FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Maine formal is getting less so

By John McDonald When I’m not sitting at my computer writing, I often spend a lot of time traveling around New England, entertaining at banquets,…

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FEATURE COLUMN by John McDonald: Black flies, tourists right on schedule

By John McDonald Did you see that article in the paper the other day about black flies? I had to laugh when I saw it…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: There’s no accounting for it

By John McDonald As they say down at the Moxie plant, “There’s no accounting for taste.” Hey, speaking of Moxie, have you heard of the…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Oh deer! It’s seed time

By John McDonald Some minor details may change but the rest of the story is always the same. This year’s slightly different story concluded this…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Dooryards to emerge

By John McDonald There are many things listed among “the first signs of spring,” even here in Maine. Californians await the return of the swallows…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Does travel really narrow the mind?

By John McDonald When you awoke this morning you probably didn’t think you would be reading a quote from noted English essayist Gilbert K. Chesterton…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: A life changer for Perly Leighton

By John McDonald It was the dawn of a day that would change his life forever, but as the sun began coming over the stand…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: ‘Moose,’ ‘lobster’ magic words

By John McDonald Just say the words “moose” and “lobster” to 100 people chosen at random (wherever that is) and guess what the vast majority…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Out with the old can be dangerous

By John McDonald There was a New Year’s Eve custom in Italy where homeowners and apartment dwellers took old items they didn’t need or want…

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FEATURED COLUMN by John McDonald: Another year of old Maine things

By John McDonald It’s another new year, and that means in with the new, out with the old, but here in Maine we’ve never been…

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