Called one of America’s Classics, the farm-to-table cafe wowed the judges to capture the prestigious honor.
Steve Collins
Columnist
Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Legislature considers whether pit bull owners should pay higher insurance premiums
Lawmakers consider pro and con arguments for allowing insurers to discriminate against some dog breeds.
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Posted inSchools and Education
University of Maine at Farmington may slash most of its part-time faculty
After laying off nine members of its full-time faculty last spring, the university is eyeing a plan to eliminate ‘most adjunct faculty at the undergraduate level.’
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
‘Reprehensible comment’ to Black tenant lands Auburn Housing Authority in hot water
Maine Human Rights Commission rules that the authority and one of its workers discriminated against a Black tenant amid a dispute over her water-damaged, mold-filled apartment last summer.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Efficiency Maine may add electric bikes to its rebate program
Boosters say more e-bikes will help Maine meet climate action goals and help Mainers get around.
Posted inMaine
Push made for full funding for Maine Climate Corps
Legislators are considering whether to bolster the corps’ ranks with $3.7 million to pay for four leadership positions and 50 participants.
Posted inMaine, News
Lawmakers urged to increase funding to protect Maine’s many lakes
Environmentalists hail plan to allocate $18 million in additional funds to boost water quality projects for Maine’s lakes
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, News
State panel backs creation of new rail trail between Auburn and Portland
Rail Use Advisory Council endorses a 26-mile path for bicycles and pedestrians along an unused rail corridor.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Democratic Blue Dogs like Jared Golden can still bark, but can they bite?
Maine’s 2nd District lawmaker sees hope for compromise and progress in a narrowly divided, Republican-controlled U.S. House
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Museum L-A snags federal funds for a new facility near Androscoggin River
A challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities offers a boost for plan that may allow construction to start next year.