Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • 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. […]

  • Small World: A hollow or high-principled presidency?

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Let us give some thought to the ruckus involving Russians and Republicans and their opponents among Democrats and the media. At first glance, it appears that a case of hypocrisy is the correct diagnosis. Or is it simply the classic Greek curse of hubris or over-weaning pride in operation? I […]

  • It Dawned on Me: How dare anyone call Maine dysfunctional?

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist How dare anyone call Maine dysfunctional? I saw a TV news segment about the lift of the government shutdown last week. The captions said Maine was dysfunctional. Did I hear the word dysfunctional associated with my fair Maine? Did my favorite TV news anchors just say “dysfunctional” in the […]

  • Small World: Keeping our powder dry and locked up

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist “Try diplomacy.” That’s what the experts tell us needs to be done when the country confronts a particularly onerous problem overseas. It’s funny how members of Congress, journalists, and college professors all come up with the same vague prescription when war trumpets are being sounded. What exactly do they mean? […]

  • Small World: The message from Trumpland

    By Henry Precht BN Columnist Until a recent evening, I had never met a self-described Trump supporter. Maybe it is because I move in excessively liberal circles — but I have lots of self-described conservative friends who eschew the Trump label. Or maybe it is because hidden or secret Trumpites of my acquaintance simply wanted […]

  • It Dawned on Me: The gang (of fireworks stand bandits) is all here

    By Dawn De Busk BN Columnist Some of my favorite Fourth of July memories are when my Aunt Loretta and my cousins Todd and Troy would come to visit my family in North Kenai, Alaska. Back then, in the ‘70s, the fireworks regulations were fairly lax and hand-built fireworks stands popped up along the road […]