Stories by Andrew Birden

7 years ago

The common man’s guide to reliable news

During the Ebola scare that revolved around Kacie Hickox in 2014, I was the local newspaper editor in the rural Maine town of Fort Kent, where Hickox stayed after she left isolation in New Jersey. As a consequence, I know a thing or two about how different media outlets portray the same events.

When I compared what we saw on national news and social media with what I saw with my own eyes as Hickox and Maine Governor LePage faced off in front of the world, I can say with confidence that along with the solid reporting that occurred, I also saw fake news, biased reporting, and reckless reporting while our community orbited that black hole we call “The Media”, and I survived to tell the tale.

7 years ago

The common man’s guide to reliable news

 

     During the Ebola scare that revolved around Kacie Hickox in 2014, I was the local newspaper editor in the rural Maine town of Fort Kent, where Hickox stayed after she left isolation in New Jersey. As a consequence, I know a thing or two about how different media outlets portray the same events.

8 years ago

Foliage Fest organizers put out call

Foliage Fest organizers put out call

For community and student volunteers

FORT KENT, Maine — The Foliage Music Fest is rapidly approaching and organizers are asking the people of the St. John Valley to step up and volunteer for the exciting fall event. With the BDN organizing the event through the Fort Kent Outdoor Center (FKOC) and the St. John Valley Times/Fiddlehead Focus, an important volunteer meeting is taking place at the FKOC on August 31, 2016 at 6 p.m..

8 years ago

Her nose knows

Her nose knows

Macho Chef

Some people claim they will never understand the female mind. Fortunately, the female mind is only one entry of a long list of topics I will never understand, and I no longer lose any sleep over my ignorance.

8 years ago

Foliage Fest organizers put out call

Fort Kent music event looking for community and student volunteers

     FORT KENT, Maine — The Foliage Music Fest is rapidly approaching and organizers are asking the people of the St. John Valley to step up and volunteer for the exciting fall event. With the BDN organizing the event through the Fort Kent Outdoor Center (FKOC) and the St. John Valley Times/Fiddlehead Focus, an important volunteer meeting is taking place at the FKOC on August 31, 2016 at 6 p.m.

8 years ago

Ooh, that smell

 MACHO CHEF

Some people claim they will never understand the female mind. Fortunately, the female mind is only one entry of a long list of topics I will never understand, and I no longer lose any sleep over my ignorance. Along with the motives and processes of female cognition, my list of incomprehensibles includes the proper spelling of the word “their”, how to tie a tie without staring in a mirror, and the ongoing popularity of Justin Bieber. They are total mysteries. The truth is that the female mind is only one of many aspects of the feminine experience that we XY-ers will never understand

Today I’d like to consider an aspect of the female experience that seems like it ought to make sense, but does not – the feminine sense of smell.

8 years ago

My hyperbolic lawnmower

MachoChef

     I have a new lawnmower. It is a top-of-the-line machine that works exactly as I expected, but performs nothing like how the commercials said it would.

17 years ago

Aroostook County residents mostly favor FairPoint bid

FORT KENT, Maine – By the end of the evening last Tuesday, 26 people spoke in favor of the proposed merger between Verizon and FairPoint. The merger would allow FairPoint to purchase 1.7 million access lines from Verizon in the New England region. At the meeting, which took place in the campus auditorium of the University of Maine at Fort Kent, the majority praised FairPoint, but six people did not embrace the proposed merger. One person urged caution, and five spoke against the merger.