Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Norway Savings Bank celebrates employee achievements
PORTLAND — Norway Savings Bank on Feb. 13 honored many employees at the 2024 Employee Appreciation Banquet. Winners who live or work in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties are listed below. The President’s Award went to Jackie Curtis, vice president of human resources, who personifies the strong initiative, leadership and selflessness honored by the award. […]
Fontaine real estate team hires 2 to Auburn office
Fontaine Family — The Real Estate Leader has hired Joseph Vari and Linda Sherman to its Auburn office. Vari, originally from Youngstown, Ohio, now a resident of Lewiston, has spent over two decades in college coaching. He has served as the head women’s soccer coach at Bates College since 2019, where his commitment to developing […]
Rep. Kathy Shaw: Legislature can make it easier for people to grow their own food
As a state, we need to do more to make healthy, locally-grown food available to more people. I’ve been a longtime farmer in our community, and have frequently fielded questions from folks about how we can help make this happen. Currently, under the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, structures used to grow crops are […]
Whitney Pelletier: Sheline works ‘to make Lewiston a better place’
I’m writing to express my support of Carl Sheline as mayor of Lewiston. As a Lewiston business owner, I have seen firsthand the positive impact Carl has had on our city. He truly values Lewiston’s residents, business owners, and city employees. I believe that Carl is working to make Lewiston a better place. Whitney Pelletier, […]
Peter Zanoni: Some lawbreakers get jail time, others get freedom
I don’t get it. Why are there so many people in jails all across America, and we say “because they broke a law.” Well, shouldn’t we let all of them walk out of jail freely now to honor equality and fairness? Why? Because every migrant who enters America illegally has broken the law, too. And, […]
Clarence Page: Fani Willis and the court of public opinion
It doesn’t take a law degree to know that the appearance of impropriety can be just as damaging as the real thing. Sometimes worse.
Hunter Kissam: High time for a ceasefire in Gaza
There’s nothing I can say that hasn’t been said, but the message can’t be said enough. Gaza’s people are under the imminent threat of genocide at the hands of the extremist Israeli government, backed by the full weight of the U.S. government. Still, it’s amazing to see the blatant hypocrisy. Benjamin Netanyahu can say Israel […]
Patrick Eisenhart: Union’s no-confidence vote on Lewiston mayor raises questions
After reading your newspaper’s Feb. 22 article, “Union votes ‘no confidence’ in Mayor Sheline,” the first question I asked myself, “Haven’t we had enough negative news in Lewiston to last a lifetime?” The next question was how the union president ever got elected with so little knowledge of collective bargaining and how a town or […]