Articles by David Fitzpatrick
History of the Bangor Auditorium
In January 2013, The Weekly ran a four-part series on the history of the Bangor Auditorium, starting with its first incarnation in 1897. Here are links to those four parts. Part I: The First Arena In 1897, Bangor needed a venue large enough to bring a music festival to the ...
Maine’s Progressive Business 2013
Each year, the Maine’s Progressive Business supplement celebrates businesses that have been in existence fro at least 50 years through detailed historical retrospectives. This year’s Maine’s Progressive Business features four businesses: Brookings-Smith Funeral Home: 139 years It started with a Camden businessman named Abel Hunt who, after business ventures with ...
72 Years: Modern Screenprint – From photo engraving to screenprinting, this business has changed with the times
This story is part of the Maine’s Progressive Business 2013 series. To read more historical retrospectives, click here. ~~~ It was around 1926 when Jeremiah M. McLeod came to Bangor from New Brunswick, first working as an operator for the Western Union Telegraph Co. on Hammond Street. By 1935, he ...
63 Years: Saliba’s Rug Sales & Service – From humble beginnings grew the iconic Bangor company with its ‘flying carpet’ logo
This story is part of the Maine’s Progressive Business 2013 series. To read more historical retrospectives, click here. ~~~ Saliba’s stands today as a symbol of a business that has endured thanks to the values of its three-generation family ownership. What started as a rug-cleaning company in 1950 has become ...
139 Years: Brookings-Smith Funeral Home – After a Camden entrepreneur relocated to Bangor, a community cornerstone was born
This story is part of the Maine’s Progressive Business 2013 series. To read more historical retrospectives, click here. ~~~ The Beginning: Abel Hunt “Death is something which, in the natural course of events, must come to all sooner or later,” says a write-up in “The Leading Business Men of Bangor” ...
67 Years: Brooks Trap Mill – What began as a sawmill is now a major trap producer for New England and Canada
This story is part of the Maine’s Progressive Business 2013 series. To read more historical retrospectives, click here. ~~~ Michael Ojala, a Finnish immigrant, settled in the Thomaston area before World War II with an eye on becoming a lawyer. Back then, no schooling was required; you only needed to ...
Acoustics reign at Hampden Academy’s new Performing Arts Center
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Weekly Staff Writer on Oct. 31, 2012, at 10:48 a.m.
Recently, legendary R&B band Tower of Power belted out astonishing tunes in the new Hampden Academy Performing Arts Center. But that was after Barbra Streisand shook the place with her trademark soaring voice. Well, they weren’t really there — at least, not yet. But the sound quality was good enough ...
Brewer High School students headed to D.C. for elections
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Weekly Staff Writer on Oct. 31, 2012, at 9:51 a.m.
During election week this year, eight students from Brewer High School will be in Washington, D.C., getting some serious first-hand experience in the American political process. The Close Up Group follows the curriculum of the Close Up Foundation, which “informs, inspires, and empowers young people to exercise the rights and ...
CHEFS pantry provides food for community
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Oct. 18, 2012, at 10:39 a.m.
Fewer people in Clifton, Holden, and Eddington will go hungry now, thanks to a unified community effort to establish a food pantry. On Oct. 11, the group of dedicated volunteers and donors who helped establish the Clifton, Holden, and Eddington Food Support pantry at the Holbrook School gathered for a ...
Eagle Scout’s grand Eddington memorial to be dedicated Saturday
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Sept. 26, 2012, at 10:51 a.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m., a very special event will happen at the Eddington Town Office: The Eddington Veterans Memorial, the culmination of eight months of hard work by an Eagle Scout candidate and incredible community support, will be dedicated. Joshua Baillargeon, 15, who has been in Scouting ...
Modern-day printing company thrives using 19th-century press
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Sept. 19, 2012, at 11:05 a.m.
A printer pulls out metal block letters, spacers, and dies. He arranges the type on a chase, locks it in place, and turns on the motor. The letterpress hums to life. The letterpress opens up like the maw of a beast. The printer pulls out the completed business card and, ...
Diversity is the key on small family farm
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Sept. 19, 2012, at 10:32 a.m.
When Todd Sheerman was passed up for another promotion at his job in Connecticut in 2003, he and his wife, Ann Marie, saw it as a turning point in their lives. Within two months, they had sold their house and moved to Maine. First they settled in Bradford, with two ...
Eddington FD raising $4,000 for CPR/first aid equipment
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Sept. 19, 2012, at 10:12 a.m.
Cutline: Eddington FD – class.tif Photo courtesy of Eddington Fire Department Students in one of Eddington’s free first aid and CPR class practice on infant manikins. The infant manikins here, as well as the adult manikins (in blue) are what the EFD is working to raise money to purchase. The ...
Ninth annual benefit concert for multiple sclerosis set for Sept. 21
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of The Weekly Staff on Sept. 14, 2012, at 8:17 a.m.
When Jill was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago, it was out of the blue. She knew that she had to educate herself, and started with the Multiple Sclerosis Society. “My neurologist suggested that that’s a good place to start… to sort of figure out how to manage and ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
School officials honored at Hampden Academy dedication
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of the Weekly Staff on Sept. 07, 2012, at 9:25 a.m.
Cutlines: HA dedication 01 – bronco.tif Weekly photo by David M. Fitzpatrick The new bronze sculpture of a galloping bronco. Sculptor Forest Hart involved SAD 22 students in the sculpting process and paid for the endeavor with the sale of desktop replicas, making this bronco a true community project. This ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
Brewer voters to decide on $5.4 million of interest-free federal bond
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of the Weekly Staff on Sept. 07, 2012, at 9:16 a.m.
Brewer High School is a 54-year-old stick-built structure badly in need of many things. Since a new school is unlikely to be funded by the state in the foreseeable future, it’s imperative that the existing building undergo renovations. Thanks to zero-percent federal funding in the amount of $5.4 million, major ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
Community walking trail in the works in Dixmont
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Of the Weekly Staff on Aug. 29, 2012, at 2:45 p.m.
Community spirit is alive and well in Dixmont. Thanks to a growing collaboration between many groups and individuals, Dixmont residents will soon enjoy their first public walking trail. Judy Dann, Dixmont’s first selectperson, said the town’s long-term plan is to have one public trail in each of Dixmont’s five villages. ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
Dale Ann Bradley: Bluegrass
By David M. Fitzpatrick, Custom Publications Writer on Aug. 20, 2012, at 2:39 p.m.
You’ve heard the story: A poor Kentucky coal miner’s daughter discovers music, learns the guitar, and becomes a star. Loretta Lynn, right? Yes, but it’s also Dale Ann Bradley, who grew up in a tar-paper shack in southeastern Kentucky, the daughter of an aspiring preacher who came to the area ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
The Way Life Should Be: Maine’s Great Outdoors at the American Folk Festival
By Contributed Article on Aug. 20, 2012, at 2:37 p.m.
This year, the Folk and Traditional Arts Area at the festival focuses on Maine’s outdoor life, especially the traditional crafts and occupations that are reflected in the hunting and fishing traditions that Maine is known for. The University of Maine’s Folklife Center, Hudson Museum, and Page Farm and Home Museum ...
Custom Publication of the Bangor Daily News
Marshall Ford Swing Band: Western Swing
By Contributed Article on Aug. 20, 2012, at 2:35 p.m.
The living room clock of Marshall Ford Swing Band songwriter-guitarist Greg Harkins has the 3 and 9 switched. The clock runs counter-clockwise, but Harkins sees no problem with it. In fact, the clock’s irregularity fits perfectly into the makeup of the Austin swing band’s aesthetic. “We’re heading into the past, ...
Police find body believed to be that of missing Glenburn teen
Items found, authorities pursuing leads in search for Glenburn teen
LePage hopes to eliminate income tax by end of second term
Woman accused of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct outside Bangor nightclub
Ignore LePage politics, get to root of DHHS funding needs
Obama’s boyfriend line
Basketball season never ends for Worcesters of Washburn, a family of 1,000-point scorers
UMaine narrows candidate list, hopes to name men’s hockey coach next week
Eastport teen notches first ‘Bandolero’ racing victory
Not even chemotherapy could quell Maine woman’s longing to be in the kitchen
Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors dies at age 74
Penobscot Theatre Company ends season with whirlwind production of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’
From a mountaintop…of sorts