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11+ hour, 14+ min ago (1851+ words) Maine may be famous for crustaceans, but I secretly come here for the sizzling sound of steak hitting hot metal. I still remember pulling off a quiet coastal road one chilly evening, fully expecting another seafood spread, and instead meeting a ribeye so good it rearranged my travel priorities. Ever since that plate, I have treated Maine like a private scavenger hunt for low-key spots where the parking lot looks ordinary, the sign looks modest, and the steak turns out unforgettable. These are the places where flannel outnumbers blazers, servers actually talk about how you like your meat instead of just nodding, and the specials board can derail your entire plan. I have followed local tips scribbled on napkins, taken odd side roads, and trusted more than a few vague directions, all in the name of finding the next great…...

21+ hour, 27+ min ago (1800+ words) MAINE, USA " The dirt roads in the northern corner of Oxford County froze early this year, marking the unofficial start of the winter logging season in Maine." The hardened roads make it possible for loggers such as Andy Irish and his Rumford-based company, Irish Family Logging, to drive a fleet of semi-trucks and heavy machinery into the woods without disturbing the underlying soil as much as in the summer. Today's loggers are far more reliant on these hulking pieces of equipment that make logging safer and quicker than when Irish entered the industry in the 1970s. That efficiency comes at a premium, however. Each machine is often imported from Canada or Scandinavia, and can cost more than $500,000, a price that Irish absorbs by selling timber to local sawmills and ND Paper's mill in Rumford. But as Irish prepares to pass the…...

23+ hour, 46+ min ago (1181+ words) In their second matchup in three days against the Capital City Go-Go at CareFirst Arena, the Maine Celtics, much like their NBA counterpart, saw a win streak taken down on Friday afternoon in a 103-70 thumping. Maine, down two-way players Amari Williams (right hand hairline fracture) and Ron Harper Jr. (right knee sprain), saw a franchise-record nine-game win streak conclude at the hands of the Go-Go, whom they had previously beaten 112-101 on Wednesday behind rookie Max Shulga's career-high 25 points. While the Celtics of Boston are surprising the NBA with a roster of championship holdovers and overachieving G League graduates, something eerily similar is also brewing in Maine, where first-year head coach Phil Pressey has guided the team through an 0-3 start to a 9-4 record. Traveling down I-95 to beat the morning D.C. traffic before Maine tipped off with Capital City for a second time…...

1+ day, 2+ hour ago (247+ words) Maine's lakes and ponds are a treasured cultural and economic resource. And now for the first time, the state has issued online "scorecards" that show individual water bodies' environmental conditions. Monitors have been collecting data on water quality and other issues for decades, but the information may not be easy for many people to access or interpret, said Jeremy Deeds, with the lakes assessment program at Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Instead, the scorecard indicates how well, or poorly, lakes are faring on issues such as shoreline conditions, water quality, invasive plants and runoff pollution. "What we wanted to do is summarize all these different aspects of lake condition and efficiently convey a picture of lake health," Deeds said. The graphics are color coded " blue for good, yellow for fair, and red for poor or at risk. Some conditions are…...

1+ day, 10+ hour ago (461+ words) BANGOR, Maine " The Bangor Public Library was alive with creativity and community Saturday as the fourth annual Bangor Authors" Book Fair and Festival and Festival kicked off. The event brought together more than 100 Maine authors and publishers for a full day of book signings, live readings, publishing panels, and writing workshops. "Every single author that"s here is a Maine author, and all the publishers are Maine publishers. There"s so much talent in the area," Christopher Packard, founder of the Bangor Authors" Fair, said. Organizers said the free event has grown from just 30 authors in its first year to one of the largest gatherings of Maine writers in the state. Packard said the fair is about more than books"it"s about connecting readers and writers. "One of the greatest things about books is that they transport you somewhere,…...

2+ day ago (327+ words) There's nothing quite like spotting an adorable little pack of fluffy kittens. Sent from the universe as "happy-making" cutie-pies, everything tiny felines do is sure to brighten your day, and bonus points when they're a stunning shade to boot! I have just what you need to feel a little joy this season: a tangerine-tinted Maine Coon kitten crew! Six bundles of joy in various versions of orange are the perfect "sampler pack!" I don't know about you, but even one kitten makes me smile. Two, and my whole day is made. But I'm about to show you SIX ginger Maine Coon kitties just chillaxing and being gorgeous (you're welcome)! The caption says, "Send this to someone who needs the orange sampler pack," so I sent it to myself. The way their colors look like Mom gradually ran out of ink…...

2+ day, 5+ hour ago (478+ words) Maine, often celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and coastal allure, holds an even deeper charm within its small towns. From the tranquil shores of Monhegan Island to the artistic havens of ... Discover Maine: Unveiling the Charm of Its Small Towns Maine, often celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and coastal allure, holds an even deeper charm within its small towns. From the tranquil shores of Monhegan Island to the artistic havens of Brooklin, these communities reveal the state's true essence. This article explores the unique characteristics and experiences that define Maine's small towns, highlighting Brooklin, Monhegan Island, Rangeley, Camden, and Greenville. Brooklin: The Artistic Haven Brooklin, a picturesque village on the Blue Hill Peninsula, is a sanctuary for artists, writers, and boat builders. The town's serene environment, coupled with its historical significance, draws visitors seeking inspiration. E.B. White, the author of "Charlotte's…...

2+ day, 7+ hour ago (406+ words) SKOWHEGAN, Maine (WABI) - Students in the Skowhegan area met at the town's Walmart Friday morning to go Christmas shopping for families who need a helping hand this holiday season. Doing so with nearly $12,000 that took them months to raise. "My group got a three-year-old boy and we were able to shop for that little boy knowing that he's going to have presents under the Christmas tree really made our day today," answered Sophomore at Skowhegan Area High School Abagail Claire. The Skowhegan Armory played as the North Pole on Friday, and the elves were 50 students from Skowhegan, Madison and Carrabec schools. They are a part of Jobs for Maine Graduates. A program that helps 12 thousand students around the state prep for what they want to do after graduation. Also a part of J.M.G., is the Santa's Helpers Project. "I think that…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (552+ words) With the holidays rapidly approaching,The Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas"is underway, perfect for those looking to celebrate the cold season from the comfort of their couch. Whether an old holiday favorite or a brand new premiere, many of the Hallmark holiday movies airing this season are set ina small New England town. In fact, many of the channel's holiday films are set in Maine, fromreal locations like Bristol to fictional towns like North Bay. Ready to cozy up with a feel-good movie featuring wintry Maine? Here are eight Hallmark Christmas movies set in Maine that are available to watch this season, in order of worst to best rankings from IMDb. In "Nostalgic Christmas," Anne returns home for the holidays to the fictional town of North Bay, Maine to help her dad sell his toy store and retire from…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (179+ words) Canisius Golden Griffins (4-6, 0-2 MAAC) at Maine Black Bears (1-11) Orono, Maine; Saturday, 2 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Black Bears -6.5; over/under is 123.5 BOTTOM LINE: Canisius comes into the matchup against Maine after losing three in a row. The Black Bears have gone 0-2 in home games. Maine is ninth in the America East with 10.3 assists per game led by Bashir N'Galang averaging 1.8. The Golden Griffins are 0-5 on the road. Canisius has a 2-5 record against teams over .500. Maine is shooting 44.0% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 44.2% Canisius allows to opponents. Canisius averages 60.7 points per game, 9.6 fewer points than the 70.3 Maine gives up. TOP PERFORMERS: TJ Biel is averaging 12.1 points and 1.5 blocks for the Black Bears. Ryan Mabrey is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. Kahlil Singleton is scoring 10.9 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Golden Griffins. Bryan…...