Recent chilly nights mean the heating season is upon us. And fluctuating oil prices have prompted lots of us to take another look at wood for heat. The warmth and glow of a wood fire can cheer us on the darkest winter day. Following some… Read More
    My father used to say, “If it isn’t right, then there’s something wrong with it!” That’s what I think about the way government is currently working. Voters in Bradley, North Brewer, Clifton, Dedham, Eddington, and Holden (House District 20) must have the best available person… Read More
    The most worrisome feature of this election is not that Barack Obama may have too little experience or that John McCain may have too much of the wrong kind but that our politicians don’t understand the Sarah Palin phenomena. Everybody has had a good time with “caribou Barbie”… Read More
    Since neither my opponent nor I have held elective office, voters must decide this election based on our life’s experiences and political philosophy. My political philosophy is simple. Smaller and locally controlled government is better. Government must be fiscally responsible and live within its budget. Read More
    When I decided to attend Fusion:Bangor’s annual Flava Gala, held Oct. 18 at a hangar at Bangor International Airport, and drag my husband, Dustin, along with me, I had given very little thought to the “cocktail attire” dress code and what that meant in a city where the… Read More
    A basketball-size hole in the recently installed glass of the Maine Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono may have been an act of vandalism. There were several incidents of possible vandalism on campus this Homecoming Weekend, UMaine spokesman Joe… Read More
    Members of the Millinocket Historical Society are planning to publish a cookbook, wrote Kathy Gagnon. For the cookbook, she said, the society is seeking “recipes from Millinocket residents, former and current,” adding that the group is especially interested in family recipes. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    Bangor’s first vaudeville theater opened with a glittering social affair a century ago this week. Union Hall, located on Union Street facing the Bangor House, had been transformed into the Union Theater, “a tasteful little vaudeville house,” according to the Bangor Daily News. Vaudeville was… Read More
    In theaters PRIDE AND GLORY, directed by Gavin O’Connor, written by O’Connor and Joe Carnahan, 129 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
    Oh, great. Dueling automated negative “robo- calls.” Just what this never-ending Presidential Campaign From Hell needs, was my first thought as I answered the phone one otherwise fine day earlier this week. My second thought was that if someone would please just shoot me I should be much… Read More
    As an independent, I’ve voted both Republican and Democratic in recent presidential elections and approached this year following three candidates – Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. As the year has unfolded, however, I have come down firmly on the side of Obama. Here’s… Read More
    I am voting No on Question 1 and I want to tell you why. With every government program there are so many ways to go wrong and, so it seems, to do right. Out of 100 things, a program may do 99 things right, but the one mistake… Read More
    As I watched the Red Sox lose the seventh game of the ALCS to Tampa Bay, I had this uneasy feeling that neither of the wishes I had for this fall would be granted. My first wish was that Boston would win the World Series with a ninth-inning,… Read More
    I must say that I’m feeling a bit sympathetic toward Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin this week. Sure, I squirmed (and chuckled) along with a lot of you as she muddled and fumbled her way through the now famous Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson interviews, but… Read More
    A resident living on the east side of Bangor called police early Thursday evening to say a man who was possibly drunk was driving erratically. Soon, Bangor police Officers Steve Jordan and Jim Dearing had stopped Roy Simpson, 54, a resident of Court Street. After… Read More
    Destinee loves to read and do arts and crafts. Born in 1998, she enjoys playing outside and is full of energy. 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
    Considering the unsettled state of the economy, representatives of any eligible organization might want to apply for grants offered by The Harvest Fund at Maine Initiatives. The application deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 12. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
    We have had our first hard frost. We are now officially starting to heat our homes. We have already traversed 6 percent of the heating season. We know that because the Bangor Daily News tracks degree-days on the weather page. A degree-day is the measure… Read More
    By Dec. 8 the typical Maine household will have spent 25 percent of its annual heating fuel budget; by Jan. 21, 50 percent; and by March 5, 75 percent. These data consider only the effect of outside temperature on home heating requirements. No consideration is given to the… Read More
    The election is just a little over a week away and the political rhetoric is getting pretty heated. Some of that rhetoric is coming from the campaigns themselves. Much of it is coming from political pundits. Unfortunately, a whole lot of the worst of it is coming from… Read More
    My mother always told me it was a bad idea to talk politics with people you don’t know very, very well. Heck, my parents wouldn’t even tell ME which party they supported, although it didn’t take much to figure it out. And in journalism – the career in… Read More
    Maybe it’s maturity raising its gray and wrinkled head. No.That couldn’t be it. Maybe it’s just fatigue and old age settling into the bones. God, I hope not. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
    Mildred “Brownie” Schrumpf used to grace these pages and was my predecessor here at the Bangor Daily News. I supplied my own shoes to wear while writing this column, knowing I could never fill hers. Karen Tolstrup has written a biography of Brownie, and she… Read More
    It’s a reasonably mild autumn day. The sun is shining and you can go outdoors in a light sweater. Leaf season will soon pass its peak. When that happens at this time of the year in Maine, it’s a challenge to every to-do list. How can anyone resist… Read More
    “Halloween” 3-DVD Set, Blu-ray: Remaking a horror classic doesn’t have to be a horror show. All one has to do is look to Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead,” John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” Werner Herzog’s “Nosferatu” and Philip Kaufman’s “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” to see that it… Read More
    The glow is unmistakable, sparkling in the perennial wasteland left from a vigorous summer of growth. Not a surprise, really, when your Latin name translates to “star.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
    Driving west through Machias, down the stretch of Route 1 that parallels the Machias River, I glanced to my right just in time to spot a sandwich-board display of seasonal wreaths, including one made from Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Two people, a man and a woman, were huddled… Read More
    This week’s ClickBack featured election-related issues, and as usual, elicited a range of comments. Look for new questions in Tuesday’s editorial comments. More comments are found at the ClickBack page at bangordailynews.com. Should the Oxford casino be approved? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
    With the economy heading into recession, it’s more important than ever workers achieve job security and receive the compensation they’re entitled. A proposed federal law would help them do just that by making the process of organizing a union fairer. Maine Sen. Susan Collins filibustered this law last… Read More
    For the last six years, one-party government control has done a disservice to Maine. Partisanship has stifled progress. This year, we have an opportunity to change course and vote to improve government and improve the lives of all Mainers. Regardless of your political views, Republican… Read More
    It was late in the evening when the C-17 that carried me from New Zealand back to Antarctica landed on the sea-ice runway of McMurdo Station. The touchdown of skis on frozen, snow-covered ice was perceptible only by a light “whump” from my seat in the back of… Read More
    Marine Corps Pvt. Jeffrey L. Boucher recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. The private is the son of Christopher R. Boucher of Old Town. Read More
    The Make A Difference Day project for members of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Old Town will be a room makeover for MAPS Shelter Services, formerly My Choice Shelter, a Bangor facility that provides short-term shelter services for homeless, pregnant or parenting women. On Saturday,… Read More
    In theaters W., directed by Oliver Stone, written by Stanley Weiser, 129 minutes, rated PG-13. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
    How do you know when you’ve made it as a band? For Massachusetts-based rockers The Brew, it was meeting the first fan so diehard she had the band’s logo tattooed on her back. “We showed up to a show, and this girl showed us her… Read More
    Reality TV is not just a hit in America, but I was surprised to read that a new reality series has become a huge hit in Afghanistan. Television is becoming more of an everyday pastime there, but there are still strict rules set by the government about what… Read More
    Most economists, this one included, believe that the Bush administration’s economic policies are dreadful. Yet, in fairness, the administration may deserve less blame than its opponents allege for the current financial crisis. Democrats blame Bush for the mortgage market collapse that triggered the financial crisis. Read More
    The Salvation Army boasts a new location for its annual Harvest Auction, reports Mary MacKay. The Army’s annual fundraiser is 1-5 p.m. and then 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at its warehouse, 585 Broadway in Bangor. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
    Want to learn about fire safety, fraud, emergency preparation, protecting your money and elder abuse? Want to rid yourself of old prescriptions, enjoy a delicious free lunch and have a few laughs all in one day? Join the Penobscot County TRIAD Coalition for its Building… Read More
    The current administration, listing precipitously, is about to sink, and Captain Bush himself will perform a perfect swan dive from the bridge, leaving the rusting hulk to the salvagers. As the president’s legacy is commended to the deep, attention must shift to John McCain, who would take the… Read More
    This past summer the Smithsonian magazine featured a story about human evolution. Scientists believe that all human life originated in Africa and then spread throughout the world. In fact, they believe that humans have only been in the Americas for about 20,000 years. Considering how… Read More
    Tickets are just $15 for the third annual Celebrity Dessert and Auction, with doors opening at 5:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Rangeley Hall on the Eastern Maine Community College campus in Bangor. WABI TV-5 personalities Amy Erickson and Todd Simcox will serve as hosts… Read More
    To the core Pie, cobbler, crisp, sauce, fritter or just straight off the tree: Whichever way you want ’em, October is apple time in Maine. The Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine in Orono will celebrate the autumnal fruit with an… Read More
    The current state of our political arguments suggests that for all the time we spend arguing, most of us are lousy at it. We drive arguments as though they are pickup trucks, and think we have won if the opposition is left behind prone on the road with… Read More
    Despite approval of a $700 billion bailout for the financial sector, the national and international securities markets are seesawing on continued fears of an economic meltdown. Banks are refusing to lend to sound businesses or to each other, threatening to bring daily operations and plans for expansion throughout… Read More
    A pregnant woman was driving toward Bangor on North Main Street in Brewer at about 7:45 a.m. Monday when she crashed into the back end of a car in a line of stopped vehicles, according to Brewer police. Officer Adam Towers said three vehicles pulled… Read More
    While I was on vacation last week, Brewer Middle School coordinator Rich Kimball kindly left me a detailed message about Brewer Youth Theatre’s current production, which some of you already may have enjoyed, and others of you still will be able to enjoy. Kimball reported… Read More
    The National NeedleArts Association conducted a survey, “The State of Specialty Needle Arts” in 2007 to determine what’s going on in the world of needlecraft. It was the third such study the association has conducted since 2001. I found the results of the survey interesting and thought By… Read More
    With Maine’s weather turning colder, our thoughts turn to the rising cost of keeping warm. Our column this week includes an appeal not to trade safety for savings. House fires become more frequent during the heating season. Fires tend to happen when we are at… Read More
    Q. My daughter at college has just been served with papers alleging she has illegally downloaded movies off the Internet. First, is it worth it to hire a lawyer, or should we just pay the money they are asking for? Second, if she did this off my computer… Read More
    I know it is hard to think about anything but the economy. While the financial crisis is dominating our thoughts and the presidential election coverage, I would like to remind Maine residents that there is another important issue to consider as you decide about your vote: The aging… Read More
    October is National Domestic Violence Month, but who is talking about it? Local domestic violence shelters act as the voice for thousands of Mainers who use their services on an annual basis. And when they’re not donning that hat, advocates and even volunteers representing these shelters work tirelessly… Read More
    It has always amazed me how different two children in the same family can be. It amazes me even more that those same two children often aren’t like their parents, either. Our oldest son, Ford, who will be 8 years old in November, is sometimes… Read More
    Air Force Airman 1st Class Kristie L. Davis has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. She is the daughter of Edward Hagan of Mason Bay Road, Jonesport, and Linda Hagan of Pinellas Park, Fla. Davis is a 2007 graduate of Jonesport-Beals High… Read More
    DEPUTIES SEIZED CIGAR MACHINES, Dec. 2, 1907. BOWEN AFTER THE GAMBLING ROOMS, Jan. 24, 1908. 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())… Read More
    If you read the Oct. 16 front-page story in the Bangor Daily News on Gov. Sarah Palin’s Gower ancestry in Abbot Village – and I hope you did – you may be wondering who else the governor had for forebears and relatives in Maine. The… Read More
    On DVD SLACKER UPRISING, directed by Michael Moore, 97 minutes, not rated. 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]… Read More
    One week into my long-anticipated flirtation with satellite-serviced high-definition wide-screen television, my advice to those unfortunates who have yet to make the move is this: If you thought watching major league baseball’s daily spitathon on your outmoded analog television set was cruel and unusual punishment, wait until you… Read More
    Like a bad penny, Maine casino proposals keep bouncing back. The latest plan, promising a huge gambling palace in Oxford Hills, will face voter approval or rejection on Nov. 4. If Maine voters authorize big-time gambling, the losses won’t be just from slot machines or… Read More
    As I witness a stream of election year attacks hurled at my friend John McCain, sometimes I wonder whom the pundits and the partisans are referring to when they talk about the man with whom I’ve proudly served in both the U.S. House and Senate for 26 years. Read More
    While most of us are focusing on concerns such as food, heat and our shrinking retirement accounts as our economy teeters on the brink of recession, Bangor Police Chief Ron Gastia is worried about another aspect of this economic meltdown. “We have not got a… Read More
    Meet Heather, who was born in 1991. Heather is a charming teenager who loves children of all ages. She is polite, easy to talk to and has made a lot of progress in the past few years. Heather is like many teenagers. Her favorite part… Read More
    My kids joke a lot about the tools I have. I was working on my daughter’s house a couple of years ago. She and her friends joked about how many saws I had there at any given time. They were mostly power saws and there were usually more… Read More
    Indoor relative humidity of 50 percent and a temperature of 70 degrees imply a “dew point” of about 50 degrees. In many households a 50-degree temperature may well be measured in back of an electric outlet, on the floor of an upstairs closet, etc. These surfaces will be… Read More
    Wall Street has become a zone of fascination at Cobb Manor, because I presume that somewhere within that $700 (or is it $900) billion taxpayer bailout, there will be enough crumbs to dissolve the mortgage at Cobb Manor. Certainly if the Wall Street crooks manage to spend $400,000… Read More
    “Casino Royale: Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray: Daniel Craig isn’t just the best Bond since Sean Connery, he in fact creates a richer, more complex Bond, bringing to the character the sort of depth and nuance that Connery never mined. That isn’t a criticism of Connery, whose genius as Bond… Read More
    This past long weekend, we traveled across Massachusetts into the heart of autumn. Along the way, I introduced Marjorie to old friends. Our first stop on Saturday was Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, one of our country’s most significant cultural landscapes. And with more than… Read More
    This week ClickBack asked readers about the “Palin effect” and whether it would win over voters here in Maine. Maine is one of two states that could split its electoral votes. If the McCain-Palin ticket wins more votes in the 2nd Congressional District but loses the state to… Read More
    When asked, local Alaskan government and state officials offered that Sarah Palin “governed from the center.” That sent a chill up their backs as well as waves of fear through the “left wing.” The cause: the selection of a female vice presidential candidate by John… Read More
    “DELAYED” read the piece of paper tacked up in the lobby of the Christchurch YMCA. “Personnel moved to flight P004: Meg Adams …” It was day five of my stopover in Christchurch, New Zealand, and still no flights had been able to make it to… Read More
    BANGOR – Maine Army National Guard soldiers Ben Biddlecom of Bradley, Julian Szabo of Caribou and Kenneth Creamer of Bangor have been promoted to the rank of specialist. Biddlecom, Szabo and Creamer serve in the 152nd Maintenance Company, Bangor. Maine Army National Guard soldier Gregory… Read More
    In theaters BODY OF LIES, directed by Ridley Scott, written by William Monahan, 129 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
    We live in a country today that is all about image. This quest of the “perfect” eye appeal has given rise to a variety of maladies that plague our society. We are so busy that we neglect our young and especially our old. The elderly… Read More
    A former Secretary of State traveled to London, Moscow and Jerusalem years ago, and decided to buy a new suit in one city, according to a marvelous anecdote in Aaron Miller’s excellent memoir, “The Much Too Promised Land.” Holding up a crisp $100 bill, the… Read More
    BANGOR – Navy Seaman Jeff D. Blaine recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. The seaman is the son of James D. Blaine of Bangor. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
    A Hampden man faces a variety of charges after a shopping spree Tuesday night at two Bangor stores. Jonathan Stacey, 20, of Hampden had been at Ski Rack Sports on Longview Drive when store personnel saw him leave with a shirt he allegedly hadn’t paid… Read More
    A young porcupine has visited the apple tree next to the Fields Pond Audubon Center since August. Most days it eats apples the way a large squirrel eats a large nut, which in this case is an apple. It is a very funny sight. Sitting… Read More
    (As reported in the Bangor Daily News) 10 years ago – Oct. 16, 1998 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
    Libraries have always been wondrous places, where a world of knowledge can be found in one building. Libraries can provide a comforting place for everyone from children seeing “Spot run” for the first time to college students doing research to seniors reading magazines and newspapers and dabbling online. Read More
    While gravely concerned about Washington County’s alarming health status commented on in the Oct. 6 BDN editorial “Washington County’s Health,” we are glad to see this problem gain increased attention. While the measures of ill health become clearer as populations age, both our work and national research show… Read More
    Hops to it This weekend promises to be quite an affair at Three Tides, the fantastic little bar tucked away on the waterfront in downtown Belfast. Starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, Three Tides will host a “One Year of Beer” party, celebrating a… Read More
    Jeffrey C. Lewis has joined the Allen Agency of Camden as a commercial lines agent, specializing in ocean marine insurance and sustainable energy development insurance. Lewis has more than 20 years’ experience in the marine industry. He is a licensed ship’s captain, having crewed for a variety of… Read More
    It has been my privilege to serve the communities of Eddington, Bradley, Clifton, Dedham, Holden and North Brewer as a representative in Augusta. Serving this community as a legislator, EMT-firefighter, registered Maine Guide, high school coach and substitute teacher has put me in touch with many residents. You… Read More
    Incumbency is a powerful advantage and nowhere more so than in Maine. In 2002, 1st District voters gave Democrat Tom Allen a large majority even as they re-elected Republican Susan Collins with a huge plurality over her accomplished Democratic opponent, Chellie Pingree. Incumbency, perhaps the sense that the… Read More
    An Old Town man was arrested Sunday night after he was caught red-handed trying to steal a catalytic converter from a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. After his arrest on criminal mischief and criminal attempt charges, Everett Jenkins, 45, was taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor,… Read More
    Happy haunting.” “Let the ghoul times roll.” 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… Read More
    Many Maine families have buttoned up their homes in advance of what’s likely to be another long – and probably costly – winter. It’s no secret that heating costs have gone up dramatically, and we’re all well advised to do what we can to keep those costs from… Read More
    As a member of the executive board for the local union at the Domtar mill in Baileyville, I was involved with the negotiations for the severance package of the dislocated workers. As we began our negotiations, the company made it clear that it was going to base the… Read More
    I decided to run to be the state representative for House District 16 in Bangor because I want somebody in Augusta who spends each and every day fighting for people like my Grandpa Powell. An Army medic in the 1950s, he worked in factories and hotels his whole… Read More
    When I heard about the new Sarah Palin action figure from herobuilders.com, I couldn’t wait to get one. And not for any political reason. My husband, Dustin, the military pilot trained for war, is terrified of dolls. He is especially afraid of dolls whose heads come off. Read More