I admit it: I had never heard of Michelle Wolf before her prickly performance at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Of course, I had never heard of Hasan Minhaj either, before he did the dinner last year. Both comedians were more caustic than funny and, for that, I blame Donald J. Trump. I blame […]
May 2018
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
We Love to Eat
Community meal — Thursday, May 10, noon, Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St., Westbrook. Baked chicken, $5. Free dinner — Thursday, May 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 678 Washington St., Portland. Chowder luncheon – Friday, May 11, and every Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Ave., Portland. Bowl of haddock […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster
Focus continues on improving pedestrian safety
WESTBROOK — The Maine Department of Transportation and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, teaming up on an initiative aimed at making roadways safer for all, held a pedestrian safety forum last week, the second of its kind in the city. Between 2013 and 2017, there were 27 pedestrian accidents in Westbrook, including 24 that resulted […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
City budget approved, school spending sent to voters
WESTBROOK — City Councilors passed a city budget this week that increases reliance on taxpayers to a level not seen in recent memory. Over the last decade, Westbrook’s tax rate has increased from $16.70 per thousand in assessed valuation in fiscal year 2010 to $19.93, which is among the highest in the southern Maine area. The […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster
Looking Back
May 12, 1993 Eric Thomas, 6, was playing in a gully near his Westbrook home March 30, 1992, when he found a $50 bill. His mother, Annette, and father, John, explained to him that it belonged to someone and wouldn’t be right to keep. He turned it over to Westbrook police. Officer Inger Johnson stopped […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster
Planet Dog continues to reinvent the ball
WESTBROOK — A Westbrook-based company will compete next week with other Maine companies to prove it has the most innovative new Maine-based product. Planet Dog will join five other businesses May 18 at Maine International Trade Center’s Trade Day 2018 at the Samoset Resort in Rockland in hopes of securing the Best in Show award. “It […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
60 Years Ago
The Westbrook American reported on May 14, 1958, that Bernard Golder of Westbrook was an airman in the Navy serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. Roy Hicks of Gorham, 17, won the Road-E-O sponsored by Westbrook JayCees. Irvine Marsters Jr. and David Cote, both of Westbrook High School, were second […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Here's Something: Boos & Bravos, the coming-to-our-senses edition
Welcome to another edition of Boos & Bravos, where we try to criticize and praise in equal amounts: Bravo to the show of respect for Cpl. Eugene Cole, the Somerset County sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty. While the manhunt to find his killer was swift and effective, so […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Democratic primary sets up contest for county DA
PORTLAND — Five candidates hope to replace Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson, who is retiring after 27 years. The three Democrats – Jon Gale, Seth Levy and Frayla Tarpinian – will compete in their party’s June 12 primary. The winner will face Republican Randall Bates and possibly independent Jonathan Sahrbeck in the Nov. 6 […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Politics & Other Mistakes: The price of stupid
There’s a subtle difference between free speech and stupid speech. Free speech is the one guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It says the government can’t stop you from saying pretty much anything you’d like. What it doesn’t say is that there can still be all sorts of negative consequences from a […]