Early in October a group of Bangor residents, including some members of the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, submitted a draft resolution to the Bangor City Council for consideration and possible adoption. The resolution stated that the City Council “opposes pre-emptive military action by the United… Read More
I cannot speak for all military families any more than one person can speak for an entire race, but inasmuch as I have been in a military family for all but six weeks of my life, most of my friends are part of military families, and I regularly… Read More
Mark A. Jenkins, son of John Jenkins and Corrie Blysna, and grandson of James and Gloria Jenkins of Veazie, completed Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. He is attending infantry training at Camp Geiger, N.C. Read More
For 20 years, reports First Congregational Church of Blue Hill secretary Wendy Ritger, the church’s Christmas Angels have been “spreading their wings” by providing gifts of warm clothing to children in need who live in the Blue Hill Peninsula-Deer Isle area. If you would like… Read More
Editor’s Note: This is the second of two columns on the logging industry and its impact on Bangor a century ago as reported in the newspapers. RIOT ON HANCOCK STREET (March 27, 1908) googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
The news from Mars recently has been as delightfully confusing as ever. It’s not that science is failing to advance – the astronomers are accumulating data hand over fist. But there’s so much knowledge pouring in that it’s hard to understand. How that’s any different… Read More
One of my cherished possessions is a five-generation picture in which I’m the infant in the arms of my great-great-grandmother, Mary (Cummings) Bennett Lord. Also in the photo are my dad, Gayland Moore Jr.; my grandmother, Ione (Bennett) Moore; and my great-grandmother Rena (Bennett) Bennett. Read More
In theaters APPALOOSA, directed by Ed Harris, written by Robert Knott and Harris, 115 minutes, rated R. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) {… Read More
That big sigh you heard on Wednesday morning was the American public expressing relief that the billion-dollar two-year presidential election campaign that cost President-elect Barack Obama’s organization more than 10 bucks a vote for his roughly 65 million votes was finally history. “Politics has got… Read More
After the struggles last spring to balance the state budget, we are now faced with predictions of an even bigger gap this coming year. The governor is asking department heads to cut 10 percent from their funding requests for next year. With Wall Street in turmoil and a… Read More
You can’t fault someone for trying. That was my first thought this week when I saw the nationwide headlines that prosecutors in 40 states, including Maine, had signed an agreement with craigslist.com in an attempt to rein in sex ads (or prostitution) on the free… Read More
Army Pvt. Nathan Z. Carr has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Carr is a 2008 graduate of Lawrence High School in Fairfield. Read More
Elishea, born in 1991, is a teenager who loves to laugh and have fun. She describes herself as a country girl and doesn’t want to live in the city. Elishea loves to listen to country music and do arts and crafts. She’s also good at… Read More
During these difficult economic times it is more important than ever for nonprofit organizations to be successful with each of their fundraising efforts, which is just one of many reasons Marie Stewart of the Bangor Y urges you to attend the 10th annual KeyBank Bangor Y Benefit Auction. Read More
The big thing we get asked about all winter long is ice dams. Let’s stop them early this year. Most ice dams are caused by insulation problems in the roof. OK, next question! googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
Room air velocities as low as 1 foot per second will be discernable and produce discomfort to a sedentary occupant. One great source of uncomfortable air velocities is an open stairwell. If upstairs bedrooms are not heated and the doors are open or do not fit, significant convection… Read More
When I think of Blue Eyes and her birthday, I will think of Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. You have to understand that she is a pluperfect planner and organizer. She has organized my most fantastic birthday celebrations. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
To paraphrase Vince Lombardi: “If no one is keeping score, why is winning important?” Without trophies and record books, why play, why watch, why cheer? If today is the only reality, why set goals? Why explore? Why ask questions? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Remember those Old Navy ads last year? “If you are chilly, here, take my sweater.” Yes, it’s a sweet little tune. But as much as I love you, I hate the advice. If you are chilly, step away from my sweater. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
I never paid a poll tax. I’m thankful the days of paying to use the voting place are gone. But I’ll admit that I have found it emotionally taxing to vote in Maine, ever since I moved here a few years ago. All of that changed last Tuesday,… Read More
The Page Farm and Home Museum in Orono held its Apple Fest on Oct. 25, and Gayle Crowly’s apple pie won the most votes in the apple recipes contest. Gayle, who lives in Bangor, added a bit of cream to the filling, and sweetened it with both white… Read More
“Batman: The Complete Animated Series”: The Dark Knight continues his resurgence, which began in July with the release of Christopher Nolan’s outstanding movie “The Dark Knight,” and which now extends with “Batman: The Complete Animated Series” from Warner Home Video. The series, which originally ran on Saturday mornings… Read More
There are deciduous trees that astonish us with the intensity of their autumn foliage – sugar maple and red maple, of course – and then there are trees with more subtle fall color, yet uncommon strength and grace. Silver maple, Acer saccharinum, belongs to the latter group. Read More
Poverty is not an indicator of meanness. In my experience, generosity of spirit is not proportionate to the size of one’s bank account or future prospects. Economic hardship, poverty, career setbacks – all are very tough challenges, but none cause a fundamental belief that it is okay to… Read More
On Oct. 29, the Bangor Daily News published an article titled “Study: Consolidation partners report reluctance, pessimism.” The article was based on information accumulated by the Center for Research and Evaluation in the College of Education at the University of Maine. The center interviewed members of five proposed… Read More
Everyone load up – we’re headed to Cape Evans.” It’s a Sunday at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and we’re taking a trip 25 miles away across the sea ice. The weather is perfect, clear and blue. We load up three Deltas – large, wheeled vehicles holding… Read More
It’s a pretty sure bet that a Veazie man didn’t get the job he was seeking Tuesday after being led out of LaBree’s Bakery in Old Town in handcuffs. Nicholas Allen Mitchell, 21, was arrested at the Gilman Falls bakery on a charge of violating… Read More
Dixmont residents have started a Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to assist those who may need some help getting through the long winter ahead with purchases of everything from fuel oil to wood, clothing, food and medicine as well as assistance in winterizing their homes, Lois Rowe wrote of… Read More
In theaters ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO, written and directed by Kevin Smith, 101 minutes, rated R. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++)… Read More
No more debates, no more political ads, no more special broadcasts. It’s time to get back to the reality of TV. Now that we all have witnessed, and, I hope, you all participated in, an event that’s sure to be featured in history books, our… Read More
Christine Beacham has been named manager of KeyBank’s Camden branch. She has 12 years experience in the financial services industry, working in business banking, commercial lending and retail banking. She began her career with MBNA in Belfast. Beacham earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University… Read More
We see news nearly every day about the financial crisis that we face as a nation. We know that times are tough nationally, and even during a terrible national economy, there are companies willing and able to invest under the right conditions. There have been two recent examples… Read More
These are challenging times. Everyday, headlines remind us of the global instability and economic pressures that touch each of us. For every one of us re-examining our family finances and wondering where to cut back, we have a neighbor who is wondering where to get that next meal… Read More
Many quality vendors will participate in the 30th annual Holiday MarketPlace hosted by Zonta Club of Bangor, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Brewer Auditorium reports Alex Turallo. Admission is just $1 each day, and as usual,… Read More
As the weather turns colder and the holidays approach, we tend to inch up the thermostat and spend more time cooking and using lights to decorate. So, ’tis the season for fire prevention and safety tips. First of all, smoking is a major cause of… Read More
Fields Pond Audubon Center Russ Lake of Brewer dropped in at the Fields Pond Audubon Center with photos of two mourning doves on his lawn. Something was definitely wrong with those birds. Each had a bulbous, somewhat shiny growth on its bill. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Well, yesterday was Election Day and you know a whole lot more about the decisions that we all made than I do. Not because I don’t pay attention; but because my deadline for this column was just about the time that people started heading to the polls. And… Read More
A passing reference to wetlands mitigation banking was omitted from the Bangor Daily News’ coverage of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee meeting on Sears Island, “Sears Island compromise tabled” (BDN, Oct. 16). It is unfortunate that the reporter, Walter Griffin, failed to note Transportation Commissioner David Cole’s comment because… Read More
Air Force Airman Heather A. Perez has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the granddaughter of Wallace Mays of Americus, Ga., and the daughter of Kimberly Perez of Spring Street, Dover-Foxcroft. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
A St. Albans hunter, who had climbed a tree Monday afternoon to get a better look at a couple of deer he was hunting, fell and broke a bone in his lower back, Game Warden Aaron Cross said Tuesday. Brian Gervais, 31, was hunting alone… Read More
The Millinocket Historical Society is now selling its 2009 calendars for $8.50 each, reports MHS member Trudy Wyman. The calendar’s theme is Millinocket People and Places: 1930s and 1940s, and the calendars may be purchased at the MHS Museum from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays… Read More
A holiday classic It’s the sweetest form of architecture around. Pairings, the fine-dining restaurant and cooking school in Winterport, will offer a Gingerbread House Competition this holiday season. On Nov. 11 and 18, Carmen Montes of Montes International Catering in Bangor will offer a two-part… Read More
Dear Daughters, We are now getting more calls for you at our home than when you were both living here and dating. That’s because, for the first time, both of you will be voting for a president of the United States, and every pollster and… Read More
Americans today believe that they have a right not only to vote, but to vote without being afraid to do so. That’s as it should be. Unfortunately, questions and rumors around election time can create doubts for voters, but they needn’t. Here are some facts that may be… Read More
In Orono, police officers are still catching up on paperwork from a Halloween detail that Sgt. Scott Scripture said generated more than 20 citations. The special detail, which started about 8 p.m. Halloween night and ran until about 4 a.m. Saturday, involved scheduling six more… Read More
Several area organizations will benefit from your attendance at the third annual Sparkle fundraiser, “The Party You Won’t Want to Miss,” Linda Lougee reports. Sparkle is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by dancing, Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Millennium Wedding and Convention Center in… Read More
Air Force Airman 1st Class Ashley T. Larrabee has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. Larrabee earned distinction as an honor graduate. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
The Irish tradition of lace making staggers the imagination. It includes crocheted lace with picots and flower forms, Youghal needle lace with the design outlined in couching stitches using fine thread, Inishmacsaint needle lace with a raised three-dimensional effect, Carrickmacross lace of applique and cutwork worked over netting,… Read More
When a useful publication comes along, Northeast CONTACT likes to let consumers know. Because seniors make up a sizable percentage of our clientele, we think that a new booklet from Maine’s Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection will be a great resource. It’s called the “Downeaster… Read More
Q: I was just involved in a car accident that wasn’t my fault. I’m not sure about the extent of my injuries yet (though I do feel pretty stiff and achy), and I’m not sure whether it’s serious enough to hire a lawyer. What should I do in… Read More
My opening statement to the Land Use Regulation Commission about Plum Creek’s Moosehead region conservation and development plan was delivered on Dec. 3, 2007. My closing statement in this lengthy proceeding was presented to LURC on Sept. 23, 2008. That’s time enough to deliver a… Read More
With the support of many forward-thinking commercial fishing organizations, the industry’s regional governing body, the New England Fishery Management Council, recently sent a clear signal that New England will move away from the current failed fisheries management system in favor of a structure that can rebuild fish stocks… Read More
Last month, the Connecticut Supreme Court confirmed the dignity and equality of its lesbian and gay residents by lifting the ban on same-sex couples marrying in their state. Amid bleak economic news and heated political campaigns, this landmark decision didn’t get much attention here in… Read More
A common thread among all military families, regardless of the individual branch of service, is the fact that they seldom live near their relatives. With our constant relocating, only the most nomadic parents and grandparents could keep up. Therefore, we don’t usually have built-in parent-baby sitters living down… Read More
Community members and friends are invited to a Benefit Variety Show at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the Central High School gymnasium in Corinth to benefit 19-year-old Justin Hadley and his family of Corinth. The event has been organized by CHS sophomore Colby Darling… Read More
This is the first of two columns about the annual cycle of events in the logging industry and its impact on Bangor a century ago as described in the city’s two daily newspapers. “THE LUMBER CUT” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
In March, we looked at the Irish ancestry of the presidential candidates, and in recent weeks I’ve had great fun pondering some of vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin’s Maine ancestors, particularly the Gowers. With the election tomorrow, let’s think briefly about what presidential candidates… Read More
By the end of October in these parts, the long decline toward winter has ceased being an autumn flourish and started to look inevitable. The world is literally dying. The fields that turned from May green to midsummer rust and then to hay are now… Read More
In theaters CHANGELING, directed by Clint Eastwood, written by J. Michael Straczynski, 140 minutes, rated R. 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… Read More
The European Space Agency’s Venus Express, in orbit about Venus, is trying to determine whether Earth is habitable. While this may seem like a pointless exercise, there is a serious purpose behind the effort. To the Venus Express, Earth looks like a single dot of… Read More
If we’ve learned anything from this marathon presidential election campaign that mercifully winds down on Tuesday, it is that presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain disagree as to whether a president should sit down and talk with the tough-guy leaders of countries that, in McCain’s words, “don’t… Read More
It is that time in the presidential election cycle that Americans start paying very close attention to what the candidates are proposing and promising. Each candidate has a plan, a vision for this nation. Through all the hype and spin, it ultimately comes down on our shoulders to… Read More
After decades of broken politics in Washington, eight years of failed policies from George Bush and 20 months of campaigning, we are three days away from change for Maine and for America. When we began this journey, we knew how steep our climb would be. Read More
There’s surely nothing wrong with exercises that help to prepare for “worst-case” scenarios. Emergency agencies, such as police and fire departments, perform such exercises regularly. The purpose of such activities is to identify problems and streamline response. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
Creston was born in 1998. He is a caring, kind child who has a lot of empathy for other people and relates well with his caregivers. Creston likes to please other people and is very encouraging and noncompetitive. He looks up to older peers and is receptive to… Read More
Applications for groups or businesses that want to participate in the Rotary Club of Bangor’s holiday Parade of Lights, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, need to be submitted by Monday, Nov. 10, reports parade chairwoman Barbara McDade. Applications may be obtained by calling… Read More
The thermostat may be set at 70 and produce a corresponding room air temperature, yet occupants may feel cold. A body loses heat not only to convection to the cooler air, but by radiation losses to cold surfaces. People may report “a draft” when sitting by a window,… Read More
Autumn is the time that I start to think about finishing up outdoor projects and get my head into working indoors. Now that we are starting to use heat, I always start by tearing into my heating system. It just doesn’t seem like as much… Read More
When one is faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable, it’s a good idea to pause and think hard about life experience in some other realm that may be useful in handling the difficulty. For instance, moms and dads who face problems with an immature… Read More
It’s the awareness, curiosity about, and acceptance of the “Other” that is one measure of a maturing Christianity. One such growing awareness was reported last May in the Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, with the pronouncement by the Pope’s astronomer, Jesuit Priest Jose Gabriel Funes, that aliens may… Read More
You stopped checking your 401(k) weeks ago because you couldn’t take the pain. You haven’t filled up your car in months because the last time you did, it cost $60 – and you drive a Civic. And any candle of hope you may have had about getting a… Read More
We all love to have the daylights scared out of us. Witness the meteoric sales of that sicko, Stephen King. You know you will sit there and watch “Nightmare on Elm Street” every time it is on, especially this week. My personal favorite is the shower scene from… Read More
In August, Gladys Paine of Hermon wrote to say that she used to make Cherry Winks for her children and would like to have the recipe again. Just as she thought, it was a Pillsbury Bake-off recipe that called for crushed cornflakes and was topped with one quarter… Read More
“A Christmas Story: Ultimate Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray: One of the best movies ever about childhood – never mind Christmas – focusing on one boy’s tumultuous, often hilarious life during the holiday season. Peter Billingsley, in a performance that’s something close to genius, is Ralphie, the naive yet calculating… Read More
Last week’s column on Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus, prompted several readers to inquire about native alternatives to this non-native invasive vine. Other readers wanted to learn about alternatives to burning bush, Euonymus alatus, and Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, two more invasive species still firmly entrenched in commercial horticulture. Read More
Maine is not exactly flush with millionaires. On a per capita basis we must rank pretty low among the states. Which means that most of us are middle class, or even further down the income scale (think Washington County). With the present economic turmoil likely to last for… Read More
Editorial page readers this week weighed in on Question 1 on the Maine ballot, the referendum that seeks to repeal the beverage tax. The tax was enacted by the Legislature in the spring to help pay for the state-sponsored DirigoChoice health insurance program. A yes… Read More
McMurdo Station – a busy hub on Ross Island – is known as “The Gateway to Antarctica.” In the summertime, 90 percent of U.S. Antarctic participants either pass through or reside here. Some, like myself, stop here en route to the South Pole or to field camps and… Read More
Once again, reports Karen Hartnagle, Community Health and Counseling Services is sponsoring an after-school program in musical theater for children 8 to 11 in collaboration with Maine Discovery Museum on Main Street in Bangor. Arts ‘n Kids at the museum will begin Tuesday, Hartnagle wrote… Read More
Allow me to deviate, dear reader, from the topic this column usually discusses: rock ‘n’ roll, of course. We’ll get back to that next week. No, this week’s missive concerns the strange event that occurred in the fair city of Bangor during the week of… Read More
In theaters SAW V, directed by David Hackle, written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, 99 minutes, rated R. 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;… Read More
When I saw that A&E is about to release a new show, “Manhunters,” I had to stop and think for a moment. The name could have a few different meanings, and I was pretty sure the first one that popped into my head wouldn’t be on A&E, but… Read More
The state of Maine has tremendous problems in the way it is being managed. I am running for the Legislature because I believe my years of experience and service will help make a difference in solving the problems we face. I have walked the streets… Read More
Last week the BDN printed an editorial opposing Question 2, the Oxford County resort casino initiative. The newspaper claimed that a resort casino is not real economic development. But it is. The newspaper is based just across the street from Hollywood Slots. It is clear… Read More
The Sunshine Club for Children Holiday Market “is a one-day show, only,” wrote show chairperson Peggy Kaufman of Dexter. The show is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Shrine Center, 586 Main St., Bangor. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Someone had a sneezing fit near me the other day. I immediately washed my hands and kept my distance. After all, it is the season of colds and flu, and being in close proximity to a sneeze or a cough can spell trouble. If by… Read More
I saw a flock of about eight Golden-crowned Kinglets gleaning food from the undersides of leaves. Each bird would hover underneath a leaf and pluck off something small with their tiny bills. They were eating insect eggs. The kinglets were fascinating to watch. I was… Read More
Agoraphobia, whose Greek translation means “fear of the marketplace,” is an anxiety disorder that involves intense fear in places or situations from which escape might be difficult. People with agoraphobia often avoid going outside their own home, fearing that they may have a panic attack… Read More
Move over “Meet the Press.” Make way for “meet the freshly pressed!” Honestly, the Republican nominee for president of the United States – at a time of global economic catastrophe, domestic political polarization and war – actually got asked about his running mate’s clothing allowance… Read More
No one would argue the need for affordable, high-quality health care for Maine. Unfortunately, voting No on Question 1 does nothing to further that goal, which is why I am voting Yes to reject the proposed new taxes on health care claims and beverages. This… Read More
Air Force Airman Cali M. Anthony has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Sandra Anthony of Baileyville and a 2008 graduate of Woodland Junior-Senior High School, Baileyville. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Children (and adults, too) who love horses, wrote Nonnie Daly, are cordially invited to trick-or-treat with the UMares from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Horse Barn at the Witter Farm Complex off College Avenue in Old Town. Sponsored by the UMaine… Read More
Meaty matters The Curran Homestead gets to the meat of the matter this weekend when it raffles off a generous donation of 25 pounds of 100 percent all-natural lean beef cuts from A Wee Bit Farm in Orland. A Wee Bit Farm is home to… Read More
What should we be looking for in choosing the next president of the United States? I would like to suggest a perspective that, in my view, significantly emphasizes the importance of presidential elections in this part of the 21st century by comparing the scope of the position of… Read More
We are living in an uncivil society. Look around and you too will see the level of negative, hostile discourse among American politicians and their supporters. Sen. Barack Obama and his supporters have been accusing Sen. John McCain of raising and making Sen. Obama’s race… Read More
Corporate America’s attack on unions has been a kind of two-fer. Workers rights to fair wages and working conditions deteriorate and union efforts to get out the vote are weakened. Fortunately, what remains of the union movement is fighting back by trying to mobilize voters, especially the white… Read More
My family has lived in Bangor for four generations and I feel like a Hobbit living in the Shire. We’ve been protected by our isolation and have lived quiet, secure lives until recently. My family has traveled beyond the Shire, and spent time in Savannah,… Read More
A Glenburn man was arrested and charged with unlawful furnishing of marijuana early Sunday morning after Brewer police, with the help of a drug-detecting dog, found 22 plastic bags in his car. Each bag contained pot or pot residue, according to Brewer police Cpl. Paul Gauvin. Read More
Safe traveling is my wish for Brenda Davis, executive director of Crossroads Ministries of Old Town, which serves people throughout eastern Maine, as Davis begins her seventh annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour today in Augusta. Maine’s 67-member credit union’s State Trade Association… Read More
Women who sew and have a yen for domestic elegance, a la Francais, will find much to delight them in the book, “French General Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House” by Kaari Meng. Meng is the owner of the California store French General, a… Read More