BANGOR – Just when he had gotten the ball rolling – make that dropping – in his effort to give Times Square some competition as the hot spot to spend New Year’s Eve, local lawyer Stephen C. Smith shipped out for a yearlong stint in Afghanistan. Read More
More shoveling, more snowmen and more skiing – and that does not include just the ski resorts in Maine’s western mountains. Many areas of the state got rain this past weekend, but whether you live in Caribou, Calais, Camden, Kittery, or any place in between,… Read More
AUGUSTA – Two state-funded reports and one privately financed study this year point out Maine’s need to replace its aging bridges before time runs out. But where the money will come from to address problems cited in the studies remains to be seen. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
Following is background information about some of the bands that will perform at various venues as part of Downtown Countdown: . Big Time, Union Street Brick Church. This band features progressive funk rock with a blended style including influences from Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and… Read More
Following is the lineup of Downtown Countdown events leading up to the annual midnight ball drop at West Market Square. Events are listed by venue: . Bangor Opera House – 4 p.m., “The Iron Giant”; 7 p.m., live folk music with Generations; 8 p.m., “A… Read More
Can it be true that tomorrow is the start of 2008? Incredible as that seems, it also is true that we all will become one year older sometime in this coming year. Our column has dispensed much ink in the past year encouraging family members… Read More
Dear Jim: I added “smart house” computer controls to make my house more efficient. During even a brief power outage, settings are lost. Are there backup power supplies that don’t waste electricity and are big ones better? – Al S. Dear Al: Smart house controls… Read More
In June, I voted against forming regional school units, a plan that would not work for all schools in Maine. It was too dramatic of a change in too little time. I have listened to the public and have been working on a plan that would give school… Read More
Foreign doctors and foreign nurses have been a godsend. We are grateful. Enough said. And now the obvious questions: Why can’t America produce enough doctors and nurses to meet our own needs? When Maine kids are moving away to get better-paying jobs, why are we giving away some… Read More
Lately it was real estate: Could it be that the next bubble, currently inflating, is ethanol? The new energy bill, which heavily subsidizes corn, is trumpeted as a means of stopping our dependence on foreign oil, but if the entire corn production of the U.S. were used for… Read More
I am writing on behalf of Raft Maine, an association of seven professional white-water rafting outfitters, in support of the Plum Creek concept plan. As supporters, we believe the plan offers substantial benefits in the areas of conservation, wildlife management, habitat protection, sustainable forestry, tourism,… Read More
A Dec. 15 letter, “State of emergency,” states that 7,000 local families need help to heat their homes. The writer says that 47,000 other local families need help to feed, clothe their families and heat their homes. I know that Manna Ministries of Bangor begged for more than… Read More
Polls show that health care is a major issue – rivaled only by the Iraq war – in the current presidential campaign. Complaints about the present system include the mounting cost, the many left out, poor service and too much paperwork. Yet all the major candidates of both… Read More
It’s a typical below-freezing Maine winter day, and as you drive by the neighborhood school, you notice a door propped open, or windows in the second floor raised to let in the fresh air. Balancing heat and humidity in a building – especially an older one – with… Read More
Legislators will soon consider a bill to protect our children from dangerous toys and other products (such as phthalates in IV bags in hospitals) from every country, a problem far more prevalent than Chinese lead paint poisoning. The bill would establish a registry where citizens may gain some… Read More
Happy New Year’s Eve! I love New Year’s resolutions. The idea that I can remake myself in the new year with these simple declarations is hopeful, exciting and empowering. It’s a time to begin anew, a time to continue and a time to be better. Read More
CARMEL – A two-story house on Hinckley Hill Road appeared to have been demolished Sunday night in a blaze that could be seen from Interstate 95. No one was reported injured in the fire. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci says 2008 will be the year state and local governments reorganize to be more efficient and save money or it will be the year when many programs at all levels of government will be cut or eliminated. “There won’t be… Read More
CARIBOU – Representatives of the Maine Department of Labor will be in Caribou to meet with workers who learned last week they were being laid off by ATX, a tax software firm. It was not clear over the weekend how many workers are affected by… Read More
LIMERICK – An 18-year-old Limerick man has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with a hit-and-run snowmobile accident that seriously injured a man who was walking his dog. The Maine Warden Service said Patrick Rosa was arrested Saturday night. Investigator Phillip Dugas said officials… Read More
BELFAST – Ice chips flew through the air and covered clothing as teams of ice carvers sawed, chopped, burnished and chiseled sleek blocks of ice into glistening sculptures depicting everything from animals to mythic totems. Twenty teams gathered along the circular driveway and portico of… Read More
Dover-Foxcroft District Court 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
HOULTON – Frustration and uncertainty surrounding the school consolidation law were palpable among the members of the SAD 29 board late last week, as panelists met with local legislators to determine what the law might mean for the towns and students that make up the district. Read More
ST. DAVID – Madawaska firefighters were able to save a two-story home in St. David from significant damage after a fire broke out at the dwelling Friday evening. Madawaska Fire Chief Norman Cyr said Sunday that the fire at the home of Jerry and Rina… Read More
ADDISON – State police were trying to find out Sunday night who had crashed a car on Basin Road and then fled. Police were unsure what kind of injuries the driver of the 1998 Buick LeSabre suffered when the vehicle rolled and came to rest… Read More
Air Force Airman Brendan L. Byrne has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During his training, Byrne received special training in human relations. He is the son of Patrick Byrne of New Ipswich, N.H., and Susan Pope of Bangor. Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center will offer 24 hours of training in Maine Early Childhood Learning Guidelines at its offices at 50 North St. Classes meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Jan. 28… Read More
HAMPDEN – The Hampden Kiwanis Club will hold its monthly baked bean supper from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Hampden Kiwanis Club Civic Center. For home delivery, call 862-3700 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. the day of the supper. Admission is $6 for adults,… Read More
BANGOR – Free dance workshops at the School of Robinson Ballet that were canceled this weekend because of the snowstorm have been rescheduled. They will be held Saturday with new instructor Stevie Dunham at the school’s studio above the Greyhound bus station in downtown Bangor. Read More
CORINNA – Residents interested in submitting town meeting articles involving the town’s Abner F. Morison Trust Fund should do so by Jan. 14, according to an announcement by the town’s Board of Selectmen. All other town meeting articles are due by Jan. 28. They should be submitted to… Read More
GARDINER – The mother of a Vassalboro man fatally shot by police four days before Christmas said her son was in need of help and shouldn’t have been shot. Jason Wentzell was desperate to talk to his estranged wife, Angel, when he went to her… Read More
Rockland District Court Cases Dec. 10-15, 2007 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… Read More
OLD TOWN – A man jogging Saturday near the YMCA unintentionally helped police catch a shoplifting suspect when he refused a $50 offer to retrieve the alleged thief’s car. Gabriel Ouelette, 22, of Greenbush was summoned for misdemeanor theft after allegedly taking a bottle of… Read More
TRENTON – The transfer of a parcel of land expected to be developed into a bus depot and national park welcome center has been completed, according to officials. Friends of Acadia, which on Dec. 20 acquired a 369-acre property on Route 3, sold 151 acres… Read More
PORTLAND – The Maine Turnpike carried a record number of vehicles in 2007, but the growth was minuscule and the increase in truck traffic outpaced the growth in cars. Turnpike officials said that an estimated 63.4 million vehicles will drive on the state’s busiest road… Read More
VAN BUREN – The New Year’s celebrations started four days early here at a reception Friday evening for Kaetlin Parent, the newly crowned Miss Maine USA. Congratulations and accolades were offered at the Van Buren High School gathering for the 19-year-old Parent, who was named… Read More
SACO – A 42-year-old woman and her teenage son are in jail after being charged in connection with a string of car break-ins in southern Maine. Kimberly Jones and 19-year-old Shane Jones were arraigned Friday after their arrests Thursday night. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
Are you a resolution maker? Is this the time of year when you step back, take stock, and decide just what and how you might change, or improve, in your life or that of another? If you are a resolution maker and you would like… Read More
MONTPELIER, Vt. – Tom Slayton set out hoping to renew interest in Henry David Thoreau, using his feet and his pen. It turned out that following Thoreau’s footsteps to Cape Cod, Walden Pond and Maine’s Mount Katahdin burnished his own admiration of the “Walden” author. Read More
CARATUNK – A Maine game warden escaped serious injury when his snowmobile broke through thin ice on a Somerset County pond. The Maine Warden Service says Scott Thrasher got a dunking in waist-deep water in Pleasant Pond in Caratunk about 10 feet from shore around… Read More
RUMFORD – John L. Batherson, a decorated World War II veteran and a Maine judge for 36 years, died Thursday, Dec. 27 at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. He was 85. Batherson was a native of Rumford, where he and his wife of 57… Read More
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Toledo capitalized on aggressive inside play and tenacious rebounding Sunday night, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds while earning a 61-57 women’s basketball victory over UMaine in the championship game of the University of Miami Holiday Tourney. The Rockets (6-5)… Read More
BREWER – It’s not often one particular play can be THE most critical one in a hockey game with a final score of 9-2. Usually, there is no one key play. It’s the overall collective team effort that’s the key. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
ESTERO, Fla. – The upstart River Hawks from UMass Lowell had lost 14 consecutive games to the University of Maine Black Bears and had won just two of the previous 37 meetings (2-33-2). But the River Hawks exorcised that frustration Saturday night as sophomore right… Read More
For Josh Braley, it was some kind of birthday present. Not only did his wife Allison give him two tickets to his first pro football game, but they enabled the 27-year-old Orland man to witness a moment in sports history as the New England Patriots… Read More
ORONO – Josh Hesseltine scored 10 seconds into overtime to help the Old Town Coyotes knock off the Houlton-Hodgdon Black Hawks 4-3 in overtime Saturday night at Alfond Arena. Old Town’s Jason Smith won the opening faceoff in overtime and sent the puck to Hesseltine,… Read More
HIGH SCHOOL Morse Invitational 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
HIGH SCHOOL Noble Invitational 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
LOCAL EPIC Finale 5K 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
EAST MACHIAS – Senior center Tim Nicely scored a career-high 25 points and added 13 rebounds to lead Washington Academy past George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill 60-54 in a Class C boys basketball game at Gardner Gymnasium on Saturday. Joey Hunter had 15 points… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Chase Huckestein’s goal with 4:26 left in overtime lifted the John Bapst Crusaders to a 3-2 high school hockey win over the Presque Isle Wildcats Saturday. Neil LaFrance and Andrew Casey each scored a goal in the third period for the Crusaders… Read More
MAINE vs. CANISIUS Time, site: Monday, 2 p.m., Koessler Center, Buffalo, N.Y. 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
ATLANTA – Alexa Kaubris connected for 16 points, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, to lead the Bowdoin College women’s basketball team to a 67-57 victory over Roanoke College at the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrel Classic Sunday. Wilmington College beat Bowdoin 73-54 Saturday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – Adam Kingsbury scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Presque Isle to a 62-49 Big East Conference boys basketball victory over previously undefeated Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln on Saturday. Russ Mortland added 20 points for the Wildcats. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
COLERAINE, Minn. – Four Maine biathletes have received nominations to compete for the U.S. Biathlon Team at the Youth and Junior Biathlon World Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany, from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2. Hilary McNamee of Fort Fairfield, Meagan Toussaint of Madawaska, Grace Boutot of… Read More
My occasional visits to the Maine State Library in Augusta often find me browsing the shelves to see what is “new,” or at least new to me. One such volume is “Vital Records of Hartford, Maine, 1767-1891,” compiled by Angela M. Foster and published by… Read More
“DAME FORTUNE SMILED ON BANGOR IN 1907,” the Bangor Daily Commercial declared on New Year’s Eve a century ago. “Industrial Life of the City Prospered and the Prospects for the Future Are Bright.” Such good cheer might have seemed a trifle overblown to some as the Panic of… Read More
TOTE ROADS AND MEMORIES: THE STORY OF A REAL MAINE WOODSMAN, paperback, St. John Valley Times, Madawaska, September 2007, $14.95. FORT KENT – John Sinclair was a giant of a man, a woodsman who became an icon in the Maine logging business, and an administrator… Read More
BY DANA WILDE OF THE NEWS STAFF 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
Reeling back through all the lifetimes of my life , I hear again ancestral voices of the massive form of 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
In theaters THE GREAT DEBATERS, directed by Denzel Washington, written by Robert Eisele, 127 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++) {… Read More
CARIBOU – Monkey Publishing recently announced the release of two new titles, including the fourth book in its “Pioneer Homes” series. “Pioneer Homes” is a series featuring the older houses in a particular town or group of towns. Filled with high-resolution pictures, historical photos and… Read More