Thumbs up to all those who participated in a round table discussion last week between the Regional School Unit 23 board and its municipal officials from Saco and Old Orchard Beach ”“ unfortunately, Dayton officials were invited, but none showed. Communication is key between school committees and towns in this difficult economy, as both work […]

Gov. Paul LePage recently introduced his proposed two-year budget, and it’s important to recognize that any budget is more than just dollars and cents. It is an expression of our priorities, and what direction we want the state to go. While I agree with some of the governor’s proposals, I have strong concerns that the […]

Something unusual has begun to happen in Congress. The House of Representatives has started to look less like an American legislative institution and more like the British House of Commons, where strict party discipline is the norm. After the 1994 elections, the Republican Party, riding to control of the House, imposed party discipline on its […]

The City of Biddeford has the opportunity to benefit from custom computer programs, tailored for residents’ use, and we hope officials don’t let the opportunity slip through their fingers. Code for America has proposed a local partnership in which volunteers would design and implement computer applications to assist in city functions, connecting officials and residents […]

On Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI will resign from his position, the first to step down from the Catholic Church’s top seat in nearly 600 years. His announcement, given this past Monday, sent shock waves through the Catholic community worldwide. In modern times, it’s unheard of for the pope to step down from his office. […]

Dork alert: I’m currently reading “Team of Rivals,” the Doris Kearns Goodwin biopic of Abraham Lincoln, on which Steven Spielberg’s movie is largely based. While this admission won’t get me invited to any raging keggers or pill-popping raves, it’s an intriguing glimpse into 19th century American politics, and an excuse for an avowed history buff […]

Freedom is supposed to be the hallmark of the United States, and yet, some laws still exist that place moral and religious restrictions on the entire populace, regardless of each citizen’s personal beliefs. They’re called blue laws, and they exist in many states, with most prohibiting business operations or sales of some items on Sundays […]

Last week, Gov. Paul LePage gave his annual State of the State address to legislators and the people of Maine. He is clearly passionate about many challenges this state faces, and I was pleased to hear his call for bipartisan work toward addressing these issues. Mainers are no strangers to tough times, and we pride […]

The governor is looking to fill a near billion dollar budget gap over the next two years ”“ a gap that he helped create through recent tax cuts ”“ by halting revenue sharing, cutting education funding and slashing money for social services. In 2011, the Legislature approved tax cuts as part of the biennial budget, […]

Biddeford football coach Scott Descoteaux officially stepped down today, leaving the school not only with the loss of a coach, but the loss of a mentor and a teacher for many young men involved with the football program. During his six years as Biddeford’s head coach, Descoteaux didn’t produce a state title. He didn’t win […]