I was born in 1954, before women were allowed to apply for mortgage loans or credit cards, and when gay men were banned from serving their country in the military and racial desegregation of public schools was a new law. “Jim Crow” laws fought civil rights for Black Americans, it was illegal for “queer” folk […]
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.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Bob Mennealy: Mainers should be wary of Florida governor
I applaud the city of Portland for its efforts to host asylum seekers at the Expo, and the proposal for the state to fund the housing of the the same asylum seekers at Unity College. I also applaud Mainers’ compassion for the downtrodden, but they should beware of the mean-spirited GOP governor from Florida, who […]
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Posted inBusiness, Noteworthy
New doctors in training join Lewiston medical center
LEWISTON — Central Maine Medical Center recently welcomed the latest members of its Family Medicine Residency class. The seven physicians will work at Central Maine Healthcare locations for the next few years as doctors in training and graduate in 2026. Central Maine Family Medicine Residency provides comprehensive primary care services for patients of all ages. […]
Posted inBusiness, Noteworthy
Lewiston medical center receives $5,000 grant for school gardens programming
LEWISTON — St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center has received a $5,000 grant to support its Nutrition Center school gardens programming. The grant was one of three Iced Coffee Day grants, totaling $49,000, presented to Maine hospitals by the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. Since 2012, Maine Dunkin’ franchisees and the foundation have given more than $500,000 […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Renee Cote: Vote Harmon for Auburn mayor, stop the theatrics
Come November, Auburn voters have a chance to change the tone in city hall. For the past few years many news reports about Auburn have featured an argumentative mayor responding negatively to pushback from citizens who are concerned about the rapid development all over the city, including on our beautiful lake. Jeff Harmon is running […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
John Cleveland: Jeff Harmon is a natural leader
Jeff Harmon has always been a natural leader. During his first career in law enforcement and public service he began as a patrol officer in the Auburn Police Department. Based on his leadership skills, he rose to become the deputy chief of the Maine State Police. Then in his second career with a software company, […]
Posted inBusiness, Noteworthy
SeniorsPlus announces new members, slate of officers
LEWISTON — SeniorsPlus, the designated Area Agency on Aging serving Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, has elected three new members to its board of directors, as well as a new slate of officers. Robert Kirchherr of Norway replaces Dennis Gray, also of Norway, as chairman of the SeniorsPlus board. The former assistant dean for academic […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Clarence Page: A Supreme Court surprise. How the Right rescued the Voting Rights Act
In Alabama, where 1 in 4 voters is Black in the state’s seven congressional districts, the justices ruled that the Republican-dominated state legislature had denied African American voters a reasonable chance to elect a second representative of their choice.