When I was a kid, my mother used to tell me that I had to finish my plate because there were kids in Africa that had nothing to eat. I did not understand how, but I was happy to eat all of my food to feed a kid on the other side of the ocean. […]

America Ransacked Greg Zemlansky America has lost its glory and we need to get it back. The horrific shock and horrible horror on people’s faces as the National Capitol was dangerously ransacked. The country needs to change not to become a hell-hole slowly sinking into the deep perils of evil. When unwanted hatred and suffering […]

To the Editor: Congratulations and thank you to Franklin Memorial Hospital for a speedy and smooth organization. Getting our vaccinations was a breeze. We entered the front door where we were greeted by people, who took us to another person, who guided us to another person, who guided us to another person. We were never […]

My name is Shukri Abdirahman. I am 21 years old and a student at the University of Maine at Farmington. I am an activist, a refugee, and most importantly, Somali Bantu. I immigrated to the United States in 2009. The people in the refugee camp fantasized about America and how one day, they could possibly […]

To the Editor: I enjoyed reading reporter Andrea Swiedom’s piece “The County Clock: Nuisance or Nostalgia” (Franklin Journal, Jan. 15, 2021).  In Andrea’s nicely written piece, we’re reminded that here in Franklin County, thanks to some dedicated people, there are still a few working parts tucked away in our county heritage that continue to operate […]

It is Sunday night, and I am watching a video on Facebook. Six thousand people are crossing the Honduras-Guatemala border on their way to the United States. COVID restrictions have not stopped them from embarking on their journey. Neither has the Guatemalan police. Neither have their beatings. A year and a half ago, I crossed […]

President Trump’s recent pardoning marathon has shed new light on an often-overlooked sphere of presidential authority. As one of the few powers which the White House can exercise without either Congressional or – so far at least – judicial oversight, it’s worth taking a look at how some of our other presidents have wielded this […]

To the Editor: To say 2020 has brought challenges with many changes for everyone would be an understatement, and we have decided to downsize to a smaller location at 346 Main Street in downtown Wilton.  We will continue to offer jewelry and gifts and provide jewelry repair services with “Zelda” our laser welder.  We hope […]

To the Editor: Nearly 50 years ago when I was a sophomore at Farmington (UMF), I was invited to join a classmate and her out-of-town friend on a trip to Farmington Fair. It was the last day of the fair, a Saturday. The weather was pleasant and the fairgrounds were within walking distance of the […]

“Always winter, but never Christmas,” wrote C.S. Lewis some 70 years ago. He was not of course speaking of our own COVID-19 time but he could have been speaking of most of Maine’s history until the middle of the 19th century. Why then was Christmas not observed? The answer lies in the bedrock of early […]