News
Centennial Fundraising Campaign Launches with $250,000 Goal for Ice-Out 100th Celebration
The Ice-Out 100th Anniversary Committee launches a capital campaign to fund the 2027 centennial celebration, including events, infrastructure, and the commemorative book.
newsStudents as Ambassadors: New Program Trains Willow Creek Youth as Tour Guides
A school-based tourism education program will train high school students to lead tours and staff the future visitor center, preparing the next generation for the tourism economy.
newsPlein Air Painting Weekend Draws 45 Artists from Three States to Willow Creek
Artists set up easels across town for a weekend of outdoor painting, turning Willow Creek into a living studio and drawing visitors who watched them work.
newsMaine Beer Trail Adds Willow Creek Stop as The Dry Dock Earns Recognition
The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend becomes the first Willow Creek establishment listed on the official Maine Beer Trail, a boost for craft beverage tourism.
newsWillow Creek Custom Flooring Lands $340,000 Historic Restoration Contract
The 40-employee mill will produce custom-milled maple flooring for a National Register property in Bangor, marking one of its largest contracts in years.
newsThe Dry Dock Announces New Winter Events Series to Extend Season
Dean Moreau will launch a winter dinner series featuring guest chefs from across Maine, aiming to draw visitors during the quietest months of the year.
newsWillow Creek VFD Receives $47,000 State Grant for Rescue Equipment
The volunteer fire department will use the funding to replace aging extrication tools and purchase new turnout gear for its 18-member roster.
newsTown Clerk Margaret Hollis Files for Re-Election, Seeks Fifth Term
Hollis, who has served since 2014 and won her last election with 92% of the vote, will appear on the March town ballot unopposed.
newsIce-Out Watch Begins: Homan's Pond Still Frozen as Predictions Pour In
The 99th annual Willow Creek Ice-Out competition is underway, with entries flooding the town clerk's office and Amos Homan tipped as the favorite once again.
newsVance Proposes Tax Incentive Program for Main Street Vacant Storefronts
Second Selectwoman Eleanor Vance unveiled a proposal offering property tax abatements to businesses willing to occupy seven empty Main Street storefronts.
newsPond Road Bridge Repairs Set to Begin June 1, Detour Planned
The town will close the Pond Road bridge for two weeks to repair deteriorating support beams, with a gravel detour via Farr Road.
newsWillow Creek K-8 School Posts Modest Enrollment Gain, First Increase Since 2017
Principal Colleen Desjardins announced that enrollment ticked up by seven students this year — the first increase in nearly a decade.
newsSelectmen Deadlock on Broadband Initiative, Vance Vows to Continue Push
The Board of Selectmen failed to reach consensus on Eleanor Vance's proposed broadband feasibility study, leaving the town's high-speed internet future uncertain.
newsSpring Police Blotter: Rooster on the Loose, Missing Mailbox, and a Car vs. Moose
Deputy Patty LaFleur's latest police log brings the usual seasonal mix of wildlife encounters and neighborly disputes.
newsTown Hall Budget Hearing Draws Record Crowd Over School Funding Questions
Residents packed the community hall for the annual budget hearing, with school funding and road maintenance emerging as the most contentious line items.
newsWinter Roads Committee Wraps Up Season, Praises Improved Plowing Response
Fewer complaints and faster response times characterized this past winter, the roads committee reported, though salt costs continue to climb.
newsNorthwoods Outfitters Launches Paddling Guide Certification Program to Meet Growing Demand
A new professional certification program aims to train local paddling guides as interest in river tours along the Mattawamkeag grows.
newsIce-Out 100: Commemorative Book Project Aims to Capture a Century of Homan's Pond Tradition
The town historian and a team of volunteers begin compiling a commemorative book documenting 100 years of Ice-Out celebrations in Willow Creek.
newsArtists Cooperative Gallery Opens on Main Street, Filling Another Vacant Storefront
A collective of 12 local artists opens River Bend Gallery, bringing fine art and studio space to downtown Willow Creek in another sign of the town's cultural revival.
newsNordic Cup Cross-Country Ski Race Becomes Annual Regional Event After Successful Debut
After a strong inaugural turnout, the Mattawamkeag River Trail Nordic Cup is officially added to the annual schedule of northeastern ski racing events.