One of Maine's last remaining large paper mills will stop operating for a month as the global market for pulp has softened.

Operations at Woodland Pulp and St. Croix Chipping mills in Baileyville will wind down Nov. 20. Woodland Pulp spokesperson Scott Beal said about 150 workers will be temporarily laid off as a result.

"We've had some market-related downtime sporadically over the years," Beal said in an interview Friday. "It's a cyclical business, and sometimes this is the best decision to make when you're in a trough such as we are right now with respect to the global pulp market."

The mill is scheduled to reopen Dec. 17.

"Unfortunately it also coincides with the holidays, right before Christmas, during Thanksgiving. It's leaving a bad taste in the members' mouths," said Shawn Howla

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