Molalla Pioneer / Herald Pioneer · Brunswick, ME
(CANBY) — Spending 22 years serving in the U.S. Marine Corps takes one all over the world, and into all sorts of interesting situations. When Canby’s Alex Bello left the Corps in 1999, he knew two things: first, he wanted to get some schooling; second, he wanted to build things for people. And that’s what he’s been doing since. “I was tired of destruction. I wanted to build things, to build community, and that got me into construction,” Bello, age 68, explained. “The combat engineers piqued my interest in getting into construction. I just knew I didn’t want to go into law enforcement or a federal agency, which a lot of peers had done.” Bello’s Marine Corps journey actually began when he was about 14 years old. His brother-in-law took him to the July 4th parade in California, and the Marines were there with a color guard. “He had been in the Marines and our conversation sort of ended with him telling me that I should join,” said Bello.
The Bates Student · Lewiston, ME
Nearby: Lewiston, MEWhen I first came to Bates in 2023, I was impressed that a small city in this predominantly white state could have overcome such vitriolic xenophobia to have a thriving community of immigrants involved across the community. Of course I knew that racism and bigotry was still real here in Maine, just as anywhere else. But I also found great appreciation in the community efforts to bring Lewistonians together, whether they were originally French, Somali, Angolan, Thai or from anywhere else in the world. Much of this progress could be reversed if Rick LaChapelle is elected the next mayor of Lewiston. After the midterm election results were finalized, there was no clear winner of the Lewiston mayoral race. The top two candidates in this technically nonpartisan race were self-identified Republican Rick LaChapelle, with 6,164 votes or 45.7%, and current mayor and self-identified Democrat Carl Sheline, with 4,766 votes or 35.3%.
The Student Life · Lewiston, ME
Nearby: Lewiston, MEAfter two home games, and despite two second half leads, Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) women’s basketball started their 2026-27 campaign 0-2. The Sagehens fell to Pacific University and Wheaton College last Friday and Saturday respectively, a disappointing start to a season with high expectations. The team is coming off a strong 2025-26 season which saw a 16-9 overall finish, an 11-5 record in SCIAC conference games and a spot in the SCIAC semifinals. They lost in that round in February to the No. 2 seed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) in a 59-54 battle. Close losses early on, however, haven’t swayed the program’s expectations for the season ahead. Alaina Woo, now in her seventh season as the team’s head coach, described this group as hungry for success. “This team wants to be great,” Woo said in email correspondence with TSL.
White River Valley Herald · Randolph, ME
Nearby: Randolph, METhe former Wit & Grit and Oak & Iron buildings sit empty with their signs still hanging on Merchants Row. (Herald / Wilder Grimes) On October 19, the owners of Oak & Iron announced they’d be leaving their Merchants Row location to move to White River Junction. “A heartfelt thank you to Randolph, the surrounding communities and all of our wonderful guests for supporting us and making the past two years memorable,” owners Nate Aldrich and Katie Hanscom wrote in a post on Facebook. The pair explained the move came with the decision to be closer to their hometown and family. Hoping for a quick turnover, Aldrich and Hanscom expect to reopen in their new location sometime this month. Opening in April of 2025 and closing about one and a half years later, the boutique steakhouse is the third restaurant to leave Randolph this year, following Chef’s Market and Wit and Grit. Prior to Oak & Iron’s opening, Tacocat Cantina filled the space from November of 2020, until closing in 2024.
Bangor Daily News · Augusta, ME
Nearby: Augusta, MEAUGUSTA, Maine — Former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, won Maine’s 2nd Congressional District on Thursday, beating Democrat Matt Dunlap after a ranked-choice tabulation, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office. LePage, who declared victory last week, beat Dunlap, the state auditor, by nearly 5,500 votes, finishing with 50.8% of votes to 49.2%. Blank and write-in ballots had left LePage just short of a majority on Maine’s first ballot, requiring the ranked-choice count in Augusta. His win flips the seat U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a centrist Democrat, has held since 2019, in a district President Donald Trump carried three times. LePage will be the only Republican in Maine’s congressional delegation after a midterm in which Democrats ousted U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, kept the governor’s office and expanded their legislative majorities. The count was never likely to change the outcome. Dunlap conceded a week ago, when LePage led by about 5,400 first-choice votes.
Midcoast Villager · Augusta, ME
Nearby: Augusta, MEArchitecture educator Madison Cook heads to Augusta with a goal rooted in her own journey: helping Mainers afford to build a life at home.
Concord Monitor · Biddeford, ME
Nearby: Biddeford, MERonald D. Mapes Sr Concord, NH – Ronald D. Mapes, Sr. of Concord, NH died 4 November 2026 at the VNA Granite Hospice House Concord, NH. He was born in Biddeford, Maine at the Trull Hospital on November 29, 1939. He was the youngest son of George & Beryl Mapes of Saco, Maine, His Dad, George E. Mapes was a former City Marshal of Saco, Maine. He leaves behind his wife Barbara R. Mapes, Ronald D. Mapes, Jr., Felicia M. Mapes, Garett P. Mapes, Victoria L. McGarvey of Missouri, Daniel C. Johnson of Maine. Calling Hours will be held on November 17, 2026 at Bennett FUneral Home, 209 N Main St Concord, NH from 10:00 AM- 12:00PM with a Funeral Service at 1:00PM. A Burial will follow at NH State Veterans Cemetery at 2:00PM. Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes
The Wesleyan Argus · Washington, ME
Nearby: Washington, MENovember 6, 2026 • By anonymous The Argus published this letter anonymously, as attribution would jeopardize the author’s current employment. The Editorial Board reserves the right to publish letters anonymously. I am a Congressional Intern and the perspectives shared here do not reflect the views of my office or the Member of Congress that employs me. For the past 2 months I have spent my time becoming acquainted with two foreign environments: the grand city of Washington, D.C. and the politics of a deep red Republican office. I will preface this by saying that I work in a MAGA Republican’s office not because I love his politics and agree with his platform, but because I wanted an experience on the hill and this is where my connections led me. (Don’t tell my boss that I don’t align with him politically).
Midcoast Villager · Thomaston, ME
Nearby: Thomaston, MEWhen the Shore Village (Rockland) broke away from Thomaston along with South Thomaston in 1848, a new world was on the horizon with the dawning of early photography in the 1840s.
Midcoast Villager · Rockland, ME
Nearby: Rockland, MEROCKLAND — For the 35th consecutive year, volunteers from Adas Yoshuron Synagogue are putting together a community Christmas dinner.
Midcoast Villager · Rockland, ME
Nearby: Rockland, ME'While we are in a period of occasionally debating on whether climate change is real, there is no debate on the high cost of diesel,' Rep. Chellie Pingree said.
The Student Life · Waterville, ME
Nearby: Waterville, MEStudents across the Claremont Colleges gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to follow the results of the 2026 midterm elections at multiple watch parties. Students reflected on the importance of creating spaces for political debate and shared their experiences with voting. The next day, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Claremont McKenna College government professors Jack Pitney and Andrew Sinclair hosted a post-election debrief at the CMC Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum where they analyzed the results in which Democrats took control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Sinclair said the significance of this election “shapes the way we understand other elections from the past.” Ahead of election night, students from battleground states voiced concerns about the various candidates running. Students across the Claremont Colleges gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to follow the results of the 2026 midterm elections at multiple watch parties.