BEIJING – Michael Phelps made it 6-for-6 at the Beijing Olympics, closing in on Mark Spitz with another world-record swim Friday morning. Phelps dominated right from the start of the 200-meter individual medley and powered away to win in 1 minute, 54.23 seconds. He knocked… Read More
PORTLAND – The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maine Marine Patrol are investigating the theft of bells and clappers from navigational buoys along the Maine coast. Investigators believe the brass or bronze bells are being sold as scrap metal. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
AUGUSTA – Federal officials have granted the state’s request to adjust food stamp benefit levels to reflect higher home heating and other utility costs, which will result in an estimated 59,000 households in Maine getting about $23 a month more beginning next month. Thousands more now also will… Read More
WOODSTOCK, New Brunswick – A 52-year-old Spring, Texas, man who had been detained and ordered to a secondary inspection site by Canadian border officials Thursday sped away from the customs facility, pulled his car into a nearby parking lot, and apparently shot and killed himself. Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Jonathan Mullis, 6, is fighting cancer, but his early medical treatment, his positive attitude, and the love extended to him from his family and community appear to have sucker-punched the disease. On April 4, the same day he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a… Read More
In Tuesday’s Lifestyle article about the proposed community mural in Fort Kent, Fernando Vallejo was identified as the person who would be painting the artwork. Artist Vallejo is also the designer of the piece, based on his research and input from community members. Read More
OMAHA, Neb. – A review of Nebraska Beef Ltd.’s records prompted Thursday’s recall expansion because USDA investigators determined the company’s practices couldn’t effectively control E. coli bacteria on June 24. About 1.36 million pounds of beef is included in the recall that began Aug. 8… Read More
SAN FRANCISCO – Netflix Inc. said Thursday that major technical problems over the past three days have severely limited the number of DVDs it could send out. The unspecified problems affected all of the Los Gatos-based company’s 55 shipping centers and marked the biggest disruption… Read More
BREWER – A video production company on Thursday was at Cianbro’s Eastern Manufacturing Facility, and at other spots around town, filming for a documentary on what will be the largest oil refinery in United States history. Brewer is featured in the documentary because Cianbro was… Read More
When he was governor, Angus King often lamented the lack of value-added components in Maine’s economy. Wood chips and pulp should not be exported, he argued; instead, Maine should lead in paper, lumber and furniture making. A favorite line was that no fish should leave the state with… Read More
Russia’s invasion of neighboring Georgia was clearly a disproportionate response to the situation there. But holding up Georgia as an innocent victim of Russian power run amok is an oversimplification of a complex problem. The cease-fire, brokered by the French, must be upheld. Then, with support from the… Read More
As a person who loves the state of Maine and the city of Bangor, it concerns me the laws of the state allow landlords and the courts to evict anyone including families with children in the middle of winter creating more homelessness; we have laws that protect animals… Read More
A BDN story on Aug. 5 about Rockland getting tree and septic system funds highlights yet another example of gross misuse of state tax dollars. Rockland received grants for tree planting and trimming ($5,000) and sewer repairs ($10,000). Now, $5,000 to plant trees may not seem like much… Read More
Sen. John McCain’s recent comments deriding Sen. Barack Obama’s suggestion that Americans could use less gas by keeping their car tires properly inflated were very unpresidential. The McCain people mocked Obama’s recommendation by offering “$25 Obama Tire Gauges.” This is just the latest example of… Read More
With gasoline selling at about $4 a gallon there is a dramatic rise in the number of bicycles on the road. When I took the test to get my driver’s license there was a requirement to understand and know the rules governing bicycles. Nowadays drivers do not seem… Read More
In 2001, Gov. Angus King declared that “domestic violence is public enemy number one.” Unfortunately he was right, and worse yet, the enemy often resides in the home. What we now call domestic violence, or battering, describes a whole pattern of wrongful behavior from emotional… Read More
Late last month, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to go home without addressing the energy crisis. I do not believe that using up gas, aviation and diesel fuel to head on home for a five-week vacation is a useful response to the energy crisis. Read More
George Orwell, in his novel “1984,” described Oceania, a society in which the prime motivating force for controlling the populace was fear, both fear of its own government and its enemies. He wrote of continual war, of enemies so horrendous that the public was constrained to rigid compliance… Read More
Recent ClickBacks have sought editorial page reader comment on the Olympics, nuclear power and the merits or drawbacks of negative political ads. To join the discussion, go to bangornews.com and look for the ClickBack logo in the Opinion section. Is the television coverage of the… Read More
MILLINOCKET – With all the power invested in him as Town Council chairman, Wallace Paul swears that Ben Clark is not and never has been a polygamist. Paul doesn’t usually probe other people’s marital habits, but this was an indirect response to a request from… Read More
BANGOR- When Dr. Leonardo Leonidas opened his practice in Bangor in 1972, he was one of just four pediatricians serving the area. A lot has changed since then. Diagnostic medical tests such as sonograms, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized axial tomography, now commonplace, were unheard of. Childhood obesity… Read More
LINCOLN – Evergreen Wind Power LLC will hold a hearing Wednesday on its plans to build a $120 million wind farm in Burlington, Lee, Winn and Lincoln. It would be the largest such electricity-generating facility in New England. The hearing is part of the company’s… Read More
State officials are asking for the public’s comments on ways to eliminate duplication in the agencies that oversee Maine’s woods, waters, farms and overall environmental health. Last spring, the Legislature passed a supplemental budget bill creating a task force to examine ways to reduce overlap… Read More
BREWER – Charges were filed this week against the president of the New Hampshire gas company that installed a new heating system that apparently caused carbon monoxide poisonings at an apartment complex earlier this month. The CO leak sent at least eight people to the… Read More
Teacher, are we meeting tomorrow?” asked Noe, shaking dirt from his shoes after a long afternoon of working with the Flower Growing Association. “Sure,” I said, “right after my English class.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
Municipal and county administrators are weighing the decision by the state to suspend, at least temporarily, paving contracts temporarily in light of skyrocketing costs for paving materials. In Bangor, City Engineer Jim Ring said Wednesday he was not yet certain how the DOT’s decision will… Read More
BANGOR – A group of Bangor area state lawmakers will hold two energy-conservation workshops next week in Bangor and Hermon. Sen. Joseph Perry, D-Bangor, will serve as host of the workshops, which will feature expert advice on a variety of resources and tips area residents… Read More
SMYRNA – A meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at the Methodist Church building to discuss the structure and whether residents and voters want to proceed with the acquisition of it. The meeting is open to the public. Read More
CASTINE – Sandra Oliver will give a demonstration titled “Pickles and Preserves” from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the John Perkins House, 120 Perkins St., in Castine. She will make pickles with cabbage, cucumbers, green beans and radish pods and will preserve… Read More
GREAT WASS ISLAND-BEALS – The Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education will hold a shellfish field day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at its facility at Black Duck Cove. The day will feature informational displays and activities to inform… Read More
LAMOINE – A tour of the night sky led by Linda Penkalski will be held as it gets dark at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Lamoine Beach Park picnic area. A potluck supper will be held at 6:45 p.m. Rain, cloud or fog date will… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Congregation Beth El of Bangor will have a potluck supper and evening of Jewish music 6 p.m. Sunday at the home of Rick and Janice Woychik in Bar Harbor. The public is welcome and there is no admission charge. Music will be… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The annual Ellsworth Antique Show kicked off on Thursday at the Woodlawn Museum. “It’s a huge hit,” said event coordinator Wilmont Schwind during the event, which began in 1937 and is the nation’s longest-running summer antiques show. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
CAMDEN – Preserving the local working waterfront emerged as an issue during a public hearing before the Select Board on Tuesday night. Board members voted 3-2 to place three petitioned warrant articles, one of which pertained to the harbor business district, on the Nov. 4… Read More
The Orono Town Council got a boost in fundraising for its new public library when the council unanimously voted this week to accept a $45,000 New Century Construction Grant. The town also filled the position of local health officer and created a community health advisory… Read More
VEAZIE – The Veazie Congregational Church will hold a spaghetti lunch at 11:30 am. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the church, 1404 State St. An open house after lunch will be held noon to 3 p.m. Admission for the lunch is $6 for adults, $3 for… Read More
BANGOR – St. Joseph Hospice is looking for new volunteers to provide nonmedical support to hospice patients and their caregivers. Volunteers may be people of all ages and faiths who serve two to four hours each week, depending on their availability. Training for new hospice volunteers will begin… Read More
There will be nothing but doggone fun from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16 for Bangor’s annual Dog Days celebration. Owners are encouraged to bring their best canine friends to participate in feats of skill and daring, watch professional dogs strut their stuff, and see plenty of… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor City Council this week approved the following appointments to subordinate committees and boards. . Bangor Housing Authority board of trustees, Frances Loring, three years. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
LEWISTON – Some Maine towns are being overpaid and some underpaid in a state tax reimbursement program that compensates landowners for maintaining woodlands. In the most extreme cases, the town of Allagash was overpaid by more than $200,000, while Freeport was shorted by more than… Read More
PORTLAND – A New Hampshire man charged with a 1986 murder in Portland has waived a bail hearing and will remain in Cumberland County Jail while he awaits trial. Roger Bernier, a 60-year-old disabled veteran from Manchester, N.H., appeared Thursday in Superior Court. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
MACHIAS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Maine recently announced that it will allow producers who otherwise would be ineligible for the new disaster assistance programs to become eligible by paying a fee as required by the 2008 Farm Bill. The… Read More
ST. AGATHA – With the population of the state getting older and the cost of housing increasing, officials in St. Agatha are taking proactive steps to see what they can do to bring more affordable housing to the area. Town Manager Ryan Pelletier said earlier… Read More
HOULTON – Last winter, when close to 200 inches of snow was recorded in Aroostook County, many municipalities were forced to dip into reserve accounts to pay for the costs of road salt, plowing and overtime for road employees. This year, Houlton town officials are… Read More
A Corinna man was charged with burglary on Wednesday after he allegedly forged signatures on checks taken during an earlier burglary of a home on Route 23 in Dexter. Lloyd Burnham, 29, also is expected to be charged with forgery at a later date, according… Read More
BANGOR – The Preschool Early Language Development Program at the Warren Center for Communication and Learning in Bangor recently received a grant of $25,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. The program exists to help children up to age 5 who have communication problems so they may… Read More
Everything from horseback riding to American Indian singing and dancing demonstrations are part of the Weliwoni Ranch Fun Day and Concert beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at 3202 Broadway in Glenburn. The event benefits the family of 13-year-old Dimitrje Treworgy, who has a… Read More
AUGUSTA – Independent U.S. Senate hopeful Herbert Hoffman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a state high court ruling that effectively removed his name from Maine’s November ballot. Hoffman’s attorney Thursday filed a 38-page brief asking the nation’s highest court to stay the… Read More
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is recruiting new volunteer consumer complaint mediators for its spring class. The training will begin on Monday, Sept. 15. Volunteers will mediate consumer complaints over the phone or by mail, in the attorney general’s Augusta office. Mediators are asked… Read More
AUGUSTA – Republican lawmakers are pressing their call for a special legislative session to transfer $10 million in surplus funds to Maine’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. GOP leaders at the State House have urged Democrats and the Legislature’s two independents to back emergency… Read More
PORTLAND – A state ethics board has recommended that a Boothbay Harbor lawyer be disbarred for allegedly stealing at least $70,000 from a private trust that he controlled. The Portland Press Herald reports that information regarding the conduct of Franklin A. Poe also has been… Read More
ROCKLAND – For those looking forward to the return of the United States Navy Blue Angels to Brunswick Naval Air Station, Maine Eastern Railroad will provide westbound, round-trip transportation in and out of Brunswick specifically for the weekend event. The Great State of Maine Air… Read More
DOVER, N.H. – The police chief in Dover, N.H., said two men have been arrested after a firefighter found a device resembling a bomb in his car parked at a bank. Police on Thursday arrested 41-year-old Richard Twombly of East Wakefield and 49-year-old Thomas Page… Read More
PORTLAND – Electric, three-wheeled vehicles that have appeared on some Maine roads as fuel prices soared are being curbed by Maine motor vehicle officials because they don’t qualify as motorcycles or cars. “The ZAP is neither fish nor fowl,” said Garry Hinkley of the Bureau… Read More
BANGOR – Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell will receive the Scales of Justice Award from Equal Justice Works. The award will be presented on Oct. 16 in at a banquet in Washington, D.C. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
BANGOR – Eleven of the 12 players representing the Whalley Little League of Surrey, British Columbia, in this year’s Senior League World Series were veterans of the experience, either here in the 2007 SLWS or at last year’s Junior League World Series in Taylor, Mich. Read More
BANGOR – The Pearl City Senior League All-Stars were primed for defeat. Less than two hours earlier they suffered a 2-1 loss to Canada that knocked the Hawaiians out of contention for the Senior League World Series title. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
BANGOR – It would’ve been easy for the Senior Leaguers from Upper Deerfield, N.J., to fold. They had pushed across three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of Thursday’s Pool B showdown with Willemsted, Curacao, only to see the Latin American champs jump… Read More
Deb Smith is returning to her adopted home. Smith, an outstanding softball player at the University of Maine who went on to become the America East Coach of the Year at her alma mater in 2002, has been named the new softball coach at Maine. Read More
Devin Lyshon has played plenty of baseball games in front of 50 or 75 fans – fans extremely dedicated to the fortunes of his team or his opponent, but nevertheless a smattering of support that reflects the competition for free time during the brief period between heating seasons… Read More
AUBURN – John Hickson of Topsham admitted to being hungry Thursday after his rain-lengthened second round of the 90th Charlie’s Maine Open Golf Championship. Not necessarily for victory, although he’s tied for the lead at 7-under-par 137, but for food. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
AUBURN – With a summer schedule that includes having played in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and upcoming appearances in the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur events, one might wonder when he gets any work done. As do many businesspeople, the comptroller of Dragon… Read More
BANGOR – The Bryan National West Senior League team from Texas had its destiny in its own hands. A win would have sent the Texans into the Senior League World Series semifinals at Mansfield Stadium. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
In theaters THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2, directed by Sanaa Hamri, written by Elizabeth Chandler, 117 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… Read More
HOPE – Four men with ties to the community hope to bring back the jazz era, at least to the local arena. Andy Stewart, owner of Hope General Store, Chris Rogers, Andy Swift and Bill Jones are staging the second annual Hope Jazz Festival Saturday,… Read More
Area movie fans get two treats this weekend, as the second annual Bangor Film Festival gets under way, and the Grand in Ellsworth on Saturday finally unveils its new 35mm film projector, after more than a year of operating without a working projector. Last year’s… Read More
Renting a DVD? BDN film critic Christopher Smith can help. Below are his grades of recent releases. Those in bold print are new to stores this week. Charlie Wilson’s War – B+ googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
Last week I purchased a pair of comfortable black and purple slip-on sneakers for five bucks at the mall. I didn’t buy them because they matched any particular outfit, or because I have a fondness for cheap-o Chuck Taylor rip-offs; I bought them because I’m planning ahead for… Read More