Husson University Names Interim Athletic Director

Husson University Vice President of Student Experience Chris Grotton has been named interim athletic director, effective immediately.

Grotton, who has

King, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Strengthen Maine’s Coastal Workforce, Fisheries and Infrastructure

Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Collins would expand financial assistance to fishing operations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation that would lay the groundwork to boost the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of

Synergy CHC (NASDAQ: SNYR) Taps Former Coca-Cola Executive to Help Drive FOCUSfactor Energy Drink Global Expansion

 WESTBROOK, Maine, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), a fast-growing consumer health and wellness company, announced today that Damian Marano has been named Vice President of Beverage, effective immediately. This appointment marks a major milestone in the Company’s aggressive push into the booming functional beverage market.

“We’re excited to welcome Damian to Synergy’s executive

Governor Mills Kicks off Maine Dairy Month at University of Maine's Witter Farm

Old Town, MAINE-- Governor Janet Mills today kicked off Dairy Month in Maine with a celebratory toast -- of Maine milk -- in honor of the dairy farmers, students, researchers, and Maine people behind a cornerstone of Maine's agricultural economy and rural communities.

The Governor urged Maine people to show their support for

Bowdoinham Community School Founds Its First ‘Play Club’

Second graders at Bowdoinham Community School experiment with old truck tires during Play Club earlier this spring. Kids find creative ways to play with standard, natural, and unusual playground items during this unstructured time.

Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” planted a seed that took hold with

Second Annual ‘I Belong’ Youth Summit Empowers Maine Students with Disabilities to Dream Big

(Students from the Deering High School Unified Cheerleading Team pose with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.)

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Services and Inclusive

Empowering Students: Workforce Development and the Dignity of Risk

Pictured (left to right): John Post, Kameron King, Danica Wooster, Kay Fearon, and Arnold Bulley. 

At the core of teaching is a central question: How can we ensure that every student gets the best education possible? This was the theme of the Maine Department of Education’s Inclusive Education Conference, focused on supporting students with disabilities throughout their pre-K-12 schooling and into meaningful adult lives. 

Held at the Augusta Civic Center, the conference provided an opportunity for attendees to sit in on a variety of panels and workshops, centered around some key questions: How can we rethink classroom spaces to make them more accessible to students who are receiving special education services? How can we rework individualized education plans (IEPs) to ensure inclusion across all settings? How can we ensure that students with disabilities have the same opportunities in school as other students?  

One such panel was on the topic of “Dignity of Risk for Students with Disabilities.” The panelists included a variety of people from different backgrounds, including educators, employers, employment specialists, and a young employee with lived experience, each offering valuable perspectives on how risk impacts the development and success of students with disabilities.

Liam Danaher, ELO Coordinator at Noble High School, discusses the dignity of risk and supporting students in their journey with career exploration.

Janet May, Coordinator of Transition and Adults at the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, opened the discussion asking panelists, “What is dignity of risk?” Each panelist responded with varying perspectives on the discussion; however, a common thread emerged: Students should be allowed to take risks, make mistakes, and fail, because it is often in that moment of failure that people truly grow. Panelist John Post, a vocational rehabilitation counselor said, “It is okay to have a negative impact from a risk. What’s important is to learn how to come back from it.”

Each panelist shared their own experiences, encouraging students to embrace manageable risks. Kamron King, who works in an apprenticeship program for high-skilled labor jobs, shared that starting out in the program was tough, but being allowed to fail helped him to grow. Danica Wooster, a Student Support Specialist at the Mid-Coast School of Technology, is a woman working in a male-dominated field. She emphasized the importance of pushing yourself and learning from personal challenges; Arnold Bulley, a Human Resources and Safety Manager at Shiretown Solutions in Houlton, noted that he always sets goals for students to help them grow, letting them take risks. Liam Danaher, Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator at Noble High School, recalled his six-year-old son learning how to mountain bike with the mantra, “No risk, no reward.”

The panel went on to address many other questions about the balance between growth and support. In the end, it was a productive conversation about how to tackle these delicate and necessary challenges. 

Another panel question involved striking the right balance between providing necessary support, while still allowing for the dignity of risk and personal growth. As discussed by Wooster and Danaher, this balance is rooted in the belief that meaningful learning and growth happen through experience, especially through mistakes. The support should be individualized and dynamic, adapting to each student’s needs. King’s experience further emphasized this. He talked about how his vocational rehabilitation counselor supported him in his journey to becoming a welder at a shipyard, which, with many ups and downs, demonstrates how support helps individuals to flourish. 

Bulley added, “To me, a balanced support means pulling back on those parents and job coaches and employment specialists in order to let a person learn and grow.”

Ultimately, balancing support with risk is about building a toolkit that, as Kay Fearon, Diversified Occupations Instructor at Portland Arts and Technology High School described, helps students to adapt and find their own ways of achieving success, even in the face of limitations and challenges. 

Conference panelists emphasized that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s about guiding students to recognize their strengths, confront their fears, and know that setbacks are part of the path to confidence, independence, and personal fulfillment.

For both employers and individuals alike, inclusive workplaces are essential. When people with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds are fully included, organizations across industries unlock greater potential—for their teams, individual employees, and the broader workforce.

This article was written by Vagni Das, a rising senior at Yarmouth High School. As part of her extended learning experience, she is working as an intern at the Maine DOE.

Synergy CHC Announces New $20 Million Long-Term Credit Facility

WESTBROOK, Maine, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), a provider of

Figure Skater’s Legacy Becomes Maine Haven: Tessa’s House Opens 16 Beds for Women in Recovery

Tessa Lee McCue, a talented Hampden figure skater whose life was claimed by addiction in 2022, pictured here during a competition that inspired her family’s creation of Tessa’s House.

Trauma-informed, women-only facility honoring Tessa Lee McCue’s legacy and funded by a $1.1 million Maine Recovery Council grant.

WASHINGTON, ME, UNITED STATES, June 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Addiction remains one of the most urgent women's health crises in Maine and across the country. Women are dying not only from overdoses but

THE LAST WHALER Wins 2025 IndieReader Discovery Award For Fiction

The Last Whaler

IRDA Award

Cynthia Reeves

CAMDEN, ME, UNITED STATES, June 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On Thursday, May 29th, IndieReader, one of the original review services for self, hybrid, and independently published authors, announced the winners of the fourteenth annual IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDAs) for 2025. THE LAST WHALER by Cynthia Reeves won the top prize for fiction.

THE LAST WHALER received the

World’s largest statue of Muhammad Ali unveiled in Lewiston, Maine

(L-R) Architect Tom Platz; President of Bates College Garry Jenkins; Golden Gloves champion Ilyas Bashir; Governor Janet Mills; Mayor Carl Sheline; City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath; artist Charlie Hewitt; and sculptor Zenos Frudakis. Photo: John Xuereb

“The people of Lewiston get up every morning and fight every round for their families and their communities. They will not be knocked down. That is what we celebrate." - Charlie Hewitt. Photo: John Xuereb

Sculptor Zenos Frudakis with his Muhammad Ali statue in Lewiston, Maine. Photo Credit: Russ Dillingham

New public monument by acclaimed sculptor Zenos Frudakis honors the legacy of ‘The Greatest’ near site of iconic 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston

It’s not about whether you get knocked down—it’s about whether you get back up.”

— Zenos Frudakis

LEWISTON, ME, UNITED STATES, June 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A 10-foot bronze statue of boxing legend Muhammad Ali—the largest in the world—was unveiled Saturday, May 31, in downtown Lewiston, Maine,

Join Wreaths Across America’s Annual Giving in July Celebration!

Support local Sponsorship Groups in your community now while sharing the year-long mission to Remember, Honor, Teach.

Columbia Falls, Maine, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announces the kickoff of its annual Giving in July campaign! For WAA, this

Civitas Networks for Health Opens Registration for 2025 Annual Conference

Agenda and keynote details now available for the premier annual event advancing health data sharing, health improvement, and interoperability

PORTLAND, Maine and SAN DIEGO, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Civitas Networks for Health (Civitas) today announced that the agenda and registration are live for its 2025 Annual Conference, taking place September 28–30 in Anaheim, California. Hosted in partnership with

Webinar: Nature as Canvas – Ephemeral Art and Outdoor Learning

Maine - Join Joshua Chard, Maine Department of Education (DOE) Arts Integration Teacher Leader Fellow, for an engaging 45-minute webinar on how nature-based and ephemeral art can ignite creativity, deepen content learning, and strengthen students’ connection to place.

Chard will be joined by special guest Becky Hallowell, 2025

Power Up Your Summer Learning Programs! May Flyer for Maine Surplus Property

Maine - Is your school in need of laptops, desktop computers, multi-device charging stations, monitors, or standard and multifunction printers/copiers/scanners? What about unused ink toner cartridges (HP and other brands), projectors with carrying cases (Epson, InFocus brands), white boards, desks, folding tables, chairs, or other furniture?

If so, Maine Surplus Property has these and other items available! Open this PDF to view the May Maine Surplus Flyer: Power Up Your Summer Learning Programs.

Approved donees may purchase items from Maine Surplus Property at 85 Leighton Road in Augusta between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Are you not an approved donee yet? The general public may purchase items during the Maine Surplus Property public sale on the second Friday of each month.

For more information, please visit Maine Surplus Property or check out this Maine DOE Newsroom article about the Maine Surplus Property Donee Program. You can also sign up here to receive automatic updates!

Language, Culture, and Connection: Maine DOE Launches Global Partners Network Webpage

Maine - The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is proud to announce the launch of its new Global Partners Network webpage, a central hub highlighting Maine’s six active international agreements with China, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Taiwan. This

Synergy CHC Announces Appointment of Erik Shields as Vice President of Beverage

WESTBROOK, Maine, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), a provider of consumer health care and lifestyle products, announced today that Erik Shields has been named Vice President of Beverage of Synergy, effective May 26, 2025.

“We’re excited to welcome Erik to the team and look forward to his contributions,” said

Nation’s largest full-body statue of Muhammad Ali to be unveiled in Lewiston, Saturday, May 31

Zenos Frudakis with his 10-foot bronze statue of Muhammad Ali at the Laran Bronze Foundry in Chester, Pa., prior to its move to Lewiston, Maine, where it will be installed on May 31

Statue by acclaimed Philadelphia artist Zenos Frudakis honors Ali's legacy and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the iconic 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston

LEWISTON, ME, UNITED STATES, May 29, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A towering 10-foot bronze statue of Muhammad Ali will be unveiled at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31, in downtown Lewiston, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Ali’s historic 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston.

The work, by renowned Philadelphia

DRIVE FORE KIDS ANNOUNCES, 'DOWN ON THE RANGE' CONCERT FEATURING COUNTRY MUSIC STAR GARY LEVOX OF RASCAL FLATTS

The organizers of Drive Fore Kids announced that Gary LeVox lead singer of Rascal Flatts will headline the annual “Down On the Range” concert at the 2025 Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Invitational.

New England Country Music Artist of the Year in 2023, Houston Bernard, will be the opening act!

This benefit concert reinforces our mission of driving charitable, community and economic impact via a star-studded lineup for sports and entertainment icons”

— Brian Corcoran, Drive Fore Kids Executive Director

PORTLAND, ME, UNITED STATES, May 27, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The organizers of Drive Fore Kids announced that Gary LeVox lead singer of Rascal Flatts will

MaineHealth Names New Chief to Lead Behavioral Health Services

Dr. Alex Keuroghlian

Portland, Maine – MaineHealth announced today it has selected Dr. Alex Keuroghlian as the new Chief of MaineHealth Behavioral Health (MHBH) and Chair of Psychiatry at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC). As Chief, Dr. Keuroghlian will be responsible for the

Forest Friday Engages Phippsburg Elementary School Students in Place-Based Outdoor Learning

(Pictured: First and fourth grade students during Forest Friday)

Maine - After a long week of learning inside of the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom, students at Phippsburg Elementary

Yarmouth and Brunswick High School Interns Join Maine DOE, Launch Extended Learning Opportunities “Storybook Project”

Maine - For the first time, the Maine Department of Education Extended Learning Opportunities team is hosting two students to participate in its own extended learning opportunity (ELO). These interns are funded through

Youth Mental Health Event in June: “Rooted in Strength”

Maine - The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is partnering with NAMI Maine to promote youth mental health through programs like Sources of Strength, an evidence-based suicide prevention program being implemented in schools across Maine.

This year, the work of the Sources of

Maine Curriculum Leaders Association Names Julie Riordan as 2025 Instructional Coach of the Year

Maine - The Maine Curriculum Leaders Association (MCLA) has announced that Julie Riordan is the 2025 Instructional

Attorney General Aaron M. Frey Wins Court Order Stopping Dismantling of Department of Education

AUGUSTA – Attorney General Aaron Frey today won a court order stopping the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). On March 13, Attorney General Frey joined a coalition of 20 other

Maine Curriculum Leaders Association Names Shanna Crofton 2025 Curriculum Leader of The Year

Maine - The Maine Curriculum Leaders Association (MCLA) is proud to announce that Shanna Crofton, Director of Teaching and Learning for the Yarmouth School Department, has been named the 2025 Curriculum Leader of the Year.

Shanna is a visionary, student-centered

Hundreds of Maine Students, Educators Attend MLTI Conference to Explore AI, Technology

Maine - The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is celebrating a successful 2025 Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) Student Conference, which culminated Thursday afternoon at

Students Take Action: Salt Marsh Restoration Project on Mount Desert Island Connects Science, Community, and Climate Solutions

Maine - In the fall of 2024, students at Tremont Consolidated School (TCS) embarked on an exciting, real-world science project just steps from their classroom—a Salt Marsh Restoration Project, focused on restoring and protecting the fragile coastal ecosystem that borders their school on Mount Desert Island, Maine.

This year, seventh and eighth grade students are exploring how sea level rise is

Governor Mills Meets with York County Business Leaders, Unveils Signage to Welcome Canadian Visitors to Maine

Governor Mills, state economic and tourism officials, and business leaders discuss tariffs and relations with Canada ahead of summer season and summit meeting with Canadian premiers next month

Kennebunk, MAINE -- Governor Janet Mills and state economic and tourism officials today met with York County business leaders about the effects of tariffs and relations with

#TeachWithTech Grant in Action: LEGO Robotics Peer Mentoring at Windsor Elementary School

Maine - Thanks to funding from the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Maine Learning Technology (MLTI) #TeachWithTech Grant, Windsor Elementary School (WES) has been able to bring LEGO robotics kits into the hands of eager learners. The results have been both innovative and inspiring.

Fifth-grade students in Mrs. St. Onge’s

New Contest Offers Aspiring Entrepreneurs a Chance to Win a $500K Restaurant for the Cost of a Meal

JJAM Holdings Inc. announces the launch of the Riverside Keys to the Grill contest, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people across the United States.

DOVER-FOXCROFT, ME, UNITED STATES, May 21, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- JJAM Holdings Inc. proudly announces the launch of the Riverside Keys to the Grill contest, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs, culinary

Why are patients with mitochondrial disease more susceptible to infections? New JAX study finds the answer

A discovery at The Jackson Laboratory reveals how dysfunctional mitochondria put the immune system on overdrive, leading to severe infections.

(Bar Harbor, Maine – May 20, 2025) – Patients with rare mitochondrial diseases already face a host of serious health issues, from muscle weakness to

Golden submits amendment to ensure accountability for harm to rural Americans from proposed health care cuts

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has submitted an amendment to the House GOP’s budget reconciliation bill to create accountability for proposed health care cuts, should they be passed into law. 

“The health care cuts Congress is

Husson University Names Amanda Nelson ‘97 as Next Athletic Director

Husson University’s next athletic director already knows what it’s like to step into Newman Gymnasium on game day.

That’s because Amanda Nelson, class of 1997, was a star athlete for Husson while studying toward her bachelor of science degree in business teacher education. A

University of Maine System Trustees pass FY26 budget among unprecedented financial uncertainty

The budget for Maine’s largest driver of educational attainment and economic development is dependent upon State appropriation proposed by Governor Mills being provided by the Legislature, a modest tuition increase and employee attrition 

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Amid unprecedented uncertainty, Trustees approved a University of Maine System (UMS) budget for next year but

Senators Collins, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Diabetes Patients’ Access to Therapeutic Shoes

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, introduced the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act. This bipartisan

Senator Collins Questions HHS Secretary Kennedy on Elimination of LIHEAP

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.

Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),

King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Avoid Drug Shortages, Improve Health Emergency Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining bipartisan legislation to ensure the United States is well positioned to mitigate potential

King, Blumenthal, Murray Press Trump Administration to Protect Veteran Caregivers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), Ranking Member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) are calling on the

King Touts “MAINEiacs” Contribution to National Defense

In hearing, Senator urges Air Force brass to focus on readiness of fleet

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), received commitment from General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, to

The Class of 2025 Bates ivy stone shows love for Lewiston

By Alexandra DeMarco

Maine - Seeking to honor both Bates and the community that has been the Class of 2025’s home for four years, E.J. Holm ’25 of Hamilton, N.Y., found inspiration for this year’s ivy stone design in the grid of city streets surrounding campus.

Departing from the traditional campus

Right at Home Portland Maine Partners With PocketRN To Provide New Medicare Model for Seniors With Dementia

Right at Home of Maine and PocketRN have partnered in the Medicare GUIDE program to provide respite to caregivers of those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

PORTLAND, ME, UNITED STATES, May 19, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Right at Home of Greater Portland Maine and Kennebunk is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with PocketRN, a leading

Maine DOE Affirms Commitment to Language and Culture: Promoting Multilingual and Multicultural Learning Across Schools

Pictured: Ayesha Hall, Maine DOE Director of Strategic Partnerships, with Fred Ravan, President of Educators for a Multilingual Maine [EMME].) 

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is proud to have successfully concluded its Multilingual/Multicultural Connections Webinar Series, a

Deepen Your MTSS Expertise This Summer with New Asynchronous Mini-Course Series

Are you ready to grow your Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) knowledge and practice? This summer, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of

Applications Open for Leading Early Learning Fellowship: A Professional Learning Series for Elementary School Administrators

Maine - The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the fifth cohort of the Leading Early Learning Fellowship, which will launch during the 2025-2026 school year. Applications will be accepted through July 14, 2025.

As more Maine elementary schools

Language, Culture, and Connection: Maine Expands Global Reach with Portugal Agreement

Pictured left to right: Fred Ravan, President of Educators for a Multilingual Maine (EMME); Melissa O’Neal-Low, Maine DOE Director of Special Projects; Page Nichols, Maine DOE Chief Innovation Officer, Dan Chuhta, Maine DOE Deputy Commissioner; Pender Makin, Maine Education Commissioner; Tiago Araújo, Consulate of Portugal in Boston; João Caixinha, U.S. Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Programs and Education; and Ayesha Hall, Maine DOE Director of Strategic Partnerships.

On May 6, 2025, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) formalized a new partnership with the Portuguese

Hyde School to Offer College Credit Opportunities Beginning 2025–2026 Academic Year

Hyde Students Can Now Take College Courses and Earn Credits

BATH, ME, UNITED STATES, May 20, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Hyde School is proud to announce that beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, students will

Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at Rumford Fire Station Dedication and Open House

New station is dedicated to former Rumford Deputy Fire Chief and Town Selectman Peter Chase, who passed away in 2022.

Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos

Rumford, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at a dedication and open house at the new Rumford fire station. The new station is dedicated to Peter Chase, a former Deputy Fire Chief and

University of New England confers nearly 1,300 degrees at 190th Commencement

 In remarks, graduates are called upon to show up, embrace the unexpected, and make the world a better place

Story by

 Alan Bennett • 

Portland, Maine

 • 

May 18, 2025

The University of New England celebrated its 190th Commencement on Saturday, May 17, awarding degrees to nearly 1,300 graduates during a ceremony at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson delivered the keynote address, sharing

Bigelow Laboratory’s New Center Honors Harold Alfond

Maine - Next month, Bigelow Laboratory will officially celebrate the opening of the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation, which will transform the institute’s education and solutions-focused work. The new space is being named in honor of Harold Alfond to celebrate the generous support that has made this significant investment possible.

The $8 million gift from the Harold

Golden announces release of $1.6 million in federal funds for Auburn-Lewiston airport upgrades

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced the release of $1.6 million in previously frozen funds for airport terminal upgrades previously awarded to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. 

“This project will support the growth and success of Androscoggin County,” Golden

Senator Collins Secures $8 Million USDOT Partnership for UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center

U.S. Department of Transportation will collaborate with UMaine to support the Center’s development of low-cost, composite bridge materials.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Advanced Research Projects Agency–Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is moving forward with an $8 million partnership with