The South Portland author’s latest book, ‘Help Wanted: One Rooster,’ depicts a struggling farm and the farm’s search for a rooster to help make things right. Plus a few other Maine reads for your kids this summer.
Ray Routhier
Staff Writer
Ray Routhier has written about pop culture, movies, TV, music and lifestyle trends for the Portland Press Herald since 1993. He is continually fascinated with stories that show the unique character of Maine’s people and places. He’s written about why so many businesses use the made-up word “Mainely” in their names, how you can trace Portland’s history through its various smells and why Mainers lament the loss of Portland-made B&M baked beans. He’s interviewed a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, musicians and authors, including Patrick Dempsey, Tony Shalhoub, Richard Russo, Tess Gerritsen, Tony Bennett, Anna Kendrick, and Stephen King. His passions, besides writing, include baseball history, old movies and “Jeopardy!” A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in South Portland with his wife and two children.
Singer and Broadway star Jane Morgan celebrating 100th birthday in Ogunquit
A longtime Kennebunkport summer resident who made hit records and sang on Broadway, Morgan will talk about her long career at an event at Ogunquit Playhouse on Monday.
Boothbay Harbor couple got to know Maine by visiting every post office
Over 12 years, Margit Ahlin and Al D’Andrea made treks to 444 post offices, including on islands and in convenience stores.
Pulitzer-winning journalist made sure to get Maine right in new crime novel
Tom Ricks, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has a home on Deer Isle, set the mystery ‘Everyone Knows But You’ in coastal Maine.
First Windham and Raymond Pride event goes on, with a drag show after all
Organizers of the family-oriented festival canceled scheduled drag performances last week because of threats, but Letta the Queen decided the show must go on.
See who won this year’s Maine Literary Awards
The Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance gave out the annual awards Thursday at a ceremony in Rockport.
Don McLean’s appearance at White House dinner sends ‘dangerous’ message about domestic violence, ex-wife says
Patrisha McLean criticizes the Biden administration for inviting the singer best known for his 1971 hit ‘American Pie.’
‘American Idol’ star Julia Gagnon to pursue a career in music, starting with a Maine tour
The 22-year-old singer from Cumberland will perform at the Moxie Festival and 15 or more other Maine venues this summer. She also hopes to record a new song about Maine.
Jack McMorrow’s Maine mystery-solving days are numbered
Author and former Maine newspaper reporter Gerry Boyle has decided to end his Jack McMorrow series after 31 years and 14 books. The last one, ‘Hard Line,’ goes on sale June 11.
Mainers surprised, delighted by unusually strong northern lights show
One of the strongest solar storms in the last 20 years produced a brightly colored night sky that was seen across much of the U.S., including the Pine Tree State, on Friday night. There’s a chance that colorful conditions could continue throughout the weekend.