Communities to be grateful for Westbrook, what a great town. I grew up in Westbrook in the 1950s and early ’60s and the town was hopping. If you were downtown in the village you seemed to know everybody. It sure was bustling to say the least. You could hang out at Vallee’s for a root […]
American Journal Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Northern Forecaster
EDITORIAL: At our doorstep, unspeakable horror
The horrors of terrorism can seem so far away, whether it’s the 13 years since Sept. 11, 2001, or the thousands of miles between Maine and the more recent attacks. Then, in an instant, it’s at your front door. “I was looking right in the direction. I was headed back toward the finish line and […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
POLITICS AND OTHER MISTAKES: Old and in the way
There’s only one drawback to getting rid of county government in Maine. The state would be overrun with unemployed old coots. In the past half-century, women and young people have become more prevalent in every level of politics – with the notable exception of counties. There the power structure is still beholden to the forces […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly
POLITICS AND OTHER MISTAKES: Old and in the way
There’s only one drawback to getting rid of county government in Maine. The state would be overrun with unemployed old coots. In the past half-century, women and young people have become more prevalent in every level of politics – with the notable exception of counties. There the power structure is still beholden to the forces […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
LETTERS: Westbrook should get its priorities straight
I am writing to express my concern at not one, but two articles in the April 4 edition of the American Journal. The first that caught my attention was the front page article announcing that the city and school finance departments have not been able to find a way to merge into one, costing myself […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Northern Forecaster, Web
EDITORIAL: Missteps show challenge of consolidation
Consolidating services has long been seen as a solution for Maine’s high tax burden. Gov. John Baldacci pushed through sweeping reform of school districts during his two terms, and would have moved on to local and county government if the first step hadn’t been met with such resistance. Gov. Paul LePage has picked up the […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Northern Forecaster, Web
POLITICS AND OTHER MISTAKES: Talk it to death
Eliot Cutler is a bigger boob than Paul LePage. LePage, Maine’s Republican governor, throws infantile tantrums and has the political awareness of deep-fried hake. Even when he’s right on the issues (and he often is), his haphazard approach usually renders him ineffective and, sometimes, counterproductive. If LePage is on your side, you start at a […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Paris hires sheep to mow the city’s lawns
Will tourists soon see flocks of baaing sheep at the Eiffel Tower and bleating ewes by Notre Dame cathedral? That could be the case, after Paris City Hall last week installed a small flock of sheep to mow the lawn at the city’s gardens, replacing gas-guzzling lawnmowers. Four woolly ewes are currently munching the grass […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Paris hires sheep to mow the city’s lawns
Will tourists soon see flocks of baaing sheep at the Eiffel Tower and bleating ewes by Notre Dame cathedral? That could be the case, after Paris City Hall last week installed a small flock of sheep to mow the lawn at the city’s gardens, replacing gas-guzzling lawnmowers. Four woolly ewes are currently munching the grass […]
Posted inAmerican Journal
Maine delegation urges no shift cuts for Bangor airport
A letter calls upon the FAA to keep the airport air traffic control tower open around the clock.