From the governor’s office to the showrooms of small auto dealerships throughout the state, many Mainers are paying close attention to the proposed $15 billion bailout of U.S. automakers. Most involved in the industry are hoping that the U.S. Congress will vote to give the… Read More
BANGOR – Fraser Papers Ltd. has sued a Michigan firm in U.S. District Court seeking payment for 1.8 million pounds of specialty paper manufactured at Fraser’s Madawaska facility and shipped to North Carolina between May 5 and June 2. In the breach-of-contract lawsuit filed Monday,… Read More
ORONO – The Maine Better Transportation Association will host a program Thursday evening at the Best Western Black Bear Inn titled “Flight Plan: Weathering Turbulence and Finding Opportunity in the Passenger Air Travel Market.” The program begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. Rebecca Hupp,… Read More
BREWER – The national slowdown in the auto industry will cause a temporary shutdown at Brewer Automotive Components. Company officials are anticipating a two-week shutdown starting Dec. 19 at the Brewer factory, where 117 workers make suspension and steering components for Toyota of North America… Read More
JAY – Maine’s congressional delegation is seeking an emergency grant from the federal government to give help to about 150 workers laid off from the Wausau paper mill in Jay. U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, along with U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, said they… Read More
WASHINGTON – Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, the ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, said she sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama on Monday recommending that he elevate the Small Business Administration to Cabinet-level status, as it was during the Clinton administration in… Read More
AUGUSTA – Heating fuel prices continue to go down in Maine. According to the state energy office’s weekly survey released Monday, the average price for a gallon of heating oil was $2.47. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
UNITY – U.S. Cellular said Monday that it recently completed construction of additional cell sites in Unity and Dixmont. The Unity site will increase U.S. Cellular’s coverage and network capacity in the town of Unity and provide service along Routes 139 and 202. The Dixmont site will bring… Read More
PORTLAND – The new workweek brought still lower gasoline prices in Maine and nationwide. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular stood at $1.86 in Maine on Monday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
Sleigh rides. Cocoa, coffee, cider and sweets. Gifts. Christmas trees. Sounds a lot like the good cheer of the holidays. 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
AUBURN – A Maine company that makes laminates for products including countertops says the sagging housing industry is to blame for the elimination of 48 jobs. Pioneer Plastics, which employs about 300 people in Auburn, reduced its work force by 16 percent, effective Friday. Workers… Read More
PITTSFIELD – Officials from the Cianbro Co. will appear before the Pittsfield planning board Monday night to outline their plans for the former San Antonio Shoe factory and warehouse off Waverly Avenue. The buildings were emptied this past summer after Texas-based SAS closed its only… Read More
BANGOR – Samuel W. Lanham Jr. has been named by the New England Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top attorneys in Maine for 2008. Just 5 percent of the attorneys in the state are named “Super Lawyers,” according to a press release sent… Read More
This week’s topic is related to the holiday shopping season, but it has less to do with some of the most popular gift items than with their potential for causing hearing problems. Many of us may think that hearing loss is a natural part of… Read More
PORTLAND – The Maine Bar Foundation recently announced that Meghan Smith has been hired as the campaign coordinator for the Campaign for Justice. Smith will head the foundation’s efforts to raise funds for the state’s six legal aid providers: Pine Tree Legal Assistance, the Maine… Read More
Businesses near the Maine Mall will have to take additional steps to reduce pollution runoff under a federal and state ruling that could have implications for other commercial districts, including the Bangor Mall area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maine Department of Environmental… Read More
BANGOR – Seeking to influence a possible vote in Congress next week on a bailout for Detroit automakers, an executive of Ford Motor Co. and a Bangor automobile dealer argued forcefully Friday that the well-being of Maine’s economy is tied to that of the U.S. auto industry. Read More
DAMARISCOTTA – The First Bancorp announced that it has received preliminary approval to obtain $25 million under the U.S. Treasury Capital Purchase Program. The company said a special meeting of shareholders will be held Dec. 29 to amend the company’s articles of incorporation to authorize the issuance of… Read More
CALAIS – Politicians and the public Thursday night told federal regulators about the impact an LNG terminal would have on the city. Many spoke in favor of the proposal, and there were a few dissenters. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
BUCKSPORT – The No. 1 machine at the Verso Paper mill has met federal standards for producing a new line of paper that can be used for packaging in the food industry. The mill reported in October that it planned to convert the No. 1… Read More
The price paid for wild blueberries this year has dropped about 40 percent, according to some growers, and blueberry experts are blaming a bumper crop and a poor economy. The drop hit growers such as Mike Bailey of Columbia Falls right in the pocketbook. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Aside from northern Maine and all the ski areas, we so far have lucked out of any real snow this year. Of course, that is subject to change, real soon. We then get to practice nature’s aerobics – shoveling snow, or if you are lucky,… Read More
ROCKPORT – A venerable hotel and resort is closing its two restaurants for the most part and laying off workers for the winter. Samoset Resort manager Connie Russell said Friday that he is planning to keep Marcel’s restaurant open for Sunday brunch but close it… Read More
Curtains or window shades may shield a residential window from heat loss, but may not be a shield against moisture migration. Under such conditions the glass temperature will fall, and the condensation rate on windows will increase. Only a sealed interior barrier will delay the onset of condensation. Read More
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A federal judge has cleared the way for the maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread to exit more than four years of bankruptcy. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerry Venters on Friday approved the reorganization plan for Interstate Bakeries Corp. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
AUGUSTA – State insurance regulators have approved a filing by the National Council on Compensation Insurance that will result in most employers in Maine seeing a decrease in their workers’ compensation insurance rates in 2009, with business groups saying that is good news as employers deal with the… Read More
MECHANIC FALLS – Auburn Manufacturing Inc. said it has won two U.S. military contracts worth up to $7.8 million over several years. The Mechanic Falls firm makes fabrics used for high-temperature protection. The contracts call for fabrics that will be used for hot work protection… Read More
YARMOUTH, Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia lobster is retailing for as little as $3.87 a pound in some Massachusetts fish markets, according to a Boston wholesaler. Supermarkets will sell for slightly higher than in fish marts on Cape Cod or in Boston, said Neil Zarella… Read More
TORONTO, Ontario – Fraser Papers Inc. announced Wednesday that it will take up to 5,100 tons of downtime on two paper machines at its mill in Madawaska, Maine, due to weak markets. The mill shutdown will begin Dec. 24 and is expected to run through… Read More
ORONO – As the future of some of Maine’s wood-based businesses hangs in the balance, more than 100 people gathered this week to discuss how biotechnology can be used to stimulate the existing forestry industry in both Maine and Atlantic Canada. The Atlantica BioEnergy Task… Read More
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney laid off about 350 salaried employees across the country on Wednesday in response to a slowing global economy with most of the cuts coming in Connecticut. The job cuts will affect less than 1 percent… Read More
PITTSFIELD – There’s a new owner at the restaurant on Main Street in Pittsfield, and he’s bringing 39 years of restaurant and dining experience with him. Allen Brown hopes to open Nick’s Whistle Stop by Monday, Dec. 21. He said he named the restaurant after… Read More
BANGOR – Skin Necessities Day Spa has expanded and moved to a new location in the Stillwater Professional Plaza, at 33 Penn Plaza, Suite C. Skin Necessities owner Katie Narofsky, a registered nurse and licensed aesthetician, and co-worker Hannah Leavitt, a licensed electrolysist and licensed… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – Bangor Savings Bank has installed three ATMs in the Maine Mall, The machines are located in three high-traffic areas: the food court, next to the Sports Authority escalators and center aisle near Best Buy. “Bangor Savings Bank is thrilled to provide our… Read More
BANGOR – Calais LNG was the last of three companies to propose building a liquefied natural gas project in Washington County – but its directors intend for it to be the one that succeeds. “When you’re running last, you have to work a little harder… Read More
CALAIS – Calais Regional Hospital’s board of directors has announced that Michael K. Lally has been named the hospital’s new chief executive officer. Lally was selected after a national search conducted by the board and Quorum Health Resources, the hospital’s management company. CRH has been… Read More
PORTLAND – U.S. Cellular has launched a Calling All Communities program in which communities can decide which 10 schools around the country will share $1 million. Between now and Jan. 15, U.S. Cellular customers who come into any U.S. Cellular store, including participating agent locations, to activate, renew… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine will host the Atlantica BioEnergy Task Force Research and Development Forum today and Thursday. The task force comprises regional and federal government and industry organizations, as well as postsecondary institutions seeking a better understanding of what opportunities may exist… Read More
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A casino gambled and lost – big time. Now it’s asking thousands of customers to give it a break. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course set out to do something nice for its best customers, rewarding 1,000 of them with free… Read More
OLD TOWN – Citing economic stress, Old Town Canoe recently slowed its production schedule, cutting hours for some workers. Company spokeswoman Lana Phillips said Monday that fewer canoes and kayaks were manufactured over the week of Thanksgiving than usual, a move designed to reduce inventory and overhead. Read More
When Nory Jones couldn’t find the comforter she wanted on Black Friday, the University of Maine associate professor of management information looked to her calendar for help: She shopped on Cyber Monday. “Today I went online, went into overstock.com, and it was so easy to… Read More
PORTLAND – A new report said housing starts are at their lowest level in southern Maine since 1991, when the nation was also locked in a recession. In the 38 communities tracked by Construction Data New England, builders took out 841 permits between January and… Read More
Mike Lange of St. Albans, a former board member and treasurer for the Maine Press Association, has been named to be the association’s next executive director, effective Jan. 1. He will succeed Jeff Ham, who has held the position since 2002. Lange has close to… Read More
PORTLAND – Unitil officially closed its $160 million purchase of Maine-based Northern Utilities and Massachusetts-based Granite State Gas Transmission. Company officials marked completion of the deal with a ceremony in Portland at the offices of Northern Utilities, which serves 52,000 customers in Maine and New… Read More
BANGOR – The Rotary Club of Bangor has announced grant opportunities for nonprofits in the Bangor area that serve youths and seniors. In March 2009 the club will sponsor “Music Off Broadway,” its annual major fundraiser. The net proceeds from the event will benefit local… Read More
AUGUSTA – Heating oil prices continue to go down in Maine. The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security said Monday its latest survey found the average cash price for heating oil had fallen to $2.58 a gallon, down 2 cents from last week. The… Read More
PORTLAND – Maine’s scallop draggers and divers face a shortened season and new restrictions as the scallop season gets under way. The season in state waters runs Jan. 1-4 and again Feb. 25-March 31. That’s a total of 70 days, a cutback of nearly 50… Read More
YARMOUTH, Nova Scotia – Fishermen threatened to stop trucks carrying lobsters from leaving southwestern Nova Scotia on Monday after dozens of boats returned to port to protest low lobster prices. Jody Smith of Digby Neck said fishermen want to stop the trucks from leaving the… Read More
The woes of America’s Big Three automakers are being felt in Maine, where auto-parts manufacturers that supply the U.S. car market are watching the debate on whether to give the automakers a $25 billion loan package. Maine has three significant auto-parts suppliers that employ hundreds… Read More
Q. My father-in-law recently passed away at his apartment in Maine. My wife is his only living relative, and she has not had contact with him for over a decade. As we understand it, he left no will, and had no assets, but plenty of debt. Will my… Read More
Maine’s 2008 potato harvest will go down in the books as one of the smallest in decades due to reductions in potato acreage and yield. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this year’s potato production is estimated at about 1.44 billion pounds, down 14 percent… Read More
“Psst. Hey, you. Wanna buy some really good personal care products for next to nothing? I’ve got ’em right here, in the trunk of my car.” If this kind of spur-of-the-moment, sidewalk-based offer would send you running for the other side of the street, we… Read More
BANGOR – Local drivers who paid around $4 a gallon for gasoline just a few months ago have become savvy in finding the cheapest prices around, and don’t plan to make any changes even though gas prices have dropped. Some drivers filling up on Saturday… Read More
The single-copy price of the weekend edition of the Bangor Daily News, currently $1.50, will increase to $2 at newsstands and stores beginning today, Nov. 29. This is the first increase in the retail price of the weekend paper since September 1996. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
BANGOR – With a subdued cheer, a long line of shoppers surged into the Best Buy electronics store at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, hunting for bargains so good they’d get seasonal bragging rights. Some had waited in line for hours in the pre-dawn chill. Read More
BREWER – Busloads of Canadians, and others driving their own vehicles, rolled into the Bangor area for the incredible shopping bargains that are available the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday. For some of our neighbors to the north, heading to Maine for Christmas… Read More
HOULTON – For Thelma Morin, it was the best Black Friday ever. “This is the first day I’ve shopped for Christmas gifts and I’m more than halfway done,” the Woodstock, New Brunswick, resident said as she prepared to leave the annual Winter Craft and Gift… Read More
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Construction of a second Irving Oil refinery for Saint John, New Brunswick, would happen over a maximum of eight years, in hopes of easing the social pressures a huge rush of workers would cause for the city, the company said. Kevin… Read More
Sweden leads Europe in the fraction of total energy derived from renewable resources: 15 percent, mostly hydro. France and Denmark are next with 6 percent, then Germany with 4 percent and Spain with 3 percent. The Netherlands and Britain are last with about 1 percent. Renewable energy in… Read More
The national dairy industry has been transformed over the past 20 years: Mega-dairies with tens of thousands of cows ship milk from California to Florida, while the processing side of the industry has consolidated and specialized, leaving farmers with fewer and fewer options. Here in… Read More
The incandescent light, invented by Thomas Edison more than 100 years ago, has not been in great favor lately. Amory Lovins, the self-anointed energy guru, has dissed incandescents for years, stating that we can eliminate a lot of power plants if we all use compact… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – Early-bird shoppers were out in force at the Maine Mall in South Portland, which opened its doors at 1 minute after midnight to mark the start of Black Friday. Farther north, the size of the crowds surprised officials at the Bangor Mall. Read More
GARDINER – With the Christmas shopping season under way, state officials are warning Mainers to take precautions to avoid identity theft scams. The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation cautions consumers that the shopping season is a prime time for identity theft. Superintendent Lloyd LaFountain… Read More
Leila Murphy has been named manager for the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show in Rockland, succeeding Mary Carey, who stepped down after six years. The show held during the second weekend in August has become one of Rockland’s leading summer events on the waterfront. Read More
JONESBORO – A fledgling goat farmer is taking Down East Maine by storm – less than six years after acquiring her first goat – with an array of artisanal cheeses. The demand for the products created by Kim Roos at Gardenside Dairy has become so… Read More
AUGUSTA – Mainers whose lives have been affected by international trade agreements will have a chance to air their comments next week at a hearing before the nonpartisan Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission. The session will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Libra… Read More
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust apparently has become the first Maine-based bank to apply for funds from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program. But it most likely won’t be the last, banking experts said Thursday – and that’s probably good news for Maine borrowers and… Read More
BANGOR – Amid the commercial hustle of the holiday season, Maine Creations is a family business looking to spread the holiday spirit the old-fashioned way: with handmade products and a tradition of personal involvement. Paul Salisbury learned to create balsam fir centerpieces and wreaths from… Read More
OLD TOWN – Many of the recently rehired workers at the Red Shield Acquisition pulp mill have received an unwelcome holiday surprise – news that they will be laid off again, at least temporarily. Although about 110 employees were working there this week to operate… Read More
BANGOR – As winter fast approaches, Maine pellet fuel manufacturers are still trying to reassure homeowners that supply is not an issue. While many retail suppliers of pellets have been running out shortly after shipments arrive, William Bell with the Maine Pellet Fuels Association said… Read More
BANGOR – Holiday shoppers should carefully do their homework before plunking down hard-earned money to buy gift cards, according to retail experts. But worried consumers shouldn’t read too much into an anonymous e-mail making the rounds which warns that many well-known stores may be closing… Read More
BANGOR – The Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District was named 2008 Partner of the Year last week by Maine Rural Partners, a statewide public-private organization devoted to fostering effective collaboration among tribal, federal, state, local and private sector interests. In announcing the award,… Read More
LINCOLN – Anyone who wants to see First Wind of Massachusetts’ plan to build a $130 million 40-turbine wind farm, or question company officials about it, just needs to go to the courthouse on Main Street, company officials said Monday. First Wind has opened an… Read More
BANGOR – Holly Grant of Island Falls drove away from Quirk Auto Park in Bangor in a 2009 Chevy Cobalt on Saturday, courtesy of bangordailynews.com. The giveaway marked the conclusion of a 25-day Maine town trivia contest hosted by bangordailynews.com’s new community Web site Maineville.com… Read More
State regulators have ordered the former owner of the HoltraChem facility in Orrington to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated soil from the site in what would be one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in Maine history. The Maine Department of Environmental… Read More
John M. Rohman, principal & CEO of WBRC Architects Engineers of Bangor, Portland and Sarasota, Fla., was recognized with a presidential citation at the 2008 American Society of Interior Designers’ New England gala for his leadership in growing the creative economy. Rohman has been involved for many years… Read More
TRENTON – Hancock County has upgraded its airport in order to accommodate larger airplanes, and as a result the Route 3 facility has a new capability. By changing the facility from Class III to Class I, the county is required to create and staff a… Read More
AUGUSTA – The cost of heating oil in Maine continues to fall with the average cash price slipping 10 cents a gallon in the past week to $2.60. The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security said Monday its latest survey found actual prices ranging… Read More
BANGOR – The Bangor law firm Gross, Minsky & Mogul, P.A., recently thanked its clients by throwing a 70th anniversary party at the Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono. “The party was one small way of recognizing the role our clients play in our success… Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – Sales of existing homes in Maine fell nearly 14 percent in October, while the median sales price was down by more than 9 percent. The figures were released Monday by the Maine Association of Realtors, which tallied 897 home sales last month. Read More
BRIDGEWATER, Nova Scotia – The fall lobster season in the lobster-rich waters of western Nova Scotia got under way amid worries about low prices that fishermen will get for their catch. Monday was the first day of the fall lobster season for Nova Scotia fishermen… Read More
ORONO – The general manager of the Best Western Black Bear Inn recently was honored as the hotel chain’s top manager at its North American Conference in Honolulu. Tom Palmer was given the “Heroic Hospitality Stars” award, which is based on the recipient’s commitment to… Read More
PORTLAND – Even as Americans have been moving away from gas-guzzling vehicles, the pickup truck remains king of the road in Maine. Despite motorists’ concern about gas mileage, dealers say trucks remain popular. They cite a variety of reasons, including bad weather, lousy roads and… Read More
A member of Northeast CONTACT wrote to us recently with a complaint similar to those voiced by thousands of consumers across the country. She had cashed a check, thinking it was part of a rewards program, only to find out later that by doing so… Read More
PLYMOUTH – The chorus of gobbles from the toms is loud but brief, followed by a constant chirp sound from the hens gathered around the fresh water at Dilly Dally Organic Farm. Curious, the flock of turkeys comes to the fence, inspecting visitors and looking… Read More
CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire, Maine and most other states are asking the Federal Trade Commission to toughen its rules on selling used cars that have been in floods or collisions. Under the current rule, buyers must be told if the car has a warranty… Read More
Oh, the economy outside might be frightful, but area retailers are hopeful that the holiday shopping season still will be delightful – or at least not disastrous. “Christmas always happens,” a philosophical Brad Ryder, owner of downtown Bangor’s Epic Sports store, said Wednesday. “Some years… Read More
The following are examples of popular items and holiday sales at retail stores in the Bangor area: Bangor Mall – Opens at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Stores will have featured sale items and some will offer shoppers additional gifts. Hot… Read More
BANGOR – Alfreda Mouland, Acadia Hospital geriatric nurse practitioner, has received the Maine Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award from the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association. In her tenure at Acadia, Mouland has promoted the role of nurse practitioners in attending to the unmet health needs… Read More
A traditional large residential window, with a traditional storm window, will demand about 16 gallons of oil per heating season to overcome its energy loss. A temporary plastic window added to the inside will save about 6 gallons of oil and increase the comfort of someone sitting near… Read More
We spend a lot of time redoing old house exteriors here in Maine. Up to 50 years ago, most homes used some sort of wood siding in our climate. I cannot think of a more resilient material that is fun to work with and can create such a… Read More
MILO – Next stop, Poland! On a gray November day, the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway yard in Derby – a tiny community in the town of Milo – might seem like it’s remote enough to be at the end of the track. But for… Read More
While its history is steeped in a bygone era of log booms and lumberjacks, remote Historic Pittston Farm in Pittston Academy Grant earlier this month took a giant leap into the future to ensure its survival as a four-seasons resort. That leap into the air-… Read More
AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci is in Canada for two days as part of a trade mission. Baldacci’s visit to Toronto on Thursday and Friday is part of a weeklong trade mission organized through the Maine International Trade Center, a nonprofit that provides trade counseling… Read More
PORTLAND – Farm Credit of Maine was named 2008 Financial Institution of the Year by the Finance Authority of Maine at its annual meeting and awards banquet this week. Beth Bordowitz, FAME’s acting CEO, said the agency chose to recognize Farm Credit of Maine for… Read More
AUGUSTA – The city of Augusta has hired McCormick Facilities Management of Dexter to conduct as energy analysis of all city-owned buildings and facilities. The detailed energy audit will review, among other things, energy consumption, lighting, water and sewer usage. McCormick Facilities Management will analyze… Read More
BOSTON – The General Services Administration has awarded a $234,760 contract to CMC & Maintenance Inc. of Bangor, Maine, to provide janitorial and mechanical maintenance services at the U.S. Border Station in Houlton, Maine, the U.S. Border Station in Orient, Maine and the U.S. Border Patrol Sector Headquarters… Read More
TORONTO – Toronto-Dominion Bank, the parent company of Maine-based TD Banknorth, said it would report $272 million in after-tax credit trading losses in its fourth quarter. In a preview of an earnings report expected in two weeks, the bank said Thursday it would report a… Read More
FORT KENT – It commonly begins, Dr. Michael Nissenbaum says, with lots of headaches. Then comes a chronic feeling of annoyance and irritability. As it progresses, nausea, vertigo and lapses in concentration become common. It culminates with chronic sleep disturbance and may lead to depression… Read More
AUGUSTA – A London-based financial services company that opened a call center over the summer in Wilton plans to add 25 more jobs. Gov. John Baldacci said Barclays PLC now employs about 70 people and will add the 25 new jobs by the first quarter… Read More