Alex Lear

Sun Journal

A Maine native and Colby College graduate, Alex has been covering coastal communities since 2001. He lives in the Portland area with his wife Lauren, 4-year-old daughter Alaina, and 7-year-old bulldog Walter. He has released four CDs of original music and does occasional research work for Marvel Comics' collected editions.

Latest

Published
October 10, 2020

Ronald Pineau: Questioning Sen. Collins’ integrity

Yesterday, I watched an ad from Sen. Collins about her integrity and it irritated me. In the ad she talks about her integrity and support for Mainers. This struck me as unbelievable. Here’s why. In February when the pandemic was just beginning, the president was spreading misinformation about its possible severity. At the time, health […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Steve Dyment: Reelect Dolloff to House District 115

I would like to ask the voters of state House District 115 to reelect Josanne Dolloff at the polls or by absentee ballot. Josanne is doing a fantastic job representing the district under some pretty tough conditions. She listens to her constituents and responds to concerns. She works with our businesses, unemployed veterans, elderly and […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Area firefighters graduate from training academy

BRUNSWICK — Twenty-seven Maine firefighters have graduated from the Maine Fire Service Institute’s Officer Training Academy after completing rigorous training to prepare them for leadership roles at fire departments across the state. A small graduation ceremony with appropriate safety precautions was held Oct. 2 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Maine Fire Service Institute is […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Jim Merrill: ‘Full support’ for Sheats

Rep. Bettyann Sheats is a dedicated legislator (District 64), as well as an honorable and dedicated veteran who works diligently to support her fellow veterans. She carries the torch for various veterans’ causes, especially homelessness, lack of transportation, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention. As a Vietnam veteran I know how critical these issues are. […]
Published
October 10, 2020

‘Sunday Chefs’ preparing meals for seniors in Bethel

BETHEL — “Having the wonderful Sunday meals has been an absolute plus in so many ways,” said Marilyn Dupuis, a senior at Sudbury Village. Like other seniors no longer driving, Dupuis depended on the local Age Friendly Neighbor to Neighbor transportation service for grocery needs before the coronavirus hit. Now, it is more difficult to […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Guide assists community reuse organizations on reopening

ORONO — A new guide from the Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine can help community reuse organizations make decisions about how — and whether — to open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brie Berry, a PhD candidate in anthropology at UMaine and member of the Mitchell Center’s Materials […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Rich Lowry: Trump is letting down his side

If this is the most important election of our lifetimes, is it too much to ask that the president of the United States act like it? The president’s most devoted backers talk about the election in apocalyptic terms – Michael Anton of Hillsdale College, author of the famous “The Flight 93 Election” essay in 2016, […]
Published
October 10, 2020

New grant to assist USM students in STEM program

PORTLAND — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $2.6 million to the University of Southern Maine’s TRIO program to augment its work with students who have a low income, a disability or are the first in their families to attend college. The just-announced funding — arriving in two, five-year grants — expands […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Suzanne Best: Branch cares about her community

This letter is in support of Katey Branch, who is running for state Senate District 19. I have known Katey for over 25 years. We both had twins; hers were girls and mine boys. Her girls have grown up to be amazing young women. Katey is an amazing woman herself: strong, thoughtful, and intelligent. She […]
Published
October 10, 2020

Franco-American Collection to host history, memory program series

LEWISTON — The Franco-American Collection (FAC) at the University of Southern Maine (USM) will hold a series of online workshops this month exploring personal history and memory. Three introductory programs discuss oral history, genealogy and memoir-writing. The series is part of an ongoing effort by the Franco-American Collection to offer community programs to deepen and […]

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