Need one example of why a bond funding the Land for Maine’s Future program is important this year? Look to Newry.A plan to develop the Dunton tourmaline mine failed when the property was unexpectedly sold to another buyer, who quickly repackaged the 100-acre plot with other land and sold it again.The mine is not a […]

President Bush on Monday unveiled a massive redeployment of American forces around the world.Important elements of the plan are on target. The United States does not need to maintain the force structure and posture developed during the Cold War. A more nimble fighting force better able to quickly respond to hot spots around the world […]

Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay made a politically difficult decision last week, one for which the residents of the city should be glad.Guay was called upon Tuesday to cast the tie-breaking vote to redevelop St. Dominic Regional High School’s Drouin Building into senior housing. Council members were knotted, 3-3, over whether to spend $1.11 million in […]

Last week was Community Health Center Week.Normally, we don’t mark every week that is designated in honor of this or that. Almost every week – and many days – are set aside to honor something.But the good work and success of health centers should be recognized.There are more than 40 federally qualified health centers in […]

Now, with time running out, Democrats have essentially agreed to Republican demands on new state borrowing. Having won, Republicans should help move the bonds forward.Gov. Baldacci, in search of a deal with Republican leaders in Augusta, has pared his proposal for new state borrowing to $40 million.On Tuesday, the Appropriations Committee will consider the latest […]

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been dishing out grants to local fire departments since 2001, but the haphazard nature of the disbursements has limited their effectiveness.There is no doubt that small departments are in need of support. Local municipalities are strapped for cash and many departments, including Lewiston’s, have been flat-funded. Fire departments […]

Julia Child brought fancy cooking onto TV screens and helped demystify the culinary arts long before Emeril or the Iron Chef turned kitchen work into mainstream entertainment.Child died Thursday at her home in Santa Barbara, Calif. She was 91.She made cooking fun and helped generations learn their way around a stove and oven. She will […]

Bangor Daily News, Aug. 4 The latest measurement of Maine’s creative economy … gives the state a reasonable baseline from which to watch how this portion of the economy is performing. But before it gets too focused on the size of the creative sector … Maine should notice that all parts of the economy are […]

Paraskevidekatriaphobia. What a mouthful.It means fear of Friday the 13th. Folklorist and urban myth master David Emery suggests that it’s probably the most widespread superstition in the United States.Today, of course, is Friday, Aug. 13. And while Emery writes that fewer people will go to work today and we shouldn’t expect too many weddings, there’s […]

City officials in Lewiston say they have reached a tentative deal with a downtown property owner who has been fighting with the city over his land.That’s good news.According to City Administrator Jim Bennett, Rick Hollis will receive $240,000 for his three empty lots on Main Street. Another $10,000 will be put into escrow for Hollis, […]