By Jill Goldthwait Mid-August. Oh dear, oh dear. How are you doing on your summer checklist? You’ve been to the annual meeting of your favorite non-profit, right? Right. How about a Gala? Check. A book sale at your local library? Check. A talk by a political notable? Check. A play at a repertory theater …
With Maine’s oceanfront and lakeshores filled to bursting with tourists, one might think our state looks pretty prosperous. There is no doubt that tourism plays a major role in our economy, including providing jobs galore. But seasonal jobs, welcome though they may be, are not the key to Maine’s future. Many, if not most, of …
Sued by a customer burned by hot coffee, a well-known food chain started putting a warning on its cups. “Caution: Contents are hot.” Other vendors followed suit. Hmm. When one orders coffee, one expects it to be hot. In fact, that is the program, right? “A black coffee, please.” Does anyone ask how hot you …
Last week an editorial under the heading “Strong Turnout” celebrated voting numbers from the towns on and around Mount Desert Island. Yes, we can and should be proud that citizens took an interest in the primary election. Regionally (MDI, Trenton, Swans, Frenchboro and the Cranberries) turnout was 34 percent. The lowest was 23 percent, the …
It’s all over but the counting. The 2018 primaries are a wrap. Voter turnout fluctuated significantly from town to town but probably was under 40 percent statewide. That means about two-thirds of registered voters stayed home despite the past year’s obsession with all things political. Republican turnout was down substantially (about 30 percent) compared to …
Read any good books lately? The state is on tenterhooks awaiting the results of this week’s election, and we really don’t want to think about anything else. Those results might be another four or five days coming, as the state processes Maine’s first ranked-choice voting ballots. In the meantime, what? Well, Vacationland is open for …
The primary election is next Tuesday, June 12, but we already know some of the names that will appear on the November ballot. Those would be the independent candidates who qualified by the June 1 deadline. Their names will appear on the November ballot in addition to those party candidates who win their primaries next …
The 128th Maine Legislature continues to assure us that they will reconvene and finish the business of the session. They had better. Rarely has a legislature left so much undone in the second year of a two-year session. Data searching at the Maine State House is not a simple proposition. The separation of powers seems …
Last weekend, Democrats held their state convention, featuring a parade of candidates for congressional and state offices lengthy enough that they were hard-pressed to get them all on stage in a single weekend. Between the open gubernatorial seat and their consuming desire to win back the 2nd Congressional District, the Democrats’ energy was running high. …
We are inching closer to the primary elections. Going in, none of the major party candidates has clear front-runner status in either the 2nd Congressional District (except for unopposed incumbent Bruce Poliquin) or the gubernatorial race. Let’s see if we can narrow them down. First of all, let’s call the race now for the 1st …
