Daily editionSunday, January 4th, 2026
Good morning, Portland.
The Daily Portland Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 4th of January.
Business
A Maine-based apparel company reported a surge in notifications after a widely shared photo showed captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro wearing its light blue hoodie in New York on Saturday.
CEO Peter Roberts said he thinks the hoodie belonged to a DEA agent (the company is headquartered in Farmington).
WMTWRead more
Culture
The International Cryptozoology Museum announced it will move from Thompson's Point to Bangor on April 1.
The museum, which has been in Portland for more than 20 years, houses thousands of artifacts from Bigfoot to the Abominable Snowman.
WMTWRead more
Environment
Maine Audubon naturalists promote healthy resolutions for the new year by encouraging residents to use the Merlin Bird ID app, submit complete eBird checklists, and join local bird walks.
Naturalist Doug Hitchcox hosts free walks every Thursday (8 a.m.) at Gilsland Farm, and community projects will support local wildlife habitat.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Health
Hannaford in Lincoln is recalling packages of its 80 and 85% lean ground beef purchased Friday from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. due to potential foreign material, and shoppers are urged to return the products for a full refund; no illness has been reported.
WGMERead more
Sports
Bowdoin won the inaugural Maine Lobster Pot hockey tournament by defeating UNE 6-2 in the championship game (held at the Family Ice Center in Falmouth on Saturday).
WGMERead more
Bowdoin’s men’s hockey team won the inaugural Lobster Pot tournament by scoring four goals in the third period Saturday night at Falmouth’s Family Ice Center — they beat UNE 6 to 2.
Goalie Jacob Osbourne made 31 saves and was named tournament MVP.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Saturday night, Jalen Bridges made a go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Maine Celtics a 112-109 overtime win at the Portland Expo — Amari Williams led with a career-high 33 points and 16 rebounds.
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Bowdoin won the inaugural Maine Lobster Pot hockey tournament with a 6-2 victory over UNE on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Family Ice Center in Falmouth.
Four Division III teams competed in the event.
WGMERead more
Bowdoin won the inaugural Lobster Pot tournament at Family Ice Center in Falmouth this weekend.
The team beat UNI 6 to 2 with Bryce Bollman scoring and Jacob Osbourne making 31 saves.
WMTWRead more
Massabesic junior Evan Boulard won the Noble Invitational and Sanford Wrestling Annual Tournament despite dislocating his left thumb during a 7-0 Sanford final win; he taped it up and boosted his season record to 21-0 on Saturday.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Cheverus boys basketball picked up a 59-48 win over Westbrook last Saturday in Portland, with freshman Khaelon Watkins scoring 23 points, including three three-pointers that powered the team's record improvement to 3-5 in the Class A South game.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
The Cheverus/Yarmouth boys hockey team beat Edward Little 2-0 Saturday night at Norway Savings Bank Arena and improved to five wins in a row after avenging a season-opener loss with goals from Hakon Yeo and John Bechard.
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High school track and field athletes from Maine and New Hampshire competed at the USM New Year's Invitational on Saturday in Gorham where a meet record was set in the boys' pole vault and winners emerged in several races.
WMTWRead more
Maine men's basketball lost to Bryant (56-51) Saturday afternoon in Orono as a fourth-quarter comeback fell short in a rematch of last year's championship game, with T.J. Biel leading the team with 20 points and a 31.6 percent field goal rate.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Portland Events
LAST CALL Comedy Showcase
Saturday, January 10th, 2026 · 9:30 PM — Empire Comedy Club — $10 — Enjoy a fast-paced showcase featuring local and visiting stand-up comics with drink specials.
Primal Soup (Phish Tribute) Live Performance
Friday, January 16th, 2026 · 8-11:30 p.m. — Bayside Bowl — $15 adv, $25 door — Maine's premiere Phish tribute act returns for an all-ages show.
Script Club – Lend Me a Tenor
Saturday, January 17th, 2026 · 1:30-2:30 p.m. — Portland Public Library — Free entry — Engage in a lively discussion of 'Lend Me a Tenor' moderated by Portland Stage’s Literary Manager Todd Brian Backus.
Bess Jacques & The Strays Concert
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 · 7-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Tickets required — Experience a fusion of jazz, Americana, and more with Bess Jacques & The Strays.
Winter Concert Series: Sigrid Sibley & Shannon Allen
Friday, January 23rd, 2026 · 7-8:30 p.m. — Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village — Ticket details not provided — Experience beautiful acoustic music in support of local cultural arts.
Higher Ground - A Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Saturday, January 24th, 2026 · 8-11 p.m. — Portland House Of Music and Events — Ticket prices vary — Experience New England’s premier soul band pay homage to the legends of soul music.
Burns Night Celebration
Sunday, January 25th, 2026 · 5-9 p.m. — Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant — Ticketed event — Celebrate Scotland's beloved poet with traditional food, live music, and cask beer.
Wild Pink Live with Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields
Monday, January 26th, 2026 · 7:30-10:30 p.m. — SPACE Gallery — Cost info not provided — Experience the explosive rustic rock of Wild Pink alongside Portland's own Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields.
Community Bake at Flatbread Company Portland
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 · 5-9 p.m. — Flatbread Company — Portion of proceeds to support MOFGA — Celebrate local food and gather educational resources while enjoying delicious flatbreads.
Contra Dance Night with Stomp Rocket
Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 · 7-10 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — $15-$20 admission — Experience a lively evening of contra dancing with live music to warm you up from the winter chill.