Street. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    CAMDEN – The Select Board will hold a public hearing Tuesday night on a citizen petition request to put a building moratorium on the November ballot. If approved, the moratorium would force the town to turn away applications for single-, two- and multifamily dwellings in… Read More
    MOUNT DESERT – A Mount Desert Island conservation organization has completed its purchase of a plot of land abutting Acadia National Park. Friends of Acadia acquired a 25-acre parcel of land on the north slope of Acadia Mountain on Sept. 26. The purchase price for… Read More
    SEDGWICK – A new early-childhood education center has opened its doors at the local elementary school, the result of a distinctive collaboration among state and federal agencies, the school and a local church. Representatives from those groups joined the youngsters at the school on Thursday… Read More
    MILLINOCKET – Without quite meaning to be, Jerri Cohen has been adopted. Cohen, who has purchased the three-story building at 135-137 Penobscot Ave. to expand her Wreath Factory store, was beginning renovations when five neighborhood teenagers came by and offered to help, she said. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    BANGOR – The motorcyclist who was killed in an accident Wednesday night has been identified as Dana Bowen, 20, of Bangor, according to Bangor police Sgt. Catherine Rumsey. Police were not releasing the name or condition of Bowen’s female passenger, who was also thrown from… Read More
    DEXTER – Dexter Regional High School will hold an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14. There will be student performances and classroom demonstrations, musical entertainment by the high school chorus and band, information booths on the Tri-County Technical Center, Upward Bound,… Read More
    With the weather turning cooler, Sally Baughman of the Rotary Club of Bangor hopes you will think about “the upcoming winter holiday season” and, specifically, “the Rotary Festival of Lights Parade,” to be held Saturday, Dec. 1, in downtown Bangor. Although we are enjoying many… Read More
    SKOWHEGAN – Marijuana raids this week in Somerset County resulted in 10 arrests and netted 400 pot plants, narcotics, cultivation equipment, 16 firearms and drug-related paraphernalia. Among those charged Thursday was Don Christen, 54, the state’s most outspoken marijuana activist, and his wife, Pam Christen,… Read More
    Pigs bring a lot more to society than just fodder for children’s stories and breakfast bacon. In the medical world, pigs provide more than 40 drugs and pharmaceuticals including insulin and Cortisone, Epinephrine and estrogen. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Maine College Transition Program has awarded 22 grants to implement Adult Education College Transition programming. It’s part of the Department of Education’s efforts to support adults transitioning to college. The grants range from $15,000 to $30,000. The total amount awarded is $600,000. Read More
    LEWISTON – A newspaper photographer who captured dramatic images of a fugitive jumping from a third-floor balcony before capturing the suspected car thief drew applause from co-workers when he arrived for work the following day. Sun Journal chief photographer Russ Dillingham was praised by police… Read More
    BANGOR – Police arrested the man who escaped custody earlier this week while being held at Acadia Hospital. A tip led police to an address in Bangor where Jason C. Moulton, 25, was believed to be staying, according to Bangor police Sgt. Catherine Rumsey. He… Read More
    CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A public hearing on a proposal for a wind farm that would be New England’s largest drew little opposition. Two representatives of a grass-roots group that wants to keep 44 wind turbines off Kibby Mountain in western Maine stood alone in opposition… Read More
    ACTON – Quick action by a volunteer “weed watcher” for the Great East Lake Improvement Association has nipped in the bud an infestation of variable milfoil in the 1,776-acre lake along the Maine-New Hampshire line. Fifteen months after Carol Lafond detected and removed the lone… Read More
    SOUTH PORTLAND – Investigators theorize a natural gas explosion that leveled a vacant house took place when a pilot light in a water heater ignited gas that could have entered the two-story building through an empty sewer or water pipe. The blast has been declared… Read More
    It wasn’t much fun last season, but playing most of their non-conference games on the road will pay off this winter for the University of Maine Black Bears. The men’s basketball team is still waiting for its entire 2007-08 scheduled to be finalized, but the… Read More
    It’s a routine midweek afternoon on Victory Field. Old Town’s varsity football team is divided into two groups, both working diligently in preparation for Friday night’s Pine Tree Conference Class B game at Mount Desert Island. It’s been a challenging year for the Coyotes, a… Read More
    WINTERPORT – Winterport Dragway will hold its sixth annual Car Show and Drag Race on Saturday. Gates will open at 8 a.m. and registration will conclude at 11 a.m. followed by the show. There is a $5 fee to enter a car in the show. Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL At Harrington 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
    STANDISH – India Lowe’s second-half goal led the University of Southern Maine past Saint Joseph’s College 2-1 in college field hockey action Thursday. Alyssa Kraus scored on a penalty corner at 13:52 in the first half for the Huskies of Gorham. Allie Hill had seven… Read More
    COLLEGE Sarah Nadeau 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
    BUCKSPORT – Goals by Ben Young and Tyler Steele propelled the Mount Desert Island boys soccer team to its eighth victory of the season, a 2-0 decision over Bucksport Thursday. Young scored at 18:49 of the first half on an assist from Mark Pelletier. Steele… Read More
    DYER BROOK – Junior Tyler Robinson, playing in his first game in three weeks because of an ankle injury, scored a goal and assisted on another to lead Southern Aroostook to a 3-1 high school boys soccer win over Lee Academy Thursday. Josh Branscombe and… Read More
    FORT KENT – A Fort Kent Elementary School seventh-grader is having a blast singing at events throughout New England, the Canadian Maritimes, the province of Quebec and beyond. Melanie Saucier’s latest adventure took her to New Jersey to entertain more than 700 people gathered at… Read More
    Yeehaw! It’s time to put on your chaps and grab a lasso for WE TV’s latest, “Girl Meets Cowboy.” The show is much like ABC’s “The Bachelor,” but there’s a cheesy comical side to watching city girls experience ranch life that you have to watch at least once. Read More
    One thing that’s simultaneously exciting and totally frustrating about journalism is its fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nature. For example: I wrote a lovely column earlier this week about the Eric Lindell Band, which was scheduled to play at the Unity Centre for the Performing Arts tonight. Then I… Read More