The National Day of Prayer, marked by various ceremonies this past Thursday, was established by the federal government in 1952. This was a time of undeniable religious fervor in the United States, as evidenced by the fact that only two years later, in 1954, the government tacked the words “under God” into our Pledge of […]

In the normal course of events, daily life hums along until it doesn’t. Something crops up and bumps things off-course, ratcheting up the tenor of activity for a time. Then life resumes as usual, or takes on new ways, a reminder of the cyclical nature of things. The ordinary and the extraordinary have always traveled […]

Thumbs up to Biddeford City Councilors Rick Laverriere and George “Pete” Lamontagne, as well as the Public Works staff, for hosting a very well-organized hazardous materials collection day on Saturday, May 1. The smooth operation could not have come off without planning and the cooperation of staff, and it was also nice to see our […]

Dear Ms. Absent Mother, Hello there! You wouldn’t know me from a hole in the wall, as I come from a different planet than where you call home. However, I’ve heard quite a bit about your species and would like to learn more about you in the name of morbidly curious research. Let me begin […]

As evidence that working harbors are still considered vital in southern Maine, we now have the possibility that the owners of kayaks and other small craft may soon be banned from launching or paddling about in the vicinity of Cape Porpoise Pier. Working boats appear to be favored at Kennebunkport Town Hall, but it would […]

Confronting the need to upgrade a 30-year-old system, Central Maine Power hopes to press ahead with plans for the largest transmission project Maine has yet seen. In the face of $1.5 billion worth of ambition, we are glad regulators are looking closely at the project’s details and assumptions and hope a recent Public Utilities Commission […]

As the third softball coach in three years at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., Kristi Lyman had heard of Courtney Wallace, but didn’t know her. Well, Wallace was better than advertised. Wallace, a senior from Steep Falls (Bonny Eagle), led the Gators with a .461 batting average and finished as the school’s career […]

Has Arizona’s legislation targeting illegal immigration backfired? It has inspired protests around the country and has drawn objections from all sides for infringing on individual rights and implicitly encouraging profiling. It may soon be challenged by the U.S. Justice Department But the law signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has one positive aspect; it has […]

A s cities and town boards make final adjustments on their budgets for the coming year, they deserve credit for facing hard issues in a difficult year. Important services are being cut, and councilors and selectmen are hearing many arguments why important programs and services should not be cut. The Town Council in Old Orchard […]

According to the website www.jointogether.org, approximately 9.4 percent of the U.S. population has a diagnosable alcohol or other drug related disorder, or more than 19.4 million people in our country alone. I have to say I was a little surprised at the number, not at the sheer volume of it but rather that it seems […]