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 […]

In 2015, independent Sen. Angus King reached across the aisle to work alongside Sen. Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, to introduce the Strong Families Act. This bill aims at making paid leave a normal workplace practice by providing tax incentives to employers who offer it. This bill helps new mothers and fathers spend essential bonding […]

Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to weaken automobile efficiency regulations, a positive step for all of Maine. Now, we need them to keep Maine’s needs at heart and vote against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, a decision that will shape the court and our […]

At the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, the world watched in bewilderment as our president accepted Russian denials of election interference over the unanimous verdict of American intelligence agencies. Afterwards, I contacted Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins to express my alarm at our president’s disturbing behavior. Sen. King offered a clear-eyed response, declaring foreign interference […]

This summer I spent my time canvassing with Environment Maine. One evening in Cape Elizabeth, I ran into many concerned residents because a car-sized piece of plastic had washed up on their neighborhood beach. Polystyrene is one of the most toxic plastics we produce and it never fully degrades, it just breaks down into micro-plastics, […]

The single eagle flew straight and fast, just 40 yards out over the lake. The appearance of the eagle is not totally unexpected in front of the camp on Mount Desert Island. The eagle flew from one side of camp, around a point of land, to the other, and the loons seemed to warn each […]