I dreamt about my mother’s hands last night, her long slim fingers, stunning and smooth in her youth, bony and wrinkled as she aged, black-blue and withered at her death the day after Christmas. In my dream, I saw her rings that my father bought her to honor anniversaries, for Christmas gifts, and as gratitude […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: CMP line poses a dilemma for environmentalists
One thing is clear when it comes to Central Maine Power’s proposed electrical transmission line linking Quebec and Massachusetts via western and southern Maine: It’s a dilemma of epic, and perhaps existential, proportions for Maine environmentalists. For decades we’ve watched as environmentally minded groups and individuals have opposed all sorts of development projects, citing impacts […]
advertisement
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: A regional approach to challenges will help Portland schools thrive
Mainers strongly identify with the cities and towns they live in. We Portlanders, for example, are very proud of our great city and all it has to offer. But Portland didn’t become great all by itself. Portland is the seat of Cumberland County and its success is linked to the success of other cities and […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Superintendent’s Notebook: A beautiful day in our neighborhood
“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” -Fred Rogers I ended 2019 and rang in 2020 watching “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” the movie about Fred Rogers, who was an advocate for children throughout his life. Reflecting on the messages spread by Mr. Rogers […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Loss of Cole Farms also our loss
The new year isn’t going so well. Internationally, Iran is causing waves of worry and fear. Domestically, impeachment looms and stocks teeter as investors contemplate current events. And, here in southern Maine, Cole Farms Restaurant in Gray is closing. What? Why? I understand Trump’s targeting of a man who has caused so much bloodshed in […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: Maine horror stories
Lately, the local news has been filled with horror stories – a child beaten to death by her parents, a boyfriend shot dead by his girlfriend’s brother, a random murder by a young man gone berserk, a young woman disappearing without a trace. None of these tragedies are things I would have been apt to […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Mainewhile: Campaign finance reform could offset greed
Here we are at the start of a new year. A new decade, no less. Fresh beginnings, endless possibilities. Hello, 2020! I am determined to embrace the moment. In addition to my own personal reflections, I’ve been thinking about changes, fundamental changes, needed on the national level. In particular, I have been thinking about just […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Over Easy: The history of shopping, part I
It all began, as these things do, with the mother. My mother, who, one summer day, actually gave in to my request to go by myself to the department store downtown and buy myself a shirt to wear to school. Eighth grade loomed on the horizon, and I was at the stage of a boy’s […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, Uncategorized
Letter: Balentine shouldn’t parrot Trump’s illogical talking points
I write in response to the Dec. 27 column of John Balentine (“Gorham council wrong to ignore will of voters”). I hold no opinion on the seating of a school employee to serve on the Gorham School Board. I simply wish to highlight the profound illogic of Mr. Balentine’s contention that President Trump should not […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: These are the good old days
Back in the good old days – by which I mean the innocent years of the 1950s and early 1960s before I graduated from high school and America went to hell – things were substantially different than they are today, by which I mean simpler. Also dumber. Dumber? People smoked in restaurants and airplanes, even […]