My husband and I are not exchanging Christmas presents this year. I decided, then, to give myself a gift. That gift is the gift of not sending Christmas cards. Don’t get me wrong. I love receiving Christmas cards. They are a sign of the season. I admire the artistry of the cards themselves, from whimsical […]

On the evening of Dec. 2, South Portland’s Mill Creek Park was filled with the sounds, scents, and visions of the holidays. Hundreds of residents enjoyed the clip-clopping of Stillbrook Acres’ four big draft horses as they pulled farm wagons full of riders through the streets; the aroma of hot chocolate, cider and hot dogs […]

I loved reading the Edgar Allen Beem’s column, “Ignorance triumphant.” I loved it not because he and his ideological colleagues have now added “ignorance” on top of “irredeemable” and “deplorable” to describe me and anyone else with the temerity to reject his worldview, but because he epitomizes confusion and abject irony. Been portrays himself as […]

As a university teacher for 40-plus years in four different states, critical thinking was the valued “bottom line” for every course. My urban, multi- generational and multi-ethnic students were the first in their families to attend college. They balanced full-time working, parenting, paying their bills, and studying. I wonder how they voted this year – […]

I am a student at Freeport High School and on the track team. I am writing to show support for the track and field project. Freeport has always done well in running events like track or cross country. It’s a shame that we don’t have the facilities required to nurture and build this natural talent. […]

Edgar Allen Beem’s latest column (“The Universal Notebook: Ignorance triumphant”) is a timely counterpoint to a recent Salon interview with Van Jones, the progressive political activist, commentator, and author. Jones addressed Donald Trump’s election from a refreshing viewpoint, free of vitriol and condescension. In the interview, Jones said, “(Democrats are) building Trump’s coalition for him […]