Nicole joined Sun Journal’s Western Maine Weeklies group in 2019 as a staff writer for the Franklin Journal and Livermore Falls Advertiser. Later she moved over to the Advertiser Democrat where she covers Oxford Hills communities and School Administrative District 17. She seizes every opportunity to research and write about local history and she enjoys writing features that leave readers with a smile. Nicole graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern Maine with a B.A. in history and concentration in creative writing. She held audience development and marketing positions at several Maine-based trade media companies in the Portland area before taking on community news. When not working she is an avid reader and fiber artist and enjoys observing local wildlife, from snakes and blue frogs to large game and carnivores. She and her husband, Greg, share their secluded homestead in Peru with an assortment of cats, dogs, alpacas and chickens.
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PublishedOctober 10, 2019
Treehouse Masters builds Maine couple’s dream lake house
As super fans of the Animal Planet show Treehouse Masters and its host builder Pete Nelson, the Maine couple decided to go big and called on the master himself to make their dream come true.
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PublishedSeptember 25, 2019
Farmington fixture the Calico Patch is closing its doors
The Calico Patch was founded in 1982 as a labor of love between three friends. Owner Emily Hartung has watched the gift shop grow along with Farmington’s downtown area.
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PublishedSeptember 17, 2019
Farmington Fair adjusts to tragedy after explosion
After shutting down operations on Monday in deference to the tragic death of Farmington Fire Captain Michael Bell just one street over from the fairgrounds, the Farmington Fair has re-opened.
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PublishedSeptember 11, 2019
Countdown to the 179th Farmington Fair is on
The Franklin County Agricultural Society is putting the finishing touches on the fairgrounds in preparation for the 179th Farmington Fair, which opens Sunday, Sept. 15, and runs until Saturday, Sept. 21. The work to put the fair on begins each spring and lasts several weeks after the fair closes.
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PublishedAugust 31, 2019
Gov. Janet Mills at UMF Orientation Day: Educators are important
Gov. Janet Mills and Education Commissioner Pender Makin joined University of Maine at Farmington’s new president, Edward Serna, in welcoming freshmen during Orientation Day.
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PublishedAugust 30, 2019
Demolition of Wilton’s Forster Mill complete
Once final sign-off from Maine Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issued, town officials will consider future use of the site.
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PublishedAugust 16, 2019
Wilton approves application for new CMP substation
The station at 1228 Main St. would replace one on Temple Street.
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PublishedAugust 15, 2019
Biomass industry warns of losses from transmission line
Representatives from three Maine biomass plants addressed the impacts to their companies — and Maine’s forestry economy — if Central Maine Power moves forward with its Northeast Clean Energy Connect project.
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PublishedAugust 14, 2019
Wilton calls special town meeting for utility moratorium
Code Enforcement Officer Charlie Lavin countered that he saw the moratorium as a political statement against CMP’s New England Clean Energy Connect that he did not wish to be associated with.
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PublishedAugust 9, 2019
Senator Susan Collins makes a day of it in Franklin County
U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Woodlands Senior Living of Farmington last Friday to tour the location’s communities and meet with residents, staff, and management. The facility provides assisted living and independent living private apartments for seniors as well as Franklin County’s first specialized memory care unit.