Lewiston Auburn Film Festival marks third year

LEWISTON/AUBURN With the constant evolution of new technologies, it has never been easier to be a filmmaker. Granted, it's still difficult as heck to be a good filmmaker, but more people than ever at least have access to the tools necessary to make a movie.

With this abundance of cinematic riches floating around out there, it's nice to know that there are people out there doing their best to ensure that these films have a chance to find an audience. People like the folks in charge of the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival (LAFF).

A look at some of the most successful Sea Dogs

The Portland Sea Dogs are celebrating their 20th anniversary this season. The team's first season was 1994; they began life as the AA affiliate for the expansion Florida Marlins. They remained part of the Marlins system through 2002, when the team switched affiliation and joined the Red Sox farm system, where they remain to this day.

A lot of future big leaguers have worn the Sea Dogs uniform. In honor of this auspicious anniversary, it seemed fitting to assemble an all-time lineup. Here's a look at some of the best players ever to grace the grass at Hadlock Field.

Sugarloaf Reggae Festival marks 25th year

CARRABASSETT VALLEY It might seem a bit counterintuitive to think of a ski mountain when it comes time to consider the dawning of spring. While Sugarloaf is one of the premier skiing destinations on the East Coast, come April, we're more inclined to think about melting snow rather than snowpack.

However, there's more to Sugarloaf in the springtime than just some late-season shussing down the slopes.

HERMON - Wayne Moir is not your typical pet owner. Rather than owning a cat or dog, this Hermon resident, who grew up on a farm in Aroostook County, has opened his heart and home to a different kind of fur ball - miniature donkeys.

"They are like a dog," Moir said. "They come when you call them. They follow each other in a row and you know who is the leader of the pack: Suzy. She's always up front."

Six-year-old Suzy Q, a former show donkey that is a mere 29 inches in height, is the oldest of Moir's three mini-donkeys. He bought her from a farm in Newport last August. 

Paranoid Social Club and Spose to headline benefit

BANGOR Husson students are bringing two major Maine talents, Paranoid Social Club and Spose, to headline at this year's Music Saved Me Benefit Concert on April 12 at the Tantrum Night Club at 9 p.m. Opening for the bands are G-Fresh and Texas Dent, also based in Maine, and Paul Wolfe of Z107.3 will emcee the event.

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is responsible for organizing this annual event which is in its third year. 

ROCKLAND The coastal town of Rockland is well known for its vibrant visual arts community. But what Poet Laureate of Rockland Carol Bachofner wanted to do was highlight the art of poetry as well. Four years ago, she brought the idea to the local library staff, and Poetry Month Rockland was born.

'It is the one written medium that will connect with a wide range of people's emotions and life experiences,' said Bachofner. 'It's kind of a small taste, like going to a buffet of life: you get a little bit of emotion that you don't touch on an everyday basis. Loss. Or the joy you feel when you connect with nature. The pride you feel in your children. There are a lot of little emotions that can get encapsulated in poetry. It is also a way to connect with the dark areas in our lives that we don't want to deal with in too big of a bite.'

Judging the state one-act festival

FREEPORT - I'll be honest - I'm a bit of a curmudgeon. As a rule, I have relatively little use for the young people of today. To be truthful, though, I didn't have much use for young people even when I was one of them. And I enjoyed my curmudgeonly attitude. Relished it even.

So imagine my surprise when my fist-shaking, 'Get off my lawn!'-shouting ways are met full on by a group of teenagers whose passion, enthusiasm and talent force me to reconsider my sweeping generalizations about the younger generations.

At first glance, Maine and El Salvador seem worlds apart, but upon closer inspection similarities emerge. As the price of metals continues to rise and metallic mining companies look to expand their operations throughout the world, Maine and the tiny Central American country face an important similarity: the debate around whether to allow metallic mining.

El Salvador the most densely populated in Latin America is caught up in a battle to protect its water and community wellbeing from industrial mining projects, as it seriously considers becoming the first country in the world to ban large-scale metals mining.

BREWER - Schooner Fare has won unanimous critical praise for captivating harmonies and winning stage presence. In addition to their numerous original songs on both contemporary and traditional themes, the band also writes and performs topical songs, country ballads and maritime masterpieces that have made their name synonymous with the "Down East" style.

The group will perform at the Brewer PAC on Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m.

The UFC has been the king of mixed martial arts since its first event in the United States back in 1993. Former MMA promotions such as EliteXC, StrikeForce, Pride Fighting Championships and World Extreme Cagefighting all tried competing with the UFC, only to fall in the end. While all these companies ultimately failed, the UFC has been growing with large pay-per-view buys, record fan attendances, and a huge television deal with Fox. 

The UFC might be at the top of its game, but that hasn't stopped the founder and CEO of the second largest MMA promotion in the USA Bellator. Bjorn Rebney founded Bellator MMA in 2008 and has been pushing his company through the uniqueness it brings of being completely tournament-based. This means that every fighter must win a series of matches through a tournament to become eligible for a title shot.