Columnists
09/14/2026 · Piscataquis County
The Tiny Note That Keeps Your Brain From Chasing Every Rabbit
Focus is not about becoming a person who never gets distracted. It’s about giving distractions somewhere to go besides the front seat of your mind.
The Snowy Pause That Makes Frost’s Poem Last
Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is not really about getting lost in the woods. It’s about the tiny, stubborn pause we allow ourselves before duty comes knocking again.
09/13/2026
The Radical Skill of Paying Attention
Simone Weil believed attention was more than concentration, politeness, or productivity. She saw it as a moral act—and her advice for practicing it begins with getting something wrong.
09/13/2026
The Country’s Biggest Bill Comes Due
Washington keeps selling short-term fixes for long-term problems, and voters keep paying the invoice. Tariffs, housing costs, immigration fights, and artificial intelligence all point to the same question: who absorbs the damage when leaders chase applause?
09/13/2026
Stop Projecting Van Gogh on the Walls and Let Paint Be Weird Again
The immersive Van Gogh show has turned one of art’s most complicated painters into a giant screensaver with excellent marketing. It’s time to rescue him from the laser projector.
09/13/2026
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View allMaineDOT Announces Upcoming Work on I-95 Bridges over Broadway in Bangor
MaineDOT Announces Upcoming Work on I-95 Bridges over Broadway in Bangor Drivers should plan for delays and detours. BANGOR – October 9, 2026 – From October 16 to October 19, the Maine Department of Transportation will perform work on the I-95 bridges over Broadway at Exit 185 in Bangor as part of the ongoing I-95 bridge replacement project. Crews will complete shoulder reconstruction, milling, paving, and related work on I-95 Southbound necessary to transition traffic from the temporary southbound bridge onto the new, permanent, southbound bridge. The work will proceed in four phases, with lane and ramp availability changing as construction progresses: Phase 1: The southbound high-speed lane will be closed to traffic while crews complete milling and paving at both ends of that lane. The southbound travel lane will remain open across the temporary bridge, and both the southbound on-ramp and off-ramp will remain open. Phase 2: The southbound high-speed lane will be opened to traffic across the new bridge. The southbound travel lane and the Exit 185 southbound off-ramp will be closed while crews complete excavation, milling, and paving at the north end of the travel lane and ramp. Phase 3: The southbound high-speed lane will remain open to traffic across the new bridge, and the southbound travel lane will remain closed. The Exit 185 southbound off-ramp will reopen. The southbound on-ramp may close, if necessary, while crews complete excavation, milling, and paving at the south end of the travel lane and ramp. Phase 4: The southbound travel lane will be opened to traffic across the new bridge. The southbound high-speed lane and off-ramp will remain open, and the southbound on-ramp will be opened. During the Exit 185 southbound off-ramp closure, motorists should use Exit 186 for Stillwater Avenue. Drivers should then follow detour signs directing vehicles down Stillwater Avenue to Broadway. During the Exit 185 southbound on-ramp closure, motorists should follow detour signs directing vehicles down Broadway to Stillwater Avenue to access I-95 at Exit 186. Message boards will be in place alerting drivers of the upcoming closures. MaineDOT appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as crews complete this important infrastructure improvement.
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings 9/10/2026 MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Portland West Study at Upcoming Meetings AUGUSTA – September 10, 2026 — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will host two public engagement opportunities this month as part of the Portland West Study, an initiative focused on addressing longstanding transportation challenges in South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, and Gorham. The study brings together local leaders, stakeholders, community members, and transportation partners to examine congestion, safety, and multimodal transportation needs that have affected the region for decades. Public input will be essential in helping shape the study’s direction and identify potential solutions. Community members are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming meetings to learn more about the study, meet the project team, share feedback, identify concerns and priorities, and help guide future analysis. Drop-in Open House Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM Gorham Municipal Center – Shaw Gym 75 South Street, Gorham, Maine 04038 Virtual Public Meeting Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM The virtual meeting will begin with a short presentation by the project team, including interactive exercises, and a Q&A session. Please pre-register here
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Machias Environmental Impact Statement Process
MaineDOT Invites Public Input on Machias Environmental Impact Statement Process MACHIAS – September 22, 2026 — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will host an in-person public hearing this month as part of the Machias Dike Bridge project regarding the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. This will be the first formal public hearing of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the purpose and need for the project, alternatives being considered, potential environmental impacts, and for members of the public to ask questions and provide information that should be considered during the EIS process. In-Person Public Hearing Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6:00pm Machias Memorial High School Gymnasium 1 Bulldog Lane, Machias, ME 04654 Virtual Public Meeting Presentation An on-demand virtual public meeting presentation will also be available at any time beginning September 23 through October 31, 2026, and will allow the public to submit online comments and questions. More information and access to the online virtual public meeting is available at https://mainedot.info/machias-dike
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