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One year after a massacre in Maine, survivors and loved ones search for new beginnings

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One year after a massacre in Maine, survivors and loved ones search for new beginnings


LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Ben Dyer was shot five times during Maine’s deadliest mass shooting, when a gunman killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar.

A year later, Dyer and fiancée Keela Smith want to turn the worst day of their lives into the best.

As Lewiston prepares to mark the grim first anniversary Friday, Dyer and Smith are looking ahead to the second with hope. Dyer proposed to Smith this spring, bolstered by a new outlook on life and determined to not hold back. They’ve chosen Oct. 25 as next year’s wedding date, the same day as the shooting. They want to reclaim the day.

“So that we can always have it be a good reminder for us. Something that we don’t dread every year, and that doesn’t break our hearts every year,” Smith said. “Because it will be ‘Oh, that’s our wedding day. That’s the day that we took back, and we made it ours.’”

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The couple, both 48, are among dozens of people directly affected by the shooting who are still trying to find ways to work through the physical and emotional trauma. For many, the anniversary is bringing back unwelcome memories.

The nightmares haven’t gone away

“I have nightmares every day,” said Megan Vozzella, 39, whose husband Steve Vozzella was killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille. “I’m always going to have nightmares. As we get closer and closer, I don’t sleep well.”

Megan says her husband managed to crawl outside before he died. Thinking about him in pain and trying to hold on is what gives her the nightmares.

Vozzella, who is deaf, talks through a sign language interpreter. Her husband was one of four deaf people killed while playing cornhole at the bar. Megan went to the same school as three of them, and they all knew each other well.

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Megan and Steve were two weeks away from celebrating their first wedding anniversary when Steve was killed. They’d met back in 2009 and got to know each other on a camping trip, something they continued to love doing together. They have a 13-year-old daughter, Bella. That night, Megan lost both her husband and a big part of her community.

“We thought we’d have a future, raising the family and growing old together. And they’re just all gone,” she said. “The world is upside-down.”

Lewiston plans ceremony to honor the victims

Lewiston is planning an anniversary ceremony Friday to honor the victims, survivors, first responders and others affected by the tragedy. The evening will include music, speeches and two moments of silence.

The shooting began just before 7 p.m. at the bowling alley, Just-In-Time Recreation. Armed with a semiautomatic rifle fitted with a scope and laser, Army reservist Robert Card killed eight people in 45 seconds. He then drove 4 miles to the bar, where he killed another 10 people. He later killed himself.

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“We were just a group of people hanging out, doing something we love,” recalls Dyer, who was playing cornhole at the bar. “Eating snacks and food, having a couple of drinks, and throwing bags. And then, all hell broke loose.”

Dyer lay on the ground after being shot, trying to stanch the blood flowing from his right arm. He looked up to see Card staring at him. As the gunman took aim, Dyer raised his arms and ducked his head away, saving him from a fatal shot. He closed his eyes and tried not to breathe.

Dyer lost a finger and the use of his right arm. These days, he buys clothes that are a size too big so he can slide them on more easily with one hand. He’s still figuring out how to cook and toss cornhole bags left-handed. Every time he looks at his scars in the shower or fumbles buttoning his shirt, he’s reminded.

“I still live that day,” he said. “But I’m alive.”

The Army and police missed chances to seize guns

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In the months before the shooting, both the Army and police failed to seize Card’s guns, despite knowing his mental health was unraveling and he was making ominous threats, an investigating commission found. About 100 survivors and relatives of the victims are now taking steps to sue the Army.

Since the shooting, Maine has strengthened its ‘yellow flag’ law and made other changes to gun laws. But it did not ban assault weapons like some advocates wanted.

The U.S. surgeon general in June declared gun violence a public health crisis. Dr. Vivek Murthy said Americans want to be able to go to school, the supermarket or their house of worship without worrying about getting killed. He called for a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for civilian use.

Dyer, who like many people living in rural Maine likes to hunt, said his experience hasn’t changed his views on guns.

“Your car can be a lethal weapon if you want it to be, if you drove it into a parade and mowed people down,” he said. “So, my take on guns is no different. I still own them, and I still buy them.”

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As Dyer speaks on the deck of his Auburn home, the sound of gunshots can be heard in the woods beyond. Dyer said the volleys don’t bother him, as they’re far away. In fact, he said, he’s excited to learn how to hunt again, this time using only his left arm.

Like Dyer, Vozzella doesn’t see guns as the problem, but instead blames failures in the mental health system. She remains angry at the police and military for not confiscating Card’s guns before the massacre.

“They missed a lot of opportunities,” she said.

Vozzella’s daughter remains fearful of going to school, worried a shooter might show up. It’s been a rough year for both of them, Vozzella said, but they’ve found some solace by going on camping trips and spending time with family and friends.

Vozzella shows the arm tattoo she got soon after the shooting — a heart with angel wings and the inscription: “In Loving Memory Stephen M Vozzella.”

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“It’s never easier,” she said. “For the rest of my life, it’s not going to be easy to keep going. But I’m slowly moving on every day and finding my new normal.”

___

Associated Press journalists Rodrique Ngowi, Robert F. Bukaty, Patrick Whittle, David Sharp and Holly Ramer contributed to this report.



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A winter storm will hit Maine through Monday

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A winter storm will hit Maine through Monday


A winter storm will move through Maine from Sunday into Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.

Precipitation, expected to begin early Sunday, will start as snow before changing to rain from south to north during the day.

The storm is expected to bring mostly snow north of Katahdin, with 10 or more inches in some areas, with less south of the mountain.

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Coastal, central, and southern Maine is expected to get anywhere between a dusting to a few inches.

In eastern Aroostook County, snowfall totals will depend on whether temperatures rise enough for a rain–snow mix.

Rain may switch back to light snow Sunday night before tapering off on Monday.

The weather service advised Mainers to plan for slippery roads and sidewalks, especially in northern parts of the state.



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Maine men’s hockey pulls away to beat Vermont

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Maine men’s hockey pulls away to beat Vermont


ORONO — Eleven games into the season, the University of Maine men’s hockey team has been inconsistent. But when the Black Bears put it together, they can be dominant and extremely fun to watch.

That was the case Friday night at Alfond Arena when Maine took the lead early, then broke it open with four goals in the second period on the way to a 7-0 win over Vermont.

The game showed both sides of the Black Bears. In the first period, they let the Catamounts (3-6, 1-4 in Hockey East) control and dictate play. In the second and third periods, Maine (7-3-1, 4-1) showed how good it can be when everything clicks.

“It wasn’t a 7-0 game. I thought they outworked us and outplayed us for most of the first (period). Obviously, the power play came through and got us going a little bit,” Maine coach Ben Barr said. “We couldn’t be bothered to forecheck in the first period. It was too much work.”

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Maine’s special teams played better after struggling throughout much of the first 10 games. The Black Bears were 2 for 5 on the power play, with goals from Josh Nadeau and Owen Fowler. Just as important, Maine killed two Vermont power plays. The Black Bears ranked near the bottom of Hockey East in penalty killing at just over 76% entering Friday’s games, having allowed a league-high 11 power-play goals.

Vermont’s offense is as potent as a placebo. The Catamounts entered Friday’s games as one of the lowest scoring teams in the nation, averaging just 1.4 goals per game. Vermont had three goals on 23 power-play opportunities, a league-low 13% success rate. So maybe the Catamounts aren’t the best barometer to judge if Maine cleaned up problems on the penalty kill.

The Catamounts also rank last in penalty killing in Hockey East, at a rate of just under 72%. That said, the Black Bears worked harder on the power play, and it showed.

“When the power play’s struggling, the tendency is to get frustrated. Then you take a shot, and it doesn’t go in, you watch it and it gets iced and you’ve got to go chase it,” Barr said. “We had second and third opportunities on the power play tonight, on one zone entry, because guys were retrieving pucks and working.”

For freshman Miquel Marques, the hard work paid off with a goal and three assists. A scratch last month in a game against Colgate, the third-round pick by Nashville in the 2024 NHL Draft knew he had to adjust to the college game.

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“Obviously, you don’t want to be a scratch or sitting … That kind of sucks. Sitting down with (Barr) and seeing what he wants from me, and everything is just working,” he said. “I’ve got to get back to my game, and I’ve kind of done that so far. Just getting my body in front of guys. That’s what he wanted, and it’s working well.”

Vermont got off nine shots in the first 10 minutes, but just 19 the rest of the game. Maine goalie Albin Boija was sharp early, giving the Black Bears time to regroup and take control. In earning his second shutout of the season, Boija said he felt better than he has in recent games.

“I just found the right head space in general. I felt better. It’s just been finding the right perspective on life in general, and then letting it come. I’m in a good spot now,” Boija said. “They came out firing. That was nice, because that’s been the difference, right? At the start, a lot of games had a couple quick goals. I thought I was ready, essentially, and I played that way, too.”

Nadeau had two goals and an assist, while freshman defenseman Jeremy Langlois, had a goal and two assists. Sully Scholle, whose goal started things for Maine at 6:29 of the first period, added an assist as well.

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Service, not ideology, is why I’m running for the Maine House | Opinion

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Service, not ideology, is why I’m running for the Maine House | Opinion


Corey Bouchard is a Democratic candidate for the Maine House of Representatives in District 88.

As an Army veteran, I was taught that effective leadership is defined not by how loudly you speak, but by the tangible results you achieve. Our community in Maine House District 88 deserves a representative who is focused on solutions, fiscal discipline and the hard work of lowering costs for working families — not advancing an extreme, divisive ideology.

That is why I am running for the Maine House, and why the current direction under my opponent, Rep. Quentin Chapman, must change.

We face serious challenges in Maine: a crippling workforce shortage, high energy costs and a community struggling with the opioid crisis. These problems demand sober, strategic action. Unfortunately, Rep. Chapman’s record demonstrates a troubling priority: consistently putting his personal ideological agenda ahead of pragmatic solutions.

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Rep. Chapman has shown where his focus lies through his votes and the legislation he chooses to sponsor.

While working families desperately need relief, Rep. Chapman has spent his time supporting measures that divide our community and waste legislative energy. For example, in a vote that demonstrates a fundamental neglect for the safety of our most vulnerable, Rep. Chapman voted against the bill that increased punishment for doxxing a child. This type of action signals a clear failure to prioritize basic public safety.

Even more concerning is his dedication to advancing radical social positions. He actively sponsored LD 1230, “An Act to Abolish the 72-hour Waiting Period for a Gun Purchase,” demonstrating a commitment to eroding common-sense safety measures that are proven to reduce impulse violence and suicide. This divisive posturing does not make our streets safer or our economy stronger. It simply serves to alienate segments of our community and distract the Legislature from its core mission.

His record further underscores this ideological commitment. This is not the voice of service; it is the voice of exclusion. We need a representative committed to the constitutional principle that the rule of law applies equally to all Mainers, without exception.

My approach is rooted in discipline and facts, not chaos and rhetoric. I am running because I believe in a Maine where governance is about common sense and accountability. My policy agenda focuses on core principles that will benefit everyone in District 88:

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  • Workforce investment: I support universal voluntary pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds as the smartest long-term economic investment to address our workforce crisis.
  • Small business support: We need a Small Business Apprenticeship Tax Credit to reward local companies for closing the skills gap and creating jobs.
  • Honoring veterans: We must cut bureaucratic red tape by implementing MOC reciprocity to ensure veterans and their spouses can work in Maine immediately upon moving here.
  • Affordable energy: We must reduce heating bills through long-term infrastructure. I will expand weatherization tax rebates for low- and middle-income families, providing relief that pays for itself.
  • Health care transparency: We need a competitive marketplace. I will fight for pharmacy benefit manager reform and a Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act to stop secretive price-gouging by middlemen.
  • Smarter public safety: We must fund Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRTs) to free up our police officers to focus on violent crime, reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and incarceration costs.
  • Taxpayer protection: I support the Government Contract Transparency Act to ensure public money is not subsidizing corporate negligence or low wages.
  • Political accountability: I advocate for State House leadership term limits to prevent entrenchment and ensure a continuous influx of new ideas and better representation.
  • Equality under the law: I will fight for a state constitutional amendment to explicitly secure non-discrimination protections for all Mainers because equality is a founding constitutional principle.

My campaign is a mission for common sense. We cannot afford another term of a representative who prioritizes national political theater over the pressing needs of our neighbors. The stakes are too high.

I urge the voters of District 88 to choose service and solutions over ideology and division. Send a representative to Augusta — like me — who will put the dignity of every Mainer and the health of our economy first.



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