Last week my computer locked up in the middle of an update. My computer is my right hand. It holds over 40 years of genealogical research, the chapters I’ve written on the book I’m doing for the Maine State DAR, all my columns, a photo collection and my online banking, among other things.

The woman on the phone wanted to know if I could get rid of a rock rising up from a section of her lawn. She was responding to my classified newspaper ad offering to do “odd jobs.” At age 15 or 16, my mom suggested the “odd jobs” ad as a way for me to earn money.

I am writing to thank Gov. Mills for acting so quickly to release the senior housing bond. Her leadership on this critical issue will enable more Mainers to age in place through the building of new, affordable, accessible and safe homes for older Mainers. Additionally, funds will be dedicated to home repair and weatherization of existing homes, some of which are the oldest in the country.

Over the past few years I have become familiar with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) which is a national, non-partisan group that is organized on the grassroots level. It has a practical plan to cut CO2 emissions by 40 percent over the next 12 years.

Spend, spend, spend. Tax, tax, tax. You heard a lot of flowery talk about responsibly leading Maine. You heard about discipline and "investments" that would make the state better. "No, we won't raise your taxes," they said, "we'll just reprioritize state government and we'll use money we already have to do a few things responsibly."

I grew up and went to school deep in Appalachia, in far Southwest Virginia, near the Tennessee line. While the region is trying to reinvent itself, it still suffers the hangover of the decline of coal and manufacturing, and depopulation.

I am writing to support with enthusiasm Gov. Mills’ proposal in making preschool available to all children in Maine. As a teacher of English and communication, I have had the opportunity to work with a broad spectrum of students from middle school through college. Based on years of observation and experience in various settings, I realize the vital role of early exposure to a rich learning environment -- it is an essential contributing factor to positive outcomes in future formal academic expectations.

It is the traverse in the woods of ideology. The divergence in paths once aligned. It is here where the “one nation” meets its impassable chasm, a void too deep and too far to bridge.

I recently received the birth record of a distant cousin’s spouse. I’d been having trouble locating his parents and the record revealed why. His birth record said he was illegitimate.

Americans elect members of Congress to do one basic job: make laws. On U.S. immigration, Congress has repeatedly, decade after decade, since at least 1986, failed to do their job of taking what is very wrong with current U.S. immigration law and making it right.

I have a New Year’s resolution that will benefit everyone, “treat others as you want to be treated.” If we all did that, you will not have hate, jealousy, and understand that life is not all about me, myself, and I.

"I will work with the new Legislature to achieve the best education for our people, from preschool through college and beyond, beginning with full and fair funding for schools, including our career and technical centers." So said Gov. Janet Mills in her inaugural address, a week ago.

Earlier this week, the Legislature released a preliminary list of bills. There are the normal ones, looking to change the tax code in one way or another, several around energy – including a proposal for a Maine version of The Green New Deal – Republican proposals to undermine the state’s referenda process and a bill to codify the protections of the Affordable Care Act in Maine law.

I am a fully certified ski professional PSIA Alpine Level III and have been involved with the ski industry in varying capacities for over 50 years. I learned to ski at Squaw in 1964 and taught there for several years in the 1970s the mountain before the transfer back to the state (a land swap between Scott Paper and the state) I have been watching and researching issues and solutions at Squaw for the last five years.

A system of checks and balances. This is our Republic. A government for the people, by the people. While the musical strands of “Schoolhouse Rock” dance through our memories, it’s easy to forget that all the participants within the Republic are subject to these checks and balances, including the people by and for which the government derives its power. Yes, even the citizen cannot have liberty without responsibility.

The makeup of legislators in Maine’s current 129th Legislature is almost identical to Maine’s 115th Legislature. I was first hired as a legislator staffer for the second session of the 114th Legislature. The 115th was my first experience working for a full two-year session of the Maine Legislature.

Dear Gov. Janet Mills, By the time you read this, the word "elect" will have been dropped from your title, and you will be our new governor. I say "our" new governor, because too many politicians of both parties forget that they have been elected to represent everyone, including those who love them and voted for them, and also those who do not and did not. Believe it or not, I actually think that fact will not stray far from your mind, and that you actually will remember.

It’s a new day -- and a new year -- for more than 70,000 Mainers who have been waiting years for health care coverage. New Gov. Janet Mills has vowed that she will begin to implement Medicaid expansion as soon as possible. She has tapped Jeanne Lambrew, a national recognized expert on health care, as commissioner for the Department of Health and Human Services to reform and revitalize the department.