In a recent column (“The Legislature’s taxing logic”) Tony Payne took the Legislature’s Taxation Committee to task for suggesting that a portion of the structural budget hole might be filled by reducing a present business tax break. Payne then went on to complain that merely making this suggestion “does irreparable harm to Maine’s reputation and […]

A letter titled “Falmouth conservation plan goes too far” last week addressed changes made in a proposed ordinance regarding the town’s natural resources. The changes were made by the Community Development Committee to accommodate landowners who had voiced concerns that the original proposal was too restrictive. Unfortunately, the letter contained an inaccuracy that needs to […]

I am writing in response to an article (“Risky business: Les Otten and the rise and fall of American Skiing Co.”) written by Marian McCue and John Christie. It was disappointing to learn after the fact that the story was written by a person who contributed the maximum amount allowable by law to Sen. Libby […]

Most towns and cities in Maine during this slight winter storm season got through on several nights, where there was an official snow street parking ban. Imagine that. A handful of nights where you could not park on the street, without a ticket or a tow. Not so in South Portland. We are on the […]

I want to thank the Falmouth Town Council for their decision to continue the Metro bus service. I have been using the bus for commuting purposes for two years and find it prompt, dependable, convenient and affordable. The council’s decision comes at a time when there are challenges ahead facing public transport services for the […]

With the Falmouth Flyer bus still quite new in Falmouth, residents are just learning how wonderfully relaxing and fun riding the bus into Portland, or to Route 1 shopping, movies, or Town Landing, can be. That’s why it’s such great news that the Town Council found the funding to keep the full current bus route […]

Your headline “SAD 51 school budget could cost up to 30 jobs” could just as easily have said “Seniors being forced from their homes by greedy SAD 51 teachers.” It seems rather greedy to accept an 8.17 percent salary increase when all about them other government employees are accepting cuts in pay and furlough days […]

Hippies have been an amusing feature of Maine’s landscape since the Muskie days. The freedom-loving, carefree, nonviolent hippie complemented the state’s core fabric of toleration and peaceful community. Generous Mainers and visitors have looked past the vehicles and homes in various states of disrepair, littering our neat New England landscape. And, of course, the occasional […]

Edgar Allen Beem’s column is always a hoot. Unless he rides a bike to get to Trader Joe’s, he is helping the evil multinational oil company stockholders, like the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (whose largest equity holding is ExxonMobil) acquire their grossly unfair profits. Of course, if he is fueling up at CITGO, then […]

Thank you, Edgar Allen Beem for having the gumption to tell the truth: we need to raise taxes, in Maine and in the country, if we are going to remain a viable society. The talking-head millionaires on rant radio and the heads of mega-corporations talking directly to “our representatives” have created a political climate where […]