Luffas make bathtime a little more fun. The fibrous natural sponges -- not to be confused with the plastic puffs of the same name -- gently exfoliate the skin and give your whole body a deep, sudsy clean. Contrary to popular perception, though, luffas are not sea sponges. They come from gourds that you can grow in your own home garden. Brooke Isham, co-owner of lomah farmstead in Sangerville, started growing luffas two years ago to sell alongside her homemade soaps. 

New England Fights has re-scheduled its scheduled April 18 mixed martial arts show at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono for Saturday, June 13, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Puritan Medical Products Co., which is a part of a Guilford manufacturing business with about 550 employees, is one of the top two makers of the specialized testing swabs that are desperately needed in areas hit by the virus, according to Kaiser Health News. 

What a difference a day makes? Look what has happened in a week. Last week I wrote of the airlines, my bank, and the nearby farm store, doubling down on cleanliness as a precaution against coronavirus. I wrote also of local grocery shoppers hoarding toilet paper and soap.

Gov. Janet Mills directed Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso to open all inland waters for fishing and to waive the requirement that anglers need a recreational fishing license to fish the inland waters of Maine. The order, which is effective immediately, will run through April 30 and is intended to encourage Maine people to enjoy the outdoors as we confront the challenges associated with COVID-19.

Fr. Aaron Damboise will offer the sacrament of reconciliation outside of Holy Family Church, located on 145 Pritham Avenue in Greenville, on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and outside of St. Anthony of Padua Church, located on 370 Main Street in Jackman, on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Maine is home to some truly challenging hiking trails. Mud, steep slopes, slippery stream crossings, exposed tree roots, ridiculously rocky terrain. Maine has it all, and often hikers must contend with all these things at once. But here’s the thing: It’s worth it.

So where are all the small government, deregulate and keep the state out of their life proponents now?

Schools in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties will remain closed for at least another month, through the normally scheduled week of April vacation.

News that this year's Kenduskeag Stream Canoe race won't be staged came as no surprise, and in fact, most of the races scheduled for the next six weeks have also been scrapped as efforts to enforce social distancing to slow the spread of the COVID-19 ramp up.