Okay, let's take a moment and breathe, everyone. The Press Herald today reports that the owner of the State Theatre "hopes the 81-year-old theater will be hosting shows within the year." The Associated Press took a version of that story, and the Boston Herald went nuts, saying it "could be reopened within year."

There's no news in either story.

I can't really review the Noriko Sakanishi show at June Fitzpatrick, partly because the schedule doesn't work out, but also because I've written about her a lot over the years. I don't have much that's fresh to say.

Even so, when I got to the show recently, I got more than I expected. I think Sakanishi is one of the best artists working in Maine today, and this is one of the best shows I've seen by her.

Torture in Maine's Prison, November 11, 2005

The video of an "extraction" at the Maine State Prison

Reforming the Supermax, November 18, 2005)

The New England Art Awards, organized by the New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, run by Greg Cook, who is also a Boston Phoenix arts writer, have announced this year's winners, who include several Mainers.

Critics and readers alike voted on the selections. Here are the winners (those from Maine, or regarding exhibits in Maine, are in bold):

Last July, I wrote about a state-government announcement that suggested Maine officials were trying to get companies to replace their inept, formulaic, and unhelpful customer call centers in India with inept, formulaic, and unhelpful call centers here in Maine.

Turns out, I learn from a post citing my 2009 note, Maine's still trying to do that.

Thanks to everyone who came out for last night's Portland's Most Influential reception at Bull Feeney's. It was great to be mashed together in one room (well, three) with so many creative, forward-looking, passionate people. Highlights of my evening included discussing kidnapping schemes with Randy Regier, Lisa Pixley, Chris Campbell, and others; talking astrology with North Star folks; sharing theater stories with Tavia Gilbert; and finally putting faces to names I know well.

Domestic-violence and GLBT-equality activist/organizer Jill Barkley is running for Maine representative; she'll offiically announce her candidacy at the North Star on Sunday (and yes, PPH commenter, the North Star is actually JUST within her hopeful district lines). The 28-year-old, who works as public awareness and policy coordinator at the Maine Coaltion to End Domestic Violence, hoping to represent District 119, a compact zone that covers downtown/Parkside/Bayside and is currently served by longtime politician Herb Adams (his term is up this year).

After promising to seek Clean Election funds, and then failing to collect enough initial contributions to have a shot at qualifying, Green party gubernatorial candidate Lynne Williams has now announced that she "will not use taxpayer funds" for her campaign. Cloaked in objections to the recent changes to the campaign, the message sounds like just about any other politician facing troubles and refusing to admit them honestly.