FARMINGTON — The campus surrounding Franklin Community Health Network (FCHN) contains acres of tall red pine trees, planted in the 1940s with the intent to harvest for lumber at maturity. They were planted close together, which has made them prone to disease because they were not harvested as intended. In 2017, Franklin received a forest […]
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.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Jesse Jackson: Americans seek bold leadership from Biden
As we turn to a new year, the spotlight shines on the new president and the new administration. Even as he assumes center stage in Washington, profound questions still remain about Joe Biden’s plans. His initial appointments have been solid, diverse, experienced and capable, drawn overwhelmingly from the established center of the party. He has […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Jim Wellehan: LA Metro Chamber commits to helping businesses reduce carbon, costs
The Maine Climate Council released its plan to achieve an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. It may sound like an ambitious plan, but one that Maine – and the world – will have a very damaged and difficult future without; a world that you would not want to inflict on your children and […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Cal Thomas: Biden’s climate change litmus test
From the looks of President-elect Joe Biden’s selections for cabinet positions and other high offices it seems belief in “climate change” has become a litmus test. Biden appears to have raised climate change to the level of a religious doctrine.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Froma Harrop: The movie you want versus the movie you have
It is the job of the film critic to sniff at new movies. And so, it was expected that reviewers would drag “Wonder Woman 1984” onto the operating table. With other movies at other times, I might welcome their take on cinematography, character development and narrative drive. But with the fun pretty much wrung out […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Fatuma Hussein: Reflections while looking forward to 2021
Our system is unjust and broken. For many black and brown communities, we suffer a lot, and it is not right. Notably, it is not suitable for young people of color to feel helpless and hopeless. That harm must stop. Some may say that is not going to happen. I say, yes, we can. We can stop this injustice by eradicating racism, just like trying to eliminate the coronavirus. The pandemic has taught us valuable lessons.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Paul Baribault: Thoughts on ‘new Republican Party’
I noticed a bumper sticker some time ago that read: “Ex Republican – Ask Me Why.” But I felt I knew. And that person has been joined by many others these past three years, including conservative thinkers like George Will. That isn’t fake news. Yet what also isn’t fake news is the midnight assistance crisis […]
Posted inConnections
Farmers receive Maine Farm Emergency Grants
UNITY — Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) have announced that 38 Maine farms have been awarded grants through the Maine Farm Emergency Grants program. This is the second round of funding on which the two organizations have collaborated to fundraise and administer in response to the needs […]