Each year, the kids and I spend December winnowing our list. Not the one for Santa; the one that has book titles on it. Figuring out which books were our favorites of the year is hard work.This year, we found an abundance of gems both in the tweens-and-teens novel category and in nonfiction for young […]

Jan. 2: LEWISTON, The Mutineers, a bluegrass band from Portland, will perform at 9 p.m. at She Doesn’t Like Guthries, 115 Middle St. 376-3344Jan. 3: AUBURN, Denny Breau and Frank Coffin will perform at 8 p.m. at Gritty McDuff’s, Main Street. 650-3294Jan. 3: LEWISTON, Portland singer/songwriter Pecos Bill will perform at 9 p.m. at She […]

The Great Department store of Lewiston began the new year by making change with brand new gold and silver and crisp bills. Every customer will receive his change in new money as long as it lasts. The silver and gold are direct from the mints and were obtained thru an early order. Banks are unable […]

In this corner, the president who resigned in disgrace, the man they call “Tricky Dick” for good reason, Richard M. Nixon.And in this corner, the ultimate lightweight, blow-dried disco-era “TV presenter,” Mr. “Hello, good evening and welcome,” David Frost.“Frost/Nixon,” the hit play now a Ron Howard movie, is a “prize fight” recounting of the famous […]

It started with “So You Think You Can Dance.” Ordinary people got the chance to show off their dance-floor moves in hopes of fame and fortune.Then along came “Dancing with the Stars.” Celebrities revealed their strengths and weaknesses as they battled for a little fame and no fortune.Now it is time for the heavy hitters. […]

PORTLAND – The six voices of the internationally renowned a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock will rise in song Sunday, Jan. 18, in celebration of the 80th birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.The performance will begin […]

“Fire And Ice,” by Julie Garwood; Ballantine Books (2008, $26 hardcover)The strengths of Julie Garwood’s books are the engaging characters she brings to life, and the chemistry she brews between the hero and heroine.“Fire and Ice” fits rather nicely into her well-honed formula.Sophie was peripherally introduced in “The Murder List.” Don’t remember? No wonder. It […]

BRUNSWICK – We’ve all heard of danceathons. Marathons. Walkathons.Saturday, Jan. 10, the Theater Project will present its second improvATHON.From 1 to 6 p.m,. members of the Theater Project’s Young Company, composed entirely of high-school age actors, will play “Interruption,” an improvisational game that company members normally play as part of warm-ups before shows and rehearsals.Only […]

While the executive committee of the Maine State Pomological Society, which met Wednesday afternoon at the Elm House, Auburn, did not definitely decide where the next big meeting of the society will be held, there is good reason to believe that Auburn will be the place.Three places have given the society cordial invitation to make […]

A number of high profile musicians have made enormous dents on YouTube: Soulja Boy, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers and Chris Brown among them.But Beyonce is giving them all a run for their money.Her video for “If I Were a Boy” has been watched by more than 34 million on the video-sharing site. In it, Beyonce […]