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Seeking redemption

Going green
Since 2006, CLYNK has been recycling bottles and cans at its South Portland plant (more than 270 million, according to the ticking counter on its website), allowing customers to accumulate balances in personal accounts that can be redeemed for cash or donated to education and charity organizations.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | February 15, 2012

End Black History Month

Diverse-city
It's that time again! Let's roll out the black history materials and talk about African-Americans as if most people really care about them, during the shortest month of the year.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | February 01, 2012

Truth to power

Going Green
It's the end of the world as we know it in author and environmental journalist Bill McKibben's latest book, Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet (St. Martin's Griffin).

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | January 18, 2012

Stupid is equal-opportunity

Diverse City
To me, 2011 offered a buffet of publicly expressed stupidity, perpetuated by a broad swatch of races, genders, and ideological factions. Here are a few gems.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | January 04, 2012

Greenwashing?

Going green
Governor Paul LePage dealt a blow to Maine's green building industry earlier this month when he issued an executive order expanding the types of "green" wood products that can be used in state building construction.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | December 21, 2011

I’ll miss you, Herman — sorta

Diverse-city
The news just a few days ago that Herman Cain was dropping out of the race to become the Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential race kind of made me sad.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | December 07, 2011

Seeds of evil

Going green
A Maine farmer, backed by 275,0000 like-minded individuals, has found himself at the forefront of a fight against the most dastardly figure in agriculture: the seed and biotechnology company Monsanto, which to some represents everything that is wrong with farming today.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | November 23, 2011

What company are you from?

Diverse-city
Confused by the "Occupy" movement, whether "Occupy Wall Street" or "Occupy Maine" or "Occupy the one-person bathroom in the coffee place" or whatever else?

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | November 09, 2011

Voting sustainable

Going green
Among the new mayor's responsibilities will be increasing energy efficiency in city buildings, managing and advocating for local alternative transit priorities, and setting an example regarding eco-friendliness.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | October 26, 2011

Over-the-border inhumanity

Diverse-city
My heart sank when I heard that the Fuentes brothers, who own the Fajita Grill in Westbrook and the Cancun restaurants in Biddeford and Waterville, had been arrested, their restaurants raided by federal agents.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | October 12, 2011

Get it together

Going green
"Political leaders, no matter the party, often can be barometers for public sentiment."

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | September 28, 2011

A hug beats a nod

Diverse-city
Maine may be the whitest state in the country, but it certainly isn't the straightest.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | September 14, 2011

Into the pipeline

Going Green
Despite the fact that it could have major impact on global warming, and despite the fact that it is inspiring large-scale acts of civil disobedience among climate scientists and environmental activists, the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project isn't getting the attention it deserves.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | August 31, 2011

To criminals ‘From Away’

Diverse-city
New York is home to a statue that welcomes the tired and poor (and huddled masses) to the United States. That is a wonderful notion.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | August 17, 2011

Fungus saves

Going green
Speaking of mushrooms — and this week, we clearly are! — I recently peered into the world of home mushroom growing, and came away with a brand-new respect for fungi.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | August 03, 2011

A breed apart?

Diverse city
I'm about to stand up for dogs. It must be the heat this weekend, because I'm soooo not a dog person.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | July 20, 2011

Entering the ring

Going green
Environmental advocate Jon Hinck, a lawyer and a state representative, is "seriously considering" a run against Republican US Senator Olympia Snowe in 2012, he told the Phoenix this week.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | July 06, 2011

Funny you should say that

Diverse city
I'm pretty confident in saying that humor is probably one of the key things that separates us humans from the rest of the animal kingdom.

By: SHAY STEWART-BOULEY | June 22, 2011

Killing ethanol

Going green
Estimates vary, but it's safe to say that restaurants, institutions (such as colleges or hospitals), and municipalities waste tons of food every year; last September, a group of students at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor noticed that such waste was happening all around them.

By: DEIRDRE FULTON | June 17, 2011