Times Record Archives - The Portland Press Herald

Judged not: A tale of jury duty

by Alexandra Paskhaver Guest column January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

I’ve received a notice for jury duty. This isn’t a cause for panic. Goodness, no. I don’t need to panic. All I need to do is move to Alaska and hide under a rock for 10 or 15 years, or however long it takes for the judicial system to notice I didn’t show up in […]

Times Record

Conquering wintry conditions on Ragged Mountain

by Ron Chase Seniors Not Acting Their Age January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

One of the many benefits of membership in my outdoor club, the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, is the ability to network with a large number of outdoor enthusiasts. We have more than 300 adult members, so finding companions for an outdoor adventure is often a phone call or club email away. When I recently […]

Times Record Opinion

Trump’s slap in the face to his strongest supporters

by Joe Guzzardi Guest column January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

In the days immediately following his decisive victory, President-elect Donald J. Trump was cruising right along. His avowed enemies, such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerburg, embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough, scurried to Mar-a-Lago to kiss and make up. Then, the unlikely happened. During the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons, […]

Times Record Opinion

California wildfires: It can happen here

by Geoffrey Bates Guest column January 13, 2025January 13, 2025

Two brothers warmed themselves by the roaring brush fire. An inch of snow had fallen across the peninsula overnight — welcome precipitation during a dry winter that had followed a dry summer. They chuckled at the idea of global warming. Not in Maine. Not today. One of them pulled his collar close as a frigid […]

Times Record

Volunteerism boasts long lists of benefits for students

by Phillip Potenziano Superintendent's Notebook January 12, 2025

In addition to academic success, Brunswick School Department’s vision of student development includes engagement and collaboration with the community. In fact, volunteering is so important to personal growth and development that students at Brunswick High School are required to complete 30 hours of volunteer work to graduate! Kindness is contagious, and student volunteers have reported […]

Times Record

Pandemic lesson we should take into 2025: eat local

by Susan Olcott Intertidal January 12, 2025

There’s something about a “round” number in a year that makes you look backwards with a little more reflection or need to encapsulate a certain period of time. Not that 2025 is a major turn in a century or even a decade. But now that I have had a moment to pause after the lineup […]

Times Record Opinion, Uncategorized

The DEI boogeyman

by Elwood Watson Guest column January 12, 2025

While New Orleans and Las Vegas are still attempting to process the New Year’s Day violence that gripped their cities, some are trying to capitalize perversely (and unsuccessfully) on such tragedies. Even before the dust settled, a number of conservatives rushed to social media to blame both events on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. […]

Times Record Opinion

And now, a new year we must face

by David Treadwell Just a Little Old January 10, 2025January 9, 2025

Let’s kick off the new year with some humor (essential now more than ever) and then offer some hopes for 2025. Here are the limericks I presented at the New Year’s Eve party for Thornton Oaks, an event held between the senior-friendly hours of 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. “I’m glad you are here at […]