They curl. They run. They bask. They game. They put Maine winter on ice.
Lindsay Tice
Animal Tales: Dogs on the defense
GORHAM — He is surrounded by people and toys and interesting furniture, but Echo’s focus never shifts from the two guys in padded suits. The 2-year-old Dutch shepherd has been in this situation before. He knows what he is about to be allowed — encouraged — to do. So when owner Rozalynn Parkhurst orders,”Get him,” […]
RSU 4 subs get raise, superintendent does not
WALES — The Regional School Unit 4 board of directors this week voted to raise substitute teacher pay by at least 20 percent, effective immediately. Subs for Sabattus, Litchfield and Wales public schools will earn $85 a day, up from $70. Certified subs — those who have taken the district’s substitute teaching class or have a teaching degree — […]
Rescue group takes on Auburn dump cats
AUBURN — When Community Cat Advocates trapped Chowder at Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp.’s transfer station, he was scared, skittish and completely blind. How he’d survived three years at the local dump was a mystery. There were other cats there, too: a fluffy black kitten whose mass of tangled fur disguised how life-threateningly skinny she was […]
Insurance site ranks Maine drivers the worst; Massachusetts doesn't come close
LEWISTON — An insurance comparison website has ranked Mainers the absolute worst drivers in the country. In contrast, Massachusetts drivers — often stereotyped by Mainers as the most horrible drivers to ever exist — ranked right in the middle of the pack at no. 22. The annual ranking was released Thursday by Quotewizard.com. The site […]
Central Maine Healthcare to open walk-in clinic
LEWISTON — Central Maine Healthcare is opening a walk-in clinic in Bridgton, and more projects may be coming. The clinic will share a building with North Bridgton Family Practice at 14 Wyonegonic Road, off Route 37. Patients don’t need to have a relationship with the practice, Bridgton Hospital or CMHC in order to attend the […]
Cancer survivor speaks to give hope
LEWISTON — The tumor in Eagle Farrington’s throat had grown so large that his doctor didn’t know how he was still breathing. Biopsies had not been helpful, but certain things were clear: The tumor was large, it was growing and it was taking over Farrington’s voice box. To save his life, doctors told him, they’d […]
Maine loses child care providers, keeps capacity
LEWISTON — Maine lost 623 child care providers between 2008 and 2018, most of them family-style providers. According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the state had 2,438 providers in 2008. That dropped to 1,815 in 2018, a 25 percent decrease. But while the number of licensed providers dropped overall, capacity to […]
Advocates for Children joins Community Concepts
LEWISTON — Community Concepts is taking over Advocates for Children. Leaders for both nonprofits say Advocates for Children’s programs and location will stay the same. Employees will remain and the agency’s name will stay the same. But the takeover means Advocates for Children can spend less money on overhead, including an executive director, and it […]
At Lisbon care facility, virtual reality takes elders anywhere they want to go
LISBON — For a few minutes, 87-year-old Mary Crowell found freedom on the space shuttle. Seated in a rolling office chair, a pair of virtual reality goggles over her eyes, she swiveled around and tilted her face up. “Oh,” she breathed, “that’s pretty.” “What are you looking at?” asked Carrie Wilson, recreational therapist and activity […]