Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • It Dawned on Me: Okay to be Sentimental

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist This holiday season, I have indulged in sentimentality despite my best judgement. In other words, I’ve let myself be moved by emotions and by the sweet simplicity of community traditions instead of being shielded from holiday cheer by my usual rant against the commercialism of Christmas and so on […]

  • On my Corner: Making a point

    Editor’s note: You have probably seen him in Pondicherry Square or at the Main Hill monument — be it in the heat of summer or frigid days of winter — holding a sign regarding securing America’s borders in one hand and waving to those who pass by with the other. Why does Bob Casimiro of […]

  • Guest column: EPA budget cuts will hurt lakes

    By Colin Holme LEA Assistant Director Simply put, the lakes of Maine have benefitted from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through the agency, funds have been awarded to fix local roads and properties that were negatively impacting our lakes, streams and rivers. These moneys have been spent by public works departments and local contractors to […]

  • Tree Talk: South wind disaster

    By Robert Fogg Licensed Arborist It wasn’t a forecast I wanted to hear. The weatherman said, “Strong south and southeast wind Sunday night into Monday.” And, here I was, preparing for a one-week Disney vacation with my wife, youngest daughter and two grandkids. Plans had been made months in advance and could not be cancelled. […]

  • Earth Notes: The Mighty Mushroom

    By Sally Chappell I intended to write about the evils of nuclear weapons, but one day in September, a mushroom started sprouting in our asphalt driveway. Over the course of the next few days, I snapped pictures of it and shared my amazement with some friends near and far. One neighbor astutely remarked that it […]

  • Small World: Bronze warrior reflects

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist As is my custom, I was out for a stroll on Main Street on a warm summer evening when I espied Bridgton’s Civil War soldier sitting cross-legged on his plinth, his musket across his lap and his right hand finger on the trigger while his left hand massaged his shoeless […]

  • Small World: Tales of a Tree

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist In the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago, an oak tree came crashing down in my neighbor’s front yard. It was great in circumference, taller than two stories, and green and healthy in leaf. The only thing that set it apart from the other trees in the […]

  • It Dawned on Me: Making a living in Vacationland

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist How glorious it is to be so engrossed in an activity in which the clock ceases to exist. How wonderful it is to climb into bed at night knowing the best possible was done. Am I describing vacation or work? Could be both. So many of us Mainers make […]

  • Small World: Solomon’s wisdom

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist The other Sunday my wife brought home from church a leaflet containing verses from 1 Kings 3:5-12. Her oral addition was that someone should present the message to President Trump. Here follows the pertinent language. King Solomon is speaking. “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant […]

  • It Dawned on Me: Keeping teen hours

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist It’s been a goal of mine to stay close to my teenage daughter. As any parent knows, it sometimes takes a slight of hands to maintain bonds while pro-offering freedom and responsibility. In recent weeks and over the last couple days, we’ve grown closer through an unusual common bond. […]