I am a retired teacher and a grandmother. I recently testified against a bill that would allow teachers to be armed in school (LD 52) and another that would allow individuals with a concealed weapons permit to carry in schools (LD 1557). Bringing a loaded weapon into a school setting is a disaster waiting to […]

June 19 is Juneteenth, a national holiday commemorating the end of American slavery. It is also World Sickle Cell Day. For me, it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and the challenges patients face while battling the chronic condition. Through blood donation, I discovered that I was a match for patients living […]

Maine Veterans’ Homes gratefully acknowledges the Western Maine Veterans Advisory Committee’s role in enriching residents’ lives through their volunteer support of activities organized on behalf of our veterans during the past several years. An important misnomer bearing correction, however, is the suggestion that at any point during the past three years our residents have been […]

There are countless Mainers who face insurmountable barriers in accessing essential health care, but one bill — L.D. 199 — can restore MaineCare coverage for all individuals in our state. It is time to ensure that all Mainers receive the vital care they need, regardless of immigration status. When COVID-19 hit, we sought solace in […]

I applaud Jeff Harmon’s decision to run for mayor of Auburn. He would be a breath of fresh air for the city. I’ve known Jeff going back to our law enforcement days when he was deputy chief of the Maine State Police. He is bright, has high moral character and is a true public servant. […]

The people of Lewiston are very fortunate to have a dedicated person who cares for our city, our community. With a proven track record, Mayor Carl Sheline is invested in Lewiston. He is a businessman and also owns property in our community. Carl has been a great ambassador for Lewiston, especially keeping us aware of […]

L.D. 535 is a bill before the Maine Legislature, passing 7-4 out of committee with two legislators voting to pass the bill with an amendment, to allow 16- and 17-year-old teenagers to receive gender-changing hormonal therapy without parental consent. Determined to chip away at parental rights and childhood innocence, advocates of this bill believe this […]

In his May 28 column (“Will Lake Auburn suffer the China Lake syndrome?“), Ben Lounsbury makes some of the best constructed points I have heard yet, against any further development in and around Lake Auburn. We have already seen Lake Auburn stressed to the point of near collapse, described in Ben’s column as the “China […]

As a former state representative, I am not new to complex issues that our state faces. There is no doubt that PFAS contamination is one of these issues. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill in response to PFAS contamination that aimed at eliminating the sale of PFAS in Maine. While the Legislature acted swiftly […]

Thank you for running Ben Lounsbury’s May. 28 guest column, which aptly compared Lake Auburn to China Lake. China Lake Syndrome ended up degrading not only China Lake’s water quality, but also destroyed property values and significantly reduced property tax revenues in China. China Lake’s example points to the folly of encouraging development around Lake […]