Maine

Meet the new Maine high school football head coaches

Published

1 year ago

September 5, 2024

Meet the new Maine high school football head coaches

New Cheverus football coach Skip Capone works with players during a Sept. 4 practice in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Being a high school varsity football coach is a multi-faceted job. Head coaches oversee players and assistant coaches. They are the final disciplinarian. They will coach a position group and usually call the offensive or defensive signals. Interacting with parents, school administrators, booster groups, grounds and maintenance crews, athletic training staff, and media are part of the job. It requires passion, planning and precision to be successful.

Several Maine teams have new leaders at the top. Here’s a look at first-year head coaches.

NATE DANFORTH, Oxford Hills: Danforth is no stranger to the Vikings’ program. He’s been on the coaching staff since 1999 and was the team’s head coach from 2008-10. He was a key assistant under Mark Soehren (2012-23) and the team’s defensive coordinator as Oxford Hills rose to the top of the Class A ranks, winning the state championship in 2022. Soehren retired in May, and Danforth was chosen as the new coach in early August.

SKIP CAPONE, Cheverus: There aren’t many coaches in Maine with more experience – or sheer enthusiasm – than the 69-year-old Capone. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Capone is in his 47th year as a football coach, including a 14-year stint as Lewiston’s head coach and 22 years as an assistant at Bates College. Capone replaces Mike Vance, who led the Stags for eight years after replacing John Wolfgram. Cheverus moves from Class C to Class B, and Capone, hired in January, said he wants to guide the program back to Class A.

MARK BOISSONNEAULT, Sanford: Another long-time assistant taking over for an established coach, Boissonneault has been at Sanford for 32 years, the last five as the Spartans’ offensive coordinator. He replaces Mike Fallon, who resigned after accepting an assistant principal’s position at Sanford.

Skip Capone is in his 47th season coaching football, but his first as the head coach at Cheverus. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

SPENCER EMERSON, Falmouth: The 2011 graduate of Edward Little takes over for John Fitzsimmons, Falmouth’s coach since 2007, who resigned under pressure from parents, and ultimately players. Emerson has significant coaching experience. He was the head coach at Poland in 2018-19 and has since been a college assistant at Bates, Georgetown and the University of Chicago.

SETH JOHNSON, Poland: Johnson replaces Gus Leblanc, a longtime and respected educator and administrator who died in February. He was the coach at Sacopee Valley last year, which plays in the eight-man ranks. Johnson said he enjoyed coaching at Sacopee but is excited to be back in the 11-player ranks. He is also the varsity baseball coach at Gray-New Gloucester.

NICK ORSI, Yarmouth: A relative newcomer to Maine football circles, Orsi takes over for Jim Hartman. An investment advisor and former high school quarterback outside Chicago, Orsi has been a high school assistant for three seasons, all in the eight-player ranks. He was on Hartman’s Yarmouth staff in 2021 and 2022, and last year was the offensive coordinator at Brunswick.

JOEL STONETON, Winthrop/Monmouth/Hall-Dale: Stoneton, the former Winthrop athletic director, takes over for Dave St. Hilaire, who went 55-32 in nine seasons. Stoneton, a 1993 graduate of Winthrop, was the Ramblers’ head coach prior to St. Hilaire, going 61-35 in 10 seasons. His 2008 team went 11-1, losing in the Class C state final. Stoneton had been the team’s defensive coordinator under St. Hilaire.

Nate Danforth is serving as head coach at Oxford Hills for a second time. He has been on the Vikings’ coaching staff since 1999, including three seasons as the head coach from 2008-10. Brewster Burns photo

FRED LOWER, Brewer: The former athletic director at Hampden Academy and current assistant principal at Brewer, Lower returns to the sidelines. Lower previously was a head coach at Hampden Academy, had two stints as an assistant coach at Husson University, and was on the Bangor staff for more than 10 years.

ERIC SCHROEDER, Sacopee Valley: Schroeder takes over from Seth Johnson, who left to become head coach at Poland. A longtime assistant, this is Schroeder’s 10th season coaching at his alma mater. He was a member of Sacopee Valley’s inaugural football team.

GERALD HARTLEY, Mount View: Hartley was an assistant coach with the Mustangs under his predecessor, Rick Leary, who coached for seven seasons. Hartley takes over a young team that went 2-17 over the last three seasons. A longtime coach at youth levels, Hartley is a head coach for the first time.

JOHN EDWARDS, Valley: A former high school football coach in Montana, Edwards takes over the state’s northernmost team. Playing in its third varsity season, Valley is a co-op of players from Fort Kent, Madawaska and Wisdom. The program is still looking for its first varsity win.

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Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

Published

4 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

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Maine

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Published

16 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Are you up for a Maine food challenge, or are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

A Waterville staple, Buen Apetito has a monster burrito just waiting for someone to eat it down to the very last bite.

This thing is a beast, literally called La Bestia, and it’s definitely a mighty task for a fearless foodie.

Take on the Buen Apetito La Bestia Food Challenge in Waterville, Maine

According to Buen Apetito, if you can finish a super-sized burrito in 30 minutes or less, you’ll get the $60 meal for free, a La Bestia champion shirt, and a picture on the wall of fame. That’s not to mention the bragging rights of dominating a task few will be able to conquer.

Wondering what’s in the burrito?

The Mexican restaurant shared in a Facebook comment on a post that the burrito is filled with “grilled chicken, chorizo, and tender shredded beef or pork. Built on a layer of seasoned rice, refried beans, and French fries, it’s melted together with a shredded Mexican cheese blend and a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce, sautéed peppers and onions, green salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, creamy guacamole, and a bed of shredded lettuce all wrapped in three extra-large tortillas fused into one epic wrap.”

Let’s just say that this thing is packed full.

The first La Bestia contender took up his fork and knife in December 2025, but despite coming close, he couldn’t come out with the win.

As of March 2026, the challenge has remained undefeated. But you never know, someone is bound to come out victorious.

Just note that you can only try your hand at this food challenge on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buen Apetito Has Been a Longstanding Waterville, Maine, Restaurant

First opened in 1999, Buen Apeitito has been around for nearly 30 years.

Centralmaine.com reported that the Mexican restaurant was originally located at the Railroad Square complex off Chaplin Street before moving to 99 West River Road in 2023.

A little over a year later, in 2024, Buen Apetito shared on Facebook that it was passing on the torch to new owners, including Dalia, “the heart and soul of [the] kitchen for twenty years,” her daughter, Norma, and Norma’s husband, Shawn.

READ MORE: Famous Maine Restaurant Buen Apetito Adds Powerhouse New Owner to Crew

And it seems like not only are things still going strong, but new additions like La Bestia food challenge are only enhancing the spirit of big flavor and delicious Mexican food at the Waterville staple.

So, you think you’re up for the task of taking down a beast of a burrito at Buen Apetito? Good luck.

You Know You’re From Maine If You’ve Tried All 19 of These Foods

Here’s a number of foods associated with Maine. How many of them have you had?

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The New York Time’s Best Restaurant Lists Feature These 7 Maine Spots

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

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Maine

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Monday’s telethon held by WABI in partnership with Penquis and Heart of Maine United Way Monday raised money for the heating of homes, something so basic, yet so significant in a state like Maine.

Danielle Hewes, Penquis contributor and volunteer, says some people might not even know that they qualify for heating assistance.

“I think there’s this misconception that you can’t get that if you’re working. Like that’s just for people on general assistance. The truth of the matter is this is for the people that are maybe not able to work, but also for the people that are working. They’re making ends meet,” she said.

For Danielle, that’s what makes events like the telethon so special: it’s making a real difference in the community with people who need the help the most.

Speaking about Penquis in particular, she said, “You learn about all of the other things they do and how they help the community and you can’t help but want to be a part of that.”

If you weren’t able to donate Monday, donations are still being accepted.

You can go to homeunitedway.org/heat.

You can also call 941-2800.

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