WATERVILLE — There wasn’t much, if any, snow on the ground through much of central Maine this weekend. Relatively warm temperatures and slight rain had swept through the area in the week prior.
But at the end of a mile long dirt path tucked beneath Interstate 95, the hills and slopes of the Quarry Road Trails are blanketed with about 2 feet of bright white man-made snow.
Maine has had an unpredictable winter so far. The first snow of the year came unseasonably late in late November, and despite the brief threat of flash flooding and a few inches of snow in December, temperatures around the state have remained relatively high.
“We got a little snow around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then we had our annual rain that washed it all away,” said Jerry Combs, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray.
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Snowfall totals in southern and western Maine are “well below normal” this season, Combs said, and have decreased across the state in recent years. Climate models forecast this winter will likely come with above-average temperatures and more precipitation than normal for most of Maine, but less snowfall overall.
“In recent years, snowfall has been decreasing from November to March, but we also haven’t gotten halfway through the winter yet,” Combs said. “We’ve definitely gone lower on the snow overall for the last several years. It’s just kind of on a downward trend.”
While warming winters are leaving many recreation businesses who rely on cold and snow without a vital lifeline, others are turning to man-made snow: like Quarry Road.
A fan gun snowmaking machine is seen Saturday at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
“We’ve become a mecca of sorts because nowhere else has snow, quite literally,” said Victor Esposito Jr., Quarry Road’s lead ski coach. “People come from all over, 20, 30, 40 miles, because we’re not a two-hour drive like most of the resorts and we don’t charge anywhere near as much: And we actually have snow.”
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Maine’s winters are becoming warmer and less predictable, recent data shows. Climate change is transforming winter into the fastest warming season in the U.S. as Maine and most of New England experiences hotter temperatures both on land and sea.
The rest of the winter is predicted to be warmer than usual, Combs said, though there are equal chances of receiving more or less precipitation than normal. But with higher temperatures statewide, less of that precipitation is expected to be snow.
“There could still be warmer periods and colder periods, but for January, February and March, the outlook is to be above normal,” Combs said.
Esposito, 78, has overseen Quarry Road’s downhill skiing trails since 2020. While smaller slopes and sometimes large resorts increasingly remain without snow during peak ski season, Quarry Road maintains a layer of fresh artificial snow all winter long each year.
Victor Esposito Jr., Quarry Road Trail’s lead ski coach, is seen Saturday at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
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Maine’s winter recreation “destination points” — places across the state with hotels, restaurants, gas stations and natural beauty — can be put out of business by a bad winter, said Mark Latti, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s communications director. It’s something that’s happening with an increasing frequency, he said.
“It happens from Limerick to Madawaska and from Rangeley to Eastport,” Latti said. “This is big money.”
Without consistent snowfall and cold temperatures, trails and ski slopes are hard to maintain, and businesses that depend on winter tourism have struggled to keep up, especially in the last five years.
At the same time, Esposito said Quarry Road has thrived. He began creating artificial snow for the trails in 2020 and offering seasonal passes at discounted rates through partnerships with local businesses — effectively filling an increasing gap in winter recreation fueled by warming weather each year.
More people are buying ski passes at Quarry Road each season, and Esposito said he plans to expand its operations next year to accommodate rising demand.
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“We’re going to bring the downhill slope to the top of this hill, and hopefully build a T-bar (ski lift) in the next few years,” Esposito said. “More people are coming here, we’ve got the room for it.”
About a dozen skiers were gliding through Quarry Road’s cross country trails by noontime Saturday while dozens of cross country skiers from across the state competed in a competition on the nearby Nordic skiing trails. The Bethel Relays were moved to Quarry Road due to a lack of snow in southern and western Maine.
Kolby Lajoie, 10, of Belgrade makes a run down the Alpine ski hill Saturday at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Heather Lajoie and her son Kolby, a 10-year-old student at Belgrade Central School, bought passes for Quarry Road’s downhill slope. Kolby was just finishing his skiing lesson that day, and Heather said she planned to sign up for lessons of her own.
Neither would have had the opportunity to try skiing if not for Quarry Road, Heather Lajoie said, in large part due to the increasing lack of snow through each subsequent winter.
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“I mean, it just doesn’t snow like it used to,” she said. “It’s really nice having this here because otherwise we’d have literally nowhere nearby to ski.”
PORTLAND (WGME) — The Maine Jewish community says the attack in Australia has left them mourning and on edge.
It comes amid an increase in antisemitic rhetoric, online and in our communities.
Members of Maine’s Jewish community say they have no choice but to take these increased threats seriously, especially in wake of the tragedy in Australia.
They are now increasing security, like during the menorah lighting for the first night of Hanukkah outside Portland City Hall Sunday.
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The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine says they’ve been coordinating with local law enforcement across the state since Sunday about heightened threat levels.
They say the attack in Australia is just the culmination of an increase in antisemitic actions that have been seen across the world in recent years, which Maine has not been isolated from.
“There were about, almost 16 antisemitic incidents, documented antisemitic incidents in 2024,” Jewish Community Relations Council Director Zach Schwartz said. “That represents the same increase that Sydney saw, which is a three-fold increase, so yeah, we could say by the numbers, that there is multiple orders of increased antisemitism in the state.”
The alliance says the story of Hanukkah is also more relevant than ever amid these attacks.
They say amid dark days, the Jewish community still finds ways to come together in hopes of lighting the way for a brighter future.
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Governor Janet Mills issued a statement on both the shooting in Australia and at Brown University.
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“My prayers are with the victims of the tragedies in Providence and Australia, and I hope for the full recovery of all those injured. Innocent people, like those gathering for school or to celebrate their faith, should be free from fear of hateful acts such as these.”
An image from Michael T. Fay’s Facebook page shows him in front of the location on Allen Avenue in Portland, one of the franchises ordered closed. (Facebook screenshot)
Eight Subway locations closed last week by state regulators have reopened.
MTF Subway franchise owner Michael T. Fay has confirmed that all of his franchise locations in Maine are open for business, following the closure of eight of them last Wednesday.
Maine Revenue Services ordered what it characterized as “several” Subway locations closed for “for noncompliance with Part 3, 36 M.R.S.A.,” which primarily governs Maine’s sales and use tax.
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The agency did not elaborate and would only reiterate Monday that, “Due to confidentiality requirements, MRS cannot comment on individual tax situations.”
In an email to the Sun Journal on Monday, Fay confirmed that eight of his locations were affected by the ordered closures, after the state revoked the registration certificates for each location.
Fay stated that none of his employees were laid off by the company.
MTF Subway locations affected:
Blue Hill
Brunswick
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Hampden
Lisbon Falls
Portland
Topsham
Westbrook
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Wiscasset
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A long-time journalist, Christopher got his start with Armed Forces Radio & Television after college. Seventeen years at CNN International brought exposure to major national and international stories…
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As members of the Portland Maine Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered for a stake Christmas fireside Sunday evening, Dec. 14, they received an unexpected and joyful announcement from the First Presidency.
A house of the Lord will be constructed in Portland, Maine — the state’s first temple.
“We’re pleased to announce the construction of a temple in Portland, Maine. The specific location and timing of the construction will be announced later,” said the First Presidency statement read by Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area.
“This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and thank God for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent access to the ordinances, covenants and power that can only be found in the house of the Lord,” the statement concluded.
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Speaking to attendees in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Elder Haynie said: “In a recent meeting of the First Presidency of the Church, a decision was made that, when directed by the First Presidency, the announcement of the construction of a new temple should be made on location by a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or a member of an area presidency.
“Such an announcement by a member of the area presidency has never occurred before,” Elder Haynie said. “Tonight will be the first time.”
On behalf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area, announces a new temple will be built in Portland, Maine, during a stake Christmas fireside in the Portland stake center in North Yarmouth, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. | Screenshot
The Portland Maine Temple is the first house of the Lord announced by the First Presidency since President Dallin H. Oaks was set apart as the 18th President of the Church on Oct. 14, following the death of President Russell M. Nelson. No temples were announced during October 2025 general conference.
Maine is home to more than 11,000 Latter-day Saints who comprise 27 congregations. The Portland Maine Stake was created earlier this year and is one of three stakes in the state, along with the Augusta and Bangor stakes. Church members in these stakes are currently part of the Boston Massachusetts Temple district.
The stake fireside, titled “Come Let Us Adore Him,” featured a variety of musical selections and messages about the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Individuals and families of all ages attended the event. Elder Haynie was accompanied by his wife, Sister Deborah Haynie.
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A choir performs during the Portland Maine Stake Christmas fireside on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in North Yarmouth, Maine. | Screenshot
Temple announcement
A new temple in Maine brings the total number of the Church’s temples — operating, under construction, or announced worldwide — to 383.
This temple announcement is a deviation from a pattern established in recent years in which leaders announce temples mostly during the Church’s semiannual general conferences.
Of the 200 temples President Nelson announced during his seven years as President of the Church, only one was announced outside of a general conference session — the Ephraim Utah Temple. President Nelson announced the Ephraim temple on May 1, 2021, in a prerecorded video shown at a press conference inside the Manti Tabernacle. In this message, President Nelson also explained modified plans for the Manti Utah Temple’s renovation.
President Thomas S. Monson, who served as the 16th President of the Church from February 2008 to January 2018, announced 45 temples during his administration — 40 of which were done in a general conference session. Prior to President Monson’s tenure, however, a majority of temples were announced outside of general conference.
More about the Church in Maine
Latter-day Saint missionaries first arrived in Maine in 1832 by canoe, crossing the Piscataqua River which forms the boundary of Maine and New Hampshire. A branch was established in Saco later that year.
In August 1837, missionaries Wilford Woodruff and Jonathan Hale arrived in the Fox Islands, today known as Vinalhaven and North Haven. By that winter, the Church established branches on both islands, with about 100 members total. Church activity slowed in Maine after 1844, when most Church members moved west to escape persecution.
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Missionary efforts and Church activities resumed in 1904, and local members hosted worship services and activities in their homes. In 1957, meetinghouses were dedicated in Portland and Bangor. The state’s first stake, the Maine Stake, was organized on June 23, 1968.
The Portland Maine Stake center in North Yarmouth, Maine, is pictured on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
