By all accounts, Gerald Gilman is back on the path. After decades of substance abuse and psychological hell stemming from his service in the Vietnam War, the 60-year-old veteran has gotten help and gotten clean.He’s not the kind of guy who deserves two years hard time for speeding, which is what he faced recently before […]

In uncertain economic times, it’s natural to anticipate the worst. That’s why we’re fearing the unexpected market shutdown of the Otis Mill in Jay and Livermore Falls, which has placed 90 people out of work for three weeks.One of the historic mill’s paper machines was already scheduled for permanent closing; No. 10’s shutdown put 150 […]

Abysmal relations between Maine’s Indian tribes and state government need an injection of optimism. As it now stands, the sides remain “at loggerheads,” the same sad way they were described a decade ago.And maybe centuries ago, long before the current jagged landscape was forged under severe tension caused by the landmark 1980 Maine Indian Land […]

Cheers and jeers from around the news:• Cheers to the public housing authorities in Maine, especially the Auburn Housing Authority, for their smoke-free policies. Maine, as a whole, has 72 percent of its public housing authorities now smoke-free, tops in the nation; Auburn’s, this month went completely smoke-free. These are important public health milestones, which […]

In talking about how Maine elects constitutional officers, the surreal saga of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich should remind lawmakers to consider how officers are removed, as well.Blagojevich’s follies make a strong argument for states to have constitutional methods of recalling elected officials, amid misconduct, corruption or criminal acts. (Or, as known and alleged under Blagojevich, […]

Following her electoral assault on Rep. Tom Allen, Maine’s political observers said Sen. Susan Collins had attained rarefied status: She became a legacy senator, who would serve until she alone decides to step down from the office.In that vein, Collins joins her colleague, Sen. Olympia Snowe, whose regular thrashings of electoral opponents over the years […]

Maine’s schools are on the cusp of bleak budget times, with short-term losses foreshadowing deeper cuts ahead, as revenues dwindle. Their leaders and faculty, however, are setting the right example to deal with these difficulties.Over at USM-LAC, professors and administrators have volunteered to cut their salaries if it means staving the layoffs of colleagues. Roxie […]

Lewiston’s city council is on the right track with its concern about cigarette butts and dog waste in city parks. The presence of both turns what should be a community asset into an impromptu trash dump.Last week, the council prohibited dogs from certain parks and athletic fields, while also leaving open a smoking ban. The […]

OK, so, legislative leaders haven’t resolved Maine’s problems with taxes, health care, economic development, energy, infrastructure deterioration we’d better just stop there. This space is only so big, you know.But focusing on negatives is unfair to the sage solutions our solons do make. There are always dark clouds on the horizon, after all. This makes […]

After several months of meetings, the Air National Guard hasn’t proven its case for lowering jet flights in Western Maine. What it has done, instead, is present the same argument multiple times.Those concerned about flights – which could drop jets to 500 feet overhead – deserve more. Examinations of the full economic and environmental impacts […]