As I write this, we have just begun the new second session of the 132nd Legislature. We have a lot of important work ahead of us in the coming months, including doing more to lower the cost of…
Columns
Joe's Journal
I know, dear readers, Christmas has passed, the New Year is upon us, and the Three Kings celebration has passed, too. I suppose it is time to make a post-holiday visit to see how Ms. Pigette…
Community of Hope
Data suggests that 55% of women with HIV (and 20% of men) have experienced or are currently experiencing…
As temperatures drop in many states, criminals are turning up the heat on their deceptive tactics. While utility scams happen year-round, scammers are especially active when customers rely on…
A Bird's Tale
(This week’s column shares Jeff’s perspective; Allison was unable to participate.)
On the pre-dawn drive over to the…
Joe's Journal
Old Santa dropped off a late Christmas present to Tim Hodgdon last week, another win for his baby, Comanche, the world’s fastest monohull sailing yacht.…
With rising costs and economic uncertainty, many of us are looking to start the new year by taking more control of our finances and tackling lingering debt. But paying down what you owe takes time…
With the recent snow has come an increase in bird activity at our feeders and the small patches of open ground we’ve cleared under them. When all the birds are trying…
Joe's Journal
Well, we survived 2025. But, did we?
My brain is overloaded. Is yours?
As we enter the new year, we have been hammered with traditional lists upon lists of the things that made 2025…
The Garden Club of Wicasset held a fun, festive and productive meeting Dec. 4, creating holiday baskets and mugs. Lincoln County “Meals on Wheels” received 100 mugs, and 24 baskets were delivered…
If your New Year’s resolutions include finding a new job, work-from-home opportunities may sound appealing. While many remote positions are legitimate, some aren’t what…
Joe's Journal
If you are like the rest of us, your phone and your TV are filled with ads suggesting you purchase this gadget, gizmo, or whatever.
In the words of Tom Lehrer: “Angels we have heard on high…
A Bird's Tale
It’s that special time of year again, full of magical anticipation, wondrous excitement, and pure-hearted thankfulness. We are, of course, talking about Christmas Bird…
While we are in the midst of the holiday season, I hope you can enjoy time with family and friends celebrating Christmas, New Year’s and other festivities in the coming…
A Bird's Tale
Walking our dog on one of these recent very cold days through the snow and ice on what had been the sidewalk only a few weeks ago, we heard a familiar mewing call. It…
Joe's Journal
As I sat down to address Christmas cards last week (I know I am tardy as usual), my phone started buzzing.
While I hoped the screen would say Possible Spam, it did not. Yes, you…
Dec. 4 marked one year since I was sworn in for my second term in the Maine State Senate. Time really does fly! In honor of the new year, I would like to reflect on this past year as your elected…
Where It's At
Stonehenge. I feel as though I’ve always known about Stonehenge; there isn’t one singular moment in my time I can recall; of course there a great many years to sift through! But seriously, I…
The monthly meeting of the Pemaquid Chapter, NSDAR, took place Thursday, Dec. 11, at the American Legion Hall #36 in Boothbay. Attendees, in person and by Zoom, were…
A Bird's Tale
“Is this a turkey vulture?”
That was the question a friend from Gardiner posed to us over Facebook with a link to a video. The clip was captured mid-morning in…
Joe's Journal
Is it time to ramp up the annual Christmas chores, you know, cookies and goodies and presents and cards? Or are you going to send out a bunch of emails and texts to a group and call it good?
…'Round Town
What a wonderfully inspiring community event! The Southport Town Hall was packed with every variety of islander in support of the first ever Southport Central School’s homegrown feast. The…
With holiday shopping—and shipping—comes the risk of package theft. Thieves — often called “Porch Pirates” — steal millions of packages from American doorsteps each year, totaling billions of…
A Bird's Tale
Like many people, we traveled to spend time with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. In our case, the travel was a car ride to New York City to be with our son and…
'Round Town
It seems to me that our local cormorant population has packed up and headed elsewhere. Elsewhere, I suspect, is someplace warmer than Maine. Even southern Maine may not be far enough.
These…
Joe's Journal
Thanksgiving.
It is a national holiday. A day we take off work to do what? To sit around a table with family and friends to eat too much turkey and stuffing and cranberry jelly and green…
Here in the U.S., many people will gather this week around the ritual of a meal intended to celebrate community and the ideals of sharing and supporting. We call this…
Where It's At
“Exploding Lobster” by Judy Nixon. At first glance I thought the subject must be a red phoenix rising from the ashes. The white floating objects floating away above the body, feathers. I was quite…
A Bird's Tale
We have recently been checking the amazing MOTUS wildlife tracking database run by Birds Canada (https://motus.org/) and have found…
The holiday deals are already rolling in, but not every offer you see online is the real deal.
Fraud criminals often create websites that look professional and offer big discounts on…
Joe's Journal
If you are a semi-news junkie, like me, last week was a Doozie, one for the record books.
"It began with a double whammy as the bipartisan government shutdown raced beyond Day 40. …
As all Mainers know, staying warm…
Community of Hope
Trauma from domestic abuse affects survivors in every aspect of their human existence—body, mind and spirit. While physical injuries and wounds can be diagnosed and…
A Bird's Tale
A few days ago, we were walking the dog when we heard what sounded exactly like the sweet call notes of pine grosbeaks. This surprised us. It seemed too early for…
