Maine

This Maine City Has Been Named One of the Happiest in the Nation

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2024

This Maine City Has Been Named One of the Happiest in the Nation

The latest happiness report is out, and Portland has passed with flying colors.

Wallethub.com, a personal finance website, recently published its annual report on the happiest cities in America. Maine’s largest city was rather far up on the list.

Portland came in as the 17th happiest city in America, and the happiest in all of New England. This’s quite the achievement for our little city. Apparently happy things do come in small packages.

The study included every state’s two largest cities, plus the top 150 cities in the nation. Portland’s actual happiness score was a 63.46. The scoring was based on a 100-point system. Three major categories were used: emotional & physical well-being, income & employment rank, and community & environment rank. These categories were broken down into 29 subcategories, making it as detailed as possible. You can read about the methodology here.

Portland’s rankings were all found in the top 50. The lowest score could be found in emotional & physical well-being, where Portland finished with a ranking of 43rd. While lower than the others, it’s still a solid top 50 placing.

Portland’s second-best score could be found in community & environment. The city finished a ranking of 27th. I’m surprised it was this low, considering the city’s green space and overall safety. However, 27th is one of the best scores, so perhaps I’m just nitpicky.

Where Portland really shined was its income & employment rank, having finished as the third best in the nation. This category included metrics like job security, job satisfaction, and commute time. It’s really no surprise to see Portland finish so highly. However, it wasn’t the highest-ranked Maine city. That went to Lewiston, that finished as the number one city in America in this category, though sadly just 133rd overall, when combining all the metrics.

Obviously, it’s great to see Portland finish so strongly in this poll, but it shouldn’t be a shock to any of us here. Portland is a wonderful city, full of life, culture, delicious food, and vibrance. It’s easily walkable, bike-friendly, and literally has no traffic. Small cities just know how to do it better.

So, how did the rest if New England score? Here are the results.

Burlington, VT – 23
South Burlington, VT – 54
Boston, MA – 58
Nashua, NH – 64
Manchester, NH – 88
Worcester, MA – 97
Providence, RI – 102
Bridgeport, CT – 105
New Haven, CT – 114
Warwick, RI – 119
Lewiston, ME – 133

Wallethub’s happiest city went to Fremont, CA, followed by Overland Park, KS, and San Jose, CA. The most miserable city on the list was the fine hamlet of Detroit. Hey, at least the Lions are good now. You can check out the entire list here.

25 Celebrities Who Have Owned Homes In Maine

From Kittery to Islesboro, some of Hollywood’s biggest names have owned homes in Maine. We explore the who and where.

Gallery Credit: Joey

The Worst Movie Every Year Since 1980

Here are several generations’ worth of crummy movies — the single worst movie released each year from 1980 to today.

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Maine

Hermon man accused of assaulting and threatening Bangor woman with a gun

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Hermon man accused of assaulting and threatening Bangor woman with a gun

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TTY 1-800-437-1220. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

A Hermon man allegedly assaulted a Bangor woman and threatened her with a gun.

Garrett Foss, 31, has been charged with domestic violence aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening with priors and with a dangerous weapon, criminal restraint, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and violating his conditions of release, according to Katy England, a spokesperson for the Bangor Police Department.

Foss allegedly violently assaulted the woman at a Broad Street residence Sunday night and threatened her with a gun, England said.

He was taken to the Penobscot County Jail, where he remained Tuesday morning, according to the jail’s website.

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Maine

Supreme Court won’t hear Maine case about parental rights on gender in schools

Published

18 hours ago

March 30, 2026

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Supreme Court won’t hear Maine case about parental rights on gender in schools

The nation’s highest court will not take up a Maine mother’s lawsuit against a Damariscotta-based school district, which she argued violated her parental rights by not disclosing information about her child’s gender transition.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday released the latest round of cases that it has agreed to take, and those it rejected. It denied the appeal from Amber Lavigne, whose case had been dismissed by lower courts.

Lavigne, of Newcastle, first sued the Great Salt Bay Community School Board in April 2023, alleging it violated her parental rights and the 14th Amendment by allowing her child to use a different name and pronouns in school than they had been assigned at birth. She also said school employees provided the 13-year-old with a chest binder, an undergarment often used by transgender individuals to flatten breasts.

The district has long maintained that its policies were in accordance with state law.

A federal judge dismissed the case in May 2024, writing that Lavigne had no claims that were eligible for relief. She appealed that ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which upheld the lower court’s dismissal. In December, she asked the Supreme Court to take up the case.

Lavigne has been represented by the Goldwater Institute, a conservative Arizona-based think tank.

Nearly 20 states, all led by Republicans, submitted briefs supporting Lavigne’s appeal. They argued school districts do not have the right to withhold information that affects the rights of parents to be the primary decision-makers in raising their children.

The court has taken up multiple cases this term related to transgender rights and public school districts, including two lawsuits about the rights of transgender athletes to participate in sports teams aligned with their gender identity.

In a statement Monday, Lavigne’s attorney Adam Shelton said he was disappointed with the court’s decision.

“It signals to schools across the country, and especially in Maine, that hiding information from parents does not run afoul of the Constitution,” Shelton said. Lavigne was not available for an interview.

Melissa Hewey, an attorney for the Great Salt Bay Community School Board, noted in a statement that Lavigne’s case has now been dismissed at every level.

“It is gratifying to all our clients that this claim, which had no merit from day one, is finally over,” she said.

This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Riley Board can be reached at rboard@pressherald.com.

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Maine

12 ways to celebrate spring in Maine, from openings to festivals

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

12 ways to celebrate spring in Maine, from openings to festivals

April 7-12. Hadlock Field, 271 Park Ave., Portland, $14-$25. portlandseadogs.com.

“Play ball!” are baseball fans’ two favorite words this time of year, when it’s time to bundle up and take yourself out to the ballgame at Hadlock Field. The Portland Sea Dogs kick off their home season with six consecutive games against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. It’s never too cold to enjoy a Sea Dog biscuit and to root, root, root for the home team. Tickets for the April 7 game are free for kids 17 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket.

April 10-12. Sugarloaf, 5092 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley, $33.85-$76.54. sugarloaf.com.

Reggae Fest celebrates its 38th anniversary at Sugarloaf with three fun days of reggae music and parties on the outdoor patio known as The Beach, and at bar and restaurants The Widowmaker, King Pine Room and Bullwinkle’s. Reggae DJs will be spinning, and there will be live performances by Marlon Asher, Double Tiger, Mighty Mystic and Annie in the Water among other acts.

Starting May 1. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Dr., Boothbay, $28, $24 seniors and veterans, $19 students 18 and older, $12 for 3-17, free for under 3. mainegardens.org.

A bright yellow Bartzella peony at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. (Gordon Chibroski/ Staff Photographer)

Put a spring in your step with a stroll around Coastal Maine Botanical Garden’s nearly 300 acres. The grounds are brimming with ever-changing beauty as spring blossoms into summer. Along the way, you’ll discover five giant wooden trolls, a native butterfly house and a whimsical fairy house village tucked among the gardens’ many delights.

3-10 p.m. May 2. Riverbank Park, Westbrook. seafest.me

SEAFEST celebrates the colors, flavors and traditions of Southeast Asia, and how they’re woven into Maine’s multicultural identity. The festival is presented by the local Cambodian community group Khmer Maine, along with members of local Thai, Filipino and Vietnamese communities. SEAFEST features arts, music, dance and a variety of Southeast Asian food. All are welcome.

May 2. Downtown Kennebunk locations. kennebunkmaine.us.

Kennebunk’s long-running May Day festival is packed with a full day of family-friendly events and activities. It starts with a pancake breakfast and features a farmers market, food trucks, fishing derby, live music, book sale and all sorts of things for kids to do. Best of all is the parade with Shriners’ classic miniature cars, floats, a marching band and variety of familiar mascots.

May 2-3. Statewide pottery and ceramics studios. mainepotterytour.org.

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Diane Harwood puts cards in her mugs as she restocks the shelves during the 2024 Maine Pottery Tour at D. Harwood Pottery in Winthrop.
(Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)

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The annual Maine Pottery Tour is a weekend for dozens of pottery and ceramics studios statewide to open to the public. You can meet artists, watch demonstrations, see the kilns and shop for pottery and ceramics.

Participants include Peeper Pond Studio in Yarmouth, Tall Pines Pottery in Westbrook, Fine Mess Pottery in Augusta and Work In Progress Art Studio in Lisbon. The Maine Pottery Tour website includes information about the Plan My Tour app featuring online maps of the studios to help you craft the perfect pottery adventure.

Noon-3 p.m. May 3. Oxbow Blending & Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland, $35, 21-plus. ciderfeasthq.com.

If you love hard cider, you’ll want to snag tickets to the annual CiderFeast, where the best ciders in the region will be poured. Everyone gets a souvenir glass, and there will be plenty of local food to pair with the delicious cider you’ll be imbibing. Participants include Rocky Ground (Hampden), Bon Vent (Hancock) and Run Amok Mead (West Gardiner) among many others.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 3. Waterfront Park, Augusta. ritualmaine.com.

Ritual Maine is a central Maine-based crystal business that also hosts eclectic markets in the Kennebec Valley. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Spring Ritual Market, where you’ll find more than 35 vendors peddling crystals, gems, upcycled clothing, pottery, candles, herbal goods and more. Two food trucks and a coffee truck will be parked on-site. A mini version of the market will also take place on from noon-5 p.m. May 31 at Absolem Cider in Winthrop.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 9-10. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland, $10 in advance, $13 at the door, $5 for tastes from the food vendors.

Here’s a chance to taste a wide range of international cuisine under one roof. A Taste of Nations Food Festival is an annual culinary event presented by Mayo Street Arts and Fork Food Lab. Some of this year’s food vendors are Amira Cuisine (Middle Eastern), Eduardo’s Brazilian Grill One, Yardie Ting (Jamaican) and Choma Zone (East African). There will also be live DJ sets by Moody Lords Vinyl and Vintage co-owners Andrew Chang and Nick Robles.

May 15-16. Portland locations, $60-$90 single day, $152-$150 for two-day pass. allroadsmusicfest.com.

The All Roads Music Festival makes its Portland debut in a huge way. Over two days, nine venues including State Theatre, One Longfellow Square and Portland House of Music will be hosting more than 40 performances and events. With a lineup that features local, regional and national acts such as Beaches, Monrovia, Bahamas, Genevieve Stokes, Louisa Stancioff, Touching Ice, Becca Biggs and Myles Bullen, among many others, All Roads will be downright epic. The festival also includes talks, panel discussions, exhibitions and workshops centered on music.

May 23-24. Narrow Gauge Amphitheater, 123 Narrow Gauge Square, Farmington, $40 per day, $70 weekend pass. whistlestopconcertseries.com.

Spend part of Memorial Day weekend with live outdoor music in Farmington. The Sandy River Music Festival features two days of performances, with a total of 11 acts. The lineup includes Rigometrics, Griffin William Sherry, Gina and the Red Eye Flight Crew and The Last Revel. Level up your experience by adding camping to the weekend. There are tent rentals, bring your own tent and bring your own camper options.

June 13. Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds, Dover-Foxcroft, $6, free for 12 and under. mainewhoopiepiefestival.com.

Do whoopie pies taste better in the middle of June? Find out by hitting the annual Whoopie Pie Festival, where you’ll find plenty of Maine’s official state treat. The festival includes a road race/walk, live wrestling, food and crafts, music and whoopie pies as far as the eye can see. You can also make your whoopie pie dreams come true by entering the whoopie pie-eating contest. Stretch pants recommended.

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