Two state senators have found one way to deal with the stress of this year’s budget shortfall at no additional cost to Maine taxpayers: good ol’ hockey trash-talking.

Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, has challenged Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, to a ‘friendly’ wager regarding Saturday night’s Class A boys high school hockey state championship game.

Undefeated Biddeford (23-0) will face Lewiston (19-3-1) at 6 p.m. in Lewiston.

At stake for the senators is potential wardrobe censorship: if Biddeford wins, Rotundo will be forced to wear its school colors of black and orange; if Lewiston wins, Sullivan will sport Lewiston’s blue and white.

“Easy wager for me to extend, even though I have very few blue or white items in my closet,” Sullivan said. “Biddeford is truly in top form this season, and I am 100 percent confident that their undefeated season will remain intact.”

“I am pleased to accept the wager from my colleague from Biddeford,” Rotundo said. “I am confident that Lewiston will win, and I’ll be proud to join Sen. Sullivan in blue and white when that happens.”

It’s unknown if the teams have been informed of the game’s added pressure.

– Rebekah Metzler

Bomb threats upsetting to peers

Not only are some Jay High School students getting themselves in trouble with the law and school officials by making bomb threats, they’re upsetting their peers.

On Thursday, the school experienced its third threat since Jan. 25, and some students are not too pleased.

“It really made me mad,” senior Megan Cox, 18, of Jay said Friday.

They had had first and second period, and just about when third period was to begin the announcement was made that students would be moved to the middle school.

“We didn’t get any lunch,” she said. “Everybody was in lockdown. I was so mad.”

It’s ridiculous. There’s no need of it, Cox said.

“They could have at least brought us a snack, she said.

While police, firefighters and state police dogs trained in bomb detection searched the high school, students waited to return to the school.

But that didn’t happen.

Students were not allowed to go back into the school and go to their lockers and get their coats and other items before they were sent home, she said.

Cox is hoping there are no more bomb threats so they can get on with their studies.

– Donna M. Perry

$10,000 here, $27,000 there . . .

Before the Auburn School Committee got emotional Wednesday night over administrative positions, committee members heard reports on three student programs.

One was the school-based health center run by the Sisters of Charity Health Care, parent of St. Mary’s hospital in Lewiston. The program offers a range of health services, from ear infections to mental health help, right at the middle and high schools. Most of the cost comes from grants and insurance payments. Auburn taxpayers spend $10,000 a year.

Andrew Harris of the L-A Arts made a pitch for $20,000 this year to continue providing Auburn schools with a range of art programs and visits by artists. An education without art is no education, Harris said.

And Steve Wessler talked about Edward Little’s Unity Project. Wessler is director of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence which facilitates the program. Five years ago, there was hate violence at EL when Somali students were new. By working with students, prejudice has lessened, the school’s climate has improved, Wessler said. The annual cost: $27,000.

The programs and rising regular school costs illustrate the challenge elected officials have on deciding budgets and taxes. Superintendent Tom Morrill will give his proposed school budget to the committee on Tuesday.

– Bonnie Washuk