Public water consumers in the Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach area will soon see a moderate spike in their monthly water bills. According to Maine Water, a rate increase of 77 percent will be spread out over a three-year period and be used to help fund the upgrade of existing infrastructure and build a new treatment plant … Continue reading Local water rates set to increase
A new era begins
It was almost exactly 12 years ago today when I found myself in Washington, D.C. as part of a massive crowd converging on the Capitol Building. We were hoping to get a glimpse of profound history: the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I remember that it was bitterly cold but the crowd was joyous. Beyond … Continue reading A new era begins
More than this . . .
I have made more than my fair share of bad decisions -- from thinking I could drive just a few more miles to the next rest stop, to throwing some kerosene onto a campfire. For more than nearly 30 years, I lived my life with no clear direction, no purpose, no meaning. Failure, it seemed, … Continue reading More than this . . .
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Earlier this week, my community lost a great man. Don Wilson was 73 and apparently living with severe depression. Hopefully we all learned a lesson from this tragic event: Mental health disorders can be fatal, especially without professional health treatment. Can you imagine being in so much pain that you would hurl yourself in front … Continue reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Joe Biden: The Comeback Kid?
A few days ago, I was drawn into yet another Facebook political debate. I can't help it. I'm a political junkie and off my meds. The debate was about the 2020 presidential campaign, and I made the comment that I identify as a "right-leaning moderate" Within a few seconds after writing that post, some guy … Continue reading Joe Biden: The Comeback Kid?
Outrageous Fortune
Every time I start to feel a bit of optimism about the future, the reality hammer drops on my head. Today, we learned that restaurants in southern Maine will not be able to re-open as originally scheduled because of ongoing concerns about the Cov-19 epidemic. The social media reaction to this news has been swift … Continue reading Outrageous Fortune
The war of the words
I am 56 years-old. I am a white man. I live in the suburbs. I have two healthy sons and an amazing wife. I have nothing to complain about. But still I have a knack for finding political fights on social media platforms. I used to be a journalist, and then a columnist. I put … Continue reading The war of the words
A sheep speaks out
I wear a mask when I go to the grocery store or any other place where large numbers of people congregate. I am not a sheep. I am not afraid of Covid-19. I do not wear a mask to keep myself safe. I wear a mask because it may lower the odds (if only a … Continue reading A sheep speaks out
Pandemic sheds light on media bias
As we continue coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever for the media to take extra steps to ensure that their news stories are fact-based, without hype, without speculation and a minimum of bias. Wait. Did I just say “a minimum of bias?” Conservative news consumers on the right of … Continue reading Pandemic sheds light on media bias
Here Comes the Sun
(previously published in Saco Bay News) It seems ironic that this is “Sunshine Week.” No, it has nothing to do with Daylight Saving Time, but as the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic it becomes even more important for the media to “keep a check” on our government whether federal, state or local. Sunshine Week … Continue reading Here Comes the Sun
