John Bellino, who started as Clinton's town manager in September, has settled in to the new role and hopes to address several challenges in the coming year, including repairs to roads in town and efforts to build a new fire station.

One of the event's organizers, Mike Perkins, said in its 33rd year, the dinner operates like a "well-oiled machine," serving eat-in and to-go meals to more than 1,000 community members.

Dozens of people stopped by for the Thanksgiving dinner put on by the Scottish Rite Masons of Augusta Valley at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley on Thursday, and nearly 70 meals were delivered as the holiday tradition returns after a two-year hiatus.

Starting Friday, central Maine's winter holiday season gets underway, bringing lights, parades, gingerbread and Santa.

The drop comes as hospitals are packed with RSV patients and facing a difficult influenza season.

Greaney’s Turkey Farm in Mercer has been busy this Thanksgiving week for its annual slaughter of some 2,000 turkeys raised plus another 1,000 birds slaughtered for backyard farmers this season. Cultures have come together for the annual preparations, as members of the local Amish community have become a steady and reliable work force in the agriculture market there. All photos by Morning Sentinel staff photographer Michael G. Seamans.

Researchers found the tool's accuracy in identifying the marine mammals is close to 100%, which is no small accomplishment in an ecosystem that is home to thousands of seals.

Winthrop Middle School received the $1,000 prize for coming in the top three across the state in the Teens to Trails Life Happens Outside Challenge.

Every year, we ask you to tell us about people in your community who go out of their way to give of themselves for the benefit of others. This year's 10 Mainers To Be Thankful For includes a volunteer from Augusta and an artist who creates public art from Solon. Here are their stories.

An increase in the need for food assistance is being seen by most area food pantries.

The Thanksgiving meal was hosted by the Augusta Adult and Community Education for students enrolled in the English Language Learner program.

Recounts were requested in one Senate and two House races.

A battery charger on a forklift is believed to be the cause.

The development of the plan began in 2020, months after Weyerhaeuser pulled the plug on the former plan to build home lots and resorts.

Nicholas M.A. Walker, 27, is accused of driving drunk and endangering a child in March.

The company told the National Labor Relations Board it closed the Augusta restaurant because it was failing, not to prevent a union from forming.

The daughter of a 23-year veteran has been denied coverage for medically necessary surgeries to address gender dysphoria, the lawsuit says.

The 600-square-foot house, named BioHome3D, is seen as an environmentally friendly solution to the affordable housing crisis.

A labor department official says the figures speak to a tight labor market in which employers are trying to increase their staffing levels.

The upscale supermarket chain says that it won't offer Gulf of Maine lobster until it again has an eco-friendly certification or is removed from the Seafood Watch 'red list.'

The new plant and rail improvements could allow Maine to produce and ship industrial-grade wood pellets to Europe, where they are a critical energy source.

Lawrence MacDonald was a candidate earlier this month for one of two seats on the council and did not win, but councilors said last week they appreciated his investment in the race and thought he would bring a fresh perspective to the group.

The 2 women filed a civil lawsuit against Judge Charles Budd saying he made repeated, unwanted sexual advances toward them.

Fire and rescue crews from six communities responded to 15 Lindsey Lane at about 6:45 p.m. Sunday.

Events are scheduled this week across Kennebec and Somerset counties.

State police were searching a home in Addison connected to a homicide investigation when they found 'several destructive devices.'

Gathered for Christmas, three brothers and their dad debate social and personal issues in the Mad Horse production.

A proposal includes $5 million for the city's housing trust fund as well as other allocations for employee retention bonuses, mental health and homeless services.

BioHome3D is being pitched as a potential solution to the housing crisis that could someday be used to build apartment complexes.

The Maine Health Access Foundation was the only Maine recipient in the latest round of gifts from the philanthropist, who is giving away much of her fortune.

Shawn Jiminez, a senior, organized a peaceful protest against gun violence in response to what he says is a lack of urgency and education surrounding gun violence and safety in public schools.

The boy, who was not wearing a helmet, failed to negotiate a turn from Manchester Road onto Wings Mills Road, according to the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office.

But the lawmakers say the ruling fails to address regulations that threaten the industry without meaningfully protecting whales.

Residents earlier this month voted in nonbinding referendums to give broad support to renovating the former fire station and buy land on which a new facility would be built for the Public Works Department.

Democrats are pushing for legislation, but a proposal also could go to the statewide ballot next year if progressive advocates gather enough signatures.

Both Senate leader Harold 'Trey' Stewart III and House leader William 'Billy Bob' Faulkingham said the party needs to make inroads with parents and blue-collar workers.

Amid the pandemic, the past two holiday gift-buying sprees have been boon times for retailers. This year, perhaps not so much.

For the first time, the snowmaking machines 'making winter possible' at the Quarry Road trails in Waterville will be all electric.

Saturday's Turkey Trot, hosted by the Gardiner Rotary Club, drew runners, walkers, turkeys and Katie Schide, who returned to her home town this week after winning the grueling Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc trail race in the Alps earlier this year.

A 43 foot tree, donated by a city resident, was delivered and set up Augusta's Market Square on Saturday morning. Photos and video by staff photographer Joe Phelan. Though Thanksgiving is still a few days away, organizers are looking ahead to the Christmas season and planning a number of activities that will kick off Saturday around the city and along Water Street. Among the activities planned for Saturday are: Santa's Stroll through Augusta, from noon-2:30 p.m. in Augusta neighborhoods; paper snowflake craft, from noon-3 p.m. at Lithgow Public Library; Christmas at the Fort, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Old Fort Western with Father Christmas, miniature ponies and homemade gingerbread; a gingerbread-themed village contest, scavenger hunt and story walk, all day on Water Street; horse-drawn wagon rides from 2-4 p.m. on Water Street; and a North Pole Gingerbread Village from 2:30-5 p.m. at Market Square. Festivities culminate with a holiday tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. at Market Square, followed by fireworks at 5:30 p.m.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Prosecutors say Joshua Savage, 33, was under the influence of drugs when his vehicle cross the center line in 2020 and struck another car carrying Sally McKinley and her son.

Sales volume was down, while prices were up. But for the second month in a row, the median sales price increase was in the single digits.

One of four finalists will be selected by the end of the year, but the $100 million project is not likely to be completed until 2026.

Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for Nov. 11-18, 2022.

Lobstermen are relieved that new, stricter rules to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales will be delayed until 2024, giving regulators more time to address the concerns of fishermen and environmentalists.

The newest departures mean the platform is losing workers just at it is gears up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which opens Sunday. It's one of Twitter's busiest events, when tweet surges heavily stress its systems.

Every Maine household is eligible to receive a free, at-home COVID-19 test kit every month. Each kit contains five rapid tests.

Though most of the budget operations were building-based, there are still some issues to sort out before finalizing the budget in the spring. At the same time, the district is moving forward with the process of hiring a superintendent.

The project organized by the Rotary Club of the Winthrop Area includes Winthrop Middle School students who are helping construct the inserts that benefit people seeking a more energy-efficient home.