This has been a tough year for everyone. We have all been in survival mode and doing the best we can. But the pressure on parents and students has been the hardest. Both coupled and single parents are working their normal workloads while also trying to handle their children’s education, on top of the added […]
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
Bill Cassidy: Re-engage in higher education
Nearly 200,000 residents of Maine have attended some higher education, and for many good reasons have not completed their educational journey. I would like to invite them to consider re-engaging in their studies. For many, the accumulated credits still remain viable, and possibly with past or current work experience one may be eligible for additional […]
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Mark Wood: Thoughts on freedom, liberty
Our U.S. Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Ray Mitchell: Masks, like red lights, offer protection
Masks and traffic signals have a lot in common. All drivers must pay attention to red and green lights in order to traverse intersections safely. Traffic lights are among the rules that are made for the common good. There are utility rules, water purity rules, housing rules — all for our protection. Wearing masks during […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Michael Boom: Republicans’ ‘Bernie’ no longer relevant
In the classic comedy, “Weekend at Bernie’s,” Bernie dies at the start of the movie, yet Bernie’s friends refused to tell anyone about it. The party continues throughout the rest of the movie. Would someone please tell the blind devotees of a fallen oligarch their hero is dead? Stop propping up the deposed king and […]
Posted inConnections
Outside Recreation Challenge donates $3,000 to Western Maine food pantries
OXFORD — Local community members recently met the Second Nature Adventure Challenge: to get active outdoors during school vacation week for some healthy fun and to generate $3,000 in cash donations to local food pantries. One hundred seventy-seven people registered their visits to local trails, including winter hikes, walks, cross country ski trips and fat bike […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Robert Casimiro: Voting bill provisions appear ‘unconstitutional’
I was surprised, more like shocked, to see Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testifying on Capitol Hill in support of bill H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2021 (“Strengthening American Democracy,” U. S. House Administration Committee, Feb. 25).” In her prepared testimony, Secretary Bellows pointed to the “best practices” in Maine, but […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Bob Mennealy: Stooping to voter suppression
This week FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, refuted two of the GOP’s big lies. First, that the election was stolen and, second, that the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol included representatives of Antifa. He stated that there wasn’t any evidence that Antifa was involved. The GOP — after losing the Senate […]