The other day I was listening to the radio, the hosts of the morning show were asking listeners to share what it is they loved most about their hometown. I was surprised to hear how many listeners said what they loved most was a business, like a restaurant, coffee shop, a pub, that sort of thing. Others said they liked the small town atmosphere of their community, or the high school they went to.

Having called Wiscasset home for 44 years, I was thinking what it was about this community that I loved best. Well, actually there are a lot of things. Let’s start with our harbor. Other than the loss of the old schooners, the Hesper and Luther Little, it looks pretty much the same as when I first moved here in 1978. That’s really remarkable considering all of the waterfront development that’s taken place along Maine’s Midcoast. Standing on the pier you still have a spectacular 180-degree view of the Sheepscot River.

What else? I’ve always loved Wiscasset’s downtown, not just Main Street, the side streets and alley ways, too. When I first came here it felt like walking around in a Norman Rockwell painting. The village has a singular charm about it. During the Home Tour held this past summer a couple visiting from Maryland described Wiscasset this way: “There’s a feeling of permanence to things here, the historic homes in particular. It’s wonderful that it has remained so unchanged over the years.”

I love having Ames True Value here, a store where I can find almost everything I’m looking for, where there’s always a friendly face ready to help. As long as I’ve lived here its owners, the Averill family, have been great supporters of one community cause or fundraising effort after another. Try getting this kind of support from a big box store.

I love that our town is home to both Chewonki Foundation and also Chewonki Campground; Chewonki Foundation since 1918 and Chewonki Campground since 1961. I love, too, that the community has decided to preserve the Morris Farm as a working farm.

There’s also the Wiscasset Female Charitable Society founded Oct. 18, 1805 by 45 community-spirited women and still going strong today with over 200 members across the country. The group’s stated mission, then and now, is to provide financial help to single mothers, widows and young people. And, there’s Lincoln Lodge #3 established June 19, 1792 when Maine was still a part of Massachusetts and among the first Masonic lodges in New England.

I could go on, but the thing I really love and appreciate best is having been able to cover the Wiscasset community for the newspapers these many years, and all the stories I’ve written and photographs I’ve taken. Looking back, I’m happy I stayed here writing for a weekly newspaper rather than be lured away by a larger publication. So, tell me what is it that you love about your hometown and it doesn’t have to be about Maine’s Prettiest Village.

Phil Di Vece earned a B.A. in journalism studies from Colorado State University and an M.A. in journalism at the University of South Florida. He is the author of three Wiscasset books and is a frequent news contributor to the Wiscasset Newspaper and Boothbay Register. He resides in Wiscasset. Contact him at pdivece@roadrunner.com