The Maine Turnpike Authority recently announced it is dropping its plans for a 5-mile, four-lane, elevated toll highway that would run from I-95 with multiple interchanges paving over local landowners who are opposed to MTA taking their land, including Smiling Hill Farm. The limited support for MTA’s plan was based on grossly exaggerated benefits and […]
American Journal Opinion
Mainewhile: Farm-to-farm trails – let’s make it happen
Hello to all of you. Well. Here we are. To paraphrase one of my all-time favorite literary works, we have turned another page… and have come to the end. In this, our last column together, I was sorely tempted to try and pack all my ideas in here as a last hurrah. But, oi. It […]
Mainewhile: Be authentically yourself – communities are built on it
Well, hello everyone. How are you all doing? As a starting point for this space, that question from me to you is not at all unusual. This time, though, it is a little different. This is the hello at the start of our goodbye. The fiscal realities of our current climate mean changes for the […]
Mainewhile: Safeguarding historical records should be above partisanship
Museums, libraries and archives – these are my happy places. True, I love a long walk in the great outdoors, but there is something about these hallowed spaces where history, questions and curiosity combine that just makes me fundamentally happy. Casually mention John Cotton Dana or Ennigaldi-Nanna (fun research tangent for you all) to me, […]
Mainewhile: Administration has Maine in its crosshairs and it’s illegal
Our beloved state is currently embroiled in a loud and fractious feud. I wish we weren’t, but we are. A disclaimer: If you have questions, or are genuinely engaged in sorting your way through this issue, I welcome your conversation and I promise to engage in it without rancor. If, however, you are inclined to […]
Mainewhile: Susan Blanchard Russwurm and standing up for what’s right
This week holds an interesting spot on the calendar – the bridge space between Black History Month and Women’s History Month, two celebrations to which our current president has said, “Nyet!” But which I shall continue to celebrate anyway. I urge everyone to go biography diving on their own, while I take a moment to […]
Mainewhile: Getting back to the roots of the Presidents Day holiday
Happy Presidents Day! I hope that wherever you are you stayed safe during the recent spate of storms, and were able to use the long weekend to rest up. It’s been a heck of a week. A quick note about this holiday; it started out as the celebration of one president, our first. That, of […]
Mainewhile: Celebrating the life of Beryl Warner Williams
Happy midwinter everyone! Finally, we have been getting some decent snow. I am a fan of snow. I love it. I love the soft light of sun through snow and the sense of snuggling in. And is there anything better than a good old-fashioned snow day? For my money, there is literally nothing greater than […]