The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram published a two-part series Sunday and Monday about nonprofits in Maine. The series focused on nonprofits related to the arts but the series' numbers were broader than that. The Sunday installment quoted several people, from nonprofits themselves, saying Maine has too many nonprofits.

Thomas Wolf, executive and artistic director of Bay Chamber Concerts in Camden, said: "I've been convinced for a long time that there are too many of us presenting organizations in Maine. I would like to see in the next 25 years many of us consolidate our organizations."

That's powerful and straightforward. I never thought I'd "hear" someone say that in Maine. The greater Augusta area obviously has more than its share of nonprofits, because Augusta is the capital and many nonprofits want to be near legislators, who control the state's budget and write our laws.

From time to time, reports come out that say how nonprofits play a major role in the state's economy. I suppose that's true. The Portland series, written by staff writer Bob Keyes, said Maine has one of the highest ratios of nonprofits in the U.S. on a per capita basis (trailing Vermont, Alaska and Montana).

Two questions: Is this a good thing? Or does Maine's high ratio of nonprofits reflect a weak private sector in a state where industry and business are struggling?

The Press Herald/Telegram series might help you decide. You can link to it here: Arts leaders see the need for a leaner business plan

Steady hands needed at the helms

The National Football League showed signs of sanity Wednesday by blinking, and making sure the New England Patriots-New York Giants game would be available for the majority of U.S. households — which do not pay for and get NFL Network.

In case you're not a fan, the NFL has been trying to push viewers — and cable companies — to pay for the NFL Network so they wouldn't miss games. Earlier this year, a big game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers was on NFL Network only. That's a premium channel for most cable customers; an optional buy for dish and satellite viewers. More than 60 percent of American households with TVs do NOT get NFL Network.

By now, you may have read the reader comments attached to the Wednesday story about how a poor family from Augusta is struggling this winter to deal with high heating costs. Many of the reader posts on yesterday's article were critical of the family. Readers expressed little sympathy for this family's plight.

Today's follow-up article by reporter Gary Remal explored what readers wrote and had several advocates for people/families in need saying this is why it's risky going to the media with examples of people who are struggling. The subjects can be ridiculed. They can be hurt. And they're already going through a tough time.

Attorney General Steven Rowe visited with the editorial board at the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel today to push early-childhood development and education. His theme was that "investing" attention, resources (private and public money) and programs toward children before they reach elementary school will pay off. We'd have fewer school-aged children in remedial classes and special education if we did this, he said. We'd have a better caliber of higher-ed students, eventually. The Maine economy could benefit, 15-20 years from now.

Of course, the money to start these things would have to come from somewhere. Rowe said the state should commit more resources to this, though he did not cite a specific dollar amount.

Rowe confirmed that he will run for governor to succeed John Baldacci. No surprise there. Early childhood education and day care would be priorities for him, he said.

Of the presidential field, Rowe said Democrats John Edwards and Barack Obama have done the best job pointing out the need for early-childhood education. He declined to endorse a candidate. He said, "I won't."

You can read the new report from a Maine commission that looked at this issue here:

www.maine.gov/legis/opla/planformechild.htm

We've been working on this for months.

This Saturday, the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal staffs will launch a wicked local news Web site called ChinaSentinel.com

This site will be the most complete compilation of news, lists, contact information and directories that you'll find anywhere. We've compiled a list of 70 businesses active in and around China, South China and Weeks Mills. We name which doctors and dentists in the area are accepting new patients and how to reach them. We have town and school officials — on all kinds of committees and boards — and tell you how to contact them.

This just in, and not all that surprising: Sports' news drive sales, especially when we display the photos and stories on A1.

Our Circulation Department told us Tuesday sales were up considerably when:
-- The Red Sox won the World Series, and we came out with a special section about that a few days later.
-- Lawrence High won the regional football championship.
-- Gardiner won the state football championship.
-- Richmond won the boys and girls state soccer championships.

Triple-digit sales increases for all these events.

Go teams, go.

My wife, daughters (two) and I trimmed our tree last night. Worked out well after daddy put it in the stand in such a fashion that it no longer fell over.

It's looking like a long winter. I always enjoy the early-winter snowstorms and curse the ones in March. The good part about this snow is we should be in for a nice, white Christmas. That seems "right" somehow.

But many families will struggle this winter. The combination of high heating oil prices, high gas prices and a so-so economy in central Maine will squeeze many among us.

If you have suggestions for stories along these lines – the impact of high energy prices and what people can do about them – please let us know. You can contact any one of us, or post thoughts at the end of this blog. My email is: econrad@centralmaine.com

If you do, you won't want to miss the Kennebec Journal or Morning Sentinel this Sunday.

Sentinel reporter Craig Crosby has a feature story about the popularity of Texas Hold 'Em poker in central Maine.

Craig talked to people from Chelsea to Skowhegan who are playing the game, often on a weekly basis, rotating from home to home.

Perhaps you remember the name — Steve Kolowich.

A senior at Bowdoin College who hails from Concord, Mass., Steve was our summer intern this year. He was impressive, too, and showed some real hustle when we put him on a team that covered the murder of Alexandra Mills in Wayne.

Steve is back in the news this week. He interviewed Gov. Baldacci for the Bowdoin Orient, a weekly campus newspaper where Steve is the editor. Steve asked a bunch of questions but the one that has people talking was about Plum Creek's plan to develop areas around Moosehead Lake. Baldacci called the proposal "too sprawling."

Word got out. Was the governor weighing in on this big project at a crucial time? Is he sending a message to the Land Use Regulation Commission as it examines and hears testimony about the project?

The governor's office quickly "clarified" his comments, saying Baldacci has been consistent about the need for thorough and responsible development. That's what he meant when the governor told Kolowich what he did.

Steve is a smart, but unusually humble young man. When a Portland Press Herald reporter asked Steve if he knew how significant Baldacci's comments could be, Steve said no, not really. We like that.

I don't have a big finishing point to make with this entry. But I wanted to let you know about our connection to Steve. Once again, we're proud of him.

This is why he's the editor of the nation's leading daily newspaper.

Bill Keller, editor of the New York Times, says the worst thing that can happen to daily newspaper journalists today is that we can lose faith in ourselves. All the pundits, all the bedroom bloggers, all the post-ers and critics can't replace what we have: honest-to-gosh reporters out there, covering the actual news. Not commenting on it. Not cutting-and-pasting from it.