Early on, I referred to the summer of 2020 as the summer of COVID-19. In places where vaccination rates are low, this is another summer of COVID-19. Where I am, it’s not, certainly not like last year. But it’s still a summer of weird weather, political instability and rising violent crime.
Alex Lear
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.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: A new normal in the workplace
We’re still in the early stages of this new normal in the workplace. It’s not just whether white-collar folks go back to the office — I’m betting most will — but the opportunities to choose one’s work, the nature of the work itself, the pay for work, the relationships between boss and employee. All appear to be changing.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Timothy St. Pierre: America’s racist past has built racist present
I was disheartened to read Kevin Landry’s column from July 11th,”Time to move on from a cancerous past.” As a Franco-American myself, it is frustrating to hear members of our community use our history of discrimination to minimize the ongoing issue of systemic racism. Mr. Landry argues that just as Franco-Americans have suffered historical hardships […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
George Howitt: ‘To mask or not to mask’
To mask or not to mask, that is the question. Q. To the maskers: Can you give me a good reason to wear a mask? A.: To protect your loved ones and the people around you from COVID-19. Q. To the anti-maskers: Can you give me a good reason not to wear a mask? A.: […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: We can’t endanger lives of many to humor misconceptions of few
Some of us are vexed with the CDC over its shifting guidelines, but you won’t get an amen from this corner. Scientists have to follow science, and if this is where the science leads, so be it. No, if you’re looking to apportion blame, blame the Delta variant. And blame, too, those people who refused to wear masks or be vaccinated, and the public officials who seconded them. Blame the ones who said these were matters of “personal choice.” As if personal choice supersedes public interest.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Deanne Danforth: Jan. 6 can’t be denied as attempted coup
The only reason to be a liar is to cover up the true facts. Jan. 6 was an attempted coup by Trump supporters. Truth is fleeting for Republican politicians claiming Jan. 6 was a love fest with police being hugged and kissed. If people believe that I have a bridge to sell them. Republicans spreading […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Clem Bechard: Blame ‘so-called experts’ for mixed COVID messages
This is a rebuttal to a recent letter (Richard Charloff, “More Republicans need to get vaccinated,” July 22) stating that only Republicans are refusing COVID vaccinations. The first mistake was thinking it’s only Republicans who are to blame for non-vaccinations. The fact is, who they should be blaming are Dr. Anthony Fauci and experts at […]
