ELLSWORTH & PORTLAND – The Belvedere Traditional Handcrafts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded $107,901 to 12 organizations across Maine that promote traditional handcrafts.

By Alexander MacDougall, Houlton Pioneer Times Staff HOULTON — Some of Maine’s rivers have the lowest water levels they’ve seen in decades, and it would take more than a foot of rain to pull Maine out of the drought it has been in for the second straight summer.

By David Marino Jr.

By Lia Russell Piscataquis, Penobscot and Waldo counties have had the highest rates of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks as the highly contagious delta variant has taken hold and the counties’ lower-than-average vaccination rates have persisted.

By Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News Staff Existing home sales in Maine showed signs of cooling in July, even though sales outpaced pre-pandemic numbers, according to data from state and national real estate groups.

Observer photo/Stuart HedstromTRAINING SESSION — Approximately 20 firefighting trainees from more than a half dozen departments across the region took part in a live burn session on the morning of Sunday, Aug.

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff Once upon a time, in a land not very far away, there was a man who lived near an enchanted forest.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Among the many efforts of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council to improve the region are the development of an economic development strategy and a broadband planning grant project.

Through a community effort, the Piscataquis County Democrats donated backpacks and school supplies plus checks totaling $1,000 to Penquis for the “We’ve Got Your Back” program.

BANGOR — Further investing in the growth and success of communities across Maine and New Hampshire, the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation has awarded $73,060 to 16 nonprofits dedicated to enriching the region’s quality of life.

The Maine Highlands region is a great place to live in many ways – fresh air, clean water, green spaces and friendly, small towns.

YARMOUTH — Maine Preservation is excited to announce the launch of Drive ME Historic Tours in commemoration of Maine’s bicentennial.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine will need to move roughly 23,000 people into the swing 2nd Congressional District from the reliably liberal 1st District after much of northern and western Maine lost population over the past decade.

HAMPDEN – Business Lending Solutions, LLC, announces the addition of another new credit union partner, bringing the company’s total number of partners to 15 credit unions across the state.

By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff Maine’s meager population growth over the past decade was almost entirely driven by the southern part of the state, while much of northern and western Maine lost population, new data from the U.

GUILFORD — A “Safe Return to School Plan” is now in place for when classes resume at the two SAD 4 institutions on Wednesday, Sept.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff An assistant U.

By Christopher Burns, Bangor Daily News Staff Mainers should now wear masks in all but three counties regardless of their vaccination status amid the rising summer surge in COVID-19 cases.