Robert McLaughlin

Happy New Year! As the 2026 Hearts season gets closer with each passing minute, here are a few narratives to watch as we get into the most active part of the off-season.

The Dirigo Union will be hosting its second Annual Meeting at Bunker Brewing in Portland on 1/17. This will be an event full of fun and a little bit of business. Things will kick-off at 2:00 PM with a social hour with a presentation by the 2025 board to follow at 3:00. A community potluck will follow. Other big things happening that day include: The DU Chili Cook-Off For the second-year running, the DU will host a chili cook-off. Contestants will serve a crock-pot (or equivalent vessel) of...

Photo Courtesy of Chris Linscott With any team sports, trying to pick a most valuable player is a difficult choice. Even for those steeped in the complexities of football - the tactics, the athleticism, the confidence required – trying discern the actual “best” often leads to a raucous debate. With voting ongoing for the Hearts of Pine Supporter's Player of the Year, the State of the Union has taken a dive into some of the most consequential players on the roster this season. Here we list...