Donald Trump has left the White House. For 17 days. For a vacation in New Jersey. Is it safe to come out? Initially, I thought so. After Senators John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski stood tall to defeat a miserable "skinny" bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, I was encouraged that bipartisan efforts …
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Finding America in Freedom
This is Old Home Week in Freedom, New Hampshire, population 1500. The town was incorporated in 1832 after it seceded from next-door Effingham in a dispute over whose taxes would pay for a bridge between the two. Freedom is a place of peacefulness and beauty, a little village of well maintained, white-painted homes, many dating …
Escape from Trump 3.0, pt. 2 – non-fiction
History is often best revealed through the personal stories and relationships of individuals. So it is with these non-fiction books I've read of late. An Invisible Thread is a deeply personal memoir of two lives brought together by one small act. Laura Schroff was a successful ad executive in the go-go 1980's who brushes past …
Escape from Trump 3.0 – real fiction
On a rainy October-like day, there's nothing like settling in with good fiction to escape from the Trumpian travails of our time. Here, in no particular order, are some of the books I've been reading over the past months. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks is what The New York Times called "thundering, gritty, emotionally devastating." …
Tanglewood a refuge from Trump
Finally, a good Russian story. No, not Vladimir Putin or lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who met with DJT, Jr. Instead, it was Daniil Trifonovv, the brilliant young pianist who thrilled audiences last week at Tanglewood Music Center, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Just 26 years old, he started at the age of five …
America celebrates – despite Trump
Welcoming summer's glories with friends in Ogunquit, listening languidly to waves lapping the rock-strewn sandy beach, long walks on the Marginal Way, lobster and steamers - life's pleasures endure, despite the despicable political environment. Our nation's birthday is still a cause for celebration. Years ago, we were regulars on the Esplanade for the Boston Pops …
Black & White Boston, a model to build on
A wonderful reunion was held Thursday, a celebration of the 20-year history of John and Diddy Cullinane's stewardship of Black & White Boston Coming Together. They have published a book commemorating the contribution of that organization and of many civic and business leaders to the economic and spiritual health of Boston, a community with still-open …
Who is Bruce Poliquin, and why we should care
U.S. Sen. Angus King (Ind.) says the House-passed health care bill, "the most ill-conceived, damaging and downright cruel piece of legislation that I have ever seen," will cost Maine people their health insurance. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is concerned about its impact on older and rural Americans, of which Maine has a disproportionate share. …
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Final Kirby Perkins “A+” scholarship awards given
Kirby Perkins was a Channel 5 reporter with a breadth of interests who especially loved politics and sports. The station’s “High Five” series of profiles has long celebrated high school athletes. But Kirby thought that academic performance should be equally honored. His efforts led to WCVB's "A+" series, highlighting students who achieved academically while overcoming some …
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Free speech, incitement and civil discourse
Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Speaker Paul Ryan issued stirring calls to unity following the horrific shooting this week of Republican Congressman Steven Scalise and several others at an early morning softball practice in Virginia. At the same time, others, including former Speaker Newt Gingrich, are now blaming the Democrats, the media and …
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Marjorie Arons-Barron 