Beth LaBossiere leads the team responsible for the Northern Lights holiday installation on the retailer’s Freeport campus, which includes 400 trees and 300,000 lights.
Ray Routhier
Staff Writer
Ray Routhier has written about pop culture, movies, TV, music and lifestyle trends for the Portland Press Herald since 1993. He is continually fascinated with stories that show the unique character of Maine’s people and places. He’s written about why so many businesses use the made-up word “Mainely” in their names, how you can trace Portland’s history through its various smells and why Mainers lament the loss of Portland-made B&M baked beans. He’s interviewed a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, musicians and authors, including Patrick Dempsey, Tony Shalhoub, Richard Russo, Tess Gerritsen, Tony Bennett, Anna Kendrick, and Stephen King. His passions, besides writing, include baseball history, old movies and “Jeopardy!” A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in South Portland with his wife and two children.
Posted inLocal & State
Fans and friends remember ‘The humble Farmer’ as the real Maine deal
Humorist Robert Skoglund of St. George died Saturday at the age of 88, after nearly 50 years of entertaining and impressing folks with his dry Maine musings.
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Posted inThings to Do
My Perfect Day: ‘Maine Christmas Song’ writer would visit Mount Katahdin and eat an Amato’s Italian
Con Fullam of Windham would also go to Reid State Park and the Portland Museum of Art.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Books
A Bowdoin professor collects his thoughts on the Black American experience
Anthony Walton’s ‘The End of Respectability’ features a dozen essays, written over time, with his observations on race in this country.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Music, Things to Do
Don Campbell’s favorite things about Christmas and its music
The Maine singer-songwriter answered questions about his love of both listening to and singing holiday music.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
From burlesque to ballet, Maine has established many of its own holiday arts traditions
Several of Maine’s unique annual holiday shows, like ‘Magic of Christmas’ and ‘Victorian Nutcracker,’ have lasted 20 years or more.
Posted inThings to Do
From a Dexter music class to the Dave Matthews Band – and now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Saxophonist Jeff Coffin was inducted this fall as part of the Dave Matthews Band. He spent some of his youth in Dexter and credits a music teacher there with nurturing his talent.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Business, Things to Do
A guide to Maine’s movie theaters: What to expect at each one
Whether it’s the big screen, the surround sound or the comfy chairs, these theaters offer all those and more.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Local & State
Maine native Amy Allen up for 4 Grammy awards
Allen, who grew up in Windham and South Portland, was nominated for songwriter of the year, as well as in the song, album and song for visual media categories.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Meet the Mainer who helps capture the sounds of ‘Survivor’
James Demer of Falmouth has traveled around the world as a location audio mixer for reality TV shows, including the current season of ‘Survivor’ on CBS.