I am writing this letter to you to express my concern about your quest for information about the “mock wedding” at Plummer Motz School and the implicit allegations of “cover up.” As a parent of two children in Falmouth (and one recently in Mr. Rosenblum’s classroom), I rely on The Forecaster for news of my […]

I would like to thank the citizens of Freeport for your support to education. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your superintendent of schools over the past five years. During this time the work of the schools has been productive, interesting, at times challenging, but at all times worthwhile. Although […]

I am a parent of a former student of Falmouth teacher Paul Rosenblum. My son was in his class in 2005. He was by far the best teacher my son has had to date. Many teachers are dedicated and do a great job, but the enthusiasm “Mr. R” brings to the classroom is special. He […]

Thank you sincerely for Peggy Roberts’ excellent piece on the Center for African Heritage’s summer youth employment program at River Point in Falmouth. It conveyed not only an appreciation of workplace issues confronting young African immigrants and refugees, but also of their idealism, their energy and their hopefulness for a brilliant future. For example, the […]

When the news spread that I was named Portland’s new superintendent of schools, many people congratulated me with messages such as “Good for you” and “You’re the right guy for Portland.” Sadly, I also heard from a minority who asked questions such as “What are you thinking?,” “Why Portland?,” and “Don’t you know …?” It […]

Whenever I hear an announcer on public television or radio say that the MacArthur Foundation “is committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world,” it occurs to me that we here in Maine couldn’t inhabit a much more verdant world. Green is such a dominant color this time of year that we tend […]

One of the first things that Portland’s new police chief, James Craig, wanted to do when he arrived was to equip his force with Tasers – stun guns that use an electric charge to temporarily disrupt a person’s muscle control, typically causing them to collapse. On the continuum of force available to law enforcement, Tasers […]

I lost my words. Regular words like touch, chest, hips and aspirin have been replaced by palpate, mediastinum, innominates and acetylsalicylic acid. My professors warned me that I would look at people differently after studying medicine; that my brain would start differentially diagnosing strangers walking down the street just based on what I saw. Does […]

This concerns the proposed land swap on Depot Street in Scarborough, also known as the end of the Pine Point Road. The Town Council was asked to consider a plan to swap beachfront property with the Lighthouse Motel on June 17 without a first and second reading or public hearing. To their credit, councilors agreed […]

Pine Point, with its beautiful beach and access to the Scarborough River and Saco Bay, is treasured by people all over Scarborough. Access to the shore is precious and priceless and finite. The town is considering a change in Pine Point which could forever change the nature of an important historical access point to Pine […]