Another writer writes on the difference between science and belief systems, averring that, “Each maintains a different standard for truth,” and here I thought truth was its own standard; either something is true or it’s not.

Congratulations to Renys. In the true American spirit, the locally based retailer has made a business decision to open a department store in downtown Portland, occupying the former L.L. Bean center-city premises on Congress Street.

You don’t hear it all that often, generally because the people of an age to use it are too polite to do so in public, but on occasion you may come across someone who will say to an antagonist something to the effect of “can’t wait to see the back of you.”

Where were the people of Nobleboro on Oct. 26 when we met at the Nobleboro Central School to discuss Gateway 1? The Maine Dept. of Transportation has a $30,000 grant to discuss the so-called traffic growth, planning and development of our little village. This is the first of three monthly meetings. The second is on Nov. 16 and the third and final occurs in Jan. 2011.

Wiscasset students spent a day on the road visiting the Passamaquoddys earlier this month and last Friday a “sizable crowd” attended a panel discussion on being Muslim in America.

Wiscasset voters should go to the polls on Dec. 7 (or obtain an absentee ballot from town clerk Chris Wolfe ahead of time) to support the town planning budget. In this flagging economy, we must make thoughtful choices about how to reduce the municipal budget. We should not give up planning. Wiscasset needs-and deserves–smart, forward-thinking, well-organized planning.

As the daughter of a union carpenter, I grew up learning about the economic boom and bust cycle. My father worked hard; I remember him sometimes wearing a coal miner’s lamp so that he could work after hours building our home.

For decades now the Korean Conflict has been called the Forgotten War.

Sandwiched, as it is, in American history between World War II and the Vietnam War, it is little wonder the two-plus-year-long conflict gets the short shrift in the history books.

The patriotism you expressed during and following World War I and II, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan has all but disappeared. Parades are but a fleeting display of our patriotism and fife trucks. How soon we forget.

November 11 is Veterans’ Day and this old veteran remembers when it was celebrated with much more splendor and parades, but that was then and this now; now being more or less just a day off.

Tomorrow is Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day. It’s the special day when all Americans honor our brave servicemen and women for their service to our country. If it were not for them, America would not be the wonderful and free country that we live in and enjoy today.

The Great Salt Bay Community School held its annual Harvest Fair last Saturday (Oct. 30), and it seems to have been a wonderful success. As the parent of an eighth grader who directly benefits from this fundraiser, I’d like to thank everyone involved in the process of pulling the Fair together.

This weekend, 10 students from Wiscasset High School are going to make the long journey from home to Pleasant Point in Washington County where they will meet with members of the Passamaquoddy tribe.

We like it. We like it a lot.

Veterans’ Day is approaching and what do we do about it? Well, a few dedicated people meet, pray and acknowledge what they have done.