‘Tis the season. For Top 10 lists. We’re all too familiar with them: Stories that news organizations pull together at the end of the year because a) there’s little real news happening around the Christmas and New Year holidays, b) half the staff is on vacation and listicles can take up copious amounts of news […]
2013
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Portland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Letter: Portland school chief took China's bait
I must respond to Portland Superintendent of Schools Emmanuel Caulk’s recent Superintendent’s Notebook column about his visit to Chinese public schools (“China schools prepare students to compete globally,” Dec. 15). An individual of Mr. Caulk’s education and experience should have been warier about falling prey to China’s public relations engine. What Mr. Caulk should have […]
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Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
New bishop of Diocese of Portland played role in purging of abusive priests
PORTLAND — The newly appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is credited with playing a key role in the Vatican’s purge of priests accused of sexual abuse, and later as the Archdiocese of Boston took the step of identifying abusive priests openly on its website. Both were considered significant moves in the […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Letter: Protect Maine's wind law from lobbyists
Vital revisions are needed to our state’s existing wind law. Fortunately, Maine funded an independent review that clearly lists 25 ways that wind power cannot play a negative role in our state’s economic development. Unfortunately, industry lobbyists don’t like these ideas. When an otherwise clean energy source becomes associated with massive mountaintop development, something is […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Falmouth maps installation of natural gas lines
FALMOUTH — The town has made available a map that details future natural gas distribution lines. The color-coded map, which is available on the town website, shows four phases of the project over four years, beginning in 2014. It is part of a larger, $42 million project by Summit Natural Gas to build distribution lines […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
The View From Away: There's a vacancy at the 'Hotel California'
After several weeks of consulting on a couple of television series in California, it’s good to be back in Maine for Christmas. The consulting itself was tremendous. One of television’s best-known directors, Jamie Widdoes (you may remember him as Hoover, the fraternity president in “Animal House”) co-created and directed a web series I wrote for. […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
The Universal Notebook: A holiday exhortation
The ethical and moral dilemmas of being part of a materialistic, consumer society surely occur to all of us to some degree, especially during the holiday season. As affluent Americans we are all complicit in an economy that has unintended consequences for those less fortunate and those left out. Some of us at least feel […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Arts Calendar: Dec. 25-Jan. 7
Greater Portland Film Anime Movies for Teens, Thursdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, 871-1700, ages 13-19. “20 Feet From Stardom,” Dec. 26-29, times vary, The Frontier, 14 Maine St., Brunswick, $6. Friday 1/3 “Teen Beach Movie,” 1 p.m., Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive, Freeport, 865-3307, free. Friday 12/27 “Muscle Shoals,” 7 […]
Posted inMaine, News
Opponents of legal marijuana fight perception problem
In Maine and nationally, more teenagers consider pot harmless now than in years past.
Posted inAmerican Journal
Troubled path to trial for suspect in 1976 killing
Long before his arrest, after a ‘chewing gum survey’ sting, Gary Raub had many run-ins with the law on both coasts.