WESTBROOK–Westbrook will forge ahead with the cleanup of its long-troubled fire department, despite a state arbitration board’s decision to reinstate a firefighter who was fired in December. “It’s a setback, but it’s not insurmountable,” Mayor Colleen Hilton said Tuesday about the ruling. “I view it as one more challenge in this very complicated workforce issue.” […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
Down the road a piece: Disputes that dot Maine history
Jeff from Scarborough e-mails: “OK, John so I’m not from Maine. I’m a flatlandah, and don’t know a lot about Maine history, but from what I have learned it sounds like you Mainers can’t get along with your neighbors. Over the past year or so I’ve been reading Maine history and have learned about the […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
On the right track:The bonds that untie
I am really mortified (that’s scared witless) that so many Mainers and welfare recipients from other states who moved to Maine truly believe that bonds issued by the state of Maine are, in fact, free government money. What amazes me even more is that some believe that bonds issued by any government agency are really […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
Q&A with Patsy Murphy: Lifelong animal lover leads Westbrook shelter
WESTBROOK–After a year without an executive director, the Animal Refuge League welcomed Patsy Murphy into the position this month. Murphy holds a bachelor of science degree in organizational leadership from the University of New England and law degree from Cooley Law School in Michigan. Most recently, Murphy served as the executive director of the Eastern […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
USM hockey players face charges
WESTBROOK–Four University of Southern Maine men’s hockey players, including an assistant captain, were charged with furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol Saturday after hosting a drinking party at their apartment in Westbrook. Westbrook police issued summonses to assistant captain Jonathan Rutt, 22, of Scarborough; Stephen Wiedler, 23, of Farmingdale, N.Y.; Brett Kapteina, 25, […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
A Bible any way you like it
In the same century that Spain found an outlet for its murderous religious practices in the New World, Joe Gutenberg invented the printing press, and Martin Luther used it to print copies of his 95 criticisms of the way the pope conducted Christian affairs. Little did these gentlemen dream that they might be giving birth […]
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Borrowing time: Three city building projects to fight for bonds
A leaky library, a crowded public services garage and an old junior high school all will be vying for the Westbrook City Council’s attention when it chooses which major renovation projects to bond next year. The needs of the three city buildings – the Walker Memorial Library, the public services facility and the former Wescott […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
Sap run slow as Maple Sunday nears
GORHAM–Recent spring-like temperatures haven’t been sweet news at Parsons Maple Products in Gorham. With Maine Maple Sunday rapidly approaching, brothers Russell and Bob Parsons are hoping for more seasonal March weather to speed up the flow of Maple tree sap they’ll boil down into sweet syrup. “It has been a little too hot and we […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
EDITORIAL – A new opportunity for our newspapers
In the realities of today’s newspaper business, investigative reporting on larger, statewide issues – stories that can take weeks or even months to report – have mostly disappeared. Newspapers cannot afford to dedicate a reporter to one story for that amount of time. It is a fact of the industry well known to John Christie, […]
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EDITORIAL – Puppy mill law would be step in right direction
On Wednesday, March 3, the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation was scheduled to hold a work session on LD 1598, An Act to Strengthen the Laws against Illegal “Puppy Mill” Operators. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Deborah Simpson, D-Androscoggin, comes on the heels of several seizures in Maine of animals from […]