The second season of the year, summer, has arrived … at least on the calendar! The semi-constant rain we’ve received has been beneficial for gardens and wells, but not so much for sunbathing, beach combing and boat trips – the usual large crowd at the Department of Marine Resources to view the Lobster Boat Races this past Saturday morning was not present, according to Mike Leonard, our photographer friend, who braved the weather to record a bunch of great photos (see our website!).

The Midwest is getting the summer heat with high 80s and low 90s and hopefully some of that heat will move east soon for Windjammer Days, Fourth of July, and longer … not wanting the humidity, however.

The region is busy with visitors. Businesses seem to be doing well as parking spots fill up fast during the day. Let’s hope it gets warmer and drier so more businesses can do even better.

I wish to thank our news contributors, Candi Joneth, Isabelle Curtis and Jane Carpenter, for stepping up to cover this past week’s stories on the Claw Down, Fishin’ For Fashion, and the Barters Island Bees business, respectively, while reporters Lisa Kristoff and Bill Pearson were on vacation, and Fritz Freudenberger was busy covering meetings and conducting interviews. I took some pre-summer hours off as well as my son and his bride-to-be were here visiting.

Hope you can take in what summer events and activities will offer. The season seems to go by in a flash some years and with June being wet and relatively cool so far, July and August might be the best time to get that suntan and to don the shorts and sunglasses!

Have a great start to your summer.