The new school year is well underway, and along with adjusting to hectic schedules, starting new after-school activities and taking adorable back-to-school photos (my wife and I took more than a few of our new kindergartner), we were hit with a reminder of how much climate change is already impacting our lives. Several schools across […]
Courier Opinion
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Ruralist Lament: Bam bam bamboozled
It was a growing season for the record books, globally the hottest on record: Featuring too much heat and too much rain— nearly a year’s worth over one summer. And as a capper, Covid came calling again. My wife caught it and so I tended to the customers at the vegetable stand. One cucumber-consumer of […]
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Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Summer opens the door to autumn’s approach
A bountiful harvest is nature’s way of reminding us of abundance and possibility.~Author Unknown Small wispy clouds move slowly across a pale blue sky on this late September afternoon. Not far away, a tall white pine stands, its top boughs weighed down heavily by clusters of fat pine cones, which have gone slowly from bright […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Beyond the Headlines: What is county government?
One of my many goals as your county commissioner is to not only bring some added awareness of what is taking place at the county level, but also help the public understand more about what this position entails. In many states, the role of a county commissioner is a very important one. Outside of New […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta: Going back to school
After a long, rainy, and wet summer, the sun is beginning to set earlier each day. The cornstalks and sunflowers stand tall, full of ripe ears of corn and big colorful blooms. It feels like fall in the cool mornings and evenings and like summer for a few warmer hours at midday. Change is in […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Kennebunk Post, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta – Building a brighter future: Advocating for Maine’s education and infrastructure
Having dedicated 25 years to the field of education, including 21 years as a classroom teacher at Wells Elementary School, I am deeply rooted in the power of learning. This commitment stems from a personal understanding of the transformative role education plays in shaping young minds. As a former educator, I’ve had the privilege of […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta: Let’s talk about property taxes
Recently I held office hours at the McArthur Library with fellow Biddeford legislators to hear about issues facing our community. Property taxes, and especially the burden they present to older Mainers, dominated the conversation. We are in the midst of a wildly overheated real estate market. My wife and I bought our house in 2017. […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta: Passing a strong, bipartisan budget
Last month, I shared with you all that the Maine Senate enacted a responsible budget that makes transformational investments in child care, housing and food security, and I also provided an overview of some of these investments. From child care to Paid Family and Medical Leave, these budget initiatives will transform the lives of working […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Kennebunk Post, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta – Maine lawmakers provide relief for seniors
As your senator, I have received questions about what supports my constituents are eligible for. So, I want to lay out what older Mainers should know about recent changes that will impact all of us. This year, Maine lawmakers on both sides of the aisle joined forces to address the issue of property tax relief […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Ruralist Lament: Party’s Over in Soggy Bottom
The folks at the vegetable stand have been asking when the sweet corn will be ready. We have to tell them “later.” We increasingly ping-pong between drought and deluge. The Press Herald carried an AP story today (7/22/23) focusing on New England: “Floods devastated farmers as months of labor, crops swept away.” Connecticut Governor Ned […]