Maine
How Do You Turn a Maine Barn into a Fireside Pickleball Court?
Boston Home
If you’re this Mount Desert Island homeowner, you hire a team to make a really great room.
Architect: Lake Flato. Builder: Bloom Building & Construction. Interior Designer: Stephanie Rae Interiors / Photo by Sean Litchfield
The Challenge
The homeowner, who’d spent summers on Mount Desert Island for decades, dreamed of a more spacious retreat for his large family. A new barn on a 4-acre property straddling the rocky coast offered just the place he’d envisioned for his clan to gather and share adventures. But to accomplish that, the space needed a beautiful but functional great room equally suited for lobster dinners, indoor pickleball matches, and fireside evenings.
The Solution
The project team—architects from Lake Flato, builder Chris Mahaney, and his wife, interior designer Stephanie Mahaney—conceived the space as a soaring yet welcoming hub. A cathedral ceiling of single-plank fir with exposed beams plays against the raw concrete floor, balancing warmth and durability. At its center, a 34-foot-tall granite fireplace commands attention—a sculptural composition of boulders, none smaller than 2 square feet, surrounding a single 14-foot-long reclaimed granite hearth. A 15-person dining table rolls aside (or through 12-foot-tall steel doors to the patio) to make way for the indoor pickleball court, while teak sofas invite fireside relaxation. The result is a space that feels both enduring and exuberant: a Maine barn that serves as a year-round family playground.
A meal that would normally cost more than $30 is available for less than $12 at Governor’s Restaurants on Wednesday.
Governor’s is celebrating its 67th anniversary by offering its lobster roll for $11.67.
The annual promotion, known as Lobster Roll Day, begins when restaurants open at 8 a.m. and continues until supplies run out.
Governor’s operates six locations across Maine in Old Town, Bangor, Ellsworth, Waterville, Lewiston and Presque Isle.
Customers should be aware that several locations are offering cash-only drive-thru service for the event.
Join Girl Scouts of Maine for a sweet summer stop you won’t want to miss!
We’re popping up at local ice cream shops around Maine for our Ice Cream Socials—fun, casual events where families can enjoy a free treat and learn more about Girl Scouts.
Here’s what to expect:
🍦 One FREE kid-sized cone per family when you stop by and connect with us
🌱 Hands-on activity for kids (like a planting activity or fidget spinner craft)
💬 A chance to chat with our team and learn how Girl Scouts builds confidence, friendships, and unforgettable experiences
Whether you’re curious about joining, looking for activities for your child, or just want to enjoy a sweet treat, we’d love to meet you!
✨ Open to all families—no registration required. Just stop by, say hello, and enjoy some ice cream with us.
The Saco Scoop
05:30 PM – 07:30 PM on Tue, 14 Jul 2026
The recent rain in Maine is easing the drought that parts of the state have been experiencing since the fall.
Scott Dean, a Spectrum meteorologist, said much of Maine has been at least “dry” for several months. Parts of the state, including Portland, Bangor and Bar Harbor, are under a “moderate” drought.
Much of the country is also experiencing a drought, Dean added. The Southeast is seeing extreme levels of drought, and the West coast has been under a drought for years. There are many factors that go into this, including climate change, weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña and other factors.
And, when an area does experience drought, it can become a feedback loop. With less moisture in the ground and atmosphere, the drought can “feed upon itself,” Dean said.
“It takes a while to get into a drought and it also takes a while to get out of one,” Dean said.
But, the rainy days in Maine have been alleviating the drought, Dean said. And, the trend is likely to continue — the forecast is predicting above average levels of precipitation for the next three to four weeks.
“Hopefully, we are continuing to head in the right direction as the drought has eased in these areas,” Dean said.
In fact, if these rains do continue, Maine could come out of the drought sometime this summer.
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