A recent letter stated that certain kinds of dark immigrants should not be welcome here because they live by different standards than our white society pretends to follow. Reference was made to genital mutilation of girls (while we superior whites only mutilate the genitals of boys), to child… Read More
Let me start this letter with the first paragraph of Emmet Meara’s article in thew Dec. 13 Bangor Daily News: “Fruitcake is the Al Gore of holiday food. No one really likes it. Few even respect it. No one wants it in the house for the holidays. It’s… Read More
I am responding to ignorance and blind hate. To people who believe talk show hosts. To people who follow the party rhetoric. Just as Al Gore did not say he invented the Internet, he did not invent votes. Any person with open eyes and ears saw the clerks… Read More
People are characterizing the recent ruling of the United States Supreme Court as partisan, yet we should not lump partisanship in with ideology. Partisanship – cheap and paltry – is primarily concerned with the achievement and maintenance of power. Ideology, however, is concerned with ideas. Read More
I live in a culturally deprived area of the state. In order to receive a modicum of classical music programming via Maine Public Radio, I had a special antenna installed on the roof of my house. Now with the loss of the Metropolitan Opera… Read More
President Clinton has just completed his third and final official trip to Northern Ireland. It was a well-deserved victory lap, despite an outcome still in doubt. It was a mission of large-scale hope, sandwiched between two small incidents that illustrate the resilience of despair. No… Read More
Aside from the rights and wrongs of it, the long struggle over the vote for president has been by far he best of quite a string of media spectaculars. Each of them – the Gulf War, the O.J. Simpson trial, the Monica Lewinsky and impeachment… Read More
To those who would show their lack of civility by calling candidates names, I would like to remind them that each time they do, they contribute to the divisiveness now spread across the land and to that end the lack of success of public servants trying their best… Read More
With all the important things going on in the world, I feel almost guilty writing about something really close to home. But a snowy or icy sidewalk can be dangerous. Why do people shovel only a narrow path on their sidewalk – and only on the side connecting… Read More
It was quite a week, all things considered. No sooner had Willie and The Supremes breathed life back into the republic after our five-week near-death experience with an election process held together with baling wire and duct tape, than another fine American institution – major league baseball –… Read More
All wooden picture frames are not created equal. Some come from well-managed forests. Others come from forests that have been liquidated, planted with nonnative species and sprayed with chemicals. Here, in the midst of the holiday gift-giving season, we all have an opportunity to help… Read More
JONESPORT – A scallop fisherman drowned Thursday afternoon and two others were missing after their boat became disabled in Chandler Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard will resume a search today for the two fishermen. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Even though 1999 was a tough act to follow, the 2000 tourism season kept pace. The state says taxable sales in the lodging and restaurant sectors in the year ending Sept. 30 exceeded totals from the same period in 1999. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
An article published in the Thursday, Dec. 14 Maine Day section concerning two men charged with issuing bogus checks to the U.S. Postal Service incorrectly identified one of the offices affected. According to the Hartland postmaster, his office was not affected by the scam. In Wednesday’s… Read More
AUGUSTA – Two days of roundtable discussions and visits to successful Maine businesses highlight the U.S. Small Business Administration-Russian Federation Business Development Exchange, managed by the SBA’s Maine district office. Building on the success of the 1996 Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission, initiated to draft agreements for small… Read More
The Bangor Daily News article, “Father pleads guilty in attack” (Dec. 7) left this reader outraged and disgusted. We know where the elder Mr. Buble will be spending time for his crime – what about Philip Buble? Where is his dog? With him, because torture can’t be proven. Read More
Two letter writers (BDN, Dec. 9-10) express disdain for “celebrating diversity” and efforts to protect gays from discrimination. I suspect both writers, if they are old enough, were – probably still are, for that matter – similarly disdainful of efforts made decades ago to provide protection from discrimination… Read More
If the speeches Wednesday night were a measure of the possibilities for political common ground, the long presidential campaign and the prolonged vote count that followed merely reinforced and ultimately reflected the national feeling that the bitter ideological divide of recent years will no longer be tolerated. But… Read More
As a horse and pet owner, I, too, was saddened and angered by the recent killing of two horses in Pittsfield. However, I am also tired of the news media referring to the boys who did this as “hunters.” What they did had nothing to do with hunting. Read More
How can the country be united when in a purely political move, the U.S. Supreme Court disenfranchised the American voter by appointing George W. Bush as the next president of the United States? Trying to blame the Florida courts for their decision makes the U.S. court look even… Read More
It has been more than a year since the lobster die-off and the collapse of the lobster fishery in Long Island Sound. This environmental catastrophe was declared a disaster by Connecticut Secretary of Commerce William Daly. Still there has been no substantial research conducted into the investigation of… Read More
A Nov. 25-26 BDN commentary by Millinocket Town Manager Eugene Conlogue about the ongoing dispute between some paper companies and three tribal governments caught be my surprise. Our DNR staff has enjoyed a productive working relationship with the fine people who oversee the town’s wastewater treatment plant. This… Read More
So, it’s over. Sort of. We will soon have a president-elect, and barring the unexpected in the Electoral College vote, it will be George W. Bush. Huzzah. The Supreme Court ruling delivered Tuesday night dealt a mortal blow to Al Gore’s bid for the White… Read More
AUGUSTA – Gov. Angus King has appointed his former communications chief to the commission that promotes Maine as a location for movies. Dennis Bailey, who left last summer after six years as King’s spokesman, now has a public relations firm in Portland. The former journalist… Read More
PORTLAND – Gofish.com, which operates an online seafood marketplace for businesses, has laid off about 20 employees, but its chief executive said the move was not a sign of financial problems. Neal Workman said the layoffs were part of a plan to enter into a… Read More
HAMPDEN – Carl Smith Foods officially will change its name to SERCA Foodservice – New England Division on Jan. 1. For the past 14 years, the company on the Mecaw Road has been part of Clover Group, a fully owned subsidiary of Sobeys Inc., and… Read More
Former Maine politician Alex Ray left politics earlier this year to create an e-commerce company with his wife, Anne, an Augusta native. Ray previously served as executive director of the Maine Republican Party. The Web site company, www.downeastgifts.com, features handmade gifts, crafts and collectibles from… Read More
HOLDEN – Debbie Niles, owner of Uniquely Deb, sells items hand-painted on glass, fabric, wood and other materials at 613 Levenseller Road, Holden, by appointment, and at craft shows. Niles takes special orders and will be at the Airport Mall on Saturday. She can be… Read More
HOLDEN – Cathy’s Candles, made by Cathy Niles, are displayed at Heart to Heart, 601 Main Road, Holden, and at craft shows including Saturdays at the Airport Mall. Niles also will take special orders. She can be reached at 989-5090 and by e-mail at Catlyn_60@yahoo.com. Read More
I suppose by now most everyone has heard of the cat that I picked up in Monson with the 16 pellets in its face. He has recovered from his wounds and has been adopted to a good home. It would appear all is well that… Read More
I must add my voice to the chorus of complaints over the new programming of Maine Public Radio. I have enjoyed and supported MPR for 28 years. I regret that my relationship with the station has come to an end and I strongly object to the “spin” that… Read More
I read with interest your story (BDN, Dec. 7) on the proposed move of the Army National Guard to a new location in Caribou. What really caught my attention was that there was no mention of the obvious: Why not the former Loring Air Force Base? Now know… Read More
Your Dec. 9-10 editorial did a fine job of discussing the pros and cons of the lawsuit over John’s Bridge access on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Over the years, various developments along the AWW, such as bridges, unnecessary access points, the road to Allagash Lake, Nugent’s Sporting Camps,… Read More
WASHINGTON – Just hours after Dick Cheney earned the title of vice president-elect, his first meeting – and lunch – on Capitol Hill was with a small group of moderate Senate Republicans led by Maine Sen. Olympia J. Snowe. The lunch, which included Sen. Susan… Read More
Because of an editing error in Tom Weber’s column of Dec. 13, it was mistakenly stated that Dave Georgia was one of three men who fell through the ice of Plymouth Pond last Saturday. Georgia was the warden who investigated the mishap, which occurred when a man went… Read More
WASHINGTON – When an aide to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said that the Democratic justices on the Florida Supreme Court were a bunch of “partisan hacks,” U.S. Rep. Tom Allen sucked in a deep breath. “This is bipartisanship? This is the way that the… Read More
BANGOR – It may take some time for President-elect George W. Bush to get his wish for unity among the American people after five weeks of a hotly contested election. In Maine, people of both political parties were divided over a ballot count they said was dirty. Read More
WASHINGTON – U.S. and Canadian officials met Wednesday for more than six hours to discuss reopening the U.S. border to Canadian potatoes. The meeting, expected to begin Tuesday, was delayed when Prince Edward Island potato farmers found themselves at the mercy of the weather because… Read More
BANGOR – The Maine Public Utilities Commission tentatively agreed to the prices many statewide electricity users will be paying for their power supply starting March 1, 2001. But the commission isn’t releasing any of the rates until “other issues” are worked out between the PUC… Read More
LIMESTONE – To achieve its redevelopment potential, the Loring Development Authority needs to convince state and federal agencies to increase funding. At the same time, more people are needed to live in northern Maine to fill the thousands of jobs the reuse agency wants to create. Read More
Since the November election, the attention of Maine, as the rest of the nation, has been upon Florida and its curious elections practices. That’s understandable, but now, with the show apparently over, it is time to look within and make some needed electoral adjustments here at home… Read More
Asked to judge the impossible, the U.S. Supreme Court chose a winner in the presidential race Tuesday using the arguments convenient to the ideology of the court’s majority. Though the language of its opinion attempted to rescue the dignity of the court from the partisan divide, justices will… Read More
America stands before the world today a smaller and sadder nation. This proud land of the free and the brave is humbled, constrained, craven. The lamp of liberty flickers with a feeble light. We’ve killed the Oldsmobile. The mammoth 98, the demure yet powerful 88,… Read More
A panel wrestling with ways to deliver better mental health services across Maine’s rural landscape says improved training, relief for overworked crisis workers, and improved recruiting and pay could be ways to tackle some persistent problems. A task force worked over the summer to create… Read More
ASHLAND – Increasingly depressed lumber prices have forced the Canadian woodlands giant J.D. Irving Ltd. temporarily to close its Pinkham sawmill in Ashland, according to a Tuesday announcement. The closing, which affects 110 employees, will take effect on Jan. 12, said Mary Keith, Irving spokeswoman. Read More
FAIRFIELD – The Bangor Daily News announced Tuesday the closing of its Fairfield bureau office, which it opened just over two years ago to serve southern Somerset County. The reporter’s position has been eliminated. Speaking for the NEWS, Mark Woodward, executive editor, cited soft business… Read More
BATH – The Machinists union continues to be at odds with Bath Iron Works over cross-training, a major sticking point in the 55-day strike at the Navy shipbuilder. The new 42-month contract, ratified in October, eliminates provisions requiring workers to perform duties outside their regular… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – Barbara Winthrop used to regard her health insurance coverage as a fundamental entitlement, a benefit she could not imagine an employer failing to provide. But since she became the owner of a small business, she cannot afford to provide insurance for her… Read More
The hemorrhaging of taxpayers’ money never stops. The Washington Post (AP) reported on Dec. 8 that a dinner in Hollywood at the exclusive Beverly Hilton Hotel in honor of movie industry lobbyist Jack Valenti cost the Pentagon (taxpayers) $295,000. About 350 Hollywood celebrities, Pentagon officials and lawmakers attended… Read More
I have followed the debate in the Morning Sentinel newspaper regarding the Spencer Lake boat ramp. As a retired forester for S.D. Warren and Sappi for 32 years, and as the timberlands manager for Sappi during the time the boat ramp was proposed, I was a participant in… Read More
Certainly, Gov. Angus King and the Maine congressional delegation are right to press a reluctant Congress to substantially increase heating assistance for the poor, as they have done in recent weeks. But Maine can do even more to ensure that the money it does receive goes further. Read More
Just a few years ago, U.S. Senate centrists seemed like a warm-up act for “Survivor” – more and more of them were disappearing from the island of bipartisanship and it was hard to see a point in their rituals of meeting and policy discussions. Earlier this week, however,… Read More
Hooray for the vindication of Tim Caverly, former manager of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (BDN, Dec. 8). It’s remarkable that someone with his dedication to protecting the Allagash, the very basis of his position within the Department of Conservation, was terminated for doing his job. I’m encouraged that… Read More
“Opera-free airwaves sorrowful,” indeed, as Tom Weber put it so eloquently in his column of Dec. 6. We in Castine and most of the state south of us are fortunate. We receive the Metropolitan Opera on a strong signal from WBQX in Rockland, as do those Mainers who… Read More
As soon as I read the story (BDN, Dec. 7) about the man who beat his son with a crowbar because of the son’s sexual relations with a dog, I knew someone would attempt to lump this in with gay rights. And in her letter of Dec. 9-10,… Read More
Although I’m a fan of Christopher Smith’s film reviews, I must take exception with his harsh assessment of director Robert Altman’s latest release, “Dr. T and the Women” (BDN, Dec. 7). It’s been an especially lamentable year at the neighborhood cineplex which is why an… Read More
Maine’s reputation as a national environmental leader did not come by accident. It’s the fruit of years of labor to address past neglect and abuse, of forging ahead into pollution prevention, of rethinking how we go about our business and daily lives to assure that future generations can… Read More
Former President Jimmy Carter has in recent years become the dean of monitoring elections for fairness for aspiring democracies around the world. Where was he when we needed him? Philip Sultz googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Rus Peotter (BDN op-ed, Dec. 8) should check his calculator as well as some of his conclusions regarding the reduction in the Maine Public Radio classical music service. To begin, 69 hours is 41 percent of 168 hours, not “well over half of our schedule.” More important, 35… Read More
About the father who tried to kill his son for having sex with his dog: As an animal lover who feels animals often get the short end of the stick and are often abused by humans, this is the last straw. I don’t blame his… Read More
I read your Dec. 11 editorial on the Army Corps of Engineers with interest and agreement. To bring it to a local level, it is worth noting that the Corps has performed in a less-than-professional manner in Maine as well. I just published a report, in Maine Policy… Read More
Thank God for clean and good water. Don’t believe anyone who says you can live cheaply in Lubec. Those days are long gone when one could catch a fish off a pier, get a free can of sardines or stop at the smoke house and get a feed… Read More
Gwynne Dyer’s column on Dec. 5 was one of the most thoughtful and objective that I have read in many years. What made it notable in my opinion was that it portrayed the Palestinian people as human beings and not as a ragtag mob who can’t wait to… Read More
Like many other people in Bangor, I have appreciated Rep. Jane Saxl’s good work in the Maine Legislature. She has helped countless people to resolve their problems and has established a thoughtful and compassionate voting record in Augusta. In addition, Jane Saxl deserves credit for… Read More
The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. Well, that $3.35-an-hour minimum wage isn’t too big and bright. Gov. George W. Bush thought it was too big. Also, ask some of those retired school teachers in the Lone Star State about Bush. Read More
VENTURA, Calif. – It was not too long ago that the call to dismantle thousands of the nation’s dams, and thereby return rivers to their natural ways, was considered radical, unrealistic or downright un-American. Yet today the dam-removal movement has entered the mainstream of public… Read More
AUGUSTA – A coalition including fish farmers, blueberry growers and the forest products industry has joined the state in suing the federal government to stop the listing of wild Atlantic salmon as an endangered species. The group has raised $600,000 to finance the legal challenge,… Read More
AUGUSTA – Members of the state laptop task force were leaning Monday toward providing small computing devices to all seventh- and eighth-graders in Maine rather than all seventh- through 12th-graders, as proposed by Gov. Angus King. The panel, known officially as the Task Force on… Read More
American Skiing Co., one of North America’s largest ski resort operators, agreed Monday to acquire hotel manager MeriStar Hotels & Resorts in an all-stock transaction valued at roughly $185 million. Parties to the merger hailed it as a way to ease the seasonal fluctuations of… Read More
PORTLAND – It isn’t a surprise that the confusion over Election 2000 has created uncertainty on Wall Street. But the race for the White House may also be disrupting lobster sales in Maine. That’s according to Portland lobster dealer Peter McAleney. He says election doubts… Read More
The greatest danger for the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday seemed to be that it would make a decision the public would fail to see as reasonable. Saturday’s 5-4 split already had shown signs that political ideology could creep ahead of an interpretation of the law for the nine… Read More
When viewed with the cynicism customary in politics, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s stunning announcement Saturday that he will resign and call a snap election for the office within 60 days might seem chicanery of the highest order. Under Israeli law, only sitting members of the parliament can… Read More
The federal and state governments are preparing to allocate more than $16 million to purchase conservation easements north of Moosehead Lake, thereby clearing the stage to complete phase II of the West Branch project. Conservation easements are commonly used to protect land from development in… Read More
You would not think to look at me that I have a fat problem. For enough of a bet I am sure I could fit into a size 6 dress, and I was once told I was thin and white enough to be the line down the side… Read More
I have been reading the feedback to the article, “Battered Men.” How many men are abused by their partners? Over 90 international studies demonstrate that men are equally or more victimized in a heterosexual relationship. The Canadian government just released a national study that demonstrated that 8 percent… Read More
In her Nov. 28 letter, Judy Williams seems to be of the opinion that those who choose to stand on the corner at Hogan Road near Burger King and carry pro-Bush signs were setting the wrong example for children. She doesn’t understand that the people sometimes have to… Read More
It is sad to know that there are people in our area who begrudge a few hours a week to those who enjoy opera. I would not want to deny Phil Price (BDN, Dec. 5) his enjoyment of rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop or any other kind of… Read More
ORRINGTON – The tons of mercury at the closed HoltraChem Manufacturing Co. should not be shipped to India where the chemical will pollute the ground, water and air – which circles back around the globe to Maine, several dozen protesters said Saturday. Instead, the vocal… Read More
PITTSFIELD – The slain horses easily could have been anyone’s. That is why Sarah Brooks drove four hours from her Aroostook County home to join a caravan of outrage over the shootings of two grazing horses in a Pittsfield pasture two days after Thanksgiving. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Following are petitions for bankruptcy filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Bangor: Rebecca George, teacher, two dependents, St. Albans; assets, $27,200; debts, $55,872. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine’s treasury took a $12.1 million hit in October as corporate income tax receipts fell nearly $8 million short of projections and taxes on estates and insurance companies were also well under estimate. Sales tax revenue was also under budget by about $1… Read More
MONSON – Moosehead Manufacturing Co. of Monson and Roxton Temple Stuart of Waterloo, Quebec, have announced the completion of a sales, marketing, distribution and manufacturing alliance. Beginning on Jan. 1, Moosehead Manufacturing will become the exclusive distributor and sales, marketing and service agent for all… Read More
No matter what you’re shopping for – the latest high-tech gadget, an antique, or even the tree – you’re likely to find it on the Internet. But virtual shopping has risks. These tips from the Federal Trade Commission and Northeast COMBAT will help you shop… Read More
BATH – The Navy has awarded a $660.8 million contract to Bath Iron Works to build two Aegis destroyers, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe announced Friday. The contract calls for completion of the first destroyer by December 2005 and the second by August 2006. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
FREEPORT – Mail-order retailers L.L. Bean and Coldwater Creek are opening stores. Nordstrom and Banana Republic stores are online. And Internet retailers Amazon.com and eToys are launching printed catalogs. In what is turning out to be a difficult holiday season, retailers hoping to expand business… Read More
On Dec. 4, I had the privilege of being a member of a panel that met with a group of sixth graders at Searsport Elementary School. I taught school for 28 years before surviving a bout with throat cancer. I would like to compliment these future leaders for… Read More
I am writing to join the chorus of those protesting Maine Public Radio’s cancellation of the Metropolitan Opera. What really ticks me off is that this cancellation is unnecessary. The weekend gives MPR viewers five hours of duplicate programming (“A Prairie Home Companion,” “Car Talk,” and “Weekend Fresh… Read More
The Committee on Indian Relations of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine views with concern the recent precedent setting court action in which Justice Robert Crowley held Govs. Barry Dana of the Penobscot Nation, Richard Doyle of the Pleasant Point Reservation and Richard Stevens of the Indian Township Reservation… Read More
Back in September, as evidence mounted that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fudged data used to justify a $1.1 billion navigation project on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, a small bipartisan group of senators called for sweeping reform of the increasingly large, powerful and unaccountable agency. The… Read More
Let’s start with an anecdote. Back in Jimmy Carter’s administration, the Central Intelligence Agency was all set to try out one of its bright ideas. The CIA had decided to infiltrate a nice, harmless Washington organization called the Hospitality Committee. Its members, mostly wives of officials like senators… Read More
If you are paying two child supports, good luck. I have a judge’s order to pay $55 a week. One child moved out in 1995, her boyfriend moved her to his grandparent’s house. I feel I should not pay for those three years. My problem… Read More
Members of the Association of State Green Parties strongly condemn the performance of the U.S. delegation at the Sixth Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Climate Change, which resulted in a breakdown of negotiations. The delegation refused to agree on steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,… Read More
BANGOR – A San Francisco leasing company will go to court next week to repossess 28 locomotives and numerous cars from two Bangor and Aroostook System rail lines for failure to make “millions of dollars” in payments. The rail lines, however, say they are in… Read More
A federal agency plans to seek conservation easements or purchases to protect from development a chunk of land in the North Woods twice the size of Baxter State Park and a smaller group of parcels in and around Mount Blue State Park. The U.S. Department… Read More
WASHINGTON – “Don’t Suppress Democracy,” said one placard-bearing demonstrator in front of Vice President Al Gore’s official residence in Washington on Friday. “Count ALL the votes,” read another poster. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
PORTLAND – Customers of Northern Utilities, southern Maine’s principal supplier of natural gas, may soon be hit with another rate hike. Northern Utilities is preparing to ask state regulators to approve an emergency rate increase to cover record-high wholesale prices. The company said it has… Read More
BAR HARBOR – The board of directors of FNB Bankshares (ticker symbol FBSH), parent company of the First National Bank of Bar Harbor, has declared a dividend of 35 cents per share to common shareholders of record Dec. 16. The dividend will be paid on Dec. 29. This… Read More
CHERRY HILL, N.J. – Subaru of America Inc. announced Friday the voluntary recall of certain 2001 Subaru Legacy vehicles. The recall involves the inspection of fuel hoses, rear center seat belts and right front wheel bearing housings on some models, including Legacy L, GT and… Read More
The court cases decided yesterday in Florida were as muddled as anything could be in the close election for the nation’s next president. Though rulings earlier in the day from circuit courts suggested that it was time to begin the process of transferring power from one president the… Read More
Given that there are either seven or 11 or 14 access points along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, depending on who is counting, the one at John’s Bridge between Eagle and Churchill lakes has attracted an inordinate amount of attention. That is in part because this access, long in… Read More