Bangor, Maine News Update: May 31, 2018

Traffic on the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge was shut down at around 8:00 last night while crews dealt with a fire on North Main Street in Brewer. When crews arrived, flames were visible from the third floor of the building that contains private apartments and the offices of Penobscot Property Management. No one was hurt and, so far, officials don’t know how the fire started.

911 calls from Bangor residents will now be routed to the Penobscot Regional Communications Center. Bangor Police will still have their own dispatch center to handle all other calls, but sending the emergency calls to the PRCC will save the city money.

The Maine Department of Labor is encouraging teens to join the summer workforce, stating that it helps build character and important life skills. Commissioner John Butera says there are plenty of jobs out there and that it’s time for teens to start reaping the benefits of summer employment.

Downtown Bangor will soon be decorated with some unusual artwork, as three local artists will be installing wheat paste art projects. The artwork will be up to 30 feet in size and will adorn the sides of buildings, to dress up the downtown area, and to call attention to the city’s art collective. The plan is to leave them up all summer, and take them down in the fall.

A softball tournament in Bangor this Saturday will benefit Team Mimi, a non-profit organization that raises money for local cancer research. 17-year-old Tommy Hosmer started the tournament at 10 years old and named it after his grandmother, who died of ovarian cancer. Find more information on the Facebook page for Team Mimi’s Annual Softball Tournament.