Tree shadows reach across a lawn on the Killock Pond Road in Hollis. (RACHEL LOVEJOY PHOTO)

In 1996, Maine voters took a groundbreaking step by passing a measure that reduces big money’s influence in politics and opens up political office to more people. The Maine Clean Elections Act provides public financing for qualifying candidates for state office. The program is paid for, in large part, by candidates collecting $5 contributions for […]

Thumbs up to all those who turned out to vote for school and municipal budgets this week, along with local elections and other town issues. Whether a town has ballot voting or a show-of-hands Town Meeting, participation is the key to democracy. Town leaders need to know the will of the people so they can […]

As graduates collect their high school diplomas this month, those who are heading to college should keep the job market in mind. This Sunday will mark the last of our area high school graduations as Wells High School sends its Class of 2013 into the wider world. Already, graduates from Thornton Academy, Bonny Eagle, Sanford, […]

The news that the federal government has been collecting phone and Internet data on millions of Americans has stirred controversy over the balance between national security and personal privacy. Despite the revelation of the National Security Agency program called Prism, how it is controlled remains largely secret. Government officials try to reassure average citizens that […]

There’s no substitute for the human touch, and physical contact has long been proven to help calm people and facilitate healing. While some people take a hard line with criminal justice and might argue that those convicted of violent crimes don’t deserve to feel the touch of a loved one, there are other considerations to […]

Hi, I’m Jeff, and I’m a GPS addict. And no, that’s not a hip, new street drug, although frankly a hardcore drug addiction would only be incrementally more embarrassing. GPS stands for exactly what you think it does: Global Positioning System, that handy little device that tells me when I’m close to home, and when […]

Zoning to allow residential farming has a long way to go in Lyman, but the town should at least provide a solution for one property owner at Saturday’s Town Meeting. Voters approved moving forward with an ordinance to address the issue in voting Tuesday, which is a step in the right direction, but one situation […]

The Maine Department of Public Safety released the state’s crime statistics for 2012 late last month. While Maine remains one of safest states in the nation, there were some points for celebration and some cause for concern with this year’s report. After a jump of 5.4 percent of overall crime reported in 2011 ”“ the […]

In our society and in nature, adults are supposed to nurture children, lead by example and create a template by which to live. This happens on a daily basis, with many adults and parents teaching children how to be respectful, how to be kind and how to be a good person. This education continues through […]