Jessica Lowell

Kennebec Journal

Jessica Lowell covers business and economic development and general news in the Gardiner area. After short but intense aspirations to be an opera singer (age 4) and a deep-sea diver (age 6) her most enduring passion has been telling stories. A University of Maine graduate, she worked for newspapers in New Hampshire, upstate New York and Wyoming, where she has won awards for investigative and explanatory journalism. She’s a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. After several years out of journalism, she returned to Maine and to writing, where she spends her free time enjoying both trees and the ocean, two commodities that Wyoming lacks.

Latest

Published
October 15, 2021

From New Zealand to Gardiner: City hires new library director with experience all over the world

For Justin Hoenke, the move to take on the Gardiner Public Library director’s job is like returning home, but the trip for him and his family will be a long one as they relocate from Wellington, New Zealand.
Published
October 13, 2021

Frustration erupts over lack of detail in controversial Gardiner housing development plan

More than a year after developer Paul Boghossian first introduced his plan to redevelop the former Gardiner Family Medicine site, the city’s Planning Board members say they don’t have clear idea of what the project entails.
Published
October 12, 2021

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife relocating headquarters to downtown Augusta

Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is slated to move to 353 Water St. later this month, consolidating office and storage space for the state department.
Published
October 11, 2021

Lilac on the River becomes downtown Augusta’s latest pop-up shop

Owner Kim Phinney says she planned the venture as a way to open a bakery and offer food to downtown workers and residents.
Published
October 9, 2021

Shifting lines: Redistricting in Kennebec County splits its towns again

While all other counties are left intact when determining the boundaries of congressional districts, Kennebec County has been the only county in recent decades to be split when redrawing districts.
Published
October 7, 2021

Gardiner to continue city manager search after candidate withdraws

Mayor Patricia Hart said Thursday the city manager position will be advertised again after Christopher Ryan notified city officials he was withdrawing himself from consideration.
Published
October 7, 2021

Gardiner City Council appoints Kathy Brown to fill vacant council seat

Kathy Brown, who moved to Gardiner with her husband a year ago, said she wants to work on drawing her fellow newcomers into making contributions as well as helping to develop the city’s downtown.
Published
October 6, 2021

Kennebec County names new administrator

Scott Ferguson, a finance director for the Maine state government, will begin his new following the retirement later this month of Robert Devlin, Kennebec County’s first county administrator for almost two decades.
Published
October 1, 2021

Gardiner resale shop to reorganize, seeks more volunteers

The United Methodist Clothes Closet needs more volunteers to carry on its work in its resale shop that’s been operating in Gardiner for 17 years.
Published
September 30, 2021

Gardiner to host Maine Craft Weekend events showcasing local artisans, businesses

Gardiner is one of six featured cities in the statewide event and has coordinated citywide events to showcase locally made work and give people a chance to visit where the work is made.