Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument will celebrate its second birthday with a hootenanny this weekend. And there is plenty to celebrate.

Were your ancestors naturalized American citizens? Naturalization isn’t something new on our national horizon. Even in the 17th century, the English colonies required an oath of allegiance to the English crown or confirmation from a Protestant minister that the alien was in good standing with the church before he could become a citizen of a colony.

At age 35 I first developed a serious interest in politics, government, public policy, and how those three interests actually worked together in the real world. I was tired of being ignorant, more confused than informed by daily news stories.

It is a brave new world out there, ladies and gentlemen, and I don't think it is a better one. Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former contestant on Donald Trump's old show, "The Apprentice," who later became a campaign aide and staffer in the West Wing, has dominated the news cycle this week for taping conversations in the White House, and now making them public. Several of those conversations portray the White House in an unflattering light, and the Trump administration is having a difficult time fighting back.

President Donald Trump and his administration didn’t invent attacks on the free press, but they have taken them to incredible and dangerous new levels.

Music is my first love, but I don’t listen to music when I’m working, neither do I listen much to music while I’m driving. When I listen to music I prefer giving music my full attention. That’s true even when I listen to music while sleeping. I focus my attention on one instrument, block out the rest, and I’m soon asleep.

Susan Patten is full of surprises. We’ve known each other through various incarnations in Maine's news business. Mostly, Susan was a radio news broadcaster; I was communications director for legislators or political campaigns.

I have a confession to make, which is sure to set the teeth gnashing of my conservative brethren. I was once a proverbial "card carrying member" of the American Civil Liberties Union. Not something you hear a lot of Republicans admit, I grant you.

When it comes to ignoring the law, Gov. Paul LePage is a habitual offender. Throughout his nearly eight years in office, the governor has shown an unusual willingness to break state law, disregard the Maine Constitution, violate his oath of office and toss aside the norms of government.

It wasn’t so long ago that almost everyone belonged to a fraternal, religious, lineage, literary, or musical society. They enjoyed the meetings, socializing with friends, gossiping among themselves, and doing good along the way. They worked hard but made time to attend meetings of the Grange, Masons, Elks, Knights of Pythias, the DAR, or any of a number of other groups.

Andrew Harris said the last time David Mallett performed at DeerTrees Theatre in Harrison was about 20 years ago. Mr. Harris, DeerTrees’ Artistic and Executive Director, was speaking to the July 21 audience — including me — waiting to hear a live concert from “David Mallett and Friends,” with Michael Burd (bass), Robby Coffin (guitar), Roy Clark (keyboard) and Susan Ramsey (violin, viola, background vocals).

Trevor Noah isn't funny. Since he took over for Jon Stewart at “The Daily Show,” I have long since stopped watching.

It’s not often that I can write a column thanking the Trump administration, but this week is the exception. Breaking news out of the US Department of Interior has given me the chance to return to my school years and write about what I did on my summer vacation.

For more than three generations, my family has been in the forestry business. Pleasant River Lumber employs 300 people in our four mills in Maine. In our time, we have seen the ups and downs that come with the job.

The pond on which I live looks like lots of small Maine ponds, but has its own seasonal sounds and rhythms.

Let’s say you have a knack for design.

Enough already. The media — no monolith, mind you — is not the enemy. Sure, individual reporters make mistakes, bias occasionally slips in, facts get mangled, and spin proves effective. But by and large — and with the exception of some elements of Fox News — reporters are operating in good faith.

Yesterday morning, July 12, I got up at 4:30 — my usual time; went downstairs, filled the bathroom sink with hot water, wet and brushed my hair, washed my face, then shaved. A new wrinkle just above my upper lip has me creating new ways of getting a clean shave. One small challenge of getting older while keeping a hairless face, I guess.