We asking everyone to support the re-election of state Sen. Amy Volk, R-Scarborough, in Senate District 30. Our gasoline/service station, Village Center Auto Care, has been family operated for over 40 years. We compete against big gas station chains and huge car dealerships every day. A big part of the reason we can remain successful […]

In June, Maine voters blocked the state Legislature’s attempt to repeal ranked-choice voting. While the statewide results showed a resounding victory, support in the readership area of The Forecaster was especially strong. Voters in these mostly coastal towns in Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties supported ranked-choice voting 65 percent to 35 percent. That level of support […]

Please join me in re-electing state Rep. Teresa Pierce, D-Falmouth, in House District 44. Teresa’s track record shows clearly that she is a strong supporter of public education through her support for increased funding for the University of Maine and our state’s community colleges. She supported bonding for education infrastructure and tax incentives for students […]

As a kid growing up in the 1950s, “The Howdy Doody Show,” which ran from 1947-1960, was a staple of my Saturday-morning television viewing. Howdy Doody was a freckle-faced marionette and ventriloquist’s dummy, the creation of Buffalo Bob Smith, who started each show by asking the kids in the Peanut Gallery, as they called the […]

I thought I was reasonably familiar with most of the dirty words in the English language. Apparently not, because I never knew “socialization” and “socializing” were among them. Now, thanks to the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Gov. Paul LePage, my trove of swear words has been expanded to include these swell new additions. […]

Welcome to another edition of Boos and Bravos, where we try to criticize and praise in equal amounts: • Bravo to the Maine Turnpike Authority’s plan to add a lane to both sides of the turnpike stretching from Scarborough to about a mile north of the Larrabee Road exit in Portland. Anyone who travels the […]

In Brunswick, we managed to use our first “snow day” before the first week of school ended, and certainly before any actual snow flew. The weird little storm, short but powerful, took out power to much of town. Not only was it inconvenient, it was shockingly familiar. Remember last October? Again, just one quick hit, […]

As November’s election approaches, I am impressed with Sarah Sandlin, Republican candidate for the House of Representatives in Falmouth District 44. A Maine native, Sarah is young, energetic, positive and possesses the blend of maturity and creativity needed to bring people together across the aisle in Augusta to solve problems. In our conversations, Sarah speaks […]

Some people succeed in life despite being branded as low achievers in school. But they’re the exception. More typically, if schools set low expectations for students, they won’t realize their potential. That’s why the Portland Public Schools is committed to the belief that all learners can rise to high expectations. That’s the first of our […]

I remember when Cathy Breen knocked on our door in Yarmouth early in her first state Senate campaign. I was surprised much later when I met her again and she remembered my name. George Mitchell had the same gift; he remembered me months after I first met him. This could be just a politician’s gimmick. […]