Are there really no public transport or rental options from Madawaska to Houlton or anywhere else? From what I’m finding online, there appears to be nothing. We have been here for 5 years but none of our family is here. My brain is still struggling to accept that there seems to be no option-so then what do people do if their car breaks down and they don’t have family here? It’s a big favor to ask even of a relative (but in a real bind if I had a relative here I’d ask them and pay for gas and dinner)? When I was growing up, in that situation and before moving here you handled it by renting a vehicle as needed or taking public transportation.

We need to get to Houlton for a day, and our vehicle is getting worked on (from last experience it may take 2-3 months as it takes forever to even get looked at). In the past when I have asked about that, people have said things like “ask a neighbor” or a friend, or a relative. What if you aren’t relationally close enough to anyone to dare ask them to drive you 2 hours away, spend most of the day there, then bring you back? That seems like an insane thing to ask of someone who isn’t a close relative? Is there really NO public paid option?

We have been stranded at home for over a month already relying on one person to bring us to grocery store once a week, and I’m extremely uncomfortable with that-no matter how kind it is or how grateful I am for their generosity of time, It’s only because it’s a last resort.

This had happened to us before, and it steals months of our lives because we get the vehicle towed and three weeks later we call and it hasn’t even been looked at. This year being stranded stole summer from our kids. We cannot afford a second vehicle, we are income locked due to disability and the related logistical struggles. We cannot afford to live outside of Aroostook. We escaped unaffordable housing in MA that we had been paying 5x what we pay here-but have now found ourselves with zero public safety net that we could just pay for. Seriously thinking to move to Southern Aroostook so we at least are closer to specialty care and have access to some public transport-but meanwhile, scouring the internet in the hopes that there is some hole-in-the wall small business that doesn’t advertise their rental services but maybe someone knows of from word of mouth. This getting to Houlton to see a place is extremely important to us as it could be pivotal and change our lives, so we could move someplace that would work for our family.

Please tell us what you know as we are feeling completely trapped right now. As much as possible, we 100% prefer paying for a service from a business rather than a favor. It’s just an uncomfortable thing for us, it keep us more anonymous bc we don’t like everyone to know every time we struggle like this as a we already feel judged by circumstances we didn’t choose or control and hate feeling indebted, no matter how nice someone is or how much they say we they don’t expect anything. Any information about an actual business we could actually pay for ourselves (vehicle rental or someone who runs a business getting paid to drive people) would be helpful. We do NOT want to rely on favors-we are protecting our independence and dignity in every way we can. If we could just do this trip there, make an offer and get it accepted, rent a uhaul while the kids are at school, we could live in a place where we won’t ever need a ride from anyone again and be out from under Versant’s crushing bills. Or just empathize. Understand. Because this honestly sucks and we feel alone. That alone would make me feel better.

I was contacted by a young woman looking for a picture of my second cousin, Timothy Wayne Monahan (he's her grandfather).

I can't find any in my Mom's old photos. Where might we look for one? Timothy was born in 1957 in Houlton and died 1982, also in Houlton.

Anyone have any ideas?

Hey all, hope the day's treating you well. I'm writing a short story set in the county, and I want to make sure I'm being accurate in my representation. Any input on life for you guys would be greatly appreciated! (Especially if you're in the southern tip.) That being said, I do have some specific questions for anyone willing to answer:

• What are some staples for summer and winter seasonal wear and/or prep for the colder months? (We don't get a lot of snow/ice where I live haha.)
• I won't go as far as trying to imitate local slang, but if there are any grammar/verbal traits specific to the region, feel free to let me know!
• What are some things that are frowned on/make people side-eye you? Could be anything from pet peeves to more serious no's.
• What are some common misconceptions about the area? (There are a lot where I live, so I want to know what to avoid.)

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, regardless of whether or not you give any input. Have a good one and stay safe!

"Cuts in federal food assistance are squeezing food pantries in Maine’s northernmost county, where nearly 1 in 5 people rely on SNAP benefits."

Jonathan Bush physically assaulted his first wife:

"After their older children left for school, Bush assaulted his first wife in a hallway while she held their 1-year-old son in her arms, according to court documents that also say she filed for divorce a few months before the November incident. Bush “screamed” into her face, calling her a “whore” and “disgusting person” while pushing her into a wall and “repeatedly slamming his closed fist into her sternum,” with his hand landing “just inches” from their baby.

In filing an emergency motion to make Bush leave their home, Selden Bush said the conditions in the home had “deteriorated dramatically” between June and November 2005, adding that the health and safety of her and the children were at risk. She also alleged Bush struck her on “numerous occasions” and once gave her a black eye, per court records.

Bush admitted to the November 2005 incident during a deposition the following year. He testified he was “unsure of where his hands had come in contact with” his first wife but said he “intended to touch her.” He also admitted on two other occasions to throwing a “small telephone” and “salt shaker” at her, putting holes in the wall."

"I’ll say this for Paul LePage: the man has a way with words, in the same manner that my cat has a way with horking up a hairball in the middle of the night, right at the edge of a carpet but not close enough to make it to the hardwood floor. They both make you sit up and pay attention.

Like a particularly pernicious foot fungus, LePage has once again returned, his double-digit loss to Janet Mills having failed to dissuade him from seeking political office again.

LePage should be happily retired on a beach somewhere but, too self-obsessed for that, keeps trying to reclaim his glory days. He’s never gotten more than 50% of the vote. He relies on dividing others in order to succeed.

His website says he’s running for Congress to “take back Washington.” I guess LePage is hoping his voters won’t notice that both branches of Congress and the presidency are already controlled by his political party.

I’m not saying Paul LePage thinks his voters are stupid. I’m just saying he says a lot of stuff that can be disproven by a single Google search or a glance at a newspaper headline. LePage is already past the average life expectancy of an American male. Even if he succeeds at getting into Congress, he’s unlikely to be around for long enough to make much of a difference for Maine.

And he is so lacking in imagination that he cannot bring himself to believe that some elected officials actually want to use government to make people’s lives better."

Its time to retire Susan Collins. Initially she ran on a 2 term promise.

Indepenedent Maine should remain Independent

More $$$ for her and less jobs, hospitals and senior support in rural Maine

What are some local saying you heard growing up or things that you think might be specific to the area. Lost my proud Mainer grandparents and they always said the funniest things- the whole area as a whole has a wit about them that I can’t get enough of.

My grandparents are from PI and Easton and after visiting I absolutely fell in love with the area, the towns, and the people (they never fell out of love with it either just moved for opportunities in PA). My wife is hesitant and has her reservations, her family was from Maine also but the LA area. It would be a couple years before we’d be able to make it up there realistically, but is there anything you think someone ought to know before moving there? I know the winters are rough and we’d have to winterize the vehicles but thats just general stuff. The Easton school district seems good and I’d like to be able to give my kids the childhood I had with a back yard and times spent in and around water with kind neighbors and a small community- that kind of life just isn’t attainable for the average person in Pennsylvania. I’m considering buying a property to lease maybe near McCains and charging no more than needed to cover some of the costs so there’s somebody in the house keeping the water and gas on but I know there’s not a lot of demand. Just looking for any advice or insight from the folks around there! I’ve got my qualifications for wildland firefighting, emt, and am a park ranger but I also have a background in warehousing management. My wife is starting her journey to become an RN and likes working with children but also has a background in hospital food service management and retail food service management.

considering moving up near caribou or presque isle. i am a general contractor with my own business in southern new england. what’s the work situation like up there is there a high demand for contractors?

We are interested in Littleton. It is a fairly large house on almost 100 acres for a very reasonable price.

Can anyone give us the dirt on this place. Large, pond/lake frontage, with acreage. Why has it been on and off the market for the past few years? Seriously.

We'd be moving out of state and want to buy plane tickets to come see it. But we have googled and googled this property and cant understand why its still for sale.

If you know anything, we'd love to have the insider details! ☺️

Eta: address 112 McDonald

Update: Mineral Rights for the win! Whoever mentioned them, you are correct. Steelstone does has mineral rights under the land. Guess we wont be seeing y'all!

Thanks so much for all the help. Stay warm and cozy this winter!

Took this earlier today.

Hello there! Are you dreaming about opening your own child care business and live in Aroostook County? Register for a Child Care Business Lab workshop, a Maine program that has over 50 graduates running their own child care businesses! Between resources to help you identify a location to guidance in preparing your finances, now is the time to reach out to their team. For a full list of their upcoming sessions, click here.

Do you want to work with the Child Care Business Lab team and have support on your next steps? Complete their online form here.

Took a few photos at the river this evening.

Anyone know where I can order pellets for my pellet stove? Been ordering from Houlton towing the past couple years and they've been great, but I guess I called too late this time because they're out for the year.