I heartily disagree with Edgar Allen Beem in his essay against the extraction of oil from tar sands in Alberta and the pipeline to bring it to Texas. Until the time we can rely on wind power, sun power, natural gas and other sources, this country needs a reliable source of oil to heat and […]

I am writing because I would like to publicize the issue of feeding ducks. I know it is a fun way to spend time with your family, and its great to sit and watch the pond. I know people think they are helping by feeding the ducks, but you are really not. Feeding ducks can […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — The holiday shopping season is inevitable and unavoidable; some call it “the most wonderful time of the year.” But those of us who work in retail would probably not agree. It is a time that those of us behind the cash registers both relish and dread; a time when we make the […]

The stunning failure of the congressional supercommittee to agree upon how to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion was entirely a function of the unwillingness of Republicans to compromise. Democrats tried to protect social programs serving the poor, the disabled, the elderly and working people, but they were reluctantly willing to reduce entitlement spending […]

Rationally, I never had a chance as a stand-up. It’s simple common sense. If you hate being recognized or touched or complimented, and I did, you probably shouldn’t be trying to get famous. Fortunately, I thought my love for the art would trump all that, paving the way for 10 years that I wouldn’t trade […]

Imagine that you are about to make a major purchase. You’re considering several different brands. Sales teams from the manufacturers have called on you. They’ve left you with literature describing their products and their companies. Each has tried to convince you that investing in its product will be a good use of your money. Which […]

Patrick Rael’s letter attacking the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, its board of directors and its capable executive director is filled with misinformation. He intimates that only in April did NNEPRA propose a layover facility. Wrong. The layover facility has been a long-planned Downeaster improvement since its beginning. It was, however, in April that […]

Falmouth is an unique place to live since it has both a coastal community and a lakefront community on Highland Lake. Residents and visitors are drawn to these areas because they have something in common: they enjoy the water and their beautiful views. You should take notice because the Falmouth Town Council is considering the […]

My comment plays to Edgar Allen Beem’s recent Universal Notebook commentary of our governor’s proposal to drug test welfare recipients. No doubt Gov. LePage received another anonymous letter. (I suppose it sounds better then hearing voices.) But it also feeds into other newspapers’ recent articles about OccupyMaine and welfare fraud. Suffice to say, it isn’t […]

Facts are stubborn things and the facts associated with Metro service in Falmouth differ greatly from the feelings proponents have for the bus. Proponents see the Falmouth Flyer as a social service, an environmental contribution and an economic investment in Falmouth’s future. For some it is a need. At the Town Council’s Nov. 28 meeting […]