Bangor Daily News

Boat Maker Eyes Property On Penobscot

BANGOR - A luxury yacht maker poised to branch out into military markets won exclusive negotiating rights Monday night to a 17-acre city-owned parcel on the Penobscot River. Though the property sits in Hampden, it has belonged to Bangor since 1922, when the city bought it to use as a gravel pit. More recently, it has served as the city's snow dump.

Um Team to Retool Stop-Smoking Site Software Will Simplify Web Language

ORONO - Maine's anti-tobacco Web site, www.tobaccofreemaine.org, is the focus of an ambitious new project at the University of Maine that aims to make it easier for more people to get the information they need to stop smoking or to dissuade a loved one from starting. The husband-and-wife research team of Stephen Gilson and Elizabeth DePoy, along with project coordinator Robert "B.J." Kitchin, are on the way to developing an Internet-based program that can simplify the language and the ideas u...

Suspect Faces Arson, Threatening Charges Girlfriend Says Alcohol May Have Set Lincoln Man Off

LINCOLN - Heavy truck payments and the loss of a job may have helped set off a local man charged with kicking his girlfriend, setting fire to and destroying his Chevy Suburban and firing up to 40 shots at his home on Evergreen Drive this weekend. Charges of arson and criminal threatening were laid on Eric H. Merrill, 42, of Lincoln during an appearance in Bangor Superior Court on Monday in addition to several charges already lodged in connection to the Saturday incident.

Woman Shot in Drug Deal Altercation

BANGOR - In a drug sale or purchase gone bad Friday night, a Bangor woman was shot in the abdomen. The shooter was arrested Monday and charged with felony assault and robbery, detective Sgt. Paul Kenison said Monday. The 28-year-old female victim and her boyfriend, described as in his mid-20s, went to the 513 Hammond St. home of Albion Curtis, 51, around 6:25 p.m. Friday "to either buy or sell drugs," the detective said.

Hermon Man Arrested for Obstruction in Drug Sale, Use Case

A routine traffic stop Saturday night in Orono resulted in a Hermon man being arrested, Orono police Capt. Josh Ewing said. Police stopped William Bart, 26, around 11:30 p.m. on Kelley Road. As part of the traffic stop, a canine sniffed around the vehicle and indicated there were drugs in the car, Ewing said.

Dog License Deadline Thursday in Lincoln

LINCOLN - Dog owners must have their animals licensed by Thursday, Jan. 31, or face $15 late fees that increase to $25 per pet after Feb. 11, Town Clerk Lisa Goodwin said Monday. Town clerks across the state now have the means to monitor many of the unlicensed dogs thanks to a new state law that requires veterinarians to notify state government whenever they give rabies shots to dogs, Goodwin said.

Family Art Nights Receives $3,000 Grant

BANGOR - Community Health and Counseling Services has received a $3,000 grant from the Holt Family Fund of the Maine Community Foundation for its Family Art Nights program. Family Art Nights is a free program held at the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor for parents, grandparents and children attending several Penobscot County schools. Through the program, parents, grandparents and their children ages 7 to 11 share time through art exploration as they work collaboratively on a project such as ...

Sad 22 Chooses Site for New High School

HAMDPEN - In selecting the location for a new SAD 22 high school, administrators saved time and $320,000 siting the entrance off Route 202. Now they're asking the community to weigh in on the fate of the old Hampden Academy. The Hampden Academy Building Committee scheduled a public forum from 6 to 8 tonight in the high school's gym. The purpose of the meeting is twofold, said Assistant Superintendent Emil Genest.

Sad 63's Lawsuit Liability Set at $7,500

EDDINGTON - Residents at Monday's SAD 63 school board meeting learned the school district would have to pay deductibles, but its insurance would cover legal fees should the superintendent pursue her claims against the school unit and some of its board members. Settlement costs also would be covered if necessary. "It is the responsibility of the SAD" to pay the insurance deductible, said Karen Clark, school board member.

Mayo Hospital to Relocate Counseling Services

DOVER-FOXCROFT - A $185,000 bid submitted by Mayo Regional Hospital for the purchase of the former SAD 68 superintendent's office was approved Monday by selectmen. The property was deeded to the town when the superintendent's office was consolidated into the new SeDoMoCha Elementary School.

Bowdoin Music Fest Accepting Students

BRUNSWICK - Student musicians ages 13 and older are invited to apply to the Bowdoin International Music Festival's 2008 music school in these instruments: strings, piano, guitar, harp, woodwinds (bassoon, clarinet, flute, horn, oboe) and composition. Students may attend one or both of the three-week sessions June 21-Aug. 2. Applications must be postmarked by Thursday, Jan. 31. Full- and partial-tuition scholarships are available for all students. For information or to

Down East Storm Fails to Meet Expectations

ELLSWORTH - A strong ocean storm threatened to dump a significant amount of snow on Down East communities Monday, convincing several school departments to cancel school. But the heaviest of the snow stayed to the east of the Maine coast, and snow accumulations were less than predicted, most of it falling in easternmost Hancock County and coastal Washington County.

Hancock County Gop Caucuses Set This Weekend

Hancock County Republicans will hold caucuses Feb. 1-3 to choose delegates to the state convention in May and to indicate preferences for their party's presidential candidates. A partial list of caucus sites appeared in Saturday's Bangor Daily News. The caucus towns, meeting sites and times include:

Courts

Rockland District Court Cases Jan. 14-22, 2008

Federal Disaster Aid Available to Farmers

Belfast Group to Lead Taylor Mountain Hike

BELFAST - The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will lead a snowshoe hike to Taylor Mountain on Saturday, Feb. 9. Participants will walk a short way along the Belfast Community Trail before crossing the Little River Reservoir and Ramsey Brook. From there they will snowshoe along Horse Jockey Lane to the trail connection for the Durham State Forest, then up to the wooded peak of Taylor Mountain. The trip will last about three hours one way, but arrangements can be made for a shorter hike if nece...

Golden Harmony to Perform in Calais

Home Buyer Training Offered in Rockland

ROCKLAND - MaineStream Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Penquis, is offering a free 12-hour certified training course that helps potential home buyers make prudent home purchasing decisions. Classes will be held 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 16 and 23, at Penquis, 170 Pleasant St. Participants must attend both classes. This course uses a qualified trainer and discusses the roles of various professionals involved in the home buying process, such as attorneys, real estate agents, lenders, ...

Knox-Lincoln County Tree Sale Under Way

WARREN - The Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District's annual Tree and Shrub Sale is now in progress. Fruit trees, evergreens, flowers, shrubs and other plantings are available. Orders are filled first come, first served and quantities are limited.

Blue Hill Library Invites Kids to Make Valentines