Bill in Rockland says: Not that much wind here at 5:45, but it is cold, only 16 degrees. Some clouds off to the east. Uneventful at the moment.

Shawn in Yarmouth says: It is a very chilly 23 degrees here this morning in Yarmouth. The sky appears to have some thin clouds obscuring the starry sky. The stronger wind from Wednesday seems to have dissipated, which is a welcome change. Time to dig out the hats and mittens and check the snowblowers to make sure they start.

James in Cape Elizabeth says: Yowsers.....it is cold this morning. At 6 a.m., it was a mere 15 degrees here in Cape Elizabeth. No discernible wind but what a sunrise forming. Red Skies in the Morning, Sailor take Warning. Perhaps inclement weather is on its way? Thursday is upon us which means that one more day until Friday...Yippee!!! Enjoy....

Mark in Brunswick says: 18 degrees right now and it has actually gotten WARMER since I have gotten up. Cloudy skies are overhead as well, and thankfully it looks as though the wind blew itself out last night.

____________________________________________________________

ON THE ROAD:

• ON THE MAINE TURNPIKE between miles 34 and 35 in Saco northbound, double-lane closures are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement repair. Motorists may incur brief delays, but the shoulder will be open for travel.
_____________________________________________________________

ON THE OCEAN:

The winds, still cold, come from the west, blowing 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Seas 1 to 2 feet.

High tide in Portland: 5:03 p.m. Low tide: 10:47 a.m. and 11:25 p.m.

_____________________________________________________________

THE NEWEST NEWS:

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- New Hampshire state police say three Mainers, including the mother of a 1-year-old girl, were recently involved in drug trafficking over the border.

Twenty-year-old Alicia Kelley of Westbrook appeared Wednesday in Portsmouth District Court on a felony count of drug possession. Police described the young mom as a drug mule for a pair of drug traffickers.

Police say Kelley and two others traveled to Massachusetts by car to buy cocaine. When the car was stopped on I-95 for speeding, police say Kelley hid the drugs in a body cavity.

Also charged were Kelley's boyfriend, 22-year-old Bryant Hogan of Portland, who was out on bail at the time of his arrest. The driver of the car, 26-year-old Paul Sans of Scarborough, faces a charge of being as a fugitive from justice in addition to drug charges. (AP)

– – – – – – – – –

AUGUSTA -- The University of Maine of Augusta today will cut the ribbon and celebrate the renaming of its student center.

The "Richard J. Randall Student Center" is renamed for former president Richard Randall who died in early June after serving the college more than 40 years as dean, provost and then president.

The dedication is apt to be very emotional, as Randall's friends, colleagues and family members will share memories and remembrances.

Artist rendering of the Richard J. Randall Center provided by the University of Maine at Augusta.

FROM OUR NEWS PARTNERS:

• The Bangor Daily News has a story today about a man from Belfast who was arrested yesterday for running an illegal used car lot from his Main Street dooryard. That story can be read by CLICKING HERE:

_____________________________________________________________

OF NOTE TODAY:

IN AUBURN -- The ribbon will be cut today for a hangar built by Lufthansa for the overhaul of a rare Super Constellation Starliner.

The German airline actually bought three of the rare airplanes last year from local aviation enthusiast, Maurice Roundy. It contracted Lufthansa Technik to restore one aircraft back into flying condition using parts from the other two.

Hundreds of Constellations, known affectionately as the "Connie," were produced by Lockheed in the 1940s and 1950s. But only 44 Super Constellations were built. Two of Roundy's were used by Trans World Airlines and the third was used by Lufthansa. (AP)

To learn more about Roundy and to see pictures of his salvaged "Connies" (as they were affectionately known) you can click this link to be directed to a website dedicated to the preservation of these once luxurious liners.

– – – – – – – – –

IN PORTLAND -- The Downtown Portland Corporation will present its 13th annual business awards to three local businesses that officials say have played a major role in developing Portland's downtown.

Awards are going to Richard Berman, a real estate developer in Portland will be honored with the 2008 Economic Development Achievement Award; Pierce Promotions, a national marketing firm from Portland will receive the 2008 Business of the Year Award. And Ready Seafood, located on Hobson's Wharf will be awarded the 2008 Small Business Award.

The celebration takes place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Gulf of Maine research Institute, 350 Commercial St. in Portland.

ALSO IN PORTLAND -- The Kiwanis Club and the city today will ask Portland residents to give back to their community.

How, you ask? By adopting a fire hydrant or catch basin to keep clean this winter or by getting involved with the Seniors' Triad Shoveling Project.

We all know how hard it is to get out the door when a snowstorm hits. But imagine how much harder it would be if you were a firefighter trying to dig out a fire hydrant in the midst of an emergency. Or a elderly person who is too weak to shovel snow...

The official announcement will be held at 11:30 a.m. today at City Hall.

But you don't have to wait until then to sign up. If you visit the city's volunteer list Webpage, (get there by clicking here) you can find out all you need to know about signing up for any of these worthy winter volunteer opportunities.

File Photo by Derek Davis
In this photo taken during the winter of 2005, Lt. Creed Ray of the Portland Fire Department digs out a fire hydrant deeply buried in snow with fellow firefighters on Lancaster Street in Portland.
_____________________________________________________________

THE GOOD NEWS:

If you're a beer lover, you already know it's good. But now, Shipyard Brewing Company's Pumpkinhead Ale will be known world-wide as a great beer after taking home a silver award at the 2008 European Beer Star competition in Nuremberg, Germany.

The ale was taste-tested by more than 65 international beer judges, who tasted a total of 688 beers from 32 countries. Shipyard Brewing Company was one of only 16 U.S. breweries to be honored with an award.

The majority of the beers in the competition came from Germany, the home of Octoberfest and all that is beer.

So, from Maine to the judges in Nuremberg: Danke schön and cheers!

– – – – – – – – –

IN BANGOR -- The historical landmark, the Thomas Hill Standpipe, will be honored today by the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who will present a plaque recognizing the water tower as a significant state historic civil engineering landmark.

The standpipe (seen at right) was built in 1897. It is a riveted steel tank 75 feet around, 50-feet tall and capable of storing 1.75 million gallons of drinking water.

It is already on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. This Wikipedia link can tell you more about the standpipe which is still used by the Bangor Water District.

Copyright 2008 Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.