Columnists
09/27/2026 · Skowhegan
The Power of Not Answering Right Away
A boundary does not always sound like “no.” Sometimes it sounds like, “Let me check and get back to you,” especially when your mouth is sprinting ahead of your actual capacity.
Why Shakespeare’s “Summer’s Day” Never Gets Old
Shakespeare begins with a familiar compliment, then quietly pulls the poem away from weather and into permanence. The trick is not saying someone is beautiful—it’s showing what beauty can survive.
09/25/2026
Attention Is a Form of Generosity
Simone Weil believed attention was more than concentration: it was an ethical act, a way of admitting that another person or idea exists beyond the borders of the self. That makes this small, severe sentence surprisingly useful for an ordinary day.
09/25/2026
The Bills Come Due, Whether Congress Likes It or Not
Washington is fighting over tariffs, taxes, housing, and artificial intelligence while households keep paying for every experiment. The quiet story sits in the budget machinery, where a few procedural choices could reshape millions of lives.
09/25/2026
The Immersive Art Boom Needs to Stop Making Us Stand in a Giant Projection
I love being surrounded by color. I do not love paying museum prices to watch Van Gogh’s stars wobble across a warehouse floor while a piano softly apologizes. Immersive exhibitions can be wonderful—but only when they remember the art is not wallpaper.
09/25/2026
Lusk, Wyoming: A Prairie Detour With Pie, Ponds, and Zero Crowds
Take the slower road to Lusk and you’ll get a Wyoming weekend that doesn’t require a resort budget—or a reservation calendar. There’s a small lake, a good pizza, and enough empty sky to make your phone feel embarrassed.
09/27/2026
Advertisement
Upcoming Events
View allSEP
26
Witness History at 250: The Declaration of Independence Comes to Town
9:00 AM - Free
SEP
26
Maine at Elon
18:00
OCT
02
Give Thanks and Goodbye Bears
12:00 AM - Free
Announcements
View allRoute 113 Daytime Closures
Route 113 Daytime Closures 8/29/2025 MAINE/NEW HAMPSHIRE - From September 8 to November 14, the Maine Department of Transportation will close Route 113 through the White Mountain National Forest to all vehicles from 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. on weekdays for a cable guardrail replacement project. The project area begins just south of the Spruce Hill Trail parking area and extends south to the Brickett Place. This project is expected to be completed by this fall. Bicyclists and pedestrians may continue to use the entirety of Route 113. Bikers and pedestrians will need to use caution when approaching a work zone and follow the flagger’s instructions. Onsite signage will be updated regularly to show which sections of Route 113 are closed to vehicles. All through traffic intending to use Route 113 should seek an alternate route between the hours of 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. Maine drivers should use Route 5 and New Hampshire drivers should use Routes 16 and 302 as an alternative route. The contractor on this project is CA Newcomb & Sons of Carmel, Maine. The contract amount is $1,412,910.00. MaineDOT will provide updates on the project as needed via our website.
Spurwink Bridge Work in Cape Elizabeth
Spurwink Bridge Work in Cape Elizabeth 8/29/2025 CAPE ELIZABETH - The Maine Department of Transportation will begin work on the Spurwink Bridge for a bridge wearing surface replacement project starting on September 2. Work is expected to be completed by the end of October 2025. The bridge and adjacent approach roadway will be reduced to one 12’ wide lane. Drivers should expect one-way alternating traffic that will be controlled with temporary traffic signals. The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson of Richmond, Maine. The contract amount for this project is $320,000.
Mitchell Bridge Closure in Scarborough
Mitchell Bridge Closure in Scarborough | Maine Department of Transportation Home Skip to top navigation Skip to side navigation Skip to content Skip to footer Mitchell Bridge Closure in Scarborough 8/26/2025 SCARBOROUGH – The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Mitchell Bridge on Mitchell Hill Road at the town line between Gorham & Scarborough on September 2 for up to 45 days for a culvert replacement project. There will be signage along the detour route. The detour uses Holmes Road, Beech Ridge Road, County Road/Route 22, and Burnham Rd. The anticipated completion date for this project is October 24. The contractor on this project is T. Buck Construction, Inc. of Turner, Maine. The contract amount is $940,000.
Advertisement
Advertisement