By Jessica Piper, Bangor Daily News Staff Memorial Day weekend travel rebounded significantly in Maine in 2021, but it remained short of pre-pandemic levels with rural gains offset by dips in coastal tourism centers amid international travel restrictions and lingering virus concerns.

By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press Maine has one of the highest rates of coronavirus vaccination in the country, but some of the rural counties in the state lag behind the more populated areas.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff Research is showing there is a connection between the tick populations, the mice populations and the spread of Lyme disease in Maine.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Retired Educators met May 24 at the Bear’s Den.

AUGUSTA — Gov.

Photo courtesy of Dexter Age-Friendly GARDEN BED DELIVERY — Dexter Age-Friendly delivers an elevated garden bed to resident Dot Mountain.

Observer file photo/Stuart HedstromCOLOR GUARD — The stars and stripes of the U.

WESTBROOK – Just in time for National Hunger Awareness Month, Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger is launching a 30-day, $100,000 challenge beginning June 1 to raise money for Good Shepherd Food Bank, local community food pantries, and meal sites.

Note: Bangor Daily News archives dating back to 1911 are now available at newspapers.

GUILFORD — Members of the Valley Grange #144 opted for an atypical choice as the organization’s Community Citizen Award while looking back on a year-plus in the coronavirus pandemic.

BREWER — Northern Light Health announced that it will increase its minimum starting rate to $15 an hour across the organization.

By Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News Staff While Maine’s lakes, rivers and streams are home to some great freshwater fishing, they are also contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic mercury.

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis County Democrats continued their efforts to address hunger in local communities with the monthly collection of cereal and other staples at their headquarters on North Street in Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday, May 22.

PORTLAND — The Diocese of Portland has announced major updates to the pandemic protocols currently in place at all 141 Catholic churches in Maine.

Many of Maine’s bird species are currently facing stresses causing populations to decline.

Together with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s two-week Click It or  Ticket Campaign, the Maine Buckle Up.

By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News Staff Penobscot County officials are seeking to appoint a deputy treasurer in the wake of stalking and harassment charges filed last week against elected Treasurer John Hiatt.

WASHINGTON, D.