Archive for ‘Opinion’

  • Interview with a tree

    By Dawn De Busk Writer’s footnote: Obviously, this is a parody of those times when I am asking too many questions and not truly listening. It is a parody in which I make fun of the habit of moving too quickly through life’s moments. Actually, I am equally capable of times of silence and getting […]

  • Richard B. Buzzell Sr.

    BALDWIN — Richard B. Buzzell Sr., 76, of Baldwin and formerly of Gorham, died on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at a Portland hospital. He was born on Nov. 27, 1935, in Baldwin, the son of David and Ethel Wentworth Buzzell. He graduated from Potter Academy. A lifelong truck driver, he began his career with Lester […]

  • Water and Sebago

    By Alice Darlington I didn’t think much about water as I was growing up.  True, my father used to get quite annoyed if he thought we were using too much water to boil eggs, but that was not to save water, but gas so I continued pretty much oblivious to the wonder of water because […]

  • New Neighbors

    This afternoon, the air is soft and warm. A cool breeze is blowing off the lake, where rows of waves shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight. The sound of water slapping gently against the rocks mixes with the high-pitched chirpings of goldfinches and pine siskins. A kingfisher rattles along the shore, and a white-breasted nuthatch […]

  • A Badly Needed Bond Bill

    By Senator Diamond This week, the Appropriations Committee put together a package of bonds. Below is a breakdown of that package: • Transportation — $51,500,000 — including $36,000,000 for highways and bridges and $1,500,000 for rail; • Drinking and Wastewater, $7,925,000; • Land For Maine’s Future (including farmland and waterfront preservation, and deer wintering areas), […]

  • I love you without words

    Two weeks ago, my dad opened the door to his Jeep, hopped up onto the rocker panel, and tried to heave a ladder up over his head and onto to the roof rack. Midway through the arc, the ladder got away from him and he lost his balance and pitched over backwards. At 86, Dad […]

  • The Line Item Veto

    By Bill Diamond Under the Maine Constitution, a governor has the power to alter individual dollar amounts in a spending bill. This is called a line-item veto, and it is a very limited authority. They can only change dollar amounts, and they cannot do it in a way that would result in a deficit to […]

  • A study in grief

    By Dawn De Busk I buried my dog two years ago in March. I cannot believe she has been gone that long. I am happy that she died so peacefully, and is free of the pain a long dog life can bring. But, oh boy, I miss having that dog in the physical world. It […]

  • Is This Spring?

    Is this spring? The sun is shining and the air is warm, but the mountains are still white, and two days ago, a few miles north of here in the hills, we found hidden patches of snow and ice lurking in cool dark corners. Sandals and snow boots are lined up inside our front door, […]

  • A Good Compromise on Spending

    By Bill Diamond Last week, before we broke for a few weeks, we passed another Supplemental Budget. This was the result of weeks of work by the Appropriations Committee that produced a very good compromise. As opposed to the last budget, which was concerned with funding issues at the Department of Health and Human Services, […]