ORONO – University of Maine commencement speaker Doug Hall on Saturday challenged about 1,860 new graduates to lead a revolution against the failed policies of their parents’ generation. Eliciting frequent laughs throughout his brief, eccentric talk, Hall took serious aim at the widening gap between… Read More
BANGOR – Marching to the skirling sounds of the Anah Highlanders bagpipe band, 362 chilly Husson College students filed onto the baseball field at the Winkin Athletic Complex on Saturday morning to receive their college degrees. About 2,500 friends and family members filled the metal bleachers to take… Read More
AUGUSTA – With the nation’s economy in the doldrums, members of Maine’s congressional delegation are supporting efforts to spur small businesses to create more jobs. “There is no question that small businesses are the engine of our national economy, and even more so in Maine,”… Read More
BATH – The Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer was christened Saturday with the name of the fighter pilot who spent 7 1/2 years in captivity in North Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor and served as presidential candidate Ross Perot’s running mate. Four Medal of… Read More
In a Page A1 story in Saturday’s paper, the name of the salutatorian of the University of Maine Class of 2008 was misspelled. The correct spelling is Anh Hoai Do. A sports caption in Thursday’s paper incorrectly listed one of the teams in the game… Read More
Colleges and universities across the state held commencement exercises Saturday. At the University of Maine at Presque Isle, more than 1,200 people flocked to Wieden Hall Gymnasium to see 275 graduates get their degrees. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Measures intended to save the severely degraded forests in Nova Scotia are too little, too late, a new report says. The Halifax-based research group GPI Atlantic, in a report released last week, says more needs to be done to counteract decades… Read More
Say the word “wardrobe” and you might think of a Hollywood star’s closet full of designer clothes. Make it a gerund, and “wardrobing” is a growing problem. Combined with other forms of consumer fraud, it cost merchants more than $10 billion last year alone. Wardrobing… Read More
SCARBOROUGH – It’ll be hard for local residents to overlook the grand opening of the Cabela’s store that marks its foray onto L.L. Bean’s home turf this week. Here in Scarborough, it may be the biggest event of the year, possibly surpassing the town’s 350th… Read More
Every time I hear about the big oil companies reporting billions upon billions of dollars in profit, I’m happy. Pleased to know that they have an incentive to explore, drill and pump more of a resource that is becoming harder to find. I’m pleased that my stocks in… Read More
Want to squeeze a few more miles out of that next overpriced tank of gas? Tom and Ray Magliozzi aka Click & Clack of NPR’s Car Talk fame have a list of miles-per-gallon boosters on their Web site. And they’re not just the obvious and typical “be sure… Read More
Even those with misgivings about the school consolidation effort should welcome the part of the law that creates a new school budget approval process. Beginning this month, multicommunity school districts across the state will use the same budget approval process. It’s a process that proponents say builds community… Read More
The trucking industry’s drive on Washington D.C. was an exercise in futility and a waste of precious fuel. It only highlights the ignorance of the American people. They trust blindly that their political leaders will do the right thing by them. The political system in… Read More
The letter “Billing Iraq” (BDN, May 3) suggests we should be compared to rapists of Iraq, who are asking for a six-pack and duct tape after doing the dirty deed. I strongly disagree. The Iraqis were literally being raped by Saddam’s sons in the past,… Read More
I believe it was car dealer John Darling who created the great commercial slogan: “Check anywhere you wish first, but check us last.” And that’s the way Maine’s politicians think about Washington County – last. But I’m glad to note that nationwide the ill wind… Read More
I don’t know why Hillary doesn’t eagerly grab that vice presidential spot. We all know who is running the country today. Robert Skoglund googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
Bicyclists will ride a little more safely this year since the passage of LD 1808 last summer. This law made Maine the first state to allow motorists to cross the solid yellow line when passing a bicyclist, and made us the 10th state to have a 3-foot passing… Read More
The April 30 editorial “Tribal Gamble” states that “Rebuilding the Maine Indian State Tribal Commission, with both money and goodwill, is necessary to move both the tribes and the state forward.” As a former appointee to the Maine Indian State Tribal Commission representing Indian Township, I respectfully disagree. Read More
“And these children that you spit on, as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re going through.” – DAVID BOWIE googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
It is with certainty that I stand in support of Chellie Pingree for Congress. Several years ago, as a fledgling superintendent-principal of North Haven Community School, my mettle was immediately tested by a host of district issues. The newly elected school board chairperson, fortunately, happened to be Chellie. Read More
COLUMBIA FALLS – There are about 50,000 more salmon in the Pleasant River this week thanks to the annual stocking effort of the Downeast Salmon Federation. The federation runs the Pleasant River Fish Hatchery which raises the salmon from fertilized eggs and then stocks the… Read More
The final door of Rita Poirier’s red Mercury Grand Marquis slammed shut just as the first rays of sunshine peeked over the horizon one recent day. Inside the car, Poirier’s long earrings swayed as she chuckled at her three colleagues in the back seat, who… Read More
FORT KENT – Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency were on the ground this weekend ready for business in the wake of Friday’s federal disaster declaration for Aroostook County. Though much of their needed equipment and materials remained in boxes for unpacking, FEMA employees… Read More
BANGOR – Whether an Abbot man’s manslaughter conviction should be overturned because a major piece of evidence was destroyed before he was charged is scheduled to be one of six appeals the Maine Supreme Judicial Court will consider Tuesday in the Penobscot County Courthouse. The… Read More
Silver anniversaries in the field of education abound this year. Three of them are: MathCounts, a national program designed to increase the skill and enthusiasm of middle school students for mathematics, the release of “A Nation at Risk,” a landmark report on the state of education in the… Read More
VEAZIE – William Charles Simpson Sr. said last week in his commencement address that he felt like he had spent the last 40 years on a quest – one he hopes will end next year when he becomes a United Methodist minister. Simpson, 57, of… Read More
BREWER – When it comes to spreading peace, children are the perfect conduits, because they judge people based on their actions and not stereotypes, Gary Ross, Children’s International Summer Villages Maine president, told Brewer city councilors Tuesday. The Maine Chapter of CISV USA will hold… Read More
SANGERVILLE – It is believed a 4-year-old child started a fire late Sunday afternoon that damaged a Douty Hill Road home, according to Fire Chief Chuck Bean. Bean said the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the origin of the fire that began about 5:40… Read More
Neighborhood letter carriers in eastern Maine collected an estimated 130,000 pounds of donated foods for local charities on Saturday during the 16th annual one-day food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Letter carriers from more than 70 community post offices took part… Read More
. 6:30 p.m. Monday, City Hall, City Council finance committee, special meeting, contract award for design and construction services for fire station. . 7:30 p.m. Monday, City Hall, City Council, regular meeting, ordinance amendment to allow certain employees to serve on ethics board, authorizing execution… Read More
Penobscot Valley High School, Howland Principal Carol Marcinkus has announced the honor parts for the Class of 2008. Class night exercises will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29. Commencement exercises will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1, in the George Sereyko… Read More
GREENVILLE – Je l’amitie commence. A group of residents from Greenville and St. Come-Liniere, Quebec, are working to develop an exchange program to foster a relationship between the two communities. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
GREENVILLE – The Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program is funding a free women’s health screening day Wednesday, May 14, in Greenville. This program provides free health care to women ages 40-64 who have little or limited health insurance and who meet certain income guidelines. Read More
BANGOR – More than 3,000 students from throughout the state will pack the Bangor Auditorium on Monday to await a chance to be selected to guest conduct John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” finale with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. This is a long-standing tradition. Read More
JONESPORT – Friends of the Peabody Memorial Library will hold their second annual perennial plant sale from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 7, rain or shine, on the lawn of the library on Main Street. Houseplants, soaps and a raffle basket also will be… Read More
ROCKPORT – A women’s health screening day will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, on the Penobscot Bay Medical Center campus. The screenings will take place at the Women’s Health Building at 3 Glen Cove Drive and at the PenBay… Read More
CHERRYFIELD – The Maine Seafood Alliance will hold a directors meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Down East RC&D Office. For information, contact Gary Edwards at 546-2368 or gary.edwards@me.usda.gov. Read More
WISCASSET – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency has awarded a $400,000 grant and a $1 million loan to the Water District to replace about 6,600 feet of iron pipe. The project will replace deteriorating pipe that is about a century old and… Read More
BELFAST – The Lions Club will hold its annual Fabulous Sunday Brunch from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 18, at the Waldo County Shrine Club, Northport Avenue. The brunch features eggs to order, omelets, crepes, home fries, baked beans, ham, bacon, sausage, toast, muffins,… Read More
PITTSFIELD – More than two dozen employers have signed up to recruit prospective employees at a coming regional job fair, according to Town Manager Kathryn Ruth. The fair will be held 3:30-8 p.m. Monday, May 19, at the Warsaw Middle School gymnasium and cafeteria. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
PITTSFIELD – At least eight cars and other vehicles have been stolen in the last two weeks in the Pittsfield-Hartland-St. Albans-Palmyra area, prompting police to warn owners to lock up their vehicles. “None of them are coming back undamaged,” Somerset Deputy Niles Bowman said Sunday. Read More
DEXTER – Some town officials believe a one-size-fits-all approach for a shore-land zoning ordinance is not appropriate for a small community struggling to foster economic growth. The Town Council on Thursday had been expected to act on proposed shore-land zoning changes that would be incorporated… Read More
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has announced that her staff will hold a military academy seminar for students, parents and guidance counselors interested in the application process for U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine academies, as well as private… Read More
ORLAND – The historical society invites the public to a presentation on antique car restoration by John Jones of Kool Kustoms at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at the town hall. After the presentation will be the regular business meeting and refreshments. Read More
BLUE HILL – The public is invited to join the play reading group for Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the public library. Anybody interested in reading or just listening is welcome. No experience is necessary. For information, call the… Read More
ROCKLAND – The Farnsworth Art Museum will hold its annual spring meeting for longtime and new volunteers beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 20. A coffee reception in the museum’s library will be followed by an informative meeting in the auditorium. The Farnsworth seeks volunteers… Read More
DAMARISCOTTA – Spectrum Generations Coastal Community Center will hold its weekly social lunch program beginning at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 14. After the luncheon, hybrid car specialist Trisha Hunter from Lee Auto Mall in Topsham will provide the latest information about hybrid cars. The center’s… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The high school alumni association will hold its annual meeting and presentation of the 2008 scholarship awards on Wednesday, May 21. There will be a lasagna supper at 5:30 p.m. The annual meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The award-winning high school show… Read More
INDIAN RIVER – Pleasant River Historical Society will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. today, at the Grange Hall on Route 187. Joan Cartledge will show slides and speak about her missionary experiences in Labrador. For information, contact Cathy Fonda at 483-4655. Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society will present a program on how Dover-Foxcroft appeared and what life was like 100 years ago. The program will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Thayer Parkway meeting room. David Dean, a society member, will… Read More
Members of Belfast Garden Club are as busy as they can be, and if you can assist them, they would be most grateful. Pat Felton wrote that “right now, we are digging up and potting up plants everywhere there is a need to divide and… Read More
PORTLAND – A 14-year veteran of the Police Department has been indicted on five charges arising from an alleged assault on his wife at their Westbrook home in March. Brian Regan faces felony charges of reckless conduct with a weapon and criminal threatening with a… Read More
DEXTER – A road the late Harold Alfond traveled many times over the years to and from the company he founded and operated here soon will be named after him. The town, having received approval from the Legislature, will name a portion of Route 7… Read More
AUGUSTA – A former drug prosecutor has been reviewing and analyzing Maine’s unsolved homicides for about a year, hoping that a fresh look can result in a breakthrough. The hiring of Lara Nomani marked the first time that the Attorney General’s Office has dedicated a… Read More
PORTLAND – State officials say heightened levels of red tide have triggered a ban on shellfish harvesting along sections of the southern Maine coast. Clams are off-limits from Cape Elizabeth to the New Hampshire line, except for softshell clams in the Scarborough River. Mussels, European… Read More
WATERVILLE – A Somerset County school district is being urged by one of its members to drop evolution from its high school science curriculums on grounds that it is an unprovable theory that should not be taught as fact. “You can’t show, observe or prove… Read More
PORTLAND – A plan to force cargo ships to slow down while traveling in waters frequented by endangered North Atlantic right whales has been put on hold by the Bush administration. The Office of Management and Budget is challenging the conclusions of the plan drafted… Read More
SEARSPORT – Civil War buffs and others with an interest in Maine history may want to attend a lecture and presentation on Tuesday night by the editors of a new collection of Civil War letters. The letters, discovered in the mid-’90s at the Shore Village Museum in Rockland,… Read More
LEWISTON – Police are investigating three suspicious fires that were reported within a period of 36 minutes. The fires took place Saturday afternoon. The first was in a pile of trash in an alley on Canal Street, the second in a car parked in the… Read More
WASHINGTON – A Navy destroyer will call in Boothbay Harbor during the coastal resort town’s Windjammer Days Festival next month. The USS Anzio will pay a port visit June 23-26. The visit was announced by Sen. Susan Collins, who requested it. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
WATERVILLE – The high school gym was a blur of spangles, fringes and beads as baton twirlers spun, threw and twirled Saturday during the Maine Games State Baton Twirling Championships. There were silver blouses, sequined waists, hair adorned with stars or feathers, and everywhere were… Read More
PARIS – Prosecutors have dropped a misdemeanor assault charge against the former leader of a referendum campaign to develop a casino in Oxford County. Rumford lawyer Seth Carey stepped down from the campaign last month after being issued a summons for an assault that allegedly… Read More
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Maine State Housing Authority $199,084 to provide homeless veterans in Maine with rental assistance vouchers coupled with services from Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Unlike the other approximately 3,800 rental vouchers that the… Read More
WESTBROOK – The Maine Credit Union League, in conjunction with the Aroostook Chapter of Credit Unions and the National Credit Union Foundation, has launched a secure Web site to collect contributions for credit unions in Aroostook County to use to help credit union members affected by the recent… Read More
HERMON – Hermon’s Kris Watson has attained an unusual level of consistency. The 27-year-old has won every heat race and every feature in the Super Street class this season and that included two wins on a double race card on Sunday at Speedway 95. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Brad Polcare went 10 for 13 with two home runs, a triple and two doubles to lead top-ranked Castleton (Vt.) State to the North Atlantic Conference baseball championship by sweeping No. 4 Husson College 10-6 and 22-2 in the championship round at East Field… Read More
BUCKSPORT – Don’t look now, but reports of the demise of the Bucksport baseball team may have been premature. After a loss to Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln as Monday that dropped the Golden Bucks to an uncharacteristic 1-4, coach Tiger Stewart’s club rebounded with four… Read More
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Maine’s streak of seven consecutive seasons reaching the postseason is over. Junior Justin Albert on Sunday became the third Vermont lefthander to stymie the Black Bears on the weekend, pitching a five-hitter in the Catamounts’ 9-1 victory in Game… Read More
LOCAL At Town Hill, Sunday 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 New England Championships 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 Saturday 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
Hole-In-One BARRY CRAWFORD 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
ORONO – University of Maine softball player Ashley Waters has been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 1 Second Team for the second consecutive year. A communications major, the junior second baseman led America East in hits (58), home runs (10) and… Read More
OXFORD – Canton’s Travis Adams passed Ricky Rolfe of Albany Township with 14 laps to go and held on to win the 40-lap Late Model feature Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway. Rolfe took second, Shawn Martin of Turner was third, Billy Childs Jr. of… Read More
LIMESTONE – Kalli Cote hit two doubles, a single and drove in four runs as Limestone Community School/Maine School of Science and Mathematics remained undefeated with a 17-9 schoolgirl softball victory over Washburn on Saturday. Melanie Allen doubled and singled with three RBIs while Kellie… Read More
CALAIS – Tessa Clark allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in a complete-game pitching effort to lead undefeated Calais to a 4-1 Downeast Athletic Conference softball victory over Woodland on Saturday. Toni Cole doubled and drove in a run for Calais. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
RANGELEY – Greenville erased a 3-0 deficit with five runs in the sixth inning to avoid the sweep by Rangeley with a 5-3 win in the second game of a schoolboy baseball doubleheader Saturday. In the first game, Luke Hammond hit two singles and a… Read More
KEENE, N.H. – Keene State scored six runs in both the second and seventh innings to defeat the University of Southern Maine 14-7 and win the Little East Conference baseball championship Saturday. Keene State had to defeat USM twice in the championship round, and topped… Read More
In your town of heritage, might there be a historical society that has posted genealogical information on the Web? If you had ancestors in Unity, the answer is yes. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
As a teacher, he was said to be inspiring. As an administrator, he was considered groundbreaking. As a curator, he may have been a visionary. But as an artist, it was the smaller moments that seemed to fascinate Vincent Hartgen. A blade of grass. A… Read More
ADAM THE KING, by Jeffrey Lewis, Other Press, New York, 2008, 224 pages, hardcover, $21.95. If you were to ask me what I’ve been reading recently, I might tell you that it’s a book about guilt and redemption, about love and fate, about the past’s… Read More
“Throw out the life line Pull in the clothes line 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
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In theaters SPEED RACER, written and directed by Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, 135 minutes, rated PG. 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