July 2, 2007

Lobster-laden meals supped by the leaders of Russia and United States have made Maine-, national- and international headlines during a weekend-long summit between Vladimir Putin and President George Bush.

Not all lobsters enjoy such notoriety.

Removed from Kennebunkport, all the way north in Spruce Head, a resident has made headlines for what he won't be allowed to show he catches off the Maine coast.

According to an article published today on mainecoastnow.com, the website of Courier Publications, Jed Miller and his wife live in a subdivision where commercial activities are prohibited. The judge ruled that covenants of the subdivision prohibit storing lobster traps and buoys in the dooryard of the oceanfront home and found the Miller in violation of subdivision rules as reported in "Judge orders lobsterman to remove gear."

The headline prompted an outcry from Courier Gazette Editor Stephen Betts, who wrote "Lobstermen's Rights" in response: "Lobstermen should be allowed to store their traps and other gear on their properties. The subdivision where the lobstermen lived had a restriction against commercial activities, but this is like saying a lawyer can't bring home lawbooks or a doctor can't bring home a stethoscope. The Maine Legislature needs to step in and pass a law that exempts our fishing families from such conditions inserted into subdivisions anywhere in Maine."

For those who chose to spend their days gaming, not working, the Portland Press Herald's editorial pages give readers an excuse to consider strong-arming teenagers with open-air play. The American Medical Association has stopped short of blaming attention disorders on too much time in front of the video screen, the editors note, and is instead calling for research of the claim that too much video gaming is addictive.

All the same, the Portland Press Herald urges parents to curb gaming time in " AMA rejects 'addiction' label."

"Millions of kids show worrisome signs, and this game makers' victory could be temporary," the Portland Press Herald claims.

War games of the real-time variety caught the attention of Sun Journal Editorial Page Editor Anthony Ronzio today.

He wrote that the board of selectmen of Strong, in seeking to limit low-level flight training by the Air National Guard at the same time the town ruled to donate to a park for a National Guardsman who died in Iraq, are likely unaware of its mixed message in "In split decision Strong reflects national divide."

In part: " It's likely the Strong selectmen failed to recognize the contradiction of these actions, in the belief that they were standing up for their constituents on one hand, while honoring the sacrifice of Parker, on the other. But the glaring message sent by the actions is that honoring fallen troops is preferable to supporting live ones. This is not saying opponents of the low-level flights are unpatriotic, far from it. That's interjecting politics into a practical argument. Rather, it illustrates how our nation is struggling to resolve its discomfort with the conflicts, while remaining resolute in supporting its fighting men and women. We can't support them and halt their training. We can't mourn their loss and deny them tools to protect us."