There are 753 sovereign Native American tribes in the United States. In Maine, the number of sovereign Native American tribes is zero. “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.” – Unknown Margo Lodge-Seven Oakes Peaks Island

This week Dunkin’ Donuts – I know they’ve shortened their name, but I can’t seem to stop filling in the blank! – set up shop in Monument Square, on Wednesday, with plans to stay through Friday promoting their ice coffee. It might be “iced coffee,” I’m not sure, but I don’t want to get into […]

Earth Day marks the unofficial start of cleanup season. In Portland, many neighborhoods work with the city of Portland, organizing neighborhood cleanups. In the Libbytown neighborhood, where I live, a fair amount of the trash that has been picked up appears to be incidental (e.g., from cars). But the bulk of the refuse includes items […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is complicit in the suffering of dogs and puppies raised in federally licensed puppy mills, which is why I am thanking Rep. Chellie Pingree for cosponsoring and working to pass Goldie’s Act (HR 6100). This federal agency is responsibility for protecting dogs from cruelty in USDA-licensed commercial facilities, but they […]

Regarding Michael Smith’s letter of April 24 on the Ukrainian and the American flags, many of us have a different perspective based on recent events: The blue and yellow: A democratically elected government and sovereign state defending itself against the illegal invasion and war crimes of an authoritarian madman. Red, white and blue: Tainted by […]

I usually agree with Bill Nemitz, but I think he missed the mark in his April 21 column about his new Maine-made Ukrainian flag. Flags are powerful symbols, meant to convey aspects of pride, loyalty, politics and geography. One of my sons was so enamored of flags that he constantly drew them and became a […]

The dispute between MaineHealth and Anthem is a perfect illustration of why for-profit health care is a bad idea. Philip Moss Cape Elizabeth

As the Portland Charter Commission works to assemble a preliminary report for the City Council by the upcoming May 9 deadline, I write to ask that each of the commissioners’ proposals that ends up being submitted to the voters be accompanied by an estimate of its cost to implement; savings that are projected to accrue, […]