Recently, in honor of the Fourth of July, I spent some time looking at the Declaration of Independence. It seems only right to spend a moment on the sister document, the Constitution of the United States. Of the two, the Constitution is my favorite. It has a real “roll up your sleeves and get to […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Forum: One-size-fits-all corporate mentality a scourge on state
A century-old Midcoast Maine institution is quietly suffering from a hostile takeover. I have spent my past 12 summers, and as many long weekends as my work-from-home job allows, in Phippsburg, a town suspended in a bygone era, where time goes by a little slower than where I come from. Maybe it’s the early sunrises […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Through My Lens: Termination of affirmative action hurts immigrants and everyone else
The U.S. Supreme Court’s termination last week of affirmative action in college admissions is a devastating blow for Black immigrants pursuing the American dream. It undermines the need for a support system to aid Black and minority students who have hopes of reaching their highest education potential. Having personally experienced education in both Maine and […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Pondering Declaration of Independence concepts in today’s world
Back in the day when the kids were little, my best friend from college brought her family to visit every Fourth of July. This meant, among other things, that on the morning of the Fourth itself, the entire house was woken, bright and very, very early by her husband belting out, “When in the course […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Let’s turn the volume off on Fourth of July fireworks
Setting aside, for now, the complicated origin story, I love the Fourth of July. Cookouts, watermelon, lawn games, swimming holes and a nighttime filled with explosions of color as an entire field of people chorus “ooh” and “ahh” in unison. In the mental scrapbook of my mind, one year stands out particularly. I was about […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Maine boring? There’s an upside to that
Did you see that “study” just released with the headline, “Maine voted most boring state?” OK, I am paraphrasing a bit here because I can’t seem to find the original clickbait that scrolled across my screen, but it was something very much like that. When I first saw the headline, I laughed and just kept […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, The Forecaster
Portland Superintendents’ Notebook: Powerful student voices represent the Class of 2023
We were honored this month to participate in commencement ceremonies for the Portland Public Schools’ three high schools: Portland, Deering and Casco Bay. Each school is unique and their graduation exercises for the more than 400 graduates of the Class of 2023 reflected their distinctive characteristics. However, what all three ceremonies had in common was […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Through My Lens: Celebrate like it’s your birthday every day
June 20th marks both my birthday and World Refugee Day. I intentionally chose the date of my birthday to avoid being swept into the United Nations’ automatic birthday assignment of Jan. 1 for all refugees. Even after an extensive asylum interview and my specific birthdate request in 2011, however, my refugee papers and the so-called […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Old Maine charm still here if we pay attention
The other day, while out doing barn chores, I lucked into hearing the evening replay of Maine Public’s “Maine Calling.” It was an interview with Ron Joseph about his new book, “Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs and Hermit Bill: Memories of a Wildlife Biologist in Maine.” He was hysterical, in a really great way. Ron told […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Forum: Additional Presumpscot River fish ladders vital for younger generation
As a sixth grader, it is important to me to have a voice in the decisions of my community. When all of the dams were built on the Presumpscot River, I wasn’t alive, yet the choices made then are affecting my future. The Presumpscot River has seven dams along its 26-mile path, which stretches from […]