Kathleen O'Brien

Times Record

Kathleen was born and raised in Portland. She studied at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, before moving back to Maine to begin her journalism career at The Times Record in June 2019. She covers Bath & Bath Iron Works, along with Arrowsic, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, West Bath, Wiscasset and Woolwich. In her free time, Kathleen likes to read, listen to live music, and spend time with family and friends.

Latest

Published
June 8, 2020

Bath shipyard’s largest union threatens strike as contract negotiations falter

“If BIW doesn’t cease its union-busting tactics and come back to the table with a suitable offer, our membership will likely have no other option but to strike,” Chris Weirs, president of Local S6, BIW’s largest union, wrote Monday. “The last thing we want is a strike, but we are prepared to do so if needed.”
Published
June 1, 2020

Maine Maritime Museum reopens in Bath with virus restrictions

Some of the museum’s smaller exhibits remain closed because they don’t allow for physical distancing, but new outside demonstrations of traditional shipbuilding practices including blacksmithing, boatbuilding and nautical carving are available.
Published
May 31, 2020

Lobster roll landmark, Red’s Eats opens in Wiscasset for abnormal season

Saturday marked opening day for Red’s Eats, a landmark seafood shack on Route 1 in Wiscasset.
Published
May 31, 2020

In BIW contract negotiations, union wants wage hikes, shipyard wants to get caught up

Tim Suitter, communications representative for Local S6, said Thursday that a strike is “always on the table” but the union sees it as “a last measure to get a fair contract.”
Published
May 27, 2020

Lobster roll landmark, Red’s Eats to open Saturday

This year, Red’s Eats, a lobster roll landmark in Wiscasset, will open for business on Saturday, May 30, but customers in line will be asked to keep six feet of space between them and others in line.
Published
May 19, 2020

Bath restaurants allowed to open dining rooms, but many are taking it slow

Monday marked the first day since March that restaurants in Sagadahoc County could welcome sit-down diners, but some establishments are choosing to continue with curbside pickup instead.
Published
May 17, 2020

Coastal campgrounds suffer shortened season due to pandemic

Coastal campgrounds are missing out on the usual rush on Memorial Day weekend as they wait for June and July to slowly start bringing in visitors again.
Published
May 11, 2020

BIW workforce returns to ‘pre-COVID levels’ on first day back

Employees were required to come back to work Monday, or request unpaid leave of absence.
Published
May 7, 2020

Forget ‘murder hornets,’ Maine officials warn itch-inducing caterpillars are coming back

Maine Department of Health and Human Services officials are urging the public to take precautions against browntail moth caterpillars, which are covered in toxic hairs that release into the air and can cause a skin reaction like poison ivy and trouble breathing if inhaled.
Published
May 7, 2020

High cost, busy schedule prevented BIW from winning Navy’s frigate contract, analysts say

With the frigate contract lost to Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri, Arleigh Burkes-class destroyers are the only type of ship Bath Iron Works will build for the next decade, save one final Zumwalt class destroyer under construction in Bath.