The Globe spoke to Seitz-Wald about his reporting on the Platner campaign, how the Villager approaches its political coverage, and whether local news outlets need to be able to effectively share their reporting outside of their communities. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
How did you approach this Senate race in Maine, your first as a local news editor?
I thought I was getting away from national politics, but they pulled me back in. The day before Platner launched, I got a text from an old source who I’ve known for a long time, who said, “I’ve got a candidate who’s gonna jump into the main Senate race. He’s a harbormaster of this small town, Sullivan.”
I got on the phone with Platner and was just blown away by how fully formed his message was and how articulate he was. We did a story on it, along with the New York Times and everybody else. And indeed, he did become a thing.
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Then, of course, [Maine Governor Janet] Mills gets in, the “oppo” comes out, and the race suddenly takes on this whole other layer of interest and meaning. The thing that I was immediately seeing was that all the yard signs are still up, and the people that I talked to in the days after he announced who were into him were still supporting him.
That’s when I started to see there’s clearly something that’s being missed in the national coverage. I’ve covered probably hundreds of campaigns — I have seen up close and personal what a dying campaign looks like. I’m very familiar with a campaign on its last legs, and this is not that.
You have this online platform where you can get traction. You’re able to go on MSNBC. Do you think being able to share the Villager’s reporting to a wider audience helps you locally?
Absolutely. I think we all agree that there are not enough reporters in the rest of the country, and too many reporters in New York and DC. I agreed with that when I was a DC reporter.
When we live in an information ecosystem where there just are not many boots on the ground reporting up facts from how things are happening, and we simultaneously have this demand for instantaneous analysis and understanding of what’s going on the ground, you’re inevitably going to get false assumptions or perceptions, because people want to come to a conclusion right away about what’s happening. But we’re just not getting those information streams.
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Do you think it’s going to be more important to have people who focus not just on serving your local audience, but also communicating what’s happening with your local community more broadly?
I do. We’re covering our communities, but we also are sort of spokespeople for the outside world for our communities, and that’s not a role that national media plays or feels equipped to play. But I think it’s appropriate for local media to sort of be champions of your community.
One of the things that I felt, and some of my colleagues felt, is that Maine was getting short shrift from the way it was being portrayed. “Oh they’re all willing to support a neo-Nazi, because it’s the whitest state in the country.” For us in Maine, that’s not what’s going on here, and it’s almost a little bit offensive. You want to speak up.
Absolutely, that’s the thing we think about a lot. And there’s a balancing test there. Frankly, we’re going after grant money. We just hired a director of development so that national media is nice, because everyone is vain and likes to say that. But there’s a strategic purpose there, which is to hopefully help us raise more money.
But the ultimate goal has to be for the local community. Anything that we are doing nationally is ultimately to serve the local community, directly or not. I think we’re very mindful of that.
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We were four newspapers. We consolidated into one. The three towns had their own individual newspapers, and we’re now a regional paper. There’s inevitably some resentment and sense of loss, and I totally get that. I would love to live in a world where we could support four independent newspapers, but that’s just not the reality. So that criticism is valid.
Did your coverage of the Platner controversy have any impact on the Villager’s direct audience?
We’ve definitely seen some increased traffic. One of the top search terms that gets people to the Villager is Graham Platner, but that’s obviously people who are not local. It’s nice to have that. But really, we care about the local audience.
(Following the interview, Seitz-Wald told the Globe that the the Villager gained roughly 100 new subscribers in the wake of the Times article.)
Has the race had an impact on you and how you’re thinking about Maine politics coverage going forward?
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We are experts in our community, so we’ve set this very high bar for political stories where it’s like we need to have a clear local angle or a frame on it that is something that only we can do.
We did an early Platner story that was about his oysters — what did his oysters taste like. There’s a big aquaculture industry, and people care about that stuff. Ideally, any political story that the Villager does should be a political story that only the Villager could do.
I know this was a big move for you to leave your position at NBC and come to small-town Maine and be an editor. I’m wondering if anything of the past couple weeks with the Platner controversy, or even anything broader than that, has reinforced that decision to leave national news and has you thinking differently about this job?
Absolutely. I love national news. I love NBC. They were great to me.
But as much as I love covering national campaigns, I would be one of 50 reporters at an event. I have never felt more useful to the world than I do now. The first two Graham Platner events I went to, I was the only reporter there, and that’s the standard. If we’re not there, it doesn’t get covered. And then there’s not just no news about it for our community, but there’s no record about it for history.
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And so it feels so vital and important what I’m doing, even though people would say it’s smaller. Maybe, but to me, it’s so much more impactful.
Aidan Ryan can be reached at aidan.ryan@globe.com. Follow him @aidanfitzryan.
The National Weather Service is predicting a scorcher for parts of western and northern Maine on Tuesday, with the possibility of thunderstorms, high winds and hail.
“The heat and humidity is going to supply energy to the atmosphere,” said meteorologist Hunter Tubbs on Monday. “That energy is going to clash with a cold front expected to come down from Canada tomorrow night. That clash has the potential to produce severe storms.”
The evening storms could bring large hail up to 2 inches in diameter and heavy thunderstorms, but severe winds are likely to cause the most damage, forecasters say. There is a low possibility oftornadoes, according to the severe weather bulletin.
The areas at most risk include Maine’s western mountains and the northern part of Maine, from its northern foothills up to the Canadian border, Tubbs said. There is some risk of severe storms in the south, but not as much, he said.
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Heat and humidity are expected to peak Tuesday, Tubbs said, with heat indices climbing into the upper 90s in cities like Augusta, Lewiston and Waterville. The heat index temperature — or how hot it feels when combining heat and humidity — is predicted to hit 104 in Fryeburg.
The humidity will ease Wednesday, Tubbs said, but the heat will linger into Thursday with highs in the low 90s. By Thursday evening, a gradual cooling trend will emerge that is likely to last into the weekend.
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Penny Overton is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics…
More by Penelope Overton
The poster for “The Texas Carol.” (Courtesy of Lakewood Theater)
“THE TEXAS CAROL”
Don’t miss “The Texas Carol” set to be performed at various times July 16-25 at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.
The production by Jayme McGhan and Kevin Dean focuses on the Dinkel family as they head to Mee-Maw Jane’s East Texas ranch for what might be her last Christmas. The only problem? When the first two grandchildren arrive, they discover that Mee-Maw is already gone! Now how to keep that fact (and her body) from a family on the edge and salvage what remains of Christmas?
Starring Donna Irish, Shana Page, Will Stecher, Addie King, Caleb Landry, Quincy Morin, David Shedd and Earl Boyd.
Tickets cost $30-$52 for adults or $23 for children 4-17; lakewoodtheater.org.
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Brothers Will and Reid Nichols, of 12/OC, performing August 2025 at Thompson’s Point in Portland. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)
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12/OC
Bowl in the Pines plans to host 12/OC at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 1 Geranium Lane in Sidney.
Born in a family kitchen in Portland, 12/OC began as a shared dream between brothers Will and Reid, 14 and 11 years old, cutting their teeth at jam sessions and open mic nights. Their sound quickly resonated beyond Maine, capturing the attention of country music fans near and far. With a chart-topping single holding the No. 1 spot on Maine’s premier country radio station for 16 consecutive weeks, their momentum became impossible to ignore.
Tickets cost $52.73-$84-61; bowlinthepines.com.
Singer-songwriter Alice Limoges. (Photo by Alex Burnett)
Alice Limoges & missofija
Stop in at The Playhouse at Waterville Station at 7 p.m. Saturday for an intimate double‑bill featuring two of Maine’s most compelling rising artists: Alice Limoges and missofija.
Limoges has been singing since before she could walk. Whether performing her award-winning poetic songs about love and nature, or shining a light on mental health, her canon is lit up by her storytelling, unique, soulful voice and textural instrumentals. She has released six original albums/EPs, toured festivals and colleges across North America, and performed on Jon Samson’s Grammy Award winning album. She placed in the 2021 International Songwriting Contest and won the 2025 Maine Songwriting Contest.
After writing her first song at 3 years old, missofija never looked back. Her unique sound is inspired by her background as an opera singer and by the folk songs of her Lithuanian upbringing. She uses profound, symbolic lyrics, intricate melodies and complex harmonic structures to send chills through every audience she performs for.
Tickets cost $20; theplayhouse.me.
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Trombone Shorty will play Bowl in the Pines in Sidney in July. (Photo by Jean Frank)
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
Don’t miss the Let ‘Em Go Tour set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bowl in the Pines – Amphitheather 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney.
Perhaps the most recognizable ambassador for New Orleans music working today, Shorty has spent his entire life carrying the torch for Crescent City culture, and propelling it forward into the 21st century with his ecstatic live performances and intoxicating blend of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and Caribbean influences.
Born Troy Andrews, Shorty made his first appearance at New Orleans’ iconic Jazz Fest at 4 years old, when he took the stage for an impromptu performance with Bo Diddley. By 6, he was heading up his own brass band, and by his early 20s, he’d released the first in a string of albums that would lead to performances everywhere from the White House and the Grammy Awards to Madison Square Garden and the 2025 Super Bowl.
Tickets cost $63-$120; bowlinthepines.com.
THE PRINCESS CONCERT
Check out The Princess Concert set for 3:30 and again at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. in Waterville.
The performance will pay tribute to the iconic, heartwarming, and nostalgic songs from films including “Frozen,” “Wicked,” “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” “Moana,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Beauty & The Beast,” “Anastasia,” “Pocahontas,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King,” “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and more.
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Tickets cost $30-$67 for ages 16-plus; operahouse.org.
BLACK WOLF BAND
Waterfront Wednesday plans to host Black Wolf Band at 6 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Augusta.
The weekly Waterfront Wednesday events scheduled through Aug. 5 will feature free music, food and family fun returning to the Kennebec River.
Each week, concertgoers can bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in for live music from local bands and DJs. There will be a food truck at every event.
For more information visit mainstreetmaine.org.
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Looking for more? Check out theonline calendar listings for other entertainment offerings.
AUGUSTA — As part of the summer speed reduction awareness and high-visibility enforcement campaign, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is working in conjunction with the other New England Highway Safety Offices, in a combined effort to slow drivers down. The New England Drive to Save Lives campaign calls on all drivers to recognize speeding as an unnecessary and aggressive driving behavior that endangers all road users.
Communities across America are affected every year by fatalities that occur in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, there were 11,288 speed-related traffic fatalities, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities. Young drivers have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, 39% of male drivers and 20% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes, speeding was a factor.
Between July 6th and the 31st, from Aroostook County to York County, more than 47 law enforcement agencies will continue to conduct high-visibility speed enforcement to save lives and reduce speeding and aggressive driving. Law enforcement will be out reminding drivers to slow down and drive with care. Drivers should plan to leave sooner to allow more time to arrive without rushing. Maine Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart says, “The seconds that you save by speeding are not significant enough to risk your safety or that of anyone sharing the road with you. Crashes are significantly more dangerous, resulting in death or serious injury when speeding is involved. Everyone wants to arrive at their destination safely.”
From Maine to Connecticut, New England is reminding drivers to Drive to Save Lives across the region. Whether you’re vacationing in another state or having a staycation, please slow down and take your time getting to your destination this summer.
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Chief Matt Cummings of the Fort Fairfield Police Department says, “Keeping Maine safe isn’t just a job for law enforcement; it’s a shared commitment across our entire community. When you slow down on our local roads, you aren’t just following the law; you are actively protecting your neighbors, our children, and the character of our town. Let’s work together to keep our streets safe for everyone.”
Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a pedestrian, hazardous objects, or an unexpected curve. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. It’s a common misconception that speeding is an interstate-related issue: In fact, in 2024, 87% of all speeding-related traffic fatalities in the United States occurred on routes other than interstates.
“Every mile per hour matters. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react, increases stopping distance, and turns a preventable crash into a deadly one. As Maine’s roads become busier during the summer months, we urge drivers to slow down, stay alert and help ensure everyone arrives safely to their destinations,” says Sgt. Josh Stewart of the Kittery Police Department.
The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is reminding drivers to Drive to Save Lives this month. Spend your time on the way to your destination, enjoying all of the beauty New England has to offer, not speeding through it. From the lighthouses across Maine’s coastline, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, Vermont’s Moss Glen Falls, Massachusetts’s Fenway Park, a ferry ride from Point Judith in Rhode Island, to Connecticut’s Gillette Castle State Park, slow down and enjoy your drive.
