My high school teaching peers and I sat around the other day discussing essential qualities we want our students to embrace. We tossed around words like “compassion,” “curiosity,” “accountability.” But the word we kept coming back to was “integrity” — strong moral principles that guide us in the decisions we make. We considered this a […]

Having a home in Maine for over 40 years, and going to both “summah camp” and school in Maine, I have come to understand what “ice out” means: a new beginning — a new season. That cold crisp air, a red sunset, gray skies and a gray frozen lake. To awaken the next morning to sun […]

I am a retired seminary professor and pastor in the United Church of Christ, writing to express my appreciation to the Portland Press Herald editors and to Abbey Hamilton, a junior at Yarmouth High School, for her fine op-ed on Feb. 5 titled “MAGA is antithetical to the teachings of Christ.” Abbey articulates what many […]

In a recent column (“Maine’s minor parties finally have a fair shot at the ballot”), Steve Collins hallucinated and said I was running for Maine House District 104 as a Democrat. I have never been registered as a Democrat in my life. In 1993, while attending the University of Vermont, I was inspired by Bernie […]

Several days ago, I wrote a letter to the editor criticizing the media for their lack of investigative reporting on fraud within the Medicare program. Some of that fraud is from the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota and also in Maine (along with other states). I was vilified and criticized — and one person even […]

The recent rescue of a duck hunter in Casco Bay is a stark reminder that wearing a life jacket can save your life when the water is cold. The hunter’s boat began sinking, but he was prepared. With his life jacket on, he stayed afloat until help arrived and has recovered despite severe hypothermia. Not […]

This is my response to your invitation to share my observations about ICE: ICE is an acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states that “This Constitution and the Laws of the United States … are the supreme Law of the Land and the judges in every state shall be […]

In 89 years of living, I’ve learned a few important things. One is that there are far more good people than bad. I’ve met, become acquainted with and become friends with kind, generous, capable people and almost no criminals, mean-spirited or vicious people. I’ve lived in Maine, Florida and Arizona. Same thing everywhere I go. […]