ORONO – Some longtime foster parents are threatening to stop taking displaced children into their homes if Maine lawmakers adopt proposed cuts in the stipends they receive. Upset foster and adoptive parents from seven counties met with state officials in Orono on Thursday to learn… Read More
The general election is still more than nine months away, but the combined fundraising total for the candidates running for Susan Collins’ U.S. Senate seat already is closing in on the record set six years ago. The Collins campaign and that of her chief rival,… Read More
BANGOR – A Penobscot County jury Thursday morning found a Greenbush man guilty of stabbing two women after forcing his way into their Milford home 14 months ago. The jury of five women and seven men found Larry Leighton, 62, guilty of two counts of… Read More
CALAIS – Tougher identification rules went into effect Thursday along the nation’s borders, but there appeared to be little added delay as travelers unprepared for the change were in many cases allowed to cross with a warning. Most people entering the country through at least… Read More
A news brief in Wednesday’s paper on donations to the American Red Cross gave the incorrect name for one of the donors. The donor is Affordable Furniture Showcase. Read More
ORONO – New research by University of Maine economists argues that the economic development benefits from the creative economy are driven largely by the use of technology. The creative economy is a term coined by economist and sociologist Richard Florida in his book “The Rise… Read More
The following recalls have been announced: . About 3,900 car charging units included with L.L. Bean Airbeds and made in China. The unit’s batteries can overheat when the car engine is running, causing the battery charging unit to burst. This can pose an injury hazard… Read More
Tom Judge, executive director of LifeFlight of Maine, has been given a two-year appointment to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Emergency Medical Services advisory council. Judge has received national and international recognition for his work with EMS and has taken the lead in organizing LifeFlight of Maine… Read More
By adding an extension of unemployment benefits and including more low-income people in its tax rebate, the stimulus package passed by the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday will do more to boost the economy than the plan passed by the House of Representatives. In addition… Read More
Most noncoffee drinkers will, if pressed, admit to liking the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The smell of roasting coffee beans, however, isn’t as universally appealing, Patrick Reilley readily admits, comparing it to “burned toast.” A neighbor of Mr. Reilley’s roasting operation in Rockland, Rock City Coffee Roasters,… Read More
Oh, what fun! Our federal leaders have noticed a potential dust-up economywise and found a gazillion dollars for a fixer-upper. Per usual, the GOP wants to make tax cuts for the rich permanent while their opponent, the Democrats, can’t decide how to divvy up the dole to the… Read More
I’m writing in reference to the article on Stephen King in the BDN, Jan. 19-20 edition. In the list of Mr. King’s works you have “Black House,” which he co-wrote with Peter Straub, however, “The Talisman” (written in 1984 also with Peter Straub) is conspicuously… Read More
We hear the news about the plan to jump-start the economy. Here is a great idea. Roll back the prices on diesel fuel so the truckers can bring in the supplies for the stores, which in turn, should lower the food and gas prices. This would benefit the… Read More
In her Jan. 21 column, Deborah White presents a challenge to school systems to create places “where learning is at the heart of everything. Not grades. Not college acceptance.” I applaud her scenario in which students, accompanied by adults, confront problems in the real world and learn by… Read More
Will some of you who think Hillary walks on water please explain something to me. Bill says Hillary is the smartest woman on earth. How then is it that she lost the Rose Law Firm records during the course of a federal investigation, only to have them show… Read More
In my travels around the U.S., I’ve seen roads of all descriptions and conditions, from dirt tracks to eight-lane freeways. As a resident of Maine for 22 years, I think I can safely say that Maine has the worst secondary road system in the United States. Read More
I am in total agreement with Carl Chase’s letter “A gray area of thanking the troops” (BDN, Jan. 18). He has eloquently and succinctly addressed my feelings towards the difficulty of wholeheartedly supporting the troops in this war. As was the case when I was… Read More
My wife and I are therapeutic foster parents. Thanks to Gov. Baldacci’s inappropriate cuts to foster care reimbursements we may no longer be able to provide for foster children. Working with therapeutic foster children is challenging and requires one parent being home. Appointments and explosive… Read More
Maine has a lot to be proud of in its recent investments in research and development, and the message is clear that the state must maintain its momentum in this area in order to best help its residents. That’s why now, more than ever, Maine policymakers must look… Read More
The national news is replete with stories about low consumer confidence and the subprime mortgage crisis. But the local story isn’t quite so bleak. Last week in “Bangor: Real estate trade ‘fairly stable’ despite dip” (BDN, Jan. 19), the Bangor Daily News correctly reported that the Bangor real… Read More
One of the first things people asked me when they heard that I was going to the South Pole was, “How many other women will be there?” I could have told them about the director of the station, B.K. Grant. And the winter site manager,… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party is predicting a record turnout of activists for this weekend’s party caucuses. Executive director Julie Ann O’Brien said Thursday that enthusiasm for the caucus has been growing daily and that she expected a strong showing of participants. She said… Read More
ROCKLAND – Access to legal services hasn’t changed much in the past 17 1/2 years, lawyers attending the annual meeting of the Maine Bar Association on Thursday were told. Just one in five of the poor people who qualify for legal aid are able to get legal assistance… Read More
BANGOR – The story of an 84-year-old woman still brings tears to Mary Kuykendall’s eyes. As part of a recent trip to Mobile, Ala., with members of the Maine Association of Realtors, Kuykendall attended a home dedication ceremony for families who had received new homes… Read More
The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health announced Thursday that it will move into an interim laboratory facility on Sylvan Road in Bangor. The institute, established in 2005, is a subsidiary of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer, in partnership with the University of Maine in Orono… Read More
CORINNA – Laurie Mountain hasn’t slept much since Monday night and all she had eaten Thursday were two cold egg rolls. Mountain said she’s too worried about finding every last one of the felines that were dropped off near her house on Bolstridge Road –… Read More
The chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission voiced disappointment this week over the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to allow the northern Maine electricity market to operate as is, despite what he says is overwhelming evidence that a competitive market has not developed in the region. Read More
CORINTH – The Fire Department has received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under its firefighter assistance program, Fire Chief Scott Bragdon said Wednesday. The money will be used to purchase 10 new breathing apparatuses for the department. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
The Great Maine Bike Swap is coming to Orono. The event, which brings together people buying and selling used bicycles and gear, will take place at the University of Maine’s new Student Recreation and Fitness Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4. Hundreds… Read More
Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon meeting and program about kayaking in the Great Slave Lake of Canada at Fields Pond Audubon Center, scheduled for today, is canceled because of the weather. For information, contact Judy Kellogg Markowsky, director, at 989-2591, or e-mail jmarkowsky@maineaudubon.org. Read More
BREWER – An underground water leak on State Street, in front of Calvary Baptist Church, has been identified and work crews from the Brewer Water Department and Public Works began digging up the site to repair it Thursday. Work began at 8:30 a.m. and slowed… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Police are investigating a rollover accident that demolished a car Wednesday night but left its driver unscathed. Officer Thom Tardiff said Thursday that Portia Judson, 38, of Bar Harbor was driving a 1995 Subaru wagon south on Route 3 along the ocean-side… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Town councilors are hoping again to shed a little light on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The decorative lighting on the bridge was turned off last year, and councilors hope to find a way to turn it back on again. On Thursday, they authorized… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A skidder was destroyed by fire Wednesday morning at a logging site off Route 1. A crew was welding on the belly pan of the skidder when the rig caught fire, according to Lt. Ken Worden of the Ellsworth Fire Department. The skidder… Read More
CASTINE – The Maine Maritime Academy Alumni Association will sponsor a lecture by Tom Norton, a graduate of the college’s Class of 1971, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Delano Auditorium, located in Leavitt Hall on the college campus. Norton’s lecture will focus on… Read More
BLUE HILL – An anonymous donor has given $10,000 to the Peninsula Ambulance Corps. The check arrived in the mail last month with a note that stated: “I am pleased to submit this donation of $10,000 in gratitude for the expert care provided by Peninsula… Read More
CASTINE – The board of trustees of Maine Maritime Academy will hold a regular quarterly meeting at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in the Holmes Alumni Heritage Room on the lower level of the Harold Alfond Student Center on the college campus. Victoria Larson of… Read More
BANGOR – The city entity once known as the Health and Welfare Department unveiled its new name and revamped mission Thursday during a daylong open house at its recently renovated facilities at 103 Texas Ave. The event drew about 50 well-wishers, including Maine’s first lady… Read More
LINCOLN – Auburn Ward 1 City Councilor Michael J. Farrell expressed regret Thursday that leaked confidential information caused Town Manager Glenn Aho to drop out of the running for the open Auburn city manager’s job. Aho abruptly withdrew his candidacy for former Auburn City Manager… Read More
CASTINE – More than 300 Maine Boy Scouts and their leaders are expected to participate this weekend in the 36th annual Klondike Derby on the campus of Maine Maritime Academy. The derby, sponsored by the MMA Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national community service… Read More
CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy is seeking nominations from the public for student awards recognizing outstanding service and leadership within the Greater Castine community. The Phyllis Tenney Community Service and Leadership Award, which is the top student achievement award, is given annually to a student… Read More
AUGUSTA – The state Department of Education has set the dollar amounts school districts can charge for nonresidents to attend their high schools, and most schools now can charge more. The state average grew from last year’s $7,618 to $8,039 for 2007-08, an increase of… Read More
AURORA – The CSD 8 school board voted Wednesday to cancel a Thursday meeting with SAD 63 officials, basically because it doesn’t want to be involved with a possible lawsuit involving the superintendent, a board member said. CSD 8 and SAD 63 split the cost… Read More
BAR HARBOR – One issue towered above the rest at the local Town Council meeting Tuesday: What should the town do about cell phone network infrastructure? Prompted by interest expressed by Verizon Wireless in expanding its network to Bar Harbor, town planners have come up… Read More
APPLETON – February might not be the ideal month to think about farmers markets, but to Appleton farmers Caitlin Hunter and Cheryl Denz, the time is perfect. Hunter, who was re-elected president of the Rockland Farmers Market at its annual meeting last week, is looking… Read More
Two teenagers were summoned Wednesday night in Orono after police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle they were in. Police were called around 8 p.m. when someone noticed that the teens’ car had been in the same spot on Marsh Lane around the… Read More
BANGOR – Maine Public Broadcasting Network has proposed consolidating its two operations on Texas Avenue into one building, but officials reinforced that no jobs would be lost, nor does the change indicate a pullout from the city. MPBN presented to employees Thursday the plan to… Read More
BANGOR – City leaders have a message for their federal counterparts: They can’t do it alone. Concerned about the implications of a major cut in funding for drug enforcement activities, Bangor city councilors during a meeting this week unanimously adopted a resolve calling upon the… Read More
WISCASSET – A 78-year-old woman remains free on $1,000 bail on five felony counts stemming from the seizure of 71 pets from her Somerville home. The Lincoln County district attorney filed charges of aggravated animal cruelty against Fern Clark based on evidence found during a… Read More
AUGUSTA – With a band of highly motivated supporters and a natural appeal to a mass of like-minded independents, Ron Paul’s prospects at this weekend’s Maine Republican caucuses are rated very high by party officials and other political observers. Maine’s GOP polling Friday, Saturday and… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A convicted rapist who already has served 31/2 years in prison was sentenced Thursday to return there for an additional four years for repeatedly violating his probation. Christopher Wells, 31, appeared in Hancock County Superior Court on charges that he violated his conditions… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A man suspected of stabbing a Maine State Police trooper was charged Thursday with aggravated assault, assault on an officer and reckless conduct at his initial appearance in Hancock County Superior Court. Joshua Gray, 24, of Ellsworth reportedly used a pocketknife to stab… Read More
BIDDEFORD – State police divers have recovered the body of the driver of a sport utility vehicle that plunged into the Saco River 11 days ago. The body was identified by family members as that of 39-year-old Robby Harrison, who vanished after his vehicle ran… Read More
PORTLAND – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded $2 million in emergency grants to help workers who will lose their jobs when the Brunswick Naval Air Station shuts down. U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine announced the emergency funding on Thursday. Read More
PORTLAND – The University of Southern Maine has wrapped up its on-campus interviews of the four finalists to be the school’s next president. Nancy Kleniewski, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, fielded questions Wednesday from faculty, students and… Read More
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – It took a mighty mouse effort to airlift some 7,000 stranded lab mice to West Coast research labs this week. A truck hauling the mice for The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, had to pull over in Wyoming on Tuesday… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Maine State Museum will present One For the Wood Heap Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, featuring activities intended to combat midwinter cabin fever blues. Activities will include tours of the “At Home in Maine” exhibit and “Warm… Read More
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Assistance program has awarded $138,564 in operations and safety grants to two Maine fire departments. The grants were: googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
YORK – Fire investigators say a four-alarm fire Wednesday night and another fire two weeks ago at the Stage Neck Inn at York Harbor were set deliberately. No injuries were reported in the Wednesday night blaze that broke out in the oceanfront hotel’s main building. Read More
WASHINGTON – Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake confirmed this week that effective Feb. 1, 2008, the VA is raising its mileage reimbursement rate to 28.5 cents a mile for the VA Beneficiary Travel Program, according to Sen. Olympia Snowe. Under current law, veterans with a… Read More
ORONO – Nobody would have blamed Jeff Marshall if he decided to transfer from the University of Maine after last season. He had played in just 19 games in his first two hockey seasons and wasn’t guaranteed any playing time this season. He hadn’t registered… Read More
Zak Ray, like so many other Bangor High School basketball players of the past 23 years, sees Roger Reed as both coach and teacher. But he didn’t fully appreciate the impact of Reed’s lessons until later, when he arrived at Bates College in 2003 to… Read More
Tuesday night’s scene at Folsom Gymnasium in Fairfield was a bit surreal by Lawrence High School boys basketball standards. The tiny gym was half full of spectators at best, and the home team had a more youthful appearance than normal – not surprising since it… Read More
OLD TOWN – The Old Town boys basketball team made it look easy for much of the early going at MacKenzie Gymnasium on Thursday night, but had to withstand two second-half comebacks by Hermon before outlasting the stubborn Hawks 58-52. The win improves the Coyotes… Read More
HIGH SCHOOL Mount Ararat 48, MCI 30 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
COLLEGE America East 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
Gorham High School junior midfielder Rachele Burns has been honored as the Gatorade Maine High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year, the second consecutive Gorham player to win the award. Burns registered 18 goals and nine assists this fall in leading the Rams to… Read More
STACYVILLE – The Katahdin Cougars turned up their defensive pressure in the second half, holding Ashland to 18 points and turning a four-point halftime lead into a 56-37 upset victory over the Hornets in Class D schoolgirl action Thursday night. Olivia McNally connected for a… Read More
HARRINGTON – Blake Chase tallied 15 points as Narraguagus outscored Washington Academy of East Machias 17-13 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 57-49 Class C boys basketball victory Thursday night. Kristopher Greene scored 14 points while Chase Kennedy added 12 for the… Read More
GUILFORD – Kelley Robinson scored 23 points as the Bangor Christian Patriots edged the Piscataquis Community Pirates 42-39 in schoolgirl basketball action Thursday night. Hannah Pray chipped in with eight points for the winners. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
STANDISH – The Saint Joseph’s College Monks rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Rivier College 76-75 in men’s basketball action Thursday night. Raymond Eatmon spearheaded Saint Joseph’s balanced effort with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Elbie Murphy netted 11 points, while Scot Vachon… Read More
Dewey Martin, who coached the Hampden Academy girls soccer team for five seasons, has been let go – and he said he doesn’t know why. Martin said Broncos athletic director David Shapiro told him in December he wouldn’t recommend the coach be asked back for… Read More
MAINE vs. UMASS LOWELL & MASSACHUSETTS Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m., Tsongas Arena, Lowell, Mass.; Saturday, 7 p.m., Mullins Center, Amherst, Mass. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
EAST MACHIAS – As the high school basketball regular season winds down, teams are scrapping for valuable Heal points – anything to gain an edge in the standings. The Washington Academy girls basketball team did just that Thursday night, knocking off previously undefeated George Stevens… Read More
Alexander Fiterstein’s first encounter with Bangor Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li was a case of perfect harmony. The two performed together at a concert in Ohio several years ago, and were delighted to find they got along in a major way – they were in… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Shakespeare’s three witches will meet again next week as the Bard of Avon’s tragedy “Macbeth” comes to the shores of the Penobscot for the Bucksport High School’s first Shakespeare Festival. The festival kicked off this week with a school assembly and will end… Read More
On DVD LA VIE EN ROSE, directed by Olivier Dahan, written by Dahan and Isabelle Sobelman, 140 minutes, rated PG-13. In French with English subtitles. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
The scene: a frigid wasteland. Desolate miles of snow and ice. Wind biting and snapping like a dog left chained outside. Numb extremities. Trudging through the elements, where even your Thinsulate-lined boots don’t keep you warm. Sound familiar? Ah, but for the intrepid wanderer, relief… Read More
The allegedly more hip, more modern Miss America pageant last weekend was more like a Doublemint gum commercial than a breath of fresh air. Much to the disgust of The Man on the Couch, we watched hours of “Miss America Reality Check” on TLC leading… Read More