🔒Pounding the pavement for ‘Street Sense,’ one Maine town at a time

From Kittery to Houlton, getting out and about for the monthly "Street Sense" column we launched this year has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. The goal was to take the pulse of small business across Maine by talking to folks in their shops, at markets or at events like the library repair fair in South Portland or the 'Wampa'-tastic regional toy and record show in Kittery that kicked off the series in January. I also relished chatting with farmers at the Portland Farmers' Market and making the rounds in Waterville with some of tomorrow's business leaders at the Girl Scout Cookie Rally — those determined young ladies have all the ingredients to succeed in whatever path they choose to pursue. Many are already stellar sellers now. In this day of AI slop and lazy journalism, it seemed like a good antidote would be good old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting — to give a true picture of the businesses that power Maine's economy. If I haven't yet been to your neck of the woods, please give it time as we continue the series. Columns are published in print and online; watch for the next installment on Aug. 10.

'Street Sense' columns through July

The Wampa comes to Kittery: Nostalgia sells at regional toy and record show The fix is in: South Portland troubleshooters repair dozens of objects at warp speed Smart cookies: Girl Scouts learn the biz on Waterville's retail strip  Pre-season’s greetings: Perkins Cove businesses spring to life on cusp of Ogunquit’s busy season The ripe stuff: Outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market comes out of hibernation Reframing Biddeford: Monthly art walk an unfinished canvas Houlton steps up: $1.5M sidewalk upgrade more than a makeover