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Lyn Michaud, owner of the Ski Shop in Van Buren, was a dealer for locally made Aegis Bicycles for years. The manufacturing company went out of business several years ago, but Michaud is seen here in October 2016 with one of the original frames he kept. Michaud has announced his retirement and said he has to move out of the building, which he sold, by May 5, 2018. He is open until then selling whatever is available. (Julia Bayly | BDN)

Lyn Michaud, owner of the Ski Shop in Van Buren, was a dealer for locally made Aegis Bicycles for years. The manufacturing company went out of business several years ago, but Michaud is seen here in October 2016 with one of the original frames he kept. Michaud has announced his retirement and said he has to move out of the building, which he sold, by May 5, 2018. He is open until then selling whatever is available. (Julia Bayly | BDN)

The Ski Shop closing in Van Buren

Lyn Michaud is looking forward to an active retirement after more than 40 years running the Ski Shop and selling bikes, skis and outdoors equipment in the St. John Valley.

News Browse News

Friends of St. Francis Talent Show to showcase northern Maine talent

The 2nd Annual Friends of St. Francis Talent Show fundraiser is returning to the town this weekend. The Friends of St. Francis organization is hosting the event, which Claudette Michaud coordinated.

Charity medical flights to continue to Boston, elsewhere after PenAir

Patient AirLift Services, the charity service that flies people in rural areas who need specialized healthcare for free, is working to continue providing medical charity flights from Presque Isle to Boston and other cities.

Heavy rain, rapidly melting snow causing flooding in northern Maine

Heavy rain and melting snow prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning Thursday alerting motorists in northern Maine to steer clear of river banks and culverts.

Smoke draws firefighters to Circle K in Fort Kent

Two dozen firefighters with three fire engines quickly responded to a fire call at the Circle K convenience store and gas station on West Main Street at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Unusual spring weather leaves Maine maple syrup in short supply

Holly Hardwick has done all she can to ensure a productive maple syrup season. Now it’s up to Mother Nature to determine whether this is going to be a boom or bust year.

Fort Kent councilors to recite Pledge of Allegiance before all meetings

Fort Kent town councilors voted unanimously on Monday to adopt saying the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ prior to all upcoming town council meetings.

Crown Politics Browse Crown Politics

Maine secretary of state: Remove GOP hopeful Max Linn from Senate primary ballot

In a reversal, Maine’s secretary of state said Republican U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn should be disqualified from the June primary ballot after a Tuesday hearing in which his campaign acknowledged “hanky-panky” related to his signature-gathering effort.

Here’s a look at Maine’s first ranked-choice voting state ballots

Good morning from Augusta, where the secretary of state’s office has released what ranked-choice voting ballots for the June primaries will look like.

Linn admits ballot signature ‘hanky-panky,’ then blames Brakey without proof

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn renewed an unsubstantiated allegation that his primary opponent sabotaged his nominating signatures after his lawyer admitted at a Tuesday hearing that there was “hanky-panky” and possible fraud around them.

Collins slams Comey for releasing his memoir during the Russia investigation

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on Sunday criticized former FBI Director James Comey for releasing his memoir amid the ongoing Russia investigation, saying it could disrupt the probe.

Maine’s top court clears way for ranked-choice voting in June

Ranked-choice voting will be used in Maine’s June primary elections, the state’s high court ruled on Tuesday in a massive win for supporters of the first-in-the-nation system that has faced constitutional scrutiny and run a political gauntlet in the Legislature.

Partisan sparring in Maine House drags into Thursday morning

Republicans in the Maine House of Representatives voted to force a gridlocked Legislature to adjourn by Wednesday’s end in a dispute with Democrats over a spending package, but the session stretched into Thursday for procedural reasons.

Living Browse Living

Friends of St. Francis Talent Show to showcase northern Maine talent

The 2nd Annual Friends of St. Francis Talent Show fundraiser is returning to the town this weekend. The Friends of St. Francis organization is hosting the event, which Claudette Michaud coordinated.

Unusual spring weather leaves Maine maple syrup in short supply

Holly Hardwick has done all she can to ensure a productive maple syrup season. Now it’s up to Mother Nature to determine whether this is going to be a boom or bust year.

PAWS Pet of the Week — Samuel

PAWS Animal Welfare Shelter presents Samuel as the Pet of the Week. Samuel is a big, handsome cat with golden eyes who is very confident.

Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 28

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is this Saturday, April 28, and includes sites in Aroostook County where people can take unused or unwanted medications for safe disposal by law enforcement.

Valley Girls comic — April 25, 2018

Valley Girls comic — April 25, 2018

Weekly digital jigsaw — 2008 Fort Kent Flood

Floodwater from the confluence of the Fish and St. John rivers spills over onto East Main Street in downtown Fort Kent on April 30, 2008. (John Clarke Russ | BDN file)

Opinion Browse Opinion

Aroostook wildlife refuge offers nature, history, hikes and tours

We are a statistic driven society so let us start with a stat that illustrates the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge’s field trips and tours.

Water, water

A few years back, the guys from the well manufacturing company came up to our place to replace the foot valve on the hand pump.

E.A. Williams cartoon — April 25, 2018

E.A. Williams cartoon for April 25, 2018.

Drilling off Maine’s coast? Not worth the risk

In life, there are some risks worth taking.

Evil in the family tree

Genealogists are accustomed to uncovering secrets and sometimes unpleasant facts when they research their family history.

Flood season

At this writing, Thursday, April 12, there are indications that some heavy precip, mainly rain (though starting as snow/freezing rain), is heading our way

Sports Browse Sports

Edmundston-based Blizzard junior hockey team wins Maritime championship

In its very first season in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, the Edmundston Blizzard made history Tuesday night

Valley athletes place at track meet

High-school track and field teams from Fort Kent and Madawaska traveled to Old Town High School where they competed in the first meet of the season on Saturday.

8-man football could preserve the sport at some Maine high schools, says coach

The thought of introducing an eight-player alternative to Maine high school football is nothing new.

Tournament in Caribou illustrates growing popularity of pickleball

A new sport is gaining in popularity in Caribou.

Mariners rebound; MHL final tied 1-1

In complete contrast to the previous game that ended in an avalanche of 11 goals, the Yarmouth Mariners took their revenge Sunday, April 15, by blanking the Edmundston Blizzard 1-0 in front of a packed house at the Jean-Daigle Centre.

Blizzard makes some changes to tickets sales

In preparation of the fifth game of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) final next Sunday, April 22, the Edmundston Blizzard organization announced some changes to the ticket purchase process.

Business Browse Business

Charity medical flights to continue to Boston, elsewhere after PenAir

Patient AirLift Services, the charity service that flies people in rural areas who need specialized healthcare for free, is working to continue providing medical charity flights from Presque Isle to Boston and other cities.

DOT invites public to vote for favorite Maine sign

Voting is underway for the My Maine Sign contest.

The Ski Shop closing in Van Buren

Lyn Michaud is looking forward to an active retirement after more than 40 years running the Ski Shop and selling bikes, skis and outdoors equipment in the St. John Valley.

Businesses can apply for marketing grants

Businesses with five or fewer employees and gross sales of $250,000 or less may apply for New Ventures Maine marketing mini-grants to augment their marketing budgets by up to $500.

LePage will allow highway signs for Katahdin monument

Gov. Paul LePage has lifted his ban of road signs along state roads showing the way to Maine’s national monument.

County seeks funding for regional code office

The Aroostook County Commissioners have endorsed a grant application to help create a joint regional office for assessing and code enforcement.