Times are always changing, but sometimes more than at other times. Whether you celebrate or shake your head at changes nationally and globally in politics, social and other media, and all else we can observe or be a part of, or both, one constant as we go through life is the connections we make. Some, that continue til the end; others, we hold in our memories as part of what made that time in our life good.

Monday, I ran into an old friend from our shared past as tenpin bowlers. For me, that was half a lifetime ago; for him, more like a third.

We both stopped in our tracks, exchanged our

Last week we, and a variety of interested souls, had a lovely and unique visit at Southport Memorial Library. A diverse group from near and far had an opportunity to hear Dr. Clarice Yentsch chat about one of her most recent creations, “The Baycliff Saltwater Farm Family," a book about a historically significant and personal parcel of land situated on an inside stretch of the Sheepscot River across from the southern end of Indiantown Island. An accumulation of wonderful text accompanied by an exceptionally diverse collection of art, this book offers an original and historical glimpse into many

Back in 1969 Jackie DeShannon sang these words: "Think of your fellow man, Give him a helping hand, Put A Little Love In Your Heart."

DeShannon's song played over and over in my head after I attended Maine State Music Theater's current show, "Come From Away," book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Given the state of our world right now, this show couldn't be staged at a better time: It demonstrates our capacity for kindness,  compassion, empathy, all of which are sorely needed now.

I had never seen this musical, but I'd heard about it off and on over the years from a friend

Testimony for the public hearing on the upcoming referendum, Article 3, of the Sept. 3, 2026 special town meeting.

Approval of Article 3, as written, authorizes the Selectboard to borrow $10 million from the CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND (CWSRF). At the July 7, 2026 Selectboard meeting, the Board voted 5 - 0 to accept the conditions of that fund. One absolute condition of the fund is it can be used only for relocation of the plant. A yes vote on Article 3 commits the town of Wiscasset to relocate the plant, and authorizes the Selectboard to borrow such additional funds (beyond the $10

In 1981, a handful of survivors of domestic violence started an organization they called New Hope for Women. Ten hotline volunteers offered support to those experiencing domestic violence in Knox County. The agency officially became a nonprofit on August 18, 1981, and hired a part-time director. By 1982, the hotline was fully staffed, allowing victims and concerned others to reach an advocate round-the-clock. At its founding, it was one of six domestic violence projects in Maine. 

New Hope for Women joined the statewide Maine Coalition for Family Crisis Services in 1983 and merged with the

While waiting at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Topsham recently while my wife was waiting to get her driver’s license renewed, I got tired of looking at my phone so I walked to the back of the room.

Posted on the bulletin board was a poster about how one could donate organs and tissues. In the middle of the poster was a silhouette of a person and one side of the poster showed organs and the other side, tissues, that can be donated.

I am registered as an organ donor and I knew about the usual items that can be donated after one dies, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, skin and

When our daughters were little people, we spent many fun times with family and friends at Barrett’s Park, a wonderful spit of land surrounded by Lobster Cove waters, sandwiched between Sprucewold, the road to Wall Point and greater Linekin Bay. It’s a public park with a private feel.

Many years ago, our dear friend, Boothbay Harbor artist Lonny Sisson, painted endless visions from the shores of Barrett's Park. Lonny called it Silver Cove, which is how it often appears at different times of day, morning and evening. It was, without a doubt, one of his most favorite spots, all times of year

Dear Editor:

In June we had the opportunity to vote on our property taxes. We may not have noticed it but the taxes were divided into two sections. One section dealt with the town's expenses which were divided into the costs relating to the various town departments with the Select Board recommendation. We could vote for or against each item. These items only accounted for ~40% of your property taxes.

The one department not listed was the school department. The Select Board (Tax Assessors) takes a hands off approach. The school budget accounts for ~ 60% of your property taxes.

The individual

Dear Editor:

I guess for most, it was a solidarity moment when Hannah Pingree showed up to fight for Miles Hospital’s possible maternity ward closure. Isn't it funny that all the Democrats show up for a cause that they created. Are Maine voters really falling for this?

Pingree served as director of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future from 2019 to 2025. She shares responsibility for an administration during which several rural hospitals closed or reduced services, including the closure of Northern Inland Hospital and the loss of multiple labor and delivery units around the

The cost of living in Maine is too high, and families across Lincoln County feel it every day. Whether it’s groceries, electricity bills, childcare or healthcare, too many households are finding that their paychecks don’t stretch as far as they used to.

That’s why working to address affordability was one of the Legislature’s top priorities this year.

My colleagues and I worked to pass legislation and make targeted investments that aim to lower costs, strengthen essential services and put more money back into the pockets of Maine people. Many of those new laws and budget provisions took effect

The “review.” It’s how we decide whether to watch a movie or show, dine at a new restaurant, even hike a trail we’ve never taken before.

Scientists have their own kind of review: summary of the current state of a particular field of research, often with recommendations as to how a different perspective or a new approach might yield better results.

A new review paper was recently published, the author list of which includes several of our friends and colleagues. As the title makes obvious—“Status, threats and conservation of Earth’s migratory birds”—it’s an ambitious attempt to consider the

Cheers to the Miles Delivers group and those supporting the group’s plea to MaineHealth about keeping or delaying the shuttering of its birthing facility. Not only will the closure cause mothers to travel greater distances to receive treatment and give birth, but the closure will have a dramatic effect on young families choosing not to settle here in the region. The cost of homes here in the region is high enough and adding the problem of not having convenient and safe access to a birthing facility will not be beneficial toward increasing our school population.

I’ve been “into” baseball this

One of the things wrong with an unofficial bypass is some people's driving it at nearly bypass, or highway, speeds. That is not cool, and not safe, for people who live along it.

Who wants to put themselves and their vehicle through stop and go traffic, in the summer heat, when there is a scenic workaround? But you have to follow that road's rules, i.e., the speed limit, even though surely whatever else you will be doing when you reach your destination is important; it just isn't an excuse for jeopardizing motorists, cyclists, or walkers.

It's their road to use, too, and whatever they are doing

It was just 14 years ago when MaineHealth closed Boothbay’s little St. Andrews Hospital.

MaineHealth, the Portland-based hospital conglomerate, transferred the equipment and its very valuable critical access hospital license to Miles Memorial in Damariscotta.

Sure, they held public forums for us to complain, but the decision had already been made. It was a kick in the teeth to a prideful community that spent years depending upon and supporting it. 

For the record, the little St. A. hospital was outdated, and the move to the better-equipped and better-staffed Miles unit made sense. They

Our gardens have gone rogue!

Despite efforts to win the National Garden Club golden ring, neglect has set in. We had the best of intentions but summer in Vacationland has had the final say, forcing us to abandon the green thumb portion of activity. Additionally, believe it or not, I have not mowed our lawns in over a month, hoping to allow the longer grass to catch some overnight dew for refreshment.

Things are looking a bit ratty but still holding onto a pale green scraggliness. Pretty dry out there.

The garden hoe is collecting dust as we await some rain to support a fine crop of weeds and

Dear Editor:

If you live in Wiscasset, it is time you started to pay close attention to the sewer plant relocation issue.

The town's engineering consultant reported the sewer treatment plant is in danger of being inundated by rising sea water, following which the town received a $10 million loan offer from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which is available only if the plant is relocated, and the Select Board has since voted unanimously to comply with the CWSRF mandate.

Article 3 of the special town meeting on Sept 1, if approved, commits the town to relocating the sewer treatment