Maine

A dozen ways to mark the holidays in southern Maine

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2022

It’s time to odor the pine timber, spike the eggnog and fill your days and nights with some correct cheer. From vacation lights to performances of “The Nutcracker,” we’ve gathered a few of this season’s brightest occasions and invite you to mark your calendar as all of us march into the vacations with a skip in our step and a watch on 2023. Consider this as a vacation sampler, and we’ll remember to share extra concepts within the coming weeks.

The Christmas tree in Monument Sq. is illuminated for the primary evening on Friday on this long-exposure {photograph}. Ben McCanna/Employees Photographer

Monument Sq. Tree Lighting
4-6 p.m. Friday. Monument Sq., Portland, free. eventbrite.com
Collect every one for the annual lighting of the Monument Sq. vacation tree. You’ll get pleasure from free Hood eggnog samples, Subzero ice carving demos, Northern Pitch a cappella, Vacation Spectacular present by Mad Science of Maine, festive giveaways and free Dunkin’ beverage samples. What’s extra, the Tree Cam will allow you to see the tree in all its illuminated glory all season lengthy.

Scene from a costume rehearsal for Maine State Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” Derek Davis/Employees Photographer

Maine State Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Via Dec. 4. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $28 to $80. porttix.com
You’ve acquired six possibilities to catch a efficiency of Maine State Ballet’s acclaimed vacation efficiency. The present is large with 30 skilled ballet firm members performing the standard story starring the Nutcracker Prince and Clara and that includes spectacular costumes and surroundings, together with stay music from the corporate’s orchestra and refrain.

The Dance Annex kicks off the vacation season with “The Nutcracker” at Kittery’s Star Theatre. Photograph courtesy of The Dance Annex

‘The Nutcracker’
6 p.m. Friday, 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. Via Dec. 4. Star Theater, 120 Rogers Highway, Kittery, $33, $25 seniors and kids 12 and below. kitterycommunitycenter.org
The Dance Annex presents it interpretation of “The Nutcracker.” Clara will lead you on an unforgettable journey to the Land of Sweets in a manufacturing that can enchant viewers members of all ages. Forged members embrace Ruth Whitney from Metropolis Ballet of Boston because the Sugar Plum Fairy. Native seventh-graders Amelia Gordon of Kittery and Willoughby Staley of York will share the function of Clara. It doesn’t get extra traditional than “The Nutcracker” with regards to vacation traditions, so seize some tickets and luxuriate in.

Vacation lights on the seventh annual Gardens Aglow on the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Brianna Soukup/Employees Photographer

Gardens Aglow
4, 5:30, 6:30 and seven:30 p.m. Thursday by Sunday, plus choose dates by Dec. 31. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay Harbor, $18, $16, $10 children 3-17, free for ages 3 and below. mainegardens.org
For an immersive expertise like few others, schedule your go to and head to the wonderland of Gardens Aglow. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens makes use of greater than 750,000 LED lights round its 14 acres of gardens throughout the vacation season. Snow or no snow, you’ll be strolling in a winter wonderland together with your path lit by among the most dazzling shows this facet of the Mississippi. A good looking sight certainly.

L.L. Bean’s flagship retailer in Freeport is aglow because the Northern Lights Celebration takes place with options together with the Discovery Forest with a warming hut, a walk-in snow globe, wagon rides and visits from Santa and his reindeer. Derek Davis/Employees Photographer

Northern Lights
Via Dec. 31. L.L. Bean campus, Freeport. llbean.com
It certain will get festive in Freeport this time of yr. L.L. Bean’s annual Northern Lights celebration is jam-packed with cheerful actions and sights like the large snow globe, free skating, twinkle gentle tunnel, mannequin practice village, letters to Santa, Vacation Across the World interactive stroll and extra. Northern Lights additionally contains a number of weekly actions, together with assembly Santa’s reindeer on Tuesdays and Thursdays and free customized Bean boot laces on Wednesdays.

The Sitting Room within the Victoria Mansion in Portland. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Employees Photographer

Christmas at Victoria Mansion
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday by Sunday, Nov. 25 by Jan. 8. Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St., Portland, $16, $14 seniors, $5 college students, free for below 6. victoriamanson.org
For a nostalgic journey again in time, make your method to Portland’s Victoria Mansion. Constructed within the mid-1850s, the mansion holds a long time of reminiscences, and so they’ll be mirrored on this yr’s theme of “A Maine Christmas.” As you wander from room to room, you’ll see the artistic visions of a number of native designers who will pull at your coronary heart strings in surprising methods. The Victorian period lives on eternally at Victoria Mansion, and throughout the vacation season, it involves life all of the extra.

The Competition of Bushes. Photograph courtesy of Saco Museum

18th Annual Competition of Bushes
Midday to five p.m. Tuesday by Sunday. Via Dec. 29. Saco Museum, 371 Most important St., Saco, free. sacomuseum.org
This yr’s Competition of Bushes on the Saco Museum opens on Black Friday however might be completely colourful as you’ll see dozens of Christmas timber on show. When you marvel at them, you may bid on a number of sensational silent public sale objects, together with reward certificates, dinners, native crafts and extra. All proceeds profit the museum and library’s group applications. Additionally word that kids’s craft day is on Dec. 3, Tea with Mrs. Claus is Dec. 10, and you’ll go to with Santa on Dec. 11.

twenty ninth Annual Freeport Sparkles
Dec. 2-11. Downtown Freeport. visitfreeport.com
Freeport Sparkles kicks off with a parade of lights on Dec. 2, and also you’ll see Santa arrive to convey the well-known speaking Christmas tree to life. Different enjoyable contains the adorning contest and reward certificates giveaways with the Stealth Elf. On Dec. 8, catch the Sparkle Stroll with particular offers and door prizes from a number of companies. There’s additionally a Frosty Frolic with meals vans, hearth pits, vacation music and treats on Dec. 10.

Santas stroll down Congress Road in Portland throughout SantaCon. Derek Davis/Employees Photographer

SantaCon
5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Dec. 3. Downtown Portland areas. Fb.com/SantaconPortland
SantaCon is a bar crawl like none different. Come dressed as Santa, a reindeer, Christmas tree, leg lamp, snowman, Hannukkah Harry or in another holiday-themed ensemble you may give you. You’ll ho, ho, ho your method to a number of bars within the downtown and Outdated Port space of Portland, and a merry time might be had by all. The SantaCon elves are nonetheless ironing out a couple of particulars so control the Fb web page because the date attracts nearer.

Merry Insanity
4-10 p.m. Dec. 8. U.S. Customized Home, 312 Fore St., Portland, $20, $25. eventbrite.com
The celebration begins on the U.S. Customized Home and continues at greater than 70 native companies in downtown Portland. Merry Insanity is a mighty good time, and your ticket contains admission to the celebration, a snacks to-go bag, consuming glass and pour of wine, beer or seltzer. Then you definitely’ll store until you drop with shops open late and enjoyable round each nook. Seize your tickets now; they gained’t be out there on the door.

‘Twas the Evening Earlier than…Burlesque
7:30 p.m. Dec. Sept. 11 and 14-18. St. Lawrence Arts Middle, 76 Congress St., Portland, $20, 18-plus. stlawrencearts.org
Let Vivid Movement Dance put a bit attractive sass in your season with ‘Twas the Evening Earlier than…Burlesque. Go away the youngsters at dwelling for this one as a result of these elves undoubtedly skew naughty. Nevertheless it’s all within the identify of enjoyable, and the annual occasion is actually and figuratively a red-hot ticket. Which means seize ’em quickly otherwise you’ll be unnoticed within the chilly.

The Gingerbread Spectacular. Photograph courtesy of The Opera Home at Boothbay Harbor Photograph courtesy of The Opera Home at Boothbay Harbor

Gingerbread Spectacular
5-7 p.m. Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to three p.m. Dec. 17, 11 a.m. to three p.m. Dec. 18. Opera Home at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave. boothbayoperahouse.com
Gingerbread Spectacular is an annual celebration of the unimaginable gingerbread creations made by group members. Catch the opening evening, and also you’ll hear music from Barney Balch and the Sheepscot Jazz & Swing Quartet and may hit the bar for a cocktail. Or swing by over the weekend. Both manner, you gained’t consider your eyes as you gaze upon the edible architectural accomplishments. If you happen to get hungry them, you should purchase tasty baked items from The Associates of the Opera Home all weekend lengthy. As for the homes, prizes might be awarded for many spectacular, finest vacation spirit, most hilarious, finest landscaping, finest illustration of a neighborhood landmark, finest youth design and most scrumptious wanting.

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Maine

Texas man pleads guilty to stealing $400K from vacationing Maine couple

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Texas man pleads guilty to stealing 0K from vacationing Maine couple

A Texas man has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $400,000 from a Maine couple while they were on vacation.

Kyle Lawless Pollar, 27, entered his plea to four counts of wire fraud Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

In August 2022, Pollar called the couple’s bank pretending to be the account holder and requested the account’s balance and updated the contact phone number, the U.S. attorney’s office said Tuesday. Shortly after, Pollar changed the contact email address as well.

Over a two-week period, Pollar made several transfers from the couple’s home equity line of credit to their savings account. Pollar then made four wire transfers totalling $360,880 to a Texas bank account in his name, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Pollar transferred $66,000 from one transfer to a jeweler, also in Texas.

The U.S. attorney’s office said that Pollar withdrew funds from his account in cash and cashier’s checks. He then deposited the cashier’s checks in other Texas bank accounts in his name.

He was captured on security camera making deposits and withdrawals, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

The couple discovered the theft when they returned from vacation and couldn’t log into their bank account. When the bank reset their username and password, they found multiple wire transfers on their statement.

The FBI began investigating in October 2022.

Pollar faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for each of the four counts of wire fraud, as well as up to three years of supervised release. He also will be ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

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Maine

Tell us your favorite local Maine grocery store and the best things to get there

Published

12 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Tell us your favorite local Maine grocery store and the best things to get there

Mainers like to hold onto local secrets like precious jewels. The best place to get pizza. The best place to watch the sun rise or set. Secret parking spots that people from away don’t know about.

It’s the same with grocery stores — not just the big chains that dominate the state, but also the little mom-and-pop grocers in towns and cities from Stockholm to Shapleigh. Who’s got the cheapest eggs? The best cuts of meat? A great deli? Farm-fresh produce? There’s a good chance one of your local markets has got at least one of those.

We want to know: what are your favorite hidden gem markets in Maine, and what in particular do they specialize in selling? Let us know in the form below, or leave a comment. We’ll follow up with a story featuring your answers in a few days. We’ll try to keep it just between us Mainers, but we can’t guarantee a few out-of-staters won’t catch on to these local secrets.

Favorite local grocery stores

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Maine

Bangor city councilor announces bid for open Maine House seat

Published

20 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Bangor city councilor announces bid for open Maine House seat

A current Bangor city councilor is running in a special election for an open seat in the Legislature, which Rep. Joe Perry left to become Maine’s treasurer.

Carolyn Fish, who’s serving her first term on the Bangor City Council, announced in a Jan. 4 Facebook post that she’s running as a Republican to represent House District 24, which covers parts of Bangor, Brewer, Orono and Veazie.

“I am not a politician, but what goes on in Augusta affects us here and it’s time to get involved,” Fish wrote in the post. “I am just a regular citizen of this community with a lineage of hard work, passion and appreciation for the freedom and liberties we have in this community and state.”

Fish’s announcement comes roughly two weeks after Sean Faircloth, a former Democratic state lawmaker and Bangor city councilor, announced he’s running as a Democrat to represent House District 24.

The special election to fill Perry’s seat will take place on Feb. 25.

Fish, a local real estate agent, was elected to the Bangor city council in November 2023 and is currently serving a three-year term.

Fish previously told the Bangor Daily News that her family moved to the city when she was 13 and has worked in the local real estate industry since earning her real estate license when she was 28.

When she ran for the Bangor City Council in 2023, Fish expressed a particular interest in tackling homelessness and substance use in the community while bolstering economic development. To do this, she suggested reviving the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program in schools and creating a task force to identify where people who are homeless in Bangor came from.

Now, Fish said she sees small businesses and families of all ages struggling to make ends meet due to the rising cost of housing, groceries, child care, health care and other expenses. Meanwhile, the funding and services the government should direct to help is being “focused elsewhere,” she said.

“I feel too many of us are left behind and ignored,” Fish wrote in her Facebook post. “The complexities that got us here are multifaceted and the solutions aren’t always simple. But, I can tell you it’s time to try and I will do all I can to help improve things for a better future for all of us.”

Faircloth served five terms in the Maine House and Senate between 1992 and 2008, then held a seat on the Bangor City Council from 2014 to 2017, including one year as mayor. He also briefly ran for Maine governor in 2018 and for the U.S. House in 2002.

A mental health and child advocate, Faircloth founded the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor and was the executive director of the city’s Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center until last year.

Fish did not return requests for comment Tuesday.

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