On a recent Saturday night, three of my friends and I went to a small Mediterranean restaurant where the menu encourages lots of back-and-forth with the waiters. For many of us, items like bronzini and tsoureki require translation, which, in turn, builds a bit of rapport. Our waiter, who resembled New Age musician Yanni, was […]

It’s unfortunate that Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t seem to realize how his public comments negatively affect the political process. His first press conference in months was called earlier this week, with the main focus apparently on attacking the Maine School Management Association and the charter school commission. LePage is understandably angry about the commission’s rejection […]

Well, here we are. The cold, gray days of January. They wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t come on the heels of a festive and celebratory season, filled with lights and colors and cookies shaped like the chalk outlines of murder victims. The sudden absence of the holiday vibe ”“ and its accompanying seasonal […]

Tough decisions lie ahead for our government. With a federal debt of more than $16 trillion, we need to reduce the long-term deficit and make spending cuts in the federal budget. Without reform, future entitlements and discretionary spending programs will run out of money. The future looks bleak if members of Congress and the Obama […]

The unfortunate deaths of four snowmobilers in late December highlight the risks of this popular winter pastime, putting a black mark on the start of what otherwise looks like a promising season. It was Sunday, Dec. 30 when the deaths occurred in an accident that officials are calling the worst snowmobile tragedy in Maine’s history. […]

An informational meeting will be held Thursday night in Biddeford to help educate residents about the coyote population in the area. Education is the proper response, and hopefully residents can learn how to deal with these wild neighbors and avoid taking action such as killing the animals simply because they are in the area. Two […]

“I feel a great regard for trees; they represent age and beauty and the miracles of life and growth.” — Louise Dickinson Rich, “We Took To the Woods” While there is no disputing the beauty of a lush, green landscape at high summer, there is also something to be said for the woods in winter. […]

A pair of pine seedlings poke through a snow bank near the Mast Road in Lyman. (RACHEL LOVEJOY PHOTO)

Even in a democratic republic like the United States of America, it’s hard to know whether or not one has voted for the right candidate for president, senator, representative, governor, mayor, or dog catcher until well after the fact. Many who cast ballots for Lyndon Johnson in 1964 probably wouldn’t have done so had they […]

On Monday, the National Hockey League announced that it was ending its 113-day lockout of it players. Now, the hard work begins for the league, which was on the verge of canceling the 2012-13 season. The NHL might have saved its year, but it now must find a way to make sure it apologizes to […]