If John Balentine’s goal is to get reaction to his columns in The Forecaster, well, to borrow a phrase from one of his two favorite 21st century presidents: Mission accomplished. The Northern Forecaster’s July 15 issue ran four letters and one full-length guest editorial that took aim at (and issue with) his expressed views on […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: My Olympic frustrations abound
I’ve always loved the Olympics. I wanted to be an Olympian when I was younger. But of course that didn’t happen. My lack of stick-to-it-tiveness instead won out. But while I’ll never be an Olympian, I enjoy watching all the people who have stuck to their training regimens and catapulted themselves to the Olympic level. […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: A spectrum of septic systems, access
A recent “homeowner-style event” at my house, I’ll spare you the details, got me thinking about septic systems. I know, not exactly the most glamorous of topics, and perhaps if you are currently snacking, you want to read this piece later. But, like the title of the much beloved children’s book makes clear, everyone poops. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Practice inner and outer kindness
Someone recently asked me, “What do you worry about?” I worry that we will forget to be kind. At the end of his broadcast, Lester Holt urges, “Take care of yourselves and each other.” Sometimes I hear it as “Take care of eeee chuthur.” Sometimes I laugh. Then I realize that I worry about this […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Over Easy: One last column
Dear reader: When J.D. Salinger retired many years ago, he announced that he wasn’t planning to stop writing completely, but he was no longer going to write “for publication.” Of course, being a famous and wealthy writer already, it’s not too long a jump for him to cut the cord of crass commercialism, as his […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: A greener future could be our lot in life
What a strange, strange summer! Several record-breaking heat waves followed by a downright chilly Fourth of July. Strange. Out west, roads are buckling and berries are literally cooking while still on the bush. Drought, health warnings, wildfires, crops dying. Climate change is no longer a looming threat. It’s here. According to Climate Central, “By 2050, […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: The Eid of the vaccinated
There is a different calendar Muslims around the globe are looking at this week. The Islamic lunar calendar, called the Hijri. We are in the month of Dhul-Hijja, which is the time of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The 10th of Dhul-Hijja, which is July 20, is the beginning of the celebration of […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Food Service team essential to learning
Our main job as a school district is to educate students, but they can’t do their best learning if they’re hungry. That’s why our Food Service team is such an integral part of our educational mission. More than half the students who attend Portland Public Schools come from food-insecure families. They depend on the thousands […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Appreciating life’s moments
I sit on gray stones at half-tide on Maine’s stunning rocky coast. Golden rays shine on blue water. The same sun greens the tree-lined shore. I read Mary Oliver’s poem, “Summer Day”: I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Forum: We are all ‘real’ Americans
John Balentine recently defined the role of government under our Constitution as follows: “Our government’s lone job is to ensure individual rights to speech, worship, peaceable assembly, private property and a host of other liberties” (“Here’s Something: Do you still desire freedom?”, July 1). Lone job? The Preamble of the Constitution laid out quite clearly […]