Sharp learning curve for meat cutter

Maine at Work: Reporter Ray Routhier tries to warm up to a job that requires skill with long knives and cold pork.

Music and Nightlife: The Ladies who launch

The Barenaked Ladies embark on their latest tour with a different lineup and a new album. They play in Portland on Tuesday.

Former soldier has a new role

An Iraq war veteran from Scarborough finds himself in the middle of the action again, this time in Denzel Washington’s latest movie

Time to get a handle on leaf removal

The leaves are falling, so it’s just about time to choose your weapon. In the constant battle to capture and dispose of the leaves that blanket your lawn this time of year, there are many weapons at your disposal. If you haven’t been to the hardware store for leaf-gathering tools in a few years, you’ll […]

Author Q&A: A winning proposition

In his new book, Bates professor Francesco Duina posits that the concept of winning reaches into every corner of American society — and considers what that says about us.

Music and Nightlife: Great DANE

As a comedian, Dane Cook has built his reputation on sharp observations and quick retorts about virtually anything.

That may be the kind of thing a person is born with, but still, it’s not surprising to find out that Cook is a diehard Red Sox fan.

No wonder he can find humor in anything.

Despite loss, Shawn Moody sees his run as a winning experience

Newcomer Shawn Moody won a lot of admirers for his upbeat attitude and practical ideas.

Moody Campaign Diary: Independent makes day of stops at hangouts around his hometown

After stumping across the state, Shawn Moody, a long-shot candidate, touches base in Gorham.

Maine at Work: Fun part of thrift store job is discovering treasures amid teacups

It was a chilly October morning as I knelt on the loading dock behind the Community Center Thrift Shop and started sifting through the dozens of bags and boxes that had been left there overnight.

In the first few minutes, I took out a couple of stacks of little plastic bowls, some long white curtains made of heavy cotton, a blue porcelain colander, some pretty worked over kids’ coloring books and a whole series of books written in Polish.

Lynn Hannings, who manages the thrift shop for Freeport Community Services, told me the goal was to go through the piles of donations and decide what to do with it all.

It’s so BOO!

With a little creative thinking, you can come up with quirky last-minute ‘haunt couture’ that’s all your own this Halloween.