A bee, pictured here, pollinates a flower. (RACHEL LOVEJOY PHOTO)

From the Urban Wilderness RACHEL LOVEJOY For several days now, I’ve been observing the bees hard at work among the dozens of rhododendron blossoms that ornament the small lawn in front of this building. It occurred to me the other day that, without their industrious intervention, such dazzling blossoms would not be possible. For it […]

A proposal to move voting on local issues from Tuesday to Saturday is being made by the Charter Revision Commission in Biddeford and will be decided by voters this November. While it’s a noble attempt to increase voter turnout, we feel this proposal would not make a significant impact and would actually end up costing […]

Whether it’s the reflections of the valedictorian, the salutatorian, or simply a student who spent the past four years doing what was necessary to earn a diploma, it’s always enlightening to listen to the observations of graduating seniors from area high schools. And while some of these thoughts come from motivated young people eagerly anticipating […]

Thumbs up to the cities of Saco and Biddeford and the Town of Sanford for being among the first nine communities in the state to earn Gov. Paul LePage’s “business-friendly” certification. Making Maine more welcoming to businesses has been a key component of Gov. LePage’s platform since he took office, and it’s nice for these […]

The best and the brightest new and soon-to-be high school graduates have graced the pages of the Journal Tribune over the last two weeks, and some have even shared their stories of challenges, struggles, and ultimately, triumph. We applaud these young people, and all those who will make the walk across a stage or field […]

With the elections less than one week away, it’s disconcerting to see advertisements in support of local candidates recently that were paid for by an out-of-state entity. Ocean Properties Ltd. is behind these ads, and their name might sound familiar from the not-so-long-ago effort to gain approval for a racino in Biddeford. The company, based […]

Another blow was dealt to job creation last week in Augusta ”“ and to good jobs at that ”“ when legislators upheld Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a $20 million bond for research and development initiatives. But it seems even if the proposal were sent to and approved by voters, the governor was not going […]

Half a century ago, it wasn’t just common for young males to idolize athletes; it was encouraged. But then as now, famous human beings weren’t necessarily always the best role models. It’s generally acknowledged that talented, coddled individuals sometimes believe rules don’t apply to them, and all too often their actions reflect that sense of […]

The Department of Marine Resources has decided to conduct a study of Maine’s lobster licensing system, and is expected to award a bid for the analysis to a company by next month. A full report is expected by January. While it seems fitting to review the system, which was put into place in 1997, legislators […]