Backyard Naturalist: A garter snake slithers into view

Dana Wilde recalls a recent encounter his grandson had with a snake and the discussion that followed about whether to keep the reptile or set it free.

Movie Review: ‘American Fiction’ is a touching story about a family

J.P. Devine Podcast: It’s never too late to be graceful

On the Edge: Aging gracefully

Mulling the ways he's seen elegance, J.P. Devine reflects that it's never too late to be graceful.

Movie Review: ‘Somewhere in Queens’ a soft landing in a world of hard ones

"I thought I had the ending in my pocket but I was wrong and it’s a soft landing in a world of hard ones," J.P. Devine writes.

Thinking Things Through: Plymouth Rock, Anne Frank and a Brazilian flag

On this Independence Day, Liz Soares ponders what it means to be a patriot.

In the Field: Ode to the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer

Re-reading Gazetteer notes generates a flood of wonderful memories of beautiful Maine places visited and wildlife observed, Ron Joseph writes.

J.P. Devine Podcast: Early Ray-Bans and Sisters

On the Edge: Sisters in the sun

Recalling the heat of growing up in St. Louis, J.P. Devine remembers nuns from a local church who left a lasting impression.

Reporting Aside: He’s 82, homeless, has lived in his van for 8 years

The man has everything he needs, including a bed, a thick wool blanket, a solar panel and insulation for his windows, Amy Calder writes.