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TODAY’S TOP STORIES

This is everything you need to know about today’s election. Mainers will decide on two referendums asking them to pass a voter ID law and a gun control proposal, along with many local issues and races for elected office.

Bangor voters have two local races on the ballot. Three City Council seats and two on the School Committee are up for grabs.

Anxiety is rising at Maine food pantries as SNAP benefits remain in limbo. The stress is compounded by the approaching holiday season and federal delays to home heating assistance.

The Bangor City Council censured Joe Leonard for a third time. The vote indicates that most of Leonard’s colleagues believe his outburst against white supremacists crossed a line.

A legendary Aroostook snowmobile gathering spot is for sale. Dean’s Motor Lodge has been a mainstay in Portage Lake for more than 80 years.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

MAINE IN PICTURES

Maureen Hayden arranges coolers at the HOME, Inc. food pantry she manages in Orland on Monday. The nonprofit’s food programs have seen a slight increase in demand as SNAP funding lapses in November, but effects may become clearer as the month goes on. Credit: Elizabeth Walztoni / BDN

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

LIFE IN MAINE

There’s a reason why your smoke detector might go off when the temperature drops

Maine hunters have less access to private land than they once did, Outdoors contributor V. Paul Reynolds writes.

The Bangor High School and Camden Hills High School of Rockport girls soccer team simply can’t avoid each other in the Class A North playoffs.

For the third consecutive season and seventh in 10 years, the two teams will square off for the Class A North championship and a berth in the state championship game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cameron Stadium in Bangor.

Each team has won three of the regional title matchups so far, with Bangor earning a 3-2 win a year ago and a 2-1 victory two years ago. Bangor went on to win the state championship last fall with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Scarborough.

They also met in the semifinals in 2022 with Camden Hills notching a 3-1 win.

The teams split during the regular season this year with each winning at home. Bangor triumphed 2-1 on Sept. 20 and Camden Hills avenged the loss with a 3-0 victory on Oct. 16.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “It’s going to be a competitive game between two outstanding teams that have quality players who know how to play the game and compete.”

Windjammers coach Meredith Messer shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s going to be a typical Bangor-Camden game,” Messer said. “Both teams are going to have to work hard. It’ll be fairly aggressive and physical.

“My hope is that there will be goals scored. Both of us like to score goals. We’re offensive-minded. It should be fun,” Messer said.

Neither team has been tested so far in the playoffs with the 14-1-1 Rams beating Mt. Blue of Farmington 7-0 and Brunswick 6-0. The 15-1 Camden Hills squad dispatched Messalonskee of Oakland 8-0 and Mt. Ararat of Topsham 6-0.

Camden Hills has scored 93 goals and given up 11 in its 16 games while Bangor has scored 84 and surrendered 8.

Both teams have dynamic, game-changing sophomores who are leading them in goals.

Camden Hills’ Molly Williams has scored 39 goals including eight in the playoffs while Bangor’s Georgie Stephenson has scored 34 goals.

Center midfielder Williams also has 16 assists and striker Stephenson has 10.

Class A North Player of the Year Clara Oldenburg from Bangor has 25 goals and 26 assists from her attacking midfield position. Messer said sophomore Eve Domareki is Camden Hills’ second-leading scorer with over 20 goals and her freshman sister, Liv, is the third-leading scorer.

Kemble said he has received important goals from Gabby Roy and Gabby Gordon in recent games.

Both teams are also solid in the back with Avery Clark, Sophia Chase and Jo Jo Clukey supplying the Rams with a lot of experience while Camden Hills’ back line features Lucy Ward and Maia Andrews.

Junior Emily Caulkins will start in goal for Bangor with freshman Eliza Gallant in goal for Camden Hills.

There is a lot of mutual respect between the two teams and coaches.

“Camden Hills has a centerpiece with Molly Williams. They have other kids in the middle that surround her. Defensively, they’re a lot like us. They play with four backs that rotate. They can get both (wingbacks) up-field and they have center backs who are strong and athletic. We are a lot alike in terms of skillset and style of play. Whoever makes the fewest errors is probably going to win,” said Kemble.

“Bangor is a really smart team and a great passing team,” said Messer. “They hold their space incredibly well and they are strong. When you look at them, they are physically stronger than most of the other teams. That gives them an advantage with speed and with holding the ball.

“And Georgie is a scorer and any time you have a team that has a legitimate scorer, that’s always tougher to stop. Kids who love to score find a way to score,” Messer added.

The Maine Women’s Hockey Team skated to a 1-1 tie with the Providence Friars on Saturday afternoon, November 1st. Providence won the shootout to win the extra point in Hockey East.

After a scoreless tie, Providence scored their goal with :32 seconds gone.

Maine answered 34 seconds later, when Frederikke Foss scored, assisted by Ali Altiman and Danielle Brunette.

Maine was 0-5 on the power play, while Providence was 1-1.

Maine outshot Providence 31-23.

Kiia Lahtinen turned away 22 shots in goal for Maine.

Providence is 3-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Hockey East. Maine is 2-6-1 overall and 0-1-1 in Hockey East.

The Black Bears return to the Alfond this coming weekend, with a series against Boston University. The puck drops on Friday November 7th at 3 p.m. and on Saturday, November 8th at 3:30 p.m.