Good morning. Temperatures will be in the mid-20s, with mostly cloudy skies throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
After living in a car for 6 months, he worried his kids would think ill of the world
–Lawrence Bergeron is grateful that he and his four grandchildren found a home by the time the weather turned cold.
It surprised Bergeron, though, to learn how many people cared about his family when they found out what they’d been through. In the days after the BDN published an account of his story, dozens of residents in Bangor’s Fairmount neighborhood contributed to the delivery of four carloads of donated clothes, household items and holiday decorations to outfit Bergeron’s new home.
This Bangor Man decks out his house with seven trees and thousands of glass ornaments
–Ninety-year-old Ken Liberty has collected nearly 3,500 hand-painted blown glass Christmas ornaments over the course of 50 years, and they’re displayed on seven trees spread throughout his house. Every wall, mantlepiece and side table is decked out in festive baubles.
Unconventional developer has big plans to expand Belfast waterfront
–Paul Naron, 69, a businessman who moved to Belfast from Florida about 10 years ago, is not a typical retiree. He’s not even a typical developer. Naron, who is best known for opening the United Farmers Market of Maine in a former window manufacturing showroom on Spring Street, is onto something new. His latest project is renovating the former French & Webb boatbuilder’s workshop and a 1-acre lot, which he purchased in June, and the more ramshackle former Consumer’s Fuel garage next door, which he bought in 2017.
Take a video tour of Portland’s elaborate Victoria Mansion, decorated for Christmas
–The 19th century Victoria Mansion in Portland is decorated from top to bottom for the holidays. You can take a video tour of the elaborate spaces.
Outdoors insiders support Camuso nomination to head DIF&W
–Those who have experience dealing with the director of the department’s wildlife division say she will be tough, but fair in her new position. The Legislature is expected to vote on Gov.-elect Janet Mills’ nomination of Judy Camuso sometime in January.
How to keep rodents from trashing your vehicle
–For a lot of rural dwellers having seasonal vehicles — cars for summer roads and older, sturdier 4-wheel-drives for the winter months — is not uncommon. It’s also not uncommon for mice and other rodents to take up residence in vehicles during the off season. Particularly in winter when they need someplace to hunker down.
Unfortunately, these tiny, furry critters are capable of wreaking havoc on mechanical components and interior upholstery.
Do this: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services across Maine
–If you’re looking to fill your stomach and your soul this Christmas, here’s a list of meals and services being held Monday and Tuesday all across the state.
In other news …
Maine
Mainers get unseasonably warm weather for winter ocean plunge
Residents, colleagues say superintendent forced high school principal to resign
Woman dies after colliding with UPS truck in Richmond
Bangor
Former homeless man tells how ‘little by slow’ he got better at Bangor vigil
Bangor Mall renews another major tenant lease
Man allegedly gets away with undisclosed sum of cash from Bangor bank
Business
Animal health firm to become one of Maine’s largest public companies
BIW gets $911M contract to build another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Mills nominates Baldacci-era Department of Labor commissioner
Politics
1st Circuit ends Poliquin’s efforts to keep House seat
Feds approve LePage’s push for stricter Medicaid rules, but Mills could end it
‘Very possible’ shutdown could last into new year, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney says
Opinion
Peace, good will and Christmas blessings
Give the white, blue and red for Christmas
Elections do have consequences. We are about to find out the many ways that works.
Sports
Maine’s most inspiring sports stories of 2018
Northeastern beats UMaine women’s basketball team for 10th victory
Central Connecticut uses free throws to outlast UMaine men, despite El Darwich heroics
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