My wife has a license to practice law. My dogs have licenses to practice being dogs. Thanks to the First Amendment, I don’t need to apply for a license to be a journalist, even if my grammar am lousy and my spelling wurse. I are automatically allowed literary license. But let’s suppose I wanted to […]

Welcome to another edition of Boos and Bravos, where we try (but failed this week) to criticize and praise in equal amounts: Boo to the proposal in Cape Elizabeth that would allow oceanfront residents along Broad Cove to pay the town $500,000 to prevent a public path from being built between their properties and the […]

“Effervescent.” My high school buddies printed that adjective under my senior picture in our 1967 yearbook. I more or less knew what it meant, something like zippy or peppy, which fit since I’d been a cheerleader for four years. Even last year at age 68, I popped out of my seat at a party and […]

School doesn’t start for Portland Public Schools students until September, but families can use the month of August to help ensure that their children make a seamless transition from summer to school. The 2018-2019 school year begins after Labor Day for our students. The first day for students in grades 1-12 is Tuesday, Sept. 4. […]

We all like to hear good news stories and rosy predictions for the future. And there are many good things happening in Maine, from a new commitment to fighting opioid addiction to increased compensation for the people who care for our elderly and disabled. Almost all of us recognize that we’re lucky to live in […]

Although I am often somewhat at odds with Edgar Allen Beem’s political opinions, I do enjoy his articles about local life. Last week he had an excellent column about local crabmeat. While I much prefer Maryland blue crab due to its texture, I do occasionally enjoy the local product. My issue with his column is his […]

Scarborough Downs has been front and center with Scarborough officials for many months. Last fall public meetings about the new Comprehensive Plan highlighted the importance of the Downs in Scarborough’s future. This winter and spring zoning amendments to refine the vision of the Crossroads Zoning District were evaluated by the Planning Board and Long Range […]

This November, state ballot Question 1 seeks to increase taxes on individuals and families with adjusted gross income over $128,400 from all sources to fund home-care services for the elderly and disabled regardless of income. While providing home care is a worthy goal, this initiative is bad public policy. First of all, it targets a […]