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Jessica Lowell covers business and economic development and general news in the Gardiner area. After short but intense aspirations to be an opera singer (age 4) and a deep-sea diver (age 6) her most enduring passion has been telling stories. A University of Maine graduate, she worked for newspapers in New Hampshire, upstate New York and Wyoming, where she has won awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She’s a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. After several years out of journalism, she returned to Maine and to writing, where she spends her free time enjoying both trees and the ocean, two commodities that Wyoming lacks.

Latest
  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Gardiner mulls limits on pot businesses

    With several pot-related businesses in the pipeline in Gardiner and the approval of a business license on Wednesday’s agenda, city officials are expected to consider imposing a limit on how many marijuana businesses it will allow.

  • Published
    August 3, 2020

    Portland man injured in Chelsea crash

    Police say Mark Anderson was injured Friday when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by Dalton Pushard on State Route 9 in Chelsea.

  • Published
    August 2, 2020

    Randolph officials plan for new fire station

    Randolph residents voted last week to authorize town officials to borrow up to $1.2 million for a new fire station that has been in the works for at least eight years.

  • Published
    August 2, 2020

    Hot, dry conditions persist across Maine as summer reaches midway point

    While the remnants of Tropical Storm Isaias are expected to begin sweeping through New England on Tuesday night, the forecast for August continues to suggest conditions that are both hotter and drier than average.

  • Published
    July 31, 2020

    Randolph voters endorse flat spending plan

    Thirty residents showed up to vote on town spending for the next year, as well as a request for authorization to borrow up to $1.2 million for a new fire station.

  • Published
    July 30, 2020

    Augusta’s downtown dining gets a lift

    To provide outdoor seating for two downtown restaurants, Augusta city officials secured aluminum docking to build parklets that were installed Saturday in front of the Oak Table and the Raging Bull Saloon.

  • Published
    July 26, 2020

    Randolph voters to consider flat spending plan

    Residents at Thursday’s Town Meeting will also be asked if they want to borrow about $1.2 million to build a new fire station on Kinderhook Street.

  • Published
    July 24, 2020

    Gardiner housing proposal faces neighbors’ ire, questions

    Developer Paul Boghossian gave a presentation on his proposed a multi-residence pocket neighborhood for the Dresden Avenue property where the former MaineGeneral facility sits at a Gardiner Planning Board workshop Thursday.

  • Published
    July 21, 2020

    Gardiner officials endorse public works appointment

    Jerry Douglass has been named public works director for the city of Gardiner; he’s expected to start no later than Aug. 31.

  • Published
    July 21, 2020

    Gardiner Green developer to present project overview Thursday

    The developer planning to redevelop the former MaineGeneral property on Dresden Avenue in Gardiner will present his ideas Thursday during a workshop at the Gardiner Fire Station.