Bill in Rockland says:Cloudy and calm here at 5:30 this morning though it's a little difficult to tell about the clouds. No stars at any rate. Twenty-four degrees and very quiet.

Jim in Cape Elizabeth says: Under extremely clear skies and sparkling stars (moon), it is a mere 15 degrees this morning with a northeasterly wind lightly blowing. It looks like it will be a great day, this second day of school vacation week. May everyone have a terrific day and if you happen to be going
to the Renee Fleming concert this evening, prepare to be WOWED! Until
tomorrow.......

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TRAVELIN' DOWN THAT ROAD:

In other words, Capisic Street this morning won't be much of a shortcut.

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• ALSO CLOSED IN PORTLAND TODAY is the inbound traffic side of Read Street (between Canco Road and Ocean Avenue) in Portland from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. while the Portland Water District repairs a defective valve. This goes for tomorrow, too.

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ON THE OCEAN:

High tide was at 4:42 a.m. and will be again at 5:28 p.m. Low tide is at 11:15 a.m. and then again at 11:22 p.m.

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IN THE NEWS:

MADAWASKA (AP) -- Between 500 and 600 workers at a northern Maine paper mill are being temporarily laid off because of declining demand.

Fraser Papers spokesman Bill Peterson said the furlough will begin next week and last for 10 to 14 days. By the end of next week, only 112 of the mill's 712 workers might be left to work two of the mill's six papermaking machines.

Peterson said the other machines are expected to resume operating by March 9.

The company recently implemented a policy of running machines only with confirmed orders in hand as it deals with the global economic slowdown and fluctuating paper demand.

Earlier this month, Fraser furloughed about 140 workers at its East Millinocket mill for 28 days.

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OLD TOWN -- Officials say alcohol may have been a factor in the death of University of Maine student who was found unresponsive at a house in Old Town.

Old Town police said at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, 19-year-old Dylan Lyford of Milo was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he was pronounced dead. Lyford was a first-year chemical engineering student who lived in a dormitory on the nearby University of Maine campus in Orono.

Robert Dana, the university's vice president of student affairs, said university officials have been told alcohol was involved. If reports of alcohol are true, he said it "compounds the tragedy."

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AUGUSTA -- The state medical examiner this morning may have some more information on what caused the death of Coast Guard Cmdr. Keith Willis, who was found dead Sunday on board the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma at its home port in Kittery.

Cmdr. Willis was the commanding officer of the ship. The latest full report on the death of Cmdr Willis is in today's paper, which can be read by clicking this link.

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COMING UP:

IN PORTLAND -- The Forest Ecology Network (clickable link) is holding a press conference at 10:45 a.m. today in City Hall's State of Maine Room to announce the need to step up programs for reforestation.

According to a release, "At the press conference, The Forest Ecology Network will outline the current and potential carbon storage capacity of the Maine Woods as well as point out how forest practices need to change in order to maximize carbon sequestration potential."

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STATEWIDE -- It's Bob Crowley Day. Again.

But this time, it is a Maine-wide observation. The South Portland City Council proclaimed Jan. 6 as "Bob Crowley Day" after Crowley, a South Portland resident, was proclaimed the $1 million winner on the TV show "Survivor."

With his Maine style, Crowley beat out 17 other contestants to take home the top prize. At 11 a.m. today, Gov. John Baldacci will welcome Crowley into his office and bestow upon him the honor of having his own day.

I wonder if refreshments will be served. Maybe "Gabon Pears," rice and coffee?

Press Herald file photo of Bob Crowley, Survivor winner, during a rally at Gorham High School, where he teaches physics when not living off the land.

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THE GOOD NEWS:

Here's one of those stories, where even when you lose, you end up winning.

Shortly after running the 12th annual Myrtle Beach Marathon (that's in South Carolina), Greg Richards of Scarborough got behind a banner and waited nervously for his girlfriend to pass through the finish line.

When she did, she was greeted with a banner that said this:

""Michelle Merrill, Will you marry me? Love, Greg."

Want to know what she said? Click this link to find out, which will redirect you to the Sun News in Myrtle Beach, which has a full report of the story.

Which place did they take in marathon, you wonder?

First, in my opinion.

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ALSO.... The University of Maine and Syracuse University have signed a contract for their football teams to play each other in the upcoming season.

Maine Athletic Director Blake James announced Monday that the game will be played Sept. 26 in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.

The Syracuse game was scheduled after Florida State backed out of a scheduled Sept. 5 contest against Maine so the Seminoles could play rival Miami on Sept. 7. Maine will receive a $450,000 guarantee for the Syracuse game, the same amount it would have received for playing Florida State. (AP)

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