Gov. Paul LePage is working to bring Maine’s fiscal house in order by prioritizing spending. When are the members of our Legislature going to understand that we must prioritize what is to be spent? There have been numerous “pet projects” through the years, such as subsiding MPBN to the tune of $3.7 million. Think what that amount of money could do to help with heating assistance during this coming winter. Federal money to the states for heating assistance has been reduced, so Maine will be forced to reduce the amount of heating assistance offered to homes throughout the state.

Last year I was going into a hardware store and saw a woman putting a pair of adjustable sawhorses into her car. I have the same pair, am very happy with them and wanted to tell her what a reliable product she bought. I asked if the sawhorses were for her or her husband. She said they were for her partner, who is a carpenter. These women have been together for more than 15 years, have children and both work outside the house. For extra income they buy run-down houses, renovate them while they are living there and sell them when the work is done. They have done this at least three or four times.

I was impressed with the number of media folks who tied the Penn State debacle with the Catholic Church. I believe that this was purposeful by the media to undermine the Catholic Church. At the same time, in viewing the visit of Pope Benedict to the African nation of Benin, I was hugely impressed with the intensity of religion in that tiny African nation. Even the children seemed so passionate about their faith and the visit of Pope Benedict. Some say that the church in America has lost its passion. As I have said before, a group of youth called the millennials (circa 1987-2003) say they can fulfill their faith without the common tools of prayer and Bible reading. Where did they get this idea? They will not last long, I fear, because the Judeo-Christian faiths have been around for thousands of years, operating on prayer and our sacred word. Anyway, what a joy to view the intensity of faith exhibited by that nation, Benin. And the music and the movement of those African folks! What a feast for the eyes and the spirit. Thank you EWTN!

I am a native Mainer. I live in Lexington Township just a few miles from where I grew up.