I want to thank Patti McDonald and The Forecaster, and the wonderful staff at the Freeport Community Library, for the lively and informative article about the library’s Therapy Dog Story Hour. For those who believe their local library has become an ancient repository of dusty old books, they may want to consult with Elina or […]

Once again the Maine tourist industry opposes a tax increase that would increase revenue to help pay for road maintenance and construction. In this case, a 7-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax increase during summer months. They are concerned that the tax increase will discourage tourists from visiting Maine. Let’s put his fear to the “Martha” test: A […]

America today is no longer a two-party nation. More and more, we find third- and fourth-party candidates on election ballots at every level. The result is that the “winning” candidate often gets only a plurality of the vote — meaning that most of the voters didn’t want that person to win. Ranked-choice voting is a proven, […]

As a member of Falmouth’s Route 100 Committee, I was proud of the public input we had in the proposal process. Open meetings and public forums were held for two years with strong public participation. We did not operate in a vacuum. The area’s zoning and the advice of the Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee were […]

Mainers need LD 820, sponsored by Rep. Joyce “Jay” McCreight, D-Harpswell, to prevent discrimination in insurance coverage for pregnant women. This bill requires all insurance plans that include prenatal care coverage to also provide coverage for abortions. Maine law does not currently ensure that a woman who needs an abortion, even when her doctor tells […]

Recently, Carolyn and I attended a performance of “Life Sucks.” at Mad Horse Theatre in South Portland. Playwright Aaron Posner updated Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” for laughs and existential angst. Imagine Woody Allen collaborating with Chekhov for black comic effect. We don’t get to the theater as much as we should. The only other play […]

Here’s a definitive answer to a difficult question. Is freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd District vulnerable at the polls in November? The definitive answer is no – mostly because there’s no election this November. So, unless Golden stubs his toe on a mothballed voting machine, he should survive intact. However, if […]

Welcome to another edition of Boos and Bravos, the quick-hit, catch-all column of Here’s Something. Bravo to Democrat Party leadership for embracing Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s conclusions regarding allegations of Russia-Trump collusion during the 2016 campaign. Party officials, who for two years eagerly perpetrated the collusion hoax with help from the national media, have been […]

There’s a new chair in our home. It just arrived. The wood is walnut, the cushions are chenille, and the design is mid-century modern. It was crafted by hand and exchanged in trade for a painting created by my partner. One of the many, many perks of sharing my life with an artist. All this […]

The Falmouth Town Council and Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee held a public forum last week concerning town growth and density. These two items were adversely impacted by the 2013 Comprehensive Plan and 2016 zoning changes. Citizens repeatedly asked “What was the council’s objective in imposing such drastic zoning changes?” Councilors seemed unable to articulate their […]