ShareThe entrance to Cathedral Pines Campground is not in Hopkinson, Massachusetts. Tiana Thomas did not have to queue up and wait to begin her Boston Marathon. She just had to stretch, thank the family and friends gathered for coming, and step underneath the homemade starting line created by her mother.Just after 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Thomas was off. The small crowd of a dozen friends and family cheered, and Thomas’ first steps came with a smile.With Boston an epicenter for the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, the annual Boston Marathon was first postponed from April to...…ShareThe entrance to Cathedral Pines Campground is not in Hopkinson, Massachusetts. Tiana Thomas did not have to queue up and wait to begin her Boston Marathon. She just had to stretch, thank the family and friends gathered for coming, and step underneath the homemade starting line created by her mother.Just after 8 a.m. Saturday morning, Thomas was off. The small crowd of a dozen friends and family cheered, and Thomas’ first steps came with a smile.With Boston an epicenter for the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, the annual Boston Marathon was first postponed from April to...WW…

Share1 of 7Peter Vigue, chairman of the board of Cianbro, right, and Sen. Susan Collins speak to the media following a reception announcing the building of a second factory to make medical swabs for coronavirus testing in Pittsfield Monday. Puritan Medical Products is partnering with Cianbro to build the factory.PITTSFIELD — Cianbro Corp., Puritan Medical Products and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced Monday that $51.2 million in CARES Act funding is being used to develop a second factory in Pittsfield that will increase the production of COVID-19 testing swabs by millions per month and...…Share1 of 7Peter Vigue, chairman of the board of Cianbro, right, and Sen. Susan Collins speak to the media following a reception announcing the building of a second factory to make medical swabs for coronavirus testing in Pittsfield Monday. Puritan Medical Products is partnering with Cianbro to build the factory.PITTSFIELD — Cianbro Corp., Puritan Medical Products and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced Monday that $51.2 million in CARES Act funding is being used to develop a second factory in Pittsfield that will increase the production of COVID-19 testing swabs by millions per month and...WW…

Share1 of 5Augusta city employees work and residents cast ballots Friday afternoon on the first floor at Augusta City Center.AUGUSTA —Several new initiatives supported by a Facebook grant are underway in the city as officials work to expand opportunities for people to vote and learn about their options ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.Residents will be able to register to vote, and vote absentee in person, as late as 6:30 p.m. for a few evenings prior to the upcoming election. City officials also plan to close both Augusta City Center and Cony High School, which are two of the city’s...…Share1 of 5Augusta city employees work and residents cast ballots Friday afternoon on the first floor at Augusta City Center.AUGUSTA —Several new initiatives supported by a Facebook grant are underway in the city as officials work to expand opportunities for people to vote and learn about their options ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.Residents will be able to register to vote, and vote absentee in person, as late as 6:30 p.m. for a few evenings prior to the upcoming election. City officials also plan to close both Augusta City Center and Cony High School, which are two of the city’s...WW…

ShareSweet Pea the Peacock is seen walking around Nash Road in Pittston.PITTSTON — Deb Sullivan, the animal control officer for the town of Pittston, has received unusual calls for animals on the loose such as a pet snake and llamas. But never a peacock.There is a first for everything.Sweet Pea the peacock has been seen running in this rural Kennebec County town with wild turkeys, blending in with them in every way — besides his bright blue neck. People have passed by and snapped photos of the unusual sight, posting images on social media.The peacock even has his own hashtag,...…ShareSweet Pea the Peacock is seen walking around Nash Road in Pittston.PITTSTON — Deb Sullivan, the animal control officer for the town of Pittston, has received unusual calls for animals on the loose such as a pet snake and llamas. But never a peacock.There is a first for everything.Sweet Pea the peacock has been seen running in this rural Kennebec County town with wild turkeys, blending in with them in every way — besides his bright blue neck. People have passed by and snapped photos of the unusual sight, posting images on social media.The peacock even has his own hashtag,...WW…

ShareWATERVILLE — Former city councilors Phil Bofia and Jay Coelho are vying for the job of mayor in the Nov. 3 election, following six years of Nick Isgro’s at-times tense and controversial tenure.Isgro has served two, three-year terms and .Name: Jay CoelhoAge: 43Party affiliation: DemocratEducation:  Bachelor’s degree, Penn State Smeal College of Business, 2000.Occupation: Entrepreneur – Business owner @ You Broke IT, Grub BakeryExperience: Former Waterville Ward 5 city councilor;  Waterville Fire Department Study Committee, member; Waterville Solid Waste Committee, member....…ShareWATERVILLE — Former city councilors Phil Bofia and Jay Coelho are vying for the job of mayor in the Nov. 3 election, following six years of Nick Isgro’s at-times tense and controversial tenure.Isgro has served two, three-year terms and .Name: Jay CoelhoAge: 43Party affiliation: DemocratEducation:  Bachelor’s degree, Penn State Smeal College of Business, 2000.Occupation: Entrepreneur – Business owner @ You Broke IT, Grub BakeryExperience: Former Waterville Ward 5 city councilor;  Waterville Fire Department Study Committee, member; Waterville Solid Waste Committee, member....WW…

ShareWATERVILLE — The city on Sunday will host a special alpine skiing event at Quarry Road Recreation Area as part of an effort to explore the idea of officially bringing the sport back to the slopes there after a five-decades-long hiatus.For many years, from the 1930s to the 1970s, people skied on the community hill, which was owned and operated by Colby College and had a T-bar and a rope tow, according to Matt Skehan, the city’s parks and recreation director.The city and Friends of Quarry Road, a nonprofit organization that helps support the programs and development of the recreation...…ShareWATERVILLE — The city on Sunday will host a special alpine skiing event at Quarry Road Recreation Area as part of an effort to explore the idea of officially bringing the sport back to the slopes there after a five-decades-long hiatus.For many years, from the 1930s to the 1970s, people skied on the community hill, which was owned and operated by Colby College and had a T-bar and a rope tow, according to Matt Skehan, the city’s parks and recreation director.The city and Friends of Quarry Road, a nonprofit organization that helps support the programs and development of the recreation...WW…

" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Read ArticleVASSALBORO — A Silver Alert was issued Thursday night for Virginia Bourgoin, 79, of Vassalboro, according to officials.Virginia BourgoinA Silver Alert is a public notification that broadcasts information about a missing person, especially a senior citizen.Bourgoin left her residence on Oak Grove Road at an unknown time Thursday to attend a 2:30 p.m. appointment in Waterville, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.Bourgoin is described as a white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 180 pounds, with blond...…" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Read ArticleVASSALBORO — A Silver Alert was issued Thursday night for Virginia Bourgoin, 79, of Vassalboro, according to officials.Virginia BourgoinA Silver Alert is a public notification that broadcasts information about a missing person, especially a senior citizen.Bourgoin left her residence on Oak Grove Road at an unknown time Thursday to attend a 2:30 p.m. appointment in Waterville, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office.Bourgoin is described as a white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 180 pounds, with blond...WW…

ShareA sign on a tobacco and beverage store in Sanford urges customers to wear masks. The ordinance passed by the City Council on Thursday will make that mandatory. The Sanford City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance Thursday night that will require people to wear face coverings in all public settings where social distancing is not possible and in stores, restaurants, bars, tasting rooms and lodging operations regardless of their size.The ordinance will attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious virus that has caused four outbreaks in Sanford...…ShareA sign on a tobacco and beverage store in Sanford urges customers to wear masks. The ordinance passed by the City Council on Thursday will make that mandatory. The Sanford City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance Thursday night that will require people to wear face coverings in all public settings where social distancing is not possible and in stores, restaurants, bars, tasting rooms and lodging operations regardless of their size.The ordinance will attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious virus that has caused four outbreaks in Sanford...WW…

ShareA former Unity College employee has pleaded guilty in federal court in Bangor to wire fraud, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Maine.Beth Bing, 49, of Waterville pleaded guilty Thursday to making unauthorized purchases on her Unity College credit card and using fraudulent telephone and email communications, according to court documents.Bing, who worked in finance for the college, racked up transactions totaling $516,834, according to federal prosecutors.From September 2015 through October 2019, Bing made “personal purchases and payments, both over the internet and in...…ShareA former Unity College employee has pleaded guilty in federal court in Bangor to wire fraud, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Maine.Beth Bing, 49, of Waterville pleaded guilty Thursday to making unauthorized purchases on her Unity College credit card and using fraudulent telephone and email communications, according to court documents.Bing, who worked in finance for the college, racked up transactions totaling $516,834, according to federal prosecutors.From September 2015 through October 2019, Bing made “personal purchases and payments, both over the internet and in...WW…

Share1 of 6Guitar maker and craftsman Craig Lowe, 69, demonstrates the sound of a dreadnought acoustic guitar he hand made at his home workshop in Unity. Lowe, pictured Wednesday, has made 32 guitars and four ukuleles.UNITY — At the end of a dirt path in Unity sits Craig Lowe’s wooden palace.Lowe motions with both hands toward the garage and the room above. It is barely 30 degrees outside, but he is in a short-sleeve shirt. He doesn’t care. The cold won’t hurt.“This is my dream,” Lowe says.He is talking about his art studio, which will soon also be his guitar studio, both above a two-car...…Share1 of 6Guitar maker and craftsman Craig Lowe, 69, demonstrates the sound of a dreadnought acoustic guitar he hand made at his home workshop in Unity. Lowe, pictured Wednesday, has made 32 guitars and four ukuleles.UNITY — At the end of a dirt path in Unity sits Craig Lowe’s wooden palace.Lowe motions with both hands toward the garage and the room above. It is barely 30 degrees outside, but he is in a short-sleeve shirt. He doesn’t care. The cold won’t hurt.“This is my dream,” Lowe says.He is talking about his art studio, which will soon also be his guitar studio, both above a two-car...WW…