In this life, there are certain sure signs of spring we all look for. The days growing longer, buds on the trees, robins in profusion – and opening day at Hadlock Field. This year, opening day was delayed by that massive April snowstorm we had. So fitting. But the snow was short-lived, spring reasserted itself […]
Forecaster Opinion
Posted inForecaster Opinion, The Forecaster
Portland Superintendent’s Notebook: Community engagement enhanced school budget process
Portland Public Schools reached a milestone in our FY 25 budget process when the Board of Public Education on April 9 approved a $161.4 million school budget to recommend to the City Council. One of the things that I’m proudest about in this budget process is the amount of community engagement involved. Since March 5, […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, Scarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: We need to honor the real friendships in our lives
Friendship is such a curious thing. When you are little, making friends is so seamless. You meet, you play, and boom. Done. You might fight or move on, and I don’t mean to imply that there isn’t heartbreak and high drama in all of that – of course there is. These early friendships are where […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, The Forecaster
RSU 5 Superintendent’s Notebook: Proposed 2024-25 budget incorporates four priorities
The RSU 5 Board of Directors and administration has worked diligently to develop a budget that is focused on the goals of the district and the needs of our students while remaining responsive to the needs of our taxpayers. The Board of Directors’ proposed operating budget for FY 25 is $41,612,460, which is an overall […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, Scarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies, The Forecaster
Through My Lens: Bad storms unite us as a community
For two stormy days last week, as the cold and power outage persisted, locals found themselves drawn to Yarmouth Community Hall. Amid laptops and steaming cups of coffee, snacks and fruit, neighbors’ stories flowed freely, ranging from reminiscences of past snowstorms to shared experiences of enduring power outages. It was a true community gathering, a […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, Scarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Some luxuries are unattainable, and that’s OK
The last time my father-in-law visited, he mentioned that he’d been reading in The Wall Street Journal about a restaurant here in Maine, and he wondered if we could go when he comes out this summer. He’d forgotten the name, but once he described it, I knew exactly which place he meant. “Small, sort of […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, The Forecaster
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Students in choir learn more than singing – they find belonging
Last month’s column focused on the benefits of music, particularly playing an instrument. I’d like to stay on that path for this piece and focus on the instrument we all have, the one we were born with, and that is our voice. There’s something magical about music. While I’ll never perform at Carnegie Hall, I […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, Scarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: Climate change imperils even our pancake syrup
The dangers and pitfalls of climate change are many – and terrifying. The United Nations lists hotter global temperatures, increasingly severe storms, drought, sea level rise, ocean life die-off, land species die-off, plant die-off, loss of adequate food supply and increased health problems from all of the above as well as degraded atmosphere just to […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Through My Lens: Finding joy and lessons in a power outage
During messy, snowy, cold days like those over the weekend when we were left without power, there’s always a bit of happiness waiting to be found – if we take a moment to look for it. Snow is a joy for me no matter when it arrives, even in spring. Growing up in hot, dry […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly, The Forecaster
Mainewhile: As we repair storm-damaged infrastructure, let’s dream bigger
Oh, March. The cruelest of all the months. A tantalizing glimpse of spring, then blam! Snow and rain and all sorts of winter madness. This late winter/early spring storm was a doozy. A strange capper on what was undeniably a strange winter. Despite being a milder winter in terms of temperature and snowfall, our poor […]