The best-selling author’s recent book, ‘The Stars are Fire,’ was inspired by the wildfires that swept Maine in 1947.
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.
Posted inLife & Culture, Local & State, News
For Mainers, it’s time to talk about their relationship with Facebook
Some break off their engagement while others have mixed feelings after learning the personal data of millions had been used for political gain by Cambridge Analytica.
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Posted inArts & Entertainment, Food & Dining, Life & Culture
For TV food host Andrew Zimmern, Maine is a state of fatherly love and food
An episode of ‘The Zimmern List,’ airing Tuesday on Travel Channel, is all about his and his late father’s favorite places in Maine.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture
Captivated by curling, Maine artist captures the likeness and attention of the U.S. Olympic team
Bruce McMillan tweeted his watercolors to encourage the team in its gold-medal run.
Posted inLife & Culture, Local & State
Move over McDreamy, it’s another Mainer’s era on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
A writer for the long-running medical drama, York native Tameson Duffy, will see her first full episode of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ air Thursday.
Posted inLocal & State, Portland Sea Dogs
Baseball fans balk at ‘bizarre’ new rule in minor leagues to prevent super-long games
A runner will start at second base when teams come to bat in extra innings, to end games faster. Critics fear the rule will be adopted by the major leagues.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics, Schools and Education
Maine high school students to join national walkout for gun control
Inspired by the activism of survivors of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, many of Maine’s organizers are top students who’ve been involved in other social issues.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Life & Culture
Now on tour with ‘Hamilton,’ Maine native makes his way up in musical theater
Sam Bagala, 26, who grew up in Gray, started his career as a teenager at Maine State Music Theatre.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Student robot makers calibrate their skills at statewide tournament
Six teams earn trips to the world championship, but it’s mostly about what the students learn, a judge says.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News
Man in stolen front-end loader forced train to make emergency stop, police say
Police say 2 trains narrowly missed hitting Charles Ayres, 45. who was driving near the tracks in Falmouth.