It was 1972 and the war in Vietnam had come to a standstill as peace talks took place in Paris. Both sides were supposedly putting down their arms waiting for some kind of truce to push through the rotting remains of past attempts at a peaceful ending. At that time I was teaching at the […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Through My Lens: Immigrants need more access to winter sports
Winter is so much fun in Maine. That is, only if you enjoy Maine winter sports. But these sports are not shared by Maine’s newest citizens or to-be citizens. It is an expensive sports season. If you’ve ever visited Portland’s Back Cove on summer afternoons, you may remember the crowd of diverse communities playing soccer […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Be the change you want to see
Full disclaimer: I am not Danish. Not even a little bit. In fact, if the genetic profile company is to be believed, the closest I get is a small bit of Dutch on my mother’s side. (In all honesty, the coolest thing from that profile is that I am also a higher-than-average percentage of Neanderthal! […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: True faith is all around us
Every so often, there is something or other I really want to write about, but I don’t. Maybe because it seems silly, maybe because I don’t know if anyone else will care, maybe because it feels overwhelming. I’ve had a few of those recently. Sometimes though, things align so perfectly a person just can’t ignore […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Be like Rush, a happy warrior
The loss of talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh last week is devastating to political conservatives. But it’s a loss to liberals, socialists, progressives and moderates as well. That’s because we all lost a happy warrior when Rush died the morning of Feb. 17. And the loss of a happy warrior is a setback for anyone […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: The day everything changes
Does it take upheaval to wake us up? It can happen at any time. It can happen in a pandemic. It can happen as politics go on as usual or not so usual. It can happen as the world swirls in climate chaos. You’ve gone along, existing, for all your years. You’ve thought that life […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Over Easy: My friend Mike
It took years for me to find out that Michael Fessier Jr. was no longer with us. According to an online news site, he succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2014. I’m writing about Mike Fessier because when I was just starting out in the writing game in the early 1960s, I was in a situation […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Biden should step up efforts to end war in Yemen
Think about this number: 400,000 children under age 5 in Yemen could die of starvation this year, according to the United Nations. The entwining of wars and COVID-19 has multiplied the magnitude of death. President Biden earlier this month announced an end to U.S. support for an offensive in Yemen, but what does this mean? […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Start a new Valentine’s Day tradition
Well. At least it’s over, yeah? We can all collectively move on from the angst, the suspense, the worry. Oh. Oh no, I didn’t mean the impeachment trial. That, I suspect, we will live with for a while yet. I meant Valentine’s Day, the most dreaded of holidays on the annual calendar. OK, OK, maybe […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: Parent community specialists are lifelines between families and schools
My columns this year are showcasing members of our outstanding Portland Public Schools staff. This month, I’m focusing on the vital work of our parent community specialists. Parents are our partners. Research shows students do better in school when their parents are involved in their education. But it’s hard to engage with your child’s school […]