I write in response to a March 7 story by Vanessa Paolella (“Lewiston students no longer need written permission to abstain from Pledge of Allegiance“). I did two tours of duty in Vietnam. The second time I was wounded and was discharged through no wish of my own after becoming a chief petty officer. I […]

I participated March 8 in the Auburn Planning Board Hearing via Zoom, since I live in the area that would be affected by the proposed Court Street zoning change. The change from urban residential to traditional neighborhood development is designed to increase the density of housing and to allow uses like community services, small offices, […]

Many Mainers drive hundreds of miles a week for work, particularly in the rural areas. Families with children also have the added driving of their kids to activities. Gas prices are so high and predicted to go even higher, which will trigger even higher food prices. My husband travels to work and fuel costs are […]

Matt Leonard recently warned against a government-run electrical company in Maine (“Government shouldn’t control electric utility,” Feb. 26). I agree. Right now, CMP and Versant are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, a three-member board appointed by the governor. But we’ve got the chance right now to take control of our electricity. How? With the […]

Before people accept that the opportunistic politicians’ idea to suspend the Maine gasoline tax will save their bacon, they should do the math.If I drove my 2007 Subaru 10,000 miles a year, I would use 385 gallons. The 30-cent-per-gallon state tax on those gallons would be $115.50. That amounts to $2.22 savings per week. I’ll […]

Recently, Bruce Poliquin — the former member of Congress representing our second district — claimed U.S. Rep. Jared Golden “voted” a bill that would end U.S. consumption of Russian oil. Sounds important — except there was no such “vote.” The bill he references has not come to the House floor and has yet to be […]

Hats off to Elliott Epstein for calling out Paul LePage on the malarkey that he has been spreading about Gov. Janet Mills. This the same man who never received over 50% of the votes cast during his election runs for governor, and who three times failed to follow the mandates of referendum votes by Maine […]

Twenty years ago, columnist Cal Thomas told an unhappy alcoholic colleague (his dearest friend, recently deceased) that he needed Jesus to change his life (“Beckel and me: An odd couple,” March 3). His colleague accepted his advice, and Thomas gave him a Bible. They started attending church together, and the man came to believe “what […]

I’ve changed my mind. Drafted in 1969, I ended up in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam as an M60 machine gunner. I was a typical U.S. Army grunt who rarely saw a South Vietnamese soldier. Other than two ex-Viet Cong “Kit Carson” scouts we never worked with the South Vietnamese. Many Army of […]

I have known Peggy Rotundo for over 20 years, and I know that she is the best candidate to represent District 21 in the Maine Senate.Peggy served in both the Maine House and Senate, so she understands the mechanics of the legislative world. Peggy has served as the chair of the Appropriations Committee, which means […]