Each June, rainbow flags unfurl across Maine, from Portland storefronts to Presque Isle porches, from downtown streets to small-town libraries, as we join communities across the world in celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It’s a season of love, of joy, of identity. But it’s also a time of remembrance, of resistance and of recommitment to the work […]
Times Record Opinion
Columns and opinion news from the Times Record.
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
The common good vs. the constant grift
During the recent reunion weekend, Bowdoin College recognized three outstanding graduates who have dedicated their lives to advancing the common good by serving others. William Bao Bean, class of ’95 received the Alumni Service Award. The program noted, “You have enthusiastically, and single-handedly built and fostered a strong network of Bowdoin alumni across Asia. Your […]
advertisement
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
My son deserves dignified care — and so do the people who provide it
Imagine spending your entire life building a community around your child with disabilities — only to watch it slowly unravel because the direct support professionals and the organizations providing care are being systematically underfunded. That’s the reality I face as the parent of my 45-year-old son, Andy, who lives with medical, mental health and intellectual […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
A recipe for a state budget that supports Mainers
It’s officially budget season — the time of the legislative session when legislators in Augusta make difficult decisions about how best to allocate the state’s resources in ways that benefit the hardworking people of Maine. But as we look south to Washington, D.C., it’s increasingly likely the federal budget will cause more harm than good. […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
Reflecting on our work to protect and preserve Maine’s environment
As Senate chair of the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee (also known as ENR), I’ve spent much of my first five months in office discussing the most pressing environmental issues facing our state. I’ve heard from so many Mainers coming to testify about the challenges of coastal erosion, water pollution, waste, plastics, PFAS, extreme […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
Letters to the editor: Stansky for school board; response requested; Declaration of Conscience
Former councilors endorse Katie Stansky for Brunswick school board As former chairs of the Brunswick Town Council, we’ve worked with many public servants who set aside grievance politics to focus on one thing: the good of Brunswick. In this school board election, the choice is clear: We’re supporting Katie Stansky. Brunswick values fairness, inclusion and […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
Breathing easy at Oasis Free Clinics
In the 1950s and 1960s, over half of the men in the United States smoked. This was partially related to government issued cigarettes, most notably in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam, when cigarettes were a standard part of military rations. Smoking was heavily promoted, and often, tobacco companies frequently used medical […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
Brunswick High School valedictorian gives hope for the future
Brunswick High School valedictorian Simone Wiley lights up the world wherever she goes. She’s extraordinarily accomplished, but you wouldn’t know it upon first meeting her and seeing her connect with people, both young and old. She’s genuine and warm, a teen without angst, a girl without guile, a young woman without wiles. Simone has been […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
Letters to the editor: More leaders like Mills; age is just a number; school board candidate; Earth Day disappointment; the right to health care; new Wiscasset committee
Americans need more leaders like Mills If we had more Americans like Gov. Janet Mills who clearly speaks truth to power, our current President Trump might not last long. It is inspiring to watch her stand her ground and protect Maine laws. Whether she agrees with the law or not, she knows it is her […]
Posted inTimes Record Opinion
‘Now I’ve got kind people in my corner’: Coming back from loss and homelessness
Before people lose their homes, they often lose something else first — someone they love, the job that paid the bills or the stable health that helped them manage it all. Robert’s journey with Tedford didn’t begin with eviction or homelessness; it began with loss. Over the past five years, Robert has lost four important […]