Editorials - Piscataquis Observer

Editorials

Does the world need more Christmas songs?

With Thanksgiving 2019 behind us, retailers’ obligatory Christmas promotions have pushed away the last remnants of turkey, pie, gherkins and Pilgrims. From now through December 26 -- the day after Christmas -- we will see and hear Christmas promotions of all kinds -- including music promos.

Commons Threads winter update

I am writing a winter update to our community about The Commons as we wrap up an eventful year and have made some important changes in our structure. We now have both a program and marketing director, Jeremy Loguercio, and a development director, Tara Smith. We are also pursuing a position for volunteer director.

Finding your Scots-Irish ties

Many genealogists in Maine have Scottish and/or Irish ancestors in their family trees.

Beware of more new taxes when the Legislature returns to Augusta

Lawmakers want your money, and they never stop wanting your money. At any given opportunity, they will dream up new ways of identifying it, taking it from you, and then using it. When they can't get it, they just take it from you anyway by spending money they don't have and covering it with debt.

Health care gives Democrats advantage heading into 2020

Off-year elections -- even high profile contests -- aren’t always reliable predictors of things to come. But election results in Kentucky, Louisiana and Virginia confirm a lesson that we learned in Maine in 2017: The No. 1 issue in the mind of voters is health care.

Kids need to learn actions have consequences

My Catholic nun elementary school teachers were disciplinarians. Without question, they were the toughest formal education teachers. Although I spent only four years in Catholic school, plus time in Catechism school, I have fond memories of the nuns I encountered. More to the point, I am grateful for the nuns' life lessons.

How to improve mental health awareness in education

The first quarter or trimester of the school year has come and gone, and the autumn has clearly given way to the winter. Clocks have been turned back, the daylight hours have become shorter, and people across Maine and New England are preparing for what is sure to be an impressive season of snow and cold.

The 1950s were a wonderful decade

In a Nov. 4 BDN OpEd, Bloomberg columnist Noah Smith asserts that the 1950s are greatly overrated and those of us who harbor ”wistful” recollections of that era are engaging in “rose-tinted sentimentality.” Smith either wasn’t living in the 1950s, or, if he was, certainly wasn’t living in rural or small-town America. Some of his points are historical fact, that pollution was a problem and there was a lack of equal economic opportunity for minorities.

A great teacher shares some life

Freddie Gruber was a great drum teacher. If you have a great teacher in your life, no matter the subject taught, then Freddie Gruber won’t be a total stranger.

All in a name

In the last column I discussed tips for locating the surnames of female ancestors. This can often be a difficult and long task.

I’m exhausted by politics. I’ll bet you are too

For years, following politics in the United States has felt -- at least to me -- like trying to take a refreshing sip of water out of a high pressure fire hose. In other words, overwhelming, painful, and ultimately unsatisfying.

Former Democratic Party chair attempts to break the campaign financing mold

Ben Grant, the former chair of the Maine Democratic Party, is running for state representative for House District 41 in Portland. Grant, an attorney and PTO board member among other things, is trying a novel approach to fundraising for his race.

The millworkers matter most

This past Wednesday I arrived at Museum L-A for Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers’s “Grateful for Rachel” retirement party. She is a Maine treasure who created a model of historic and cultural preservation that can, and should, be duplicated in communities statewide.

Gov. Mills looks forward to hearing thoughts on how to foster economic growth

This week I had a great discussion up at Blair Hill Inn and Restaurant in Greenville with business owners, residents, development leaders and local lawmakers. We focused on ideas and strategies for economic growth in rural Maine, particularly Western Maine.

Why are there still Democrats declaring to run for president?

There are currently 17 candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, and there seems to be a little something for everyone?

Time to give Maine lawmakers and judges a raise

Members of the Maine Legislature, judges and the governor deserve a raise -- not because they’re all great at their job, though many are, but because they are woefully underpaid for the difficult work that they do.

Tips on finding female ancestors

Finding the maiden name of a female ancestor can be a challenge. Men’s names were recorded in town vital records but the wife was usually listed by her given name only.

Remembering US Army PVT Robert C. Fish

On my October 13, 2019 return drive home from St. Petersburg, FL, I decided to detour a bit to visit my Uncle Bob’s grave in Auburn, MA. Uncle Bob was a profound influence, equal to, in some ways greater than, my parents’ influence in my life.

Prev Page 1 Next