Winning takes talent, but sometimes intangibles such as leadership, commitment, motivation and resilience can help a team maximize its potential. The University of Maine football team combined those qualities while putting together an 8-5 season that ended with Saturday’s 40-15 loss to Northern Iowa in… Read More
The University of Maine’s goal-starved men’s hockey team has dug a hole for itself in its quest for a 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. But it hasn’t been due to a lack of effort. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Bangor High distance ace Riley Masters and the Brewer girls and boys teams have geared up for their respective Eastern Maine Indoor Track League openers tonight and Friday by competing in preseason meets. The Witches ran at the Bowdoin College Relays last weekend in Brunswick… Read More
Residents and educators all over the state of Maine have put time and energy into making the administrative reorganization law work. We estimate about 25,200 hours have been spent since September by residents alone. But frustration and confusion are nearing a breaking point. It’s time to make some… Read More
Garden questions arrive weekly by e-mail and snail mail and I try to reply promptly with the time left after class preps and grading. Readers wait, patiently for the most part. Often I feel that the answer to one gardener’s question would be useful to many of my… Read More
What a delight it always is to hear from Gene Nichols, associate professor of music at the University of Maine in Machias. Nichols wrote that last year “we revived a UMM club from 1926, the Ukulele Club, and it’s been going great guns ever since.”… Read More
It’s a familiar story by now. NAFTA-style trade agreements, written with little input from citizens or our representatives, are implemented with country after country and drive American jobs overseas to nations with minimal labor, environmental and human rights protections. Maine alone has lost more than… Read More
Summersweet clethra, Clethra alnifolia, is a native plant success story, a shrub valued for its lustrous foliage, sweet-smelling flowers and golden yellow fall foliage. In the wild it grows to 10 feet in height and produces spicy, fragrant flowers in late summer. Also called sweet… Read More
I would like to introduce you to a new friend of mine – The Bangor Land Trust. Surprised? Didn’t realize we had a Land Trust here in Bangor? Maybe you are even wondering why we need or want a Land Trust. So please, take a… Read More
Should an asterisk be placed beside Barry Bonds’ name in the career homerun list? His critics assume illegal steroids have enabled his accomplishments. Many baseball “purists” already vote for the asterisk even before the investigation is complete by greeting his every plate appearance with a chorus of boos. Read More
The 150th anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s last trip into the Maine woods was marked recently by a canoeing excursion on Chesuncook Lake, and the BDN covered the trip. This seemed appropriate, given the impact Thoreau has on the way we see the world. It’s… Read More
Yes, there are dull moments at Cobb Manor. But they are few and very far between. I purchased the three-bedroom house at Cobb Manor to make a home for my three darling daughters. That never worked out, so I was blessed-cursed with at least two… Read More
Ah, the concept album. You know the classics: the Who’s “Tommy,” Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” bombastic spectacles such as Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,” and more recent examples such as My Chemical Romance’s “The Black Parade” and Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinois.” Usually a band… Read More
Dear Jim: I listened to Al Gore on television and he mentioned new CFL light bulbs for homes. Can I use these in existing lamps and how much electricity will they save? Is the light quality acceptable? — Gayle H. Dear Gayle: CFLs, or compact… Read More
The most important pitching change of the 2007 season for the Boston Red Sox may have already been made. The persistent, pesky question with no answer now finally has one: This year’s closer will be last year’s closer – Jonathan Papelbon. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
I consider myself an environmentalist and no one wants clean air and water more than I do. Aroostook County and the rest of Maine have a high rate of cancer and lung disease, and many of our problems are caused by being downwind from the industries to the… Read More
Lewis Libby thought he had a license to lie. After 10 days of deliberation, a thoughtful, well-educated, dedicated jury thought otherwise and convicted Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff of one count of obstruction of justice, one count of lying to the FBI, and two counts… Read More
Ten years ago, the University of Maine received a wonderful gift from two of its most generous alumni, Stephen and Tabitha King. Seeing the financial base of the university eroded, the Kings gave funds for student scholarships and for hiring faculty whose work concerns humanity itself. As then… Read More
State rules require every school administrative unit, or SAU, to have a superintendent and to assign students to their town-operated public school. State rules set forth a host of regulations that require administrative oversight. So long as state rules do these things, there is little chance that changing… Read More
The holidays are over, the decorations put away for another year, and we ponder when winter and snow in particular will arrive. Many of us have made New Year’s resolutions to outline our goals for the year. Some of us will try to lose a few pounds. Others… Read More
Because of the tragic and senseless death of a young teenager in Maine, the issue of domestic violence is prominent in the news these days. In the past twenty years, domestic violence has been a factor in approximately half of all homicides committed in Maine. Read More
Many thanks to the following individuals who have chosen to give to the Santa’s Helper Fund. Anonymous, No town given $3,000 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
(As reported in the Bangor Daily News) 10 years ago – Nov. 16, 1996 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… Read More
ORONO – Last Saturday’s weather-aided 3-0 loss at Rhode Island was a punch in the gut to the University of Maine football team. Despite controlling play, the Black Bears’ three-game winning streak was snapped, their postseason hopes complicated and their spirits shaken. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Under the guidance of its president, Mary Clift, members of St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary have come up with a unique way of raising funds by hosting not one but two special events in a single day at the same site. First up is the SJHA… Read More
When petroleum prices skyrocketed about a year ago, it put the spotlight on numerous wind and tidal power projects that have been proposed for Maine. In addition, manufacturers of solar power devices have been busy. This is good evidence of an economy adapting to a… Read More
It is time to rid the earth and its highways of one of the planet’s worst scourges – tailgaters. I propose a new law that will imprison tailgaters for a five-year term for the first offense and execute them for any repeat offense. I will… Read More
Air Force Airman Molly S. Harper has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, her studies included the Air Force mission and military customs and training. She also performed drill and ceremony… Read More
President Mary Clift and members of the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary are undertaking a new fundraiser, and you can be part of it and help make it a success. SJH Auxiliary members invite you to join them on the coach trip, “A Journey Home, John… Read More
Dear Jim: I have always used electric bug zappers to try to control mosquitoes and biting insects. I want to find another method which does not use as much electricity. What options do I have and which are best to use? – Dawn W. Dear… Read More
BELFAST – School board members – the remaining ones, that is – must have been stunned. Many of the 50 or so people attending Thursday night’s budget hearing were clapping, but it wasn’t in agreement with yet another stinging denouncement by a resident of the… Read More
Dear Jim: I just remodeled my kitchen and I plan to install a professional gas range. Do the huge burners use extra gas? Is it better to install a dual-fuel model or will the electric portion cost more to operate? – Martine H. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
An envelope recently arrived at the Northeast CONTACT office from Martha Wallace, a member of Northeast CONTACT from Portland. She wrote, “I have a dilemma which I hope you can take care of for me. I have contacted you to help me before and you helped me big… Read More
April is Autism Awareness Month. In recognition of that event, Justice for Autism with Community and Kindness, or J.A.C.K., is sponsoring a benefit Country and Western Show with Wade Dow & Friends at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Arbutus Grange Hall on… Read More
The last time Jack’s Wild played at the Bear Brew Pub in Orono, they almost burned down the house. Literally. 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
A Toronto Star editorial recently called a frightening irony to our attention. On the same day a United Nations report warned that more than a billion people worldwide face growing shortages of water, American scientists announced they found evidence of water on Enceladus, a far-off moon of Saturn. Read More
Coach Ann McInerney inherited the University of Maine women’s basketball team at a difficult juncture. That quickly became evident during the 2005-06 season as the limited Black Bears managed only a 10-19 overall record and a 5-11 America East mark. It was the program’s worst… Read More
Talk of a coal strike sent shivers up the spines of Mainers a century ago just as talk of an oil price increase by the OPEC cartel does today. Coal was the king of fuels. It was the backbone of economic prosperity, energizing most factories and railroads. In… Read More
Paws With A Cause is a national organization based in Michigan that for more than 20 years has provided assistance dogs for people with disabilities. Friends and neighbors of Heidi Eagleton of Winter Harbor are planning a benefit donation supper to help her raise funds… Read More
Northeast COMBAT receives both telephone calls and mail from consumers with diverse problems. Here are several types of problems and our comments or advice on each. We have volumes of complaints about mail orders, especially after the holiday season. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
The price of gas in Bangor and Brewer dropped from $1.65 to $1.25 on Jan. 1, 1906. It had been $2 just four years before that, and $2.25 a decade previously. Dollar gas was on the way, predicted the Bangor Daily News. The price was going down because… Read More
The way the Black Bears dominated a young Northeastern University team in their 5-2 Saturday night victory was exactly what the doctor ordered for the University of Maine men’s hockey team. It re-established their blueprint for success: Outwork your opponent, be physical, play smart and… Read More
Dear Santa: Would you please – pretty please – bring me a tractor for Christmas? Seeing as I live on granite ledge, it’s not that I need a tractor for farming, nor for mowing enormous grassy areas or for pulling heavy boat trailers. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
Business lobbyists often talk about building a better business “climate.” They use the noun “climate” in a metaphorical sense to imply that without the right tax policies business cannot thrive and expand. References to climate, however, should be taken in a more literal sense. Without air that is… Read More
PITTSFIELD – There are two candidates for the Town Council this November, and although both are running unopposed, their distinctive views on how to develop Pittsfield mirror a split community. Some in the town want it to remain a bedroom community that focuses on neighborhoods… Read More
Pity the poor Katrinas of the world. Until late summer, they were fortunate indeed to be able to go through life with such a perfectly lovely name, a noble name they could carry proudly. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
This invitation comes your way from the Heart of Maine Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, via member Anita McGarry of Bangor. “All ladies are invited to test out that special feeling of four-part harmony, barbershop style,” she wrote of the organization’s Musical Open House for… Read More
If the University of Maine men’s hockey team plays up to its potential, it should earn its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and improve on last year’s 20-13-7 record. But it will be inexperienced in goal and it’s unlikely that an unseasoned goaltender will lead… Read More
I read with dismay the story, “Rangeley police shoot, kill strange-acting bear” (BDN, Aug. 3), because it was in close proximity to humans. I believe we will be seeing more of these stories in the future. As the bear-baiting season begins we should revisit what currently passes as… Read More
AUGUSTA – With summertime emptying the House and Senate chambers, in the silence one can almost hear the echo of ideas from the past session. There were 1,692 to be exact – some new, many recycled and a few doomed from the moment they were… Read More
OXFORD, Miss. – The season is over for the University of Maine baseball team, but the success it achieved during 2005 make it one of the most memorable and meaningful in program history. UMaine again emerged as the premier program in New England. Coach Paul… Read More
Sort of like watching your baby take its first steps, it’s always fun to share the joy a new volunteer experiences on first helping a neighbor. COMBAT dispute intervention volunteer Virginia H. of Bangor hardly had time to get her chair warm on her first full day in… Read More
In his May 14-15 letter to the editor, Tim Boley M.D., is right about a couple of things. The “government” is us, and death and taxes are certain. However, when he claims that there is no such thing as the Social Security trust fund he is either confused… Read More
WASHINGTON – Painful cries echoed from the New Mexico statehouse to congressional offices in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Connecticut on Friday as Republicans and Democrats, revving up for 2006 re-election bids, absorbed the military base hit list. The proposed shuttering of dozens of installations, while rarely… Read More
Born in March 1993, Rafik is a charming and handsome boy who is friendly and engaging. He enjoys playing video games, swimming and horseback riding. Rafik has an excellent reading ability and has a deep love of books and stories. He also is creative and loves to sing. Read More
AUGUSTA – A top aide to former Sen. William Cohen, Bob Tyrer, once likened the primary role of a state political party organization to the dictate of a physician’s Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no harm.” It may be a good time to test that theory. Read More
Term limits may be up for review 12 years since voter approval, impact on Maine’s lawmakers examined
AUGUSTA – Nervous but knowing smiles appeared on the faces of veteran lawmakers John Martin and Elizabeth Mitchell when a freshman senator asked for a round of applause after the testimony of a community college professor. Any outward display of support, particularly during the budget… Read More
Small-school football in Eastern Maine is not without its challenges, particularly maintaining adequate numbers in an era of declining enrollments. But Sunday night’s 34th annual James J. Fitzpatrick Award Dinner suggested that the dreams shared by young football players in Maine are not limited by… Read More
When it comes to tax reform in Augusta, two rules have applied: Proposing it has been easy. Delivering it has not. 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
A Winterport woman was hospitalized briefly Tuesday after the car she was driving rear-ended another vehicle on Interstate 95 in Bangor. Traffic in the southbound lane of the interstate near the Kenduskeag Stream had slowed at about 2:30 p.m., but motorist Laura Anderson, 20, apparently… Read More
It’s now a mystery greater than what is the next Blue Light Special: Will the surprise $11 billion merger of Kmart Holding Corp. and Sears Roebuck & Co. result in the closure of any stores in Maine? Based on the plans outlined by executives from… Read More
Army Pvt. Ronald J. Pelletier has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Knox, Ky. The 2004 graduate of Madawaska High School is the son of Ronald and Mary Ellen Pelletier of Madawaska. Read More
AUGUSTA – Democrats have often, very often, displayed a capacity to debate among themselves. They have also often, but not always, shown they can put aside internal differences and unite. Both abilities were on display Wednesday as the apparent majority party in the House of… Read More
In recent weeks Mainers have been bombarded with advertisements depicting a state overrun with deadly predators, of children at risk and hunting guides in poverty. We’ve seen bears portrayed as doughnut junkies and watched these animals shot at close range, shuddering into a heap of fur. Read More
The Bush administration markets itself as the only viable defense against terrorism. Yet its tendency to equate differences in thought and lifestyle with threats to physical security in fact makes us ever less secure. In this respect, it mimics the least savory aspects of our heritage and gives… Read More
Schools Chamber of Commerce scholarship 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
While helping to plan a benefit fashion show for later this summer, I figured it would behoove me to find out what is in fashion – other than rain slickers – for those of us who live Down East. Lo and behold, Vogue magazine had… Read More
Dear Jim: Our house feels warm even with the air conditioner running. The temperature seems to be low enough for comfort. Could the heat be coming from the attic? Will solar-powered attic fans help much? – Caroline J. Dear Caroline: Your situation is not uncommon. Read More
Two hundred twenty-seven years ago a group of 45 men gathered in Philadelphia to write a new constitution for a new country. They did more than write a new constitution. They participated in what has proved to be one of the turning points in human history. They created… Read More
Dear Jim: My concrete patio is cracked and I want to build a deck instead. Sometimes the patio gets almost too hot to use. How can I design a deck to stay cooler and shade the house for lower air-conditioning bills? – Bob M. Dear… Read More
Hanging on a wall of my camp is a large framed color photograph of a chimpanzee, decked out in white shirt, snazzy tie, red vest and one of those Panama straw hats only chimps and old Broadway song-and-dance men can get away with wearing. He’s puffing on a… Read More
For political candidates, home is often where one believes one can get the most votes. It’s no surprise, then, that in the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Rep. Michael Michaud and Republican challenger Brian Hamel have very different beliefs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
What means the most, perhaps, to the individual organizing a benefit for Fletcher Simpson, a kindergartner at Asa Adams School in Orono, is that it took only four hours to put the event together. Dr. Ken Johnson of Orono said he was amazed at the… Read More
A Good Humor ice cream truck driver was assaulted in Orrington Monday afternoon, and her assailant made off with an undisclosed amount of money, police say. Sgt. Scott Young of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department said the robbery occurred at about 3:30 p.m. in the… Read More
ORONO – The University of Maine baseball team appeared destined for significant challenges heading into the 2004 season. Key personnel losses left the Black Bears young, with five underclassmen starting, and inexperienced in several key positions. Coach Paul Kostacopoulos, his staff and the players made… Read More
Oh, what a tangled web they weaved. Whether you’re purist or progressive, Major League Baseball’s decision to shill for Spider-Man dialed up debate in a hurry – and public reaction was both swift and emphatic. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
AUGUSTA – Getting something done can be complicated by an imperative to get anything done. Exhibit A: the just-adjourned session of the Maine Legislature. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
Darren E. Hartford has been promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Hartford is a KC-135 aircraft commander with the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron of Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Wash. Hartford is the son of Priscilla and David Hartford of Smithfield. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Barring injuries to key players (i.e. goalie Jimmy Howard), the University of Maine’s hockey team should be in the hunt for a fifth Frozen Four appearance in seven years next season. Ten of the 19 players who were fixtures in the University of Maine’s lineup… Read More
Bette Hoxie was thrilled with the birth of her grandson. Like most grandparents, she wanted the best for him from the beginning. She loaded up on supplies, bought him a new car seat, and helped bring him home from the hospital. As Hoxie’s son and his girlfriend began… Read More
In theaters STARSKY & HUTCH, directed by Todd Phillips, written by Phillips, William Blinn, Stevie Long, John O’Brien and Scot Armstrong, 97 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… Read More
The article titled “Houlton lobbies County to oppose highway” (BDN, Feb. 20) is both insulting and unacceptable to the people of Aroostook County. The fact that so-called “Houlton leaders” are urging Aroostook commissioners to join them in lobbying the state against building a new north-south highway “at the… Read More
Bangor police arrested a Dedham man after he allegedly damaged motel property Sunday night. Officer Eric Tourtelotte reported that at about 9:40 p.m. he and officers Douglas Moore and Shawn Green went to Howard Johnson’s on Odlin Road, where staff had requested that an intoxicated… Read More
Want something to think about that will warm the cockles of your heart and help you get through these frigid days? How about helping a local family move into a home of its own? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Immediately after Iran’s devastating Dec. 26 earthquake, which leveled more than half the houses and a 2,000-year-old citadel in the city of Bam, Orono pharmacist Ali Aghamoosa was trying to find out whether his family and friends were all right. It took awhile, but the… Read More
Bangor police arrested a Hermon man Friday afternoon after he allegedly stole a leather jacket. Officer Shawn Green reported that at about 1:45 p.m. he and Officer Myron Warner were on patrol in plainclothes outside the Bangor Mall when Green noticed a man leaving the… Read More
AUGUSTA – Although there will be three choices for property tax relief on Tuesday’s ballot, the issue would not even be up for discussion if not for the zealous efforts of the Maine Municipal Association to place Question 1A before voters in the first place. Read More
A few years ago, I was walking home to where I used to live on Capitol Hill. It was late afternoon, a week before Halloween, one of those chilly golden days when cracked asphalt and broken bottles are hidden beneath oak leaves and horse chestnuts, and you can… Read More
AUGUSTA – An estimated 140 Maine communities would receive less school funding under the Legislature’s Question 1 proposal, according to an analysis by the Department of Education. Meanwhile, although all towns look like winners under a separate proposal drafted by the Maine Municipal Association, it… Read More
During the run of “I Hate Hamlet” earlier this month at Penobscot Theatre in Bangor, Michael Mendelson, the lead in the show and a New York actor, gave a wrenching curtain speech. He spoke of the critical danger of the theater’s financial situation, and he reiterated a public… Read More
Six paper mills along the Penobscot River may be the victims of their own success. For most of a century, the mills were proud to the point of arrogance about their dominance in the global marketplace. They were just as strong and just as powerful as the mighty… Read More
BANGOR – The state’s paper industry suffered another body blow Thursday when Nexfor-Fraser Papers announced that it would be cutting 190 jobs in Madawaska, plus another 141 positions directly across the river in Edmundston, New Brunswick. According to one industry analyst, Maine is being “blindsided”… Read More
CRANBERRY ISLES – In its simplest form, the debate over the future of the Cranberry Isles came down to who wears the pants: the wealthy summer Dockers crowd or the working year-round Dickies set. On Wednesday, for the third time, the carpenters and fishermen won… Read More
October, the 10th month, is named after ‘octo,’ the Latin word for eight. Remember, the ancient Roman calendar started in March until Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar in 1582, establishing January as the first month of the year. Focus on the planets googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
The goal is the same every year: an NCAA hockey championship. There are different adversities that must be overcome and various parts of the game that must be improved. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
ORONO – Consistency is one of the key characteristics on which championship basketball teams build their success. The University of Maine women’s basketball team has struggled to establish consistency on the court during the 2001-2002 season, but there’s no time like the present to put… Read More
With yet another America East men’s basketball tournament looming, and with yet another shot at what has been an elusive target – the league’s automatic bid in the NCAA tourney – in the offing, the University of Maine men’s squad is … again … thinking optimistically. Read More
BANGOR – One has to assume there was a stunned silence in Justice Roland Cole’s chambers last week when minutes after a jury proclaimed 38-year-old Jeffrey Cookson guilty of two murders, his attorney stepped forward to say that another man had confessed and offered up the missing murder… Read More
The University of Maine’s Black Bear hockey team certainly had some third periods in the first half of their season they would like to replay. How about the 2-0 lead they squandered in a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston University? Or the late goals they… Read More
LOUDON, N.H. – Consistency. That will be the emphasis of the PPI Motorsports Team next season after a strong second half, including a win at Martinsville, established owner Cal Wells III, Newburgh driver Ricky Craven, crew chief Mike Beam and their Tide Ford team as… Read More