Talk

Commentary

Statement from Maine’s fishing community on offshore wind development

This opinion piece is written on behalf of: Patrice McCarron, Maine Lobstermen’s Association; Ben Martens, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association; Annie Tselikis, Maine Lobster Dealers Association;...
letter to the editor

Sigh of relief

Dear Editor: We are shaken. The storming of the capital was a terrifying end to four very difficult years. Who is not physically and psychologically exhausted? Please don’t say, ‘Oh, it wasn’t that...
A Bird’s Tale

A River on the Rebound, “From the Mountains to the Sea”

One of the greatest stories of ecological rebirth happened (and is happening) right here in Maine. It’s a story of people and communities and organizations and businesses finding ways to cooperate...
From the editor

Thoughts and more

The state of Maine needs to work on creating affordable housing, especially for our senior citizens. The closing of Boothbay Green is disheartening but I do understand the reasons why, as explained...
From the assistant editor

Thank you and good morning

Thank you to readers who have responded to our invitation to email pix@wiscassetnewspaper.com with their new, winter photos, scenic or people ones, for us to consider publishing in print, online, or...
’Round Town

Winter Orchard

The negative from which this image was made has not seen the light of day in over 30 years. That would make it one of my younger offspring in my collection of processed films of over 50 years. Where...
Joe’s Journal

Week 45 – A puzzlement

Dear Grandkids and Great Grandkids, How do I explain it to you in a few words? As I write this column on Sunday evening, I have no idea what will happen in the coming week. Nobody does. One of...
How do we slow down this aging process?

Roe Chiacchio: How to regain your muscular strength

Have you asked yourself, why am I weak? Where Did My Strength Go? Have you thought, I used to be able to do this. I’m not that old. Let me explain what happens as...
letter to the editor

Prolonging a painful dispute

Dear Editor: This month, Alna’s selectmen signed a mediation agreement with Jeff Spinney about the permanent boat ramp he excavated into the Sheepscot River tidal marsh in December. This agreement...
From the Senate

Representing You in Augusta

Dear Community, My name is Chloe Maxmin, and I am the new State Senator representing almost all of Lincoln County, plus the towns of Washington and Windsor in the Maine Senate. I spent the past two...
A Bird’s Tale

More Maine Owl Visitors

All owls are inherently mysterious to us humans for any number of reasons. We don’t see even the most common species very often, and sometimes our only experience with them is hearing their calls far...
From the editor

Mad as …

Holed up in my small office at home on Wednesday, Jan. 6, away from my TV, I was preparing for next week’s issue, editing and formatting press releases, staying in touch with my reporters and...
From the assistant editor

Local, national are one

Who was not horrified Jan. 6, when an unsurprising protest at the U.S. Capitol turned into a siege on and inside the building? That was a nightmare and, in the days that followed, video footage of...
Joe’s Journal

Week 44 – You tell me

For the last 44 weeks, I have used this space to comment on the news. Much of it has been devoted to ways we cope with Mr. COVID-19. Last week, as our nation was focused on the humongous task of...
’Round Town

Swing

My wife and I and Gardiner Savings bought the old fire station on Route 27 in Boothbay in 1995. It’s still there across the street from the old town garage/office which has been lovingly cared for by...
Where It’s At: BRLT's Story Trail

This January’s winter tale at Oak Point Farm is truly one to stir the imagination of every child, no matter how old. In Kate Messner’s story, “Over and Under the Snow,” winter is explored above and...
Commentary

The time to protect our democracy is upon us

This is a dangerous time for the future of our nation and for the democratic principles and constitutionally defined framework that are its foundation. After lying repeatedly about the outcome of...
letter to the editor

Let down again

Dear Editor: Despite heavy and pointed criticism from many Alna residents, on Jan. 6 Alna’s selectmen signed a settlement agreement with Jeff Spinney allowing him to keep the permanent boat launch...
letter to the editor

This is not the way

Dear Editor: During the earliest days of the American Civil War, folks would pack picnic lunches and head off to battlefields to watch the fighting like it was a football game and they were in the...
letter to the editor

Proud of deputies and their dedication

Dear Editor: As we put 2020 behind us, it’s a good time to look back and think about what we have done right and where we could improve. For those of us in the law enforcement world, it’s been a...
From the editor

Acts of caring

Reviewing this week’s issue and adding a couple of personal experiences, it is evident that people care – care about people, animals and other things. Starting with the front page, resident George...
From the assistant editor

Picture time

Doing anything fun this winter? Would you like to share your scenic or people photos of however you are playing, working, or both, outside in the snow? For the most part, as on Tuesday morning, we...
’Round Town

Sunrise

This is the sunrise we were hoping for on Dec. 31, but it wasn't. There was a sunrise on the 31st, but it was not visible behind a thick bank of clouds as viewed looking toward Monhegan from Ocean...
A Bird’s Tale

Help Track Climate Impacts to Birds Through National Audubon’s Climate Watch

We heard on the news this morning that 2020 was the warmest year ever recorded in Portland, Maine. Across the state, we are seeing open water in rivers and lakes that we would have expected to be...
Joe’s Journal

Week 43 – Welcome 2021

Like a lot of OFs (Old Fellas?) my age, I welcomed in the new year with a snore. Tradition says you are supposed to stay up until midnight and greet the new year with adult beverages, music, good...
Garden Club of Wiscasset

The next program for Garden Club of Wiscasset features Arnold Arboretum curatorial assistant Kathryn Richardson. The presentation is an overview of the history and mission of Arnold Arboretum of...
letter to the editor

Vaccinating the public: It’s a matter of time

Dear Editor: There’s much information in the media and online regarding the COVID-19 vaccination process. Details are changing rapidly, causing confusion and anxiety for some of our patients and the...
letter to the editor

Public trust should be protected

Dear Editor: As a civilized and smart society, we come together and decide to protect resources that serve the greater societal good and we do this, in part, is by passing rules and regulations that...
letter to the editor

We are a community

Dear Editor: When will Mr. Spinney realize that the laws that apply to him are the same laws that apply to us all? It was Mr. Spinney that purchased Sheepscot River frontage, fully aware of the...
Salt ’n Spar

When the spoons went missing

Let’s turn the calendar back about 30 years or so when Wiscasset Middle High School was Wiscasset High School. Mid-winter was the time of year when many of us looked forward to Friday night and...
From the editor

Take joy in 2021

Although we will never forget 2020 and what transpired, we can all try to make 2021 a better year for ourselves and everyone we know. First, and most important of all, keep wearing masks in public,...
From the assistant editor

Week 53

If ever a year did not need an extra week, 2020 would be right up there. But for a weekly paper, depending on how the Thursdays fall, we get a 53rd edition. As we plan and execute it, we call it Week...
’Round Town

Eddie

I was sitting on an overturned bucket aboard Red Hook with Mark Stover at the helm, Alva Achorn at the ready, and perfect summer sunshine all around. Don Viens was nearby on the dock with...
A Bird’s Tale

High Numbers of Some Familiar Maine Birds

We wrote last week about our experience participating in the Augusta area Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) earlier in December and the impressive numbers of a special winter visitor, the pine...
Joe’s Journal

Week 42 – Exit 2020

The year 2020 will soon be in our collective rearview mirror. When the clock marks the end of a year like no other, we all will be glad to put 2020 behind us. It was a year where we learned that the...