Alex Lear
A Maine native and Colby College graduate, Alex has been covering coastal communities since 2001. He lives in the Portland area with his wife Lauren, 4-year-old daughter Alaina, and 7-year-old bulldog Walter. He has released four CDs of original music and does occasional research work for Marvel Comics' collected editions.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Rich Lowry: In defense of Vikings
What popular depictions of the Vikings tend to leave out … is how these Northmen or Norsemen built as well as destroyed, governed as well as marauded. They had a large hand in setting the contours of medieval Europe and creating a cultural inheritance that still shapes the West today.
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Richard Whiting: Septic ordinance would greenlight Lake Auburn development
In 1923, Maine’s Legislature passed an Act to Incorporate the Auburn Water District, which “shall have power to adopt bylaws, not inconsistent with the general laws of the state, to prevent pollution of the water of Lake Auburn and to preserve the purity of said water of Lake Auburn, and may prescribe penalties for the […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: William LaRochelle: Cash helps homeless more than kind words
In her column on homelessness (Sun Journal, April 25, page 5), onetime journalist Shannon Jones told the story of her adopted son who suffers from learning disabilities and mental illness and who is himself homeless — despite her and her husband’s all-out efforts to help him. Nevertheless, I take issue with a couple of her […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Pinky Amor Mennealy: Support Sheats for state Senate
I am writing in total support of Bettyann Sheats’ campaign for the Maine Senate. Bettyann is a West Point graduate who served our country as a helicopter pilot and most recently served on the board of the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. She is also an Auburn small business owner. I hope voters join me in supporting […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: A bad Monday for freedom
This week’s headlines point, in disparate ways, to the same threat. Meaning a corrosion, not simply of the people’s right to know, but of their very ability to know. In that sense, it doesn’t matter whether you and I are in step on which story left us most dyspeptic.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Mary Ann Norcross: Some Auburn planners should have recused themselves from vote
While reading the April 14 article, “Auburn Planning Board supports Court Street development,” the word “recuse” jumped out to me. In checking the meaning, the dictionary showed “recuse” is to withdraw (oneself) from any decision making so as to avoid a semblance of personal interest or bias. This information led to questions. Why wouldn’t the […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Susan Trask: Auburn funds should benefit those hardest hit by pandemic
Recently I’ve read several articles about the disposition of the American Rescue Plan Act funds, both nationally and locally. I became curious about how the $13.5 million awarded to Auburn is being allocated. Mayor Jason Levesque appointed an ad hoc committee to oversee distribution, which included two city councilors and several city employees. So far, […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Dorothy Kinchen: Libby brings common sense, focus to Augusta
I’ve worked as an RN at one of our local hospitals for well over 10 years. And let me say, we nurses are great at being practical, solving problems, and dealing with emergencies. Those qualities are exactly what I would want to see in my state representative. And who is a candidate in Auburn/Minot and […]