I have worked with Norm Higgins several times over the last few years in his role as a state legislator. Rep. Higgins has assisted our company and the entire forest products industry many times through his work on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. He is a strong advocate for our industry and a strong voice on this very important committee.

A Maine Land Conservation Task Force has formed to review the accomplishments and challenges of land conservation during the 30 years since the creation of the Land for Maine’s Future Program, and to lay groundwork for the future. One question the task force will consider: Has Maine already conserved enough land?

I recommend Paul Davis for the Maine Senate. Maine is in the top five states in America for the highest taxes per capita. Paul is responsibly conscious of this fact. He only voted for MaineCare expansion when it showed it could be paid for.

I support Sue Mackey Andrews for the District 4 Senate seat based on my work with Sue, as a professional and as an advocate for young children and families. When I was executive director of Woodfords Family Services, provider of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, early intervention work with young special needs children were provided. I knew Sue then as an incredible advocating professional in Augusta insuring support for our programs with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

I have several friends who have moved from Maine to Florida as Maine is a state with high taxes. I will be voting this fall for Sen. Paul Davis for State Senate. Sen. Davis knows that for Maine to become more prosperous, we must make Maine more tax-friendly for businesses and individuals.

I think fire is a genealogist’s worst enemy. Almost all of us have heard the dreaded words “the records were destroyed in a fire.”

"I think that it is high time that we remembered that we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think that it is high time that we remembered that the Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by accusation.

In the aftermath of Sen. Susan Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court — and her truly unfortunate speech and rationale for the vote — many eyes in Maine and around the country are turning to 2020, when Collins could next appear on the ballot.

The last year or so, I started digitizing audio cassettes I’ve kept since the late 1970s. Hold on to cassettes long enough, the significance of their taped content changes.

Channel 2's Oct. 8 2nd Congressional District Candidate Debate made one point perfectly clear. Will Hoar, Tiffany Bond, and Jared Golden understand what life for the middle and working classes is like in rural Maine. Bruce Poliquin seems to only understand how to use name calling and crowing about alleged successes for our welfare. Despite low unemployment statistics, residents I meet are still struggling due to insufficient salaries and wages.

I have had the privilege of working with Sue Mackey Andrews as a member of Helping Hands with Heart. I have seen first hand her commitment to families and children. She has worked tirelessly to bring awareness and education on topics that directly impact our area including poverty and childhood trauma.

In the upcoming elections, Maine will again make history by using Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives races. RCV is simply a runoff voting system for races with more than two candidates done through one efficient ballot. It is completely non-partisan, and it is one person, one ranked-choice vote. RCV further empowers voters and gives us winners who better reflect the will of the people.

Here's a fun fact. I live in Maine's 1st Congressional District, yet I have not seen a single television ad for the campaigns of Chellie Pingree, Marty Grohman, or Mark Holbrook, the three aspirants to the southern Maine congressional seat. In contrast, I have seen what I can only assume is several thousand ads for Jared Golden and Bruce Poliquin, who are of course running in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

In a meticulously reported and lengthy examination of President Donald Trump and his family’s financial empire, The New York Times has uncovered significant evidence of fraud and busted the mythology -- pushed by Trump himself -- of a self-made man.

I’d like to correct the record and assure every voter in Senate District 4 that I support ALL of the 26 Amendments to our Constitution, including the 2nd Amendment, our right to keep and bear arms. I have no interest in taking anyone else’s guns; we have our own. If you know me, you know that this is true.

There it is again. A Facebook post from someone announcing they’ve not smoked a cigarette in 365 days. We see or hear more precise variations on that theme, such as, “I haven’t had a cigarette in 10 months, 20 days, 13 hours.” Whenever I see or hear such declarations from smokers I think about helium balloons.

I am writing in support of Sue Mackey Andrews for State Senate District 4. I am known to wear “many hats” in the community, but Sue has me beat by a long shot!

Last night Oct. 1, the residents and travelers on West Main Street and other locales were treated to a peaceful softly lit streetscape, stars could be seen, and a new ambience was created. It was relaxing and a nice way to end a day. What was different than the previous day? The new street lights were installed and ignited.