A version of this story first appeared in the Morning Update newsletter. Sign up here to receive the Morning Update and other BDN newsletters directly in your inbox.

Happy Tuesday!

We’ve got a gusty day ahead of us, with winds reaching speeds up to 50 mph in Greater Bangor. At the same time, temperatures will be in the 50s across the state. So it’s a good day to wear a heavy coat.

Central Maine Power has more workers on hand to respond to any outages, though wind speeds could slow restoration, the utility warned.

The machine from the old Androscoggin County paper mill completed its week-long journey from Jay to South Portland this morning. That was supposed to take two nights, but given the load’s size and weight — nearly 684,000 pounds! — planners broke up the trip into smaller segments over several nights.

The convoy departed from Buxton about 9 p.m. Monday, with an expected arrival time at South Portland’s Turner Island at 6 a.m.

Yes, that’s right. Nine hours to travel about 16 miles. By comparison, it would take you roughly 31 minutes to drive from Buxton to South Portland. In fact, if you were determined enough, you could walk that route faster — according to Google Maps, it would take less than six hours.

Eight more convoys hauling old mill equipment will depart from Jay for South Portland in the coming weeks.

A combination bookstore and bar is coming to downtown Bangor

Fireheart Tavern owner Britney Ellis stands outside her future storefront on Main Street in Bangor. Credit: Annie Rupertus / BDN

During the summer of 2026, Maine arguably had zero businesses that were both a bookstore and a bar — the last of its kind, Novel Book Bar & Cafe in Portland, closed in the spring. 

If you’re not going to have a single bar/bookstore in your state, summer is probably the time to do it. Especially in Maine. But come winter?

Thankfully, Britney Ellis is taking up the torch, and in Bangor. Fireheart Tavern, her business in the works, will be a cozy haunt that can host author readings, poetry slams, Dungeons and Dragons nights, crafts, book clubs, and more. The vibe will be somewhere between a brewery and cafe, she said. Kids will even be welcome for certain events.

Ellis has a Main Street storefront picked out and is making renovations that could be done by early December, when Greater Bangor will be good and ready for a book.

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From the Opinion Page

Democrat Troy Jackson (left) and Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will meet in Portland on Oct. 6 for the first of four televised debates in Maine’s U.S. Senate race. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP; Gabrielle Mannino / News Center Maine

To put the focus on the topics and concerns that matter most to you, the BDN opinion section asked subscribers for their questions for the candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

Opinion: Maine’s candidates for US Senate answer your questions