PORTLAND — The annual Swapmaine clothing swap will be held from 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, May 9, at the East End School, 195 North St. People are asked to bring a bag of clothing, shoes, jewelry or accessories, and can then choose from items others have brought. Anyone dropping off bags between 4-6 p.m. Friday, May […]
Portland Forecaster
City-wide news from The Forecaster.
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Out & About: Portland Ovations rocks out with ‘Mamma Mia!’
Mid-May marks the end of the 2014-2015 season for Portland Ovations, and the 84-year-old arts presenter will rock out in style with two performances of its finale: the national touring production of “Mamma Mia!” on May 13-14. Based on the music and stylings of ABBA and woven around a wonderful romantic story, “Mama Mia!” is […]
advertisement
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Intentionally Unreasonable: Not unsophisticated, just not smart
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, here are the two lead definitions of the word “unsophisticated”: not having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc., and, not highly developed or complex. And here is a recent headline from The Portland Press Herald: “Shrewd financiers exploit unsophisticated Maine […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Dishin' That: Restaurant policy a Rocky Mountain low
Not too long ago, I came upon a tipping practice that landed in the front of the already overstuffed “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” file. Located in the Riverwalk area of downtown Pueblo, Colorado, the Rio Bistro restaurant is a lovely, independently owned and operated gem surrounded by charm and history. Designed by the […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Letter: Conservative columnist is confounding
Julie McDonald-Smith’s last column (“The Right View: Hernandez trial holds a mirror to society”) is yet another example of how she regularly shortchanges and confounds her readers. In summarizing the reasons for Hernandez’s bad choices, she, interestingly enough, departs from right-wing orthodoxy by suggesting that societal and environmental factors are to blame. Her litany of […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Capitol Notebook: The war between Republicans
It’s a challenging time to be a Republican legislator in Augusta. Not only do they have to deal with a volatile governor, they are busy attacking each other. This hostility was displayed last week when Sen. Roger Katz of Augusta, a moderate Republican, challenged Gov. Paul LePage by introducing a bill that would force the […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
The Universal Notebook: The case for Bernie Sanders
As we look ahead to 2016 and Barack Obama’s exit from the stage, who can you imagine as the next president of the United States? I’m afraid when I survey the woods of wannabes I don’t see a lot of presidential timber. I voted for Hillary Clinton back in the 2008 Democratic primary. Obama at […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Abby's Road: This is how the birthday cake crumbles
Thanks to a recent birthday, I am now closer to 40 than to 30. I joked with people that I was actually turning twenty-something. I don’t like getting older. I do like birthdays, though. I now recognize them as historical reference points. They are the signposts by which I can chart my path from there […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Forum: Has Portland jumped the shark?
It’s no secret that Maine has been discovered by the editors of just about every conceivable tourist and lifestyle magazine. The Pine Tree State has been recognized as a top place to raise a family, to retire, and of course, to vacation. (Forbes thinks we come up short when it comes to those pesky years […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Short Relief: The rest of the DHHS story
I recently heard Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew speak. Her department administers many of our state’s biggest benefit programs, including Mainecare (or Medicaid), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly food stamps), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF, formerly Aid to Families with Dependent Children), and General Assistance. Mainecare is the biggest […]