Who among us does not treasure the natural beauty of Maine’s landscape from ocean to mountains, lakes, rivers and all the breathtaking wonders we are so fortunate to be surrounded by? It is why we love Maine and why we want to protect it for future generations.
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
Froma Harrop: Fight Russian aggression with clean energy
Moving the world away from fossil fuels would erase Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biggest nonnuclear weapon. After all, oil and gas accounted for 39% of Russia’s budget revenue and 60% of its exports in 2019.
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Matt Leonard: Government shouldn’t control electric utility
In all human history, government takeover has never been truly beneficial to the lives of the people. We all should be fearful of giving the government even more control over our lives. It already has way too much. That’s why I oppose the government taking over and running Maine’s electric companies.A government-run electrical company will […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: What begins in lies tends to end in carnage
It is far too early to know how devastating this latest European war will turn out to be, how many will die, how many will be left homeless and stateless, how the repercussions will play out across the globe. There is, however, an ominous resonance in the lies from which it arose.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Norman Smith: Party power struggles divide America
I am responding to a letter to the editor from Thomas F. Shields (“Questions for Democrat-controlled government,” Feb. 24). The letter is a list of whys regarding the way the Democrats and President Biden are governing. (“I don’t think President Biden is mentally capable of doing anything more than carrying out directions from others.”) I […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Ben Lounsbury: Trump wrong to admire an ‘evil genius’
All over the world, the response of international leaders has been strong condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, our former president, Donald Trump, has described Putin’s handling of Ukraine as “genius.” Yes, Putin’s moves are those of a genius: an evil genius. But Trump did not say “evil genius.” He […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Mike Lapointe: Maher’s ‘mouthful of malarkey’ in monologue
Friday night, Jan. 11, on his show “Real Time,” host Bill Maher said in his monologue that the reason Americans weren’t watching the Beijing Olympics was because American athletes aren’t winning. I have been a big fan of Bill Maher for over 30 years. This is the biggest mouthful of malarkey I’ve ever heard come […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: Rural Maine is dying. Who cares?
We all know that the decline of paper making is part of a decline in manufacturing, especially in rural Maine, but when you list the declines together, it really hits home. A short list: Forster Manufacturing (toothpicks, clothespins, etc.) closed all its mills in rural Maine, four of them in Franklin County. At least three tanneries have closed, all rural. Of the once-strong industry of shoe shops, not much remains other than the three New Balance shoe shops. Diamond Match in Peru and Oakland? Gone.
Posted inBusiness, Noteworthy
New Ventures Maine launches minigrant competition
New Ventures Maine has announced open applications for its Spring 2022 Marketing Mini-grant competition. The program aims to strengthen access to markets for micro-businesses by supporting the development of marketing tools, materials and activities. New Ventures Maine will award cash minigrants — up to $1,000 per region in six defined regions — to microenterprises for […]