Talk

From the editor

Not on purpose

It's that time of year again ... when the news hole shrinks but the news, columns, press releases, photos and more come flooding in. It actually started last week when we weren't able to find...
From the assistant editor

Fences

Wiscasset’s controversies over fences proposed to the then-Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission were at least in part communication issues. The same goes for the town’s new fence controversy,...
A Bird’s Tale

Bird-Dogging the Neighborhood

A cute little black dog joined our family about a month ago. He came from a shelter a few hours away who had described him as a three-year old chug (pug-chihuahua cross) named Loki. Loki has been an...
’Round Town

Isabel

In all my years on the planet I have never known anyone with the name Isabel. Through 12 years of public school, four years of college, some graduate school and five years of teaching, no one has...
Joe’s Journal

In praise of little newspapers

They gave out this year's Pulitzer prizes for journalism the other day. They honored the New York Times (surprise) with the Public Service Award for their stories of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other...
letter to the editor

It's all about voter intimidation

Dear Editor:During Alna's March 27, 2021 election, one resident challenged the right of several other town residents to vote. The challenger claimed that these voters were not legal town residents...
letter to the editor

Maybe a split rail fence?

Dear Editor: I think the Ancient Cemetery looks odd with no barrier between the sacred ground and the sidewalk. Given the number of people with dogs walking past the area, isn’t there some kind of...
Boothbay Region YMCA: Community Catalyst for Good

In November of 2019 when I started working at the Y as the marketing director, I immediately recognized Knickerbocker Lake as a great spot to learn to fish. In our area, fishing has a place in almost...
A Bird’s Tale

Panting Birds and How to Help Them

These early June days of temperatures in the 90s and high humidity are far from comfortable for those of us remembering the “old days.” We much prefer high temps in the 60s and low 70s at this time...
From the editor

Speak up, graduates

To the graduates of Boothbay Region High School and Wiscasset Middle High School, I first would like to congratulate you on completing an important first phase of your lives. You've formed your...
’Round Town

Coming home

May's last weekend was a bit dreary, chilly and damp. The end of May can be like that. But, nonetheless, people turned out to pay their respects on Memorial Day. During the gatherings for Newagen...
Joe’s Journal

Reflections on a gray day

Last week, as Barry Sherman barked out the command, "Veterans Attention,” the 2021 Boothbay Region Memorial Day parade stepped off. As usual for the event, former Sgt. Barry wore a Vietnam era in-...
letter to the editor

Deeply concerned resident

Dear Editor: Yesterday (June 2) the town of Wiscasset Selectman did a great disservice to our deceased veterans, historical figures and the town itself. The fence, surrounding the Ancient Cemetery...
From the editor

Idle thoughts

As we turn the calendar to this year's sixth month, there is a little more "Joy in Mudville," unlike as the poem, "Casey at the Bat" reads. People are on the move – did you witness the traffic this...
From the assistant editor

Face masks still cool

Since face mask guidelines have changed, usage has, to little surprise, been dropping to varying degrees, from what I am seeing around. You will still see me wearing one indoors and outdoors in...
A Bird’s Tale

The Puffin Plan

Steve Kress came to Maine to teach at the famous Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen in 1969, when we were just toddlers. He has been working to restore and manage seabird populations in the state ever...
’Round Town

Apologies

I suspect there are manuals for everything. If I were to resume my interest in the rebuilding of motorcycle engines, it would be pretty easy to find, online or otherwise, lots of guidance for “How to...
Joe’s Journal

Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum Summertime

Ready or not, spring has sprung and summer is here. And summertime in the Boothbay region is a perfect getaway from the city, suburbia and the rest of the nation we love so dear. And believe me,...
Boothbay Region YMCA: Community Catalyst for Good

Have you ever experienced climbing a high ladder and zip-lining back to the ground? How about balancing on a moving log beam while walking across to the other side? Did you know that the Boothbay...
Wiscasset Senior Center

Cribbage scores for the week of May 23 are as follows: Tuesday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m. 12 players present: first, Blanche Johnson, 838; second, Catherine Roberson, 811; third, Diane Robinson, 809; high...
A Bird’s Tale

A Big Nest Surprise

Ospreys are big birds. They make big nests that very often sit out in the open so that the birds on the nest are visible to all. Brother Andrew and his spouse Nina have one of these osprey nests near...
From the editor

For the dogs

I "got out of Dodge," as the saying goes, last week. My wife and I finally got to use our airplane tickets, paid for in 2020, to visit our son, Tim, in Nebraska. We met him and his lady, Megan, in...
From the assistant editor

2 do’s

Don’t wear a life jacket on the water? You might want to start. Without them, a pair of West Virginians canoeing Chamberlain Lake in Piscataquis County on Sunday would be dead now, according to Maine...
’Round Town

Molly

The yellow-flowered “Magnolia Elizabeth” (pictured above) was planted by Welles and Molly Moore 21 years ago. The tree, the result of a breeding program to create a yellow-flowered variety, at the...
Joe’s Journal

Library plant sale: Don’t miss it

In a moment of weakness, I promised Gloria Taliana and Bonnie Ginger I would write a plugger column to help draw attention to the plant sale that benefits the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. Even...
Salt 'n Spar

Long ago when Rosalie reported Edgecomb’s news

Her name was Rosalie. Sorry, I don’t have a last name for her and can’t positively say that Rosalie was her real name. It’s possible she was using a pen name, a common practice when she was the...
letter to the editor

Edgecomb intersections

Dear Editor: I enjoyed reading with interest about the upcoming but perhaps I’ll timed construction, possible reconfiguration at the Route 27 and Route 1 intersection. Please publish more...
letter to the editor

Vote for Jeff Tarbox June 8

Dear Editor: Westport Islanders are fortunate to have Jeff Tarbox running for our vacant Second Selectman’s seat on June 8! Having served as secretary of the Comprehensive Planning Committee, chair...
letter to the editor

A discouraging viewpoint

Dear Editor: I was disappointed to read that Joe Gelarden, in his "Ramblings" column in the May 20 edition, apparently dismisses the move to preserve the environmental integrity of the Gulf of Maine...
letter to the editor

Vote for Terry Heller

Dear Editor: We are writing to ask Wiscasset residents to vote for Terry Heller for the town’s Select Board. Since moving to Wiscasset from Texas five years ago, she has dedicated herself to...
letter to the editor

Vote for Jeff

Dear Editor: I am writing to strongly endorse Jeff Tarbox for Second Selectperson of Westport Island. As a fellow member of the Westport Island Broadband and Cable Committee – which is only one of...