Daily Fun
09/17/2026 · Aroostook County
The Tiny Pause That Keeps You From Overcommitting
You don’t need a dramatic boundary speech to protect your time. Start with one ordinary sentence that gives you room to make an honest decision instead of handing out automatic yeses.
Emily Dickinson’s Tiny Dash Makes Hope Feel Real
Dickinson’s famous bird of hope does not float serenely above the mess of life. Watch what her dashes do: they make the poem breathe, hesitate, and refuse to tidy up its weather.
09/17/2026
The Future Loses Its First Syllable
Wisława Szymborska found a small trapdoor in the word “future”: the moment we say it, part of it has already become history. Her observation is playful, grammatical, and sneakily useful for anyone waiting for life to begin.
09/17/2026
The Tariff Theater Meets the Grocery Aisle
Washington spent the day selling disruption as strategy, while families and small employers kept score in prices, paychecks, and paperwork. The tariff math matters more than the slogans, and the math points to consumers paying first.
09/17/2026
Stop Calling It “Helping” If You Live There
Three readers ask about the domestic scoreboard, the ex who keeps texting, and the partner who wants credit for basic decency. The uncomfortable answer: love is not a group project where one person gets an A for opening the Google calendar.
09/17/2026
The Bear Needs to Stop Cooking and Go Home
The Bear was once television’s most thrilling kitchen fire. Now it’s standing in the smoke, staring meaningfully at a plate of risotto while everyone insists the flames are character development.
09/17/2026
More Daily Fun
Sponsored
Advertisement
Upcoming Events
View allSEP
19
Maine at Boston College
18:00
SEP
26
Maine at Elon
18:00
OCT
03
Sacred Heart at Maine
19:30
Announcements
View allMaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings 9/10/2026 MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings AUGUSTA – September 10, 2026 — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will host two public engagement opportunities this month as part of the Portland West Study, an initiative focused on addressing longstanding transportation challenges in South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, and Gorham. The study brings together local leaders, stakeholders, community members, and transportation partners to examine congestion, safety, and multimodal transportation needs that have affected the region for decades. Public input will be essential in helping shape the study’s direction and identify potential solutions. Community members are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming meetings to learn more about the study, meet the project team, share feedback, identify concerns and priorities, and help guide future analysis. Drop-in Open House Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM Gorham Municipal Center – Shaw Gym 75 South Street, Gorham, Maine 04038 Virtual Public Meeting Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM The virtual meeting will begin with a short presentation by the project team, including interactive exercises, and a Q&A session. Please pre-register here
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Machias Environmental Impact Statement Process
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Machias Environmental Impact Statement Process MACHIAS – September 22, 2026 — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will host an in-person public hearing this month as part of the Machias Dike Bridge project regarding the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. This will be the first formal public hearing of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the purpose and need for the project, alternatives being considered, potential environmental impacts, and for members of the public to ask questions and provide information that should be considered during the EIS process. In-Person Public Hearing Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6:00pm Machias Memorial High School Gymnasium 1 Bulldog Lane, Machias, ME 04654 Virtual Public Meeting Presentation An on-demand virtual public meeting presentation will also be available at any time beginning September 23 through October 31, 2026, and will allow the public to submit online comments and questions. More information and access to the online virtual public meeting is available at https://mainedot.info/machias-dike
MaineDOT to Begin Demolition of Impacted Llewellyn Estes Bridge Spans
MaineDOT to Begin Demolition of Impacted Llewellyn Estes Bridge Spans OLD TOWN – October 8, 2026 — Starting October 13, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will begin demolition of the impacted spans of the new Llewellyn Estes Bridge over the Stillwater River. To safely complete this work, MaineDOT will periodically close the temporary bridge over the Stillwater River between 9AM and 3PM beginning Tuesday, October 13. These intermittent closures could continue into the week of October 19. Closure timing will depend on demolition operations, construction progress, weather conditions, and other site-specific factors.The work will include crews carefully separating the span from the pier and abutment, reducing it into smaller pieces, and lifting those pieces from the river for processing on land. This work will proceed slowly and carefully to protect workers and the public while minimizing damage to the pier and abutment.Temporary bridge closures are necessary because of the impacted span’s proximity to the temporary bridge and the large equipment needed to remove it. As removal work progresses downstream and farther from the temporary bridge, the need for closures will decrease. MaineDOT will use message boards to provide motorists with advance notice before temporary bridge closures occur.During closures, motorists traveling on Stillwater Avenue should follow the signed detour using Bennoch Road, North Main Street, and College Avenue to return to Stillwater Avenue. Motorists should allow extra travel time, expect delays, and use caution while traveling through the detour area and near the work zone.MaineDOT appreciates the patience and understanding of the traveling public while this work is completed. Project updates, frequently asked questions, the complete memo from the assessment team, and previously released information are available on MaineDOT’s Old Town Stillwater Avenue Bridge Replacement webpage.
Advertisement
Advertisement