Talk

From the editor

Beating the drum again: Slow down

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety and Maine State Police were scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday, April 6 to talk about "a disturbing trend," excessive speed, speeding through...
A Bird’s Tale

When the Hidden World of Birds is First Revealed

The pure joy of discovery. As children we often felt that joy, as we found something we had never seen or learned about something wondrous that we had only dreamed of or heard stories about....
’Round Town

Air

Since last week's (April Fool’s Day) adventure involving a fake snowstorm went over like a lead balloon, I figured I'd try to redeem myself with a view from a real balloon. Our wonderful neck of the...
Joe’s Journal

Facebook failures

Here is a column that I just wanted to get off my chest. I dreamed I was talking to a guy and asked him what he thought about the school's proposal to spend nearly $50 million on needed improvements...
Where It’s At

The photographic stories of Eva McDermott

The new exhibit upstairs at Boothbay Region Art Foundation features color images Eva McDermott captured on Lofoten Island, Norway and Isle of Skye, Scotland – digitally and with film. McDermott was...
letter to the editor

Voter intimidation in Alna

Dear Editor: Immediately following last week’s election in Alna, the town’s code enforcement officer visited several households, inquiring about owners and residents and investigating alleged “voter...
A Bird’s Tale

Becoming a Conservation Birder

Ever heard of the term “conservation birding?” We hadn’t until this past week when we came across an academic paper that used the term in the title. The authors described a theoretical scenario in...
Where It’s At

The historical fiction of Lee Swanson

I’ve always enjoyed a good historical fiction tale. Phillipa Gregory is one of my favorites. I devoured her first novel of “The Wideacre Trilogy,” entitled “Wideacre.” I found myself immersed in...
From the editor

Maine needs to get healthier

Maine, as we all know, is a state with an elderly population. Perhaps that is one reason why, in the 2020 America's Health Rankings, the state received very low marks for having multiple chronic...
From the assistant editor

Congratulations and thank you

You have to hand it to locals who give vast amounts of their time week in and week out, and year in and out, to their towns. Jack Sarmanian has, helping Edgecomb get its long needed fire station and...
’Round Town

Snow

Last night's snow really caught me by surprise! The mild weather we've been having made me think we were done with the white stuff, but my memory is short. The 2020 April storm should have made me a...
Joe’s Journal

Happy Easter to all

I love Easter. It is a holy day for much of the Christian world, where many hold fast to the ancient doctrines. Bless them all. For some, especially those caught up in the strangeness we call...
Salt ’n Spar

Celebrating Wiscasset women

Let’s celebrate the waning days of “Women's History Month” to recognize a few Wiscasset ladies for making our community a better place to raise children and call home sweet home. One that comes to...
letter to the editor

Maine does it better

Dear Editor: A letter last week complained about our state government's handling of the COVID-19 problem and said it was way too strict. Being a retired engineer I thought I would look into the...
Glad to support the American Rescue Plan

I recently voted for one of the most important bills that Congress will ever pass: the American Rescue Plan. First and foremost, this comprehensive legislation will rapidly get shots into arms to...
letter to the editor

Thoughts on the State of Your Town from your outgoing 2nd Selectman

Dear Editor: Alna voters have a clear choice this week. Will you elect selectmen who will just do the business of managing our town? Is it your wish to put an end to the bitter warfare that has...
A Bird’s Tale

A Mysterious Creeper of a Bird

Some birds are just inherently mysterious. Think of species that stay to themselves, rather than hang out in big garish flocks the crows and geese and ducks do. Or that hardly make a sound, or if...
From the editor

Monday morning gladness

My Monday mornings can be unpredictable in a squeamish way. I might receive a phone call about someone's personal problem (which we may or may not be able to fix by reporting on it) or an email...
From the assistant editor

Safety over sandwiches!

Nothing can take town meetings’ place, for their debate, humor, common sense, muffins and egg salad sandwiches. But for many towns, including Alna’s this weekend, something has: The ballot box. It...
’Round Town

Kosti

I came to Maine by accident twice. My first visit was in 1963 with two hometown friends from our small town in central Pennsylvania. We traveled in a two-door 1961 Plymouth Valiant. John was...
Joe’s Journal

Post office woes?

Our founding fathers, those wise fellas who sat down to invent the American government, knew communication is vital. They lived in a time before we used the smartphone, the internet, or satellites...
letter to the editor

Keep up your inspired work, Sen Maxmin

Dear Editor: Thank you, Senator Maxmin, for your creation of the Pine Tree Amendment to our state constitution! You are a breath of fresh air, literally. I believe your youth is just one of your...
AARP state scam alerts: Consumer Sentinel 2020 Report

The numbers are in. The Federal Trade Commission released its report of fraud complaints from last year, and it was historically high, due in large part to COVID-19 and the economic downturn....
Voting for Cooper and Kyle in Alna: An opinion from the First Selectman

This has been a stressful year for all of us in our daily lives, but life in Alna has been harder than it needed to be and harder than it should have been. My colleagues and I who were elected or...
From the editor

Basketball on the brain

Have you filled out your brackets for the NCAA men's and/or women's tournaments yet? After last year's tournaments got canceled because of the pandemic, I have enjoyed watching college basketball...
From the assistant editor

Looking up

The pandemic and the gradual climb out of it, with vaccines and easing restrictions, have made the shop local slogan more important. For some businesses, locals’ loyalty, or rediscovery of shopping...
’Round Town

Jenny

Jenny Bennett used to write for the Boothbay Register. I remember thinking, ahhhh, a new voice at the paper. Lovely. Her writing was clear and sharp, to the point with no messing about. But, things...
Joe’s Journal

Fooled Ya

Once again, Mother Nature pulled a fast one on us. Last week, she pulled the clouds away and let the rays of a warm spring-like sun begin melting the glacier at the bottom of the driveway. On Route...
From the Senate

Protecting Maine’s environment and fighting for our future

Last week, I had the honor of introducing one of my bills, LD 489, that would add an amendment to Maine’s Constitution to guarantee the right to pure water, clean air and a healthy environment. This...
A Bird’s Tale

Will Your Acoustic Index Detect Spring This Year?

The sounds of spring. What are they for you? For us, there are many. Even the first whistled “hey-sweetie” songs of black-capped chickadees, which may begin in January, are a reminder that spring is...
letter to the editor

Vote for Kristan

Dear Editor, I believe that Linda Kristan would make an excellent second selectperson for Alna. I have known Linda since she moved to Alna and think she is a caring and thoughtful person, who...
letter to the editor

Endorsing Kristan and Culbertson

Dear Editor: I heartily endorse Linda Kristan and Charlie Culbertson who are candidates for the 2nd and 3rd Select Board member seats to be voted on at Alna’s town election on Saturday, March 27....
letter to the editor

Alna: It’s time to move on

Dear Editor: In the last three years Alna has suffered: (1) a bitter fight over school choice; (2) a secret write-in campaign aimed to steal an “uncontested” selectmen’s race in a pandemic; and (3)...