Monthly Archives: February 2010

Councilors question folk festival budget – Bangor Daily News

Councilors question folk festival budget – Bangor Daily News.

Schools get grim figures on state aid for 2010-11 | Portland Press Herald

 Schools get grim figures on state aid for 2010-11 | Portland Press Herald.

Portlander Anna Kendrick nominated for Oscar | Portland Press Herald

Portlander Anna Kendrick nominated for Oscar | Portland Press Herald.

Paper mill calls back employees, No. 10 machine to restart

RUMFORD — By the end of the week, all hourly employees who were laid off during 2009 who want to return to their jobs will be back to work at NewPage Corp. And by mid-February, the No. 10 paper machine will be up and running.

Janet Hall, spokeswoman for the mill, declined to reveal the number of employees who are affected.

In January, the mill announced that about 100 hourly employees would lose their jobs due to poor market conditions. That number was never reached, however.

Matt Bean, president of Local 900, estimated that about 100 men and women would be back on the job by Friday.

Most of the returning employees will work on the No. 10 paper machine, which has been down since September, or in supporting positions for the machine. These include such jobs as work in the finishing room and the rewinder.

With the No. 10 machine coming back online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the local mill’s three paper machines will be operating full time.

Hall declined to speculate on whether the moves are an indication of an improving economy.

Click on the link to read the rest of today’s story by Eileen M. Adams in the Lewiston Sun Journal.

Bennett takes Presque Isle job

Former Lewiston City Administrator Jim Bennett will relocate his family north, taking the permanent job as City Manager for Presque Isle.

Bennett said he and the Presque Isle City Council reached an agreement Monday and announced the hiring at a specially-called 4 p.m. meeting and again at the council’s 6 p.m. meeting.

Bennett officially begins working March 1. His family will follow this summer, selling their Lewiston home once the school year has ended.

“It’s an interesting community,” Bennett said. “It’s the commuter center for all of Aroostook County, and any shopping or anything else needs to be done there. So, they’re very interested in economic development and returning jobs to the community — typically the things I’ve done at the last few places I’ve worked.”

Bennett will replace17-year veteran City Manager Tom Steven, who was let go last November. Bennett was released from his job as Lewiston City Administrator in July 2009, after councilors said they wanted to seek a new direction. Bennett’s replacement, former Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett, began his job in Lewiston last month.

Click on the link to read the rest of today’s story by Scott Taylor in the Lewiston Sun Journal.

Coffeehouse observation No. 33

Among the biggest coffeehouse dilemmas – to caffeinate or not to caffeinate in the afternoon. Certainly, most of us drag a bit in the afternoon. But it does throw off the body’s clock and make it difficult to sleep in the evening. What to do? What to do?

 Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.

Models brave cold for calendar shoot

(This is not the way I remember snowmobiling, but … — KM)

Models brave cold for calendar shoot

MaineBusiness.com | Stint as pet groomer sends reporter to the dogs

 MaineBusiness.com | Stint as pet groomer sends reporter to the dogs.

Children welcomed home

PITTSFIELD — “I love that everybody loves them so much already.”

Amanda Logiodice said this Sunday afternoon as she and her husband, Jediah, marveled at the scene inside the local Elks Lodge: About 50 people came together with food, gifts and well wishes for the Logiodices’ two newest family members.

David, 1, and Christella, 5, came from the His Home for Children orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and are now the family’s adopted children. They join the Logiodices’ three biological children: Donavan, 8, Braeden, 5, and Bella, 4.

In the aftermath of the massive earthquake there, the Logiodices were able to secure an emergency evacuation of the two children to the U.S., flying down to Miami a little over a week ago and returning home here on Wednesday. They had started the adoption process more than a year ago.

Sunday’s public celebration was organized by members of the First Baptist Church, of which the Logiodices are members, and the Elks donated their space for the occasion. Church member Liana Walker, of Troy, said the event was meant to show support and to welcome to two Haitian children into the community.

Walker said it’s remarkable the adoption worked out as it did, given the chaotic aftermath of the earthquake. Church families had already rallied community support for the Logiodices, sending them supplies and assistance so they could make the trip to Miami.

“It’s awesome; it’s truly a miracle they could get the children out,” Walker said.

Click on the link to the rest of today’s story by Scott Monroe in the Kennebec Journal.

I’ll have a pair of Maine-made pajamas – and make ’em silk

The DownEast.com trivia question stumped me today.

 What exotic fabric was once produced in Maine?

Answer:

Maine was once a center of silk manufacturing. The Haskell Silk Company in Westbrook produced silk textiles from 1874 to 1918.

I did not know that silk was once made in Maine. Interesting. The worms must have been a bit chilly.

Maine artist soars with eagles – Bangor Daily News

Maine artist soars with eagles – Bangor Daily News.

Quality trails draw riders – Bangor Daily News

 Quality trails draw riders – Bangor Daily News.

Coffeehouse observation No. 32

Public libraries should take a cue from chain bookstores and put in coffee bars.

 Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.