In last week’s column, I wrote about contracting a severe case of pneumonia triggered by a hard-to-treat bacteria called “pseudomonas aeruginosa,” This event put me in the hospital for the first time since 1945. Here’s Part 2 of the story. On my last day at Mid Coast Hospital, a skilled nurse named Julie put in […]

Bernie Sanders has emerged as the Democratic front-runner in the race for the presidential nomination. Yet even some left-leaning pundits and publications are concerned about what they see as Sanders’ potential lack of electability. Sanders is a Democratic Socialist. And the label “socialist” is a political liability in American culture. According to a Gallup poll […]

Land trusts have positively impacted my life for many years. Yet, I’ve lacked a clear understanding of the important role they play in Maine and the breadth of benefits they provide. A recent accidental encounter has changed that. Last fall, while hiking on Pleasant Mountain near Bridgton, I met Jon Evans who was busy on […]

The majority of the food pantries in the Food Security Coalition — which covers Sagadahoc, Lincoln, and northern Cumberland counties — reported an increase in visits in 2019. At the same time, due to more sophisticated supermarket inventory management systems, the pantries experienced a decrease in much-needed food donations. Food pantries rely on supermarkets and […]

Next Tuesday, “Super Tuesday,” could produce important answers to some of this year’s most fascinating political questions. It’s the biggest voting day this year, except Election Day itself. This year, for the first time, Maine will be joining the big show. On a single day, Democrats will elect 1,357 of the 3,979 delegates who will […]

Get this: New parents are giving newborns outlandish names – so they’ll stand out on social media. That’s according to a new survey of British parents by ChannelMum, which found 72% of respondents “believe a unique name will help their child stand out from the crowd,” StudyFinds reports. So, what are some of these “unique” […]

After a commanding performance in Nevada last weekend, the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination sure does seem to be swinging Bernie Sanders‘ way. With South Carolina and Super Tuesday now beckoning, there’s also a chance for the Independent senator from Vermont to further consolidate those gains. But some recent polling data suggests that both […]

Oceans in different parts of the world can seem to be quite different. Temperatures vary from frosty to bath-like. The color of the water can be deep green or bright blue. Some oceans are wild and rough and others calm and quiet. Waterfronts can be industrial or pastoral. That’s why it’s so amazing to find […]

Bernie Sanders’ sweeping win in the Nevada Democratic caucus will surely prompt the Russians to pop Champagne. They’ve been reportedly boosting Bernie behind the scenes, having calculated that a 78-year-old socialist with a tricky ticker in his chest is the foe most likely to lose to their stooge. They’re surely marveling at their good fortune, […]

As an educator working with infants and toddlers in Brunswick, I have been pleased to see that the topic of investing in early childhood education has received some long-overdue attention this election season – including nearly every democratic presidential candidate speaking to the issue of accessibility in the NH debate. In Maine, 73% of children […]