Riots have an interesting history. At the Boston Tea Party, patriots stood against tyranny of the British by destroying tea on American ships. July 14 — the French celebrate Bastille Day — a day citizens burned down a police station and prison. We celebrate May Day, May 1, which commemorates the 1894 labor riots in […]
June 2020
Charles Jacobs: Shenna Bellows has my support
State Sen. Shenna Bellows is always getting out around her Senate district attending select board meetings, local events and talking to voters. She listens to her constituents and takes action in the state Senate to address the problem, whatever it might be. She has worked hard to improve broadband coverage — a huge problem in […]
James Richter: Facing a tough decision
I write this letter 31 years to the day (June 4, 1989) after Chinese soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Almost two years later, Soviet soldiers refused to shoot peaceful civilians seeking an end to repression. It is unfortunately possible that U.S. troops will have to make the same decision. […]
Eugenia Last, Aries: Make personal improvements a priority
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Iggy Azalea, 30; Michael Cera, 32; Bill Hader, 42; Liam Neeson, 68. Happy Birthday: Dig in and learn something new. Make a point to find exciting ways to use your skills and knowledge. Financial gains are within reach if you are open to change and willing to embrace a unique […]
Mary Callahan: Things might have gone badly
A few years ago I was sitting in front of the TV on a warm summer evening and realized there were faint lights flashing on my wall. I got up and walked toward the window to peek out and see if I knew the person getting a ticket. Instead my door burst open and a […]
Julie Cohen: Preserve the library’s independence
Libraries are a vital part of a community’s education, well-being and freedom of speech. I believe that libraries are a place where every single person should be able to access an unbiased range of information. This means that libraries should be independent of politics and their decisions should not be controlled by any political body. In […]
Cal Thomas: A chance to listen rather than talk
Which of the following would you consider the most unusual and least likely to occur? 1) President Trump calls Speaker Nancy Pelosi to invite her to lunch. 2) Rioters and looters agree to pay for the damage they caused to businesses and individuals. 3) Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh appears on “The Breakfast Club,” […]
Dear Abby: Video parties help family stay close
DEAR ABBY: May I share with you a way my husband and I are staying connected? My daughter came up with the idea. She and her daughter live a good distance from us. She decided the four of us should have a virtual dinner together three times a week. We move our dining chairs together […]
Zouhair Rouzrara: Dialogue with police chiefs
I would like to open a dialogue with the chiefs of police in the state of Maine to talk about reforming policing in Maine and beyond. I have spent a decade of my life trying to get their attention — to sit down and find a peaceful way to end the systemic racism plaguing the […]
Mystery Photo for June 7, 2020
Guess correctly and be entered into a drawing for a $20 Hannaford gift certificate.