The national political conventions are behind us. The presidential candidates are selected. Running mates are smiling brightly. Political commentators are polishing analyses. It’s been easy to ignore much of the summertime campaigning because — traditionally — the real stuff doesn’t get going until after Labor Day. Now, with Monday’s holiday behind us, the race, as […]
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Half-marathon another plus for the community
We’re ringing a giant cow bell for Dan Campbell for organizing the first Lake Auburn Half Marathon Sunday. More than 300 have signed up for the event, and more are expected to pedal the bicycle route or run its 5k and walk in the 4k. Taber’s will be open during the event while expos will […]
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New Bates president hits the right note
Locals have long wondered what Bates College officials really thought of their host community. Officially, that relationships has always been cordial, and Bates has usually invited the community to college programs. Thousands of Bates students, meanwhile, have participated in the college’s excellent community service program. But, secretly, did they lament being located in the midst […]
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Conventions still valuable, but cut taxpayer subsidy
With the Republican National Convention in the rear-view mirror and the Democratic National Convention just ahead, its a good time to ponder the value of the made-for-TV events. Cynics complain there is no suspense, that the caucus-and-primary system has supplanted the deal-making and smoke-filled rooms of past decades. The speeches are at best predictable, at […]
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Dumping cats is discarding responsibility
What is the matter with people? Several weeks ago four kittens — covered in fleas and maggots — were found in a Lewiston Dumpster. The animals, just days old, were weak and three of them have since died. The animals were so young that their umbilical cords were still attached, which means they were taken […]
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Mainers briefly grab spotlight at GOP convention
Walkouts. Gavel-banging. Delegates wearing lobster pins on their noses. Now that’s the kind of stuff that used to make presidential nominating conventions interesting. But only a handful of reporters and political junkies got to experience a bit of the old convention magic when Ron Paul supporters got the spotlight Tuesday afternoon at the Republican National […]
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Giving blood is giving life. Be a part of it.
University of Southern Maine student Rachel Miller has the distinction of being the person having had more blood transfusions than anyone else living in Maine. Starting just after her first birthday, she received 298 blood transfusions as she battled familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or FEL. It’s a rare autoimmune disease in which Miller’s body attacked her […]
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Correction: Whooping cough
Children can catch whooping cough despite being vaccinated, although vaccination greatly reduces the risk and usually leads to a milder case of pertussis. The information was incorrect in an editorial on Page A6 of Wednesday’s edition.
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Parents should revisit decision not to vaccinate
Federal data showing more Maine parents choosing not to vaccinate their children should worry us all. That trend is responsible for a five-fold increase in the number of whooping cough cases in Maine since last year, most affecting children between 7 and 19 years of age. Maine has recorded more than 411 cases so far […]
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Court ruling more bad news for breathers
New England states should demand the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reverse a court ruling delaying tougher cross-state air pollution standards. The new rules would cost coal-fired power plants and their customers in the Midwest and Southeast about $1 billion, according to the EPA. But they could also prevent 11,000 premature deaths, 130,000 asthma attacks, 4,700 […]