Dianne ‘Dee’ Clarke had been working on her play for years before her unexpected death. Others have continued on in her memory, leading to a full staged reading on Thursday.
Eric Russell
Staff Writer
Eric Russell has been a general assignment reporter at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 2012 and has been a journalist in Maine since 2004. Because he doesn’t have a specific geographic or topical area to cover, Eric often is free to roam the state in pursuit of the most interesting stories, whether it’s tackling the big topic of the day or chasing ideas that fall just outside the boundaries of everyday news. His favorite assignments are ones where he can leave the office and meet with people in their homes or their workplaces to talk about their struggles and challenges – and sometimes their triumphs. Or to try and answer complicated questions. Eric grew up in Southern Maine, went to college at the University of Maine and worked in Bangor for eight years before joining the Press Herald. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, a school teacher, and two daughters.
Influential Midcoast artist Harold Garde dies at age 99
The New York native and abstract expressionist painter moved to Belfast in the 1980s and had his most productive period there.
In reliably Republican town of Oxford, rising prices are voters’ top concern
In 2014, Paul LePage earned 66 percent of the vote in the town of 4,000. He’ll need the support of Oxford, and towns like it, if he wants to win again.
State delivers child protective files to legislative agency but not to lawmakers
The Government Oversight Committee last month subpoenaed records associated with child deaths, but the Department of Health and Human Services said giving them to lawmakers would violate confidentiality laws.
‘For the Next Guy’ a story of redemption based on man’s longtime experience in prison
The play, which premieres at the Strand Theatre in Rockland this week, tells the story of Norman Kehling, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for arson.
Why some places haven’t given up their mask mandates
The few cafes, stores and venues in Portland that still require masks say it’s to protect their staff and put concerned customers at ease.
Creative Portland launches app for exploring city’s arts scene
The app is meant to showcase the wide variety of arts-related happenings in the city. Soon it will include augmented-reality features as well.
Eat & Run: A new, and far happier chapter apparent at the Market at Pineland
The market/cafe is housed in a former institute – with an ugly history – for developmentally disabled adults. These days it’s a destination for tasty sandwiches and other tempting goodies.
El Faro memorial to be dedicated in Rockland, nearly seven years after cargo ship tragedy
The memorial sculpture was made by Warren artist Jay Sawyer, who had a career in the maritime industry before becoming an artist.
Gift of $5 million will establish new arts lab at Colby College
The gift from 1985 graduate John Lyons, a film editor, and his wife, Susannah Gray, a retired pharmaceutical executive, was announced this week. The lab opens this fall for students.