Dec. 4 marked one year since I was sworn in for my second term in the Maine State Senate. Time really does fly! In honor of the new year, I would like to reflect on this past year as your elected official in the State Legislature.

This past session, I remained focused on lowering everyday costs for Mainers in District 13. There were many bills with this goal, and I narrowed my focus to making child care more affordable, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and protecting mobile home communities.

Making child care more affordable is a top priority for me. As a working mom, I know firsthand

Stonehenge. I feel as though I’ve always known about Stonehenge; there isn’t one singular moment in my time I can recall; of course there a great many years to sift through! But seriously, I believe my knowing of Stonehenge is a soul memory. And for decades, and I mean decades, my soul longed to return there. The people I have friended on Facebook have been viewing my posts of Stonehenge photos taken by a variety of photographers across The Pond. Some might say I have been obsessed – and they would be right.

The decision to finally go to England evolved real spur-of-the-moment-like in mid-July

The monthly meeting of the Pemaquid Chapter, NSDAR, took place Thursday, Dec. 11, at the American Legion Hall #36 in Boothbay. Attendees, in person and by Zoom, were Nancy Chick, Tammy Cruickshank, Grace Folger, Marty Helman, Audrey Miller, Kristen Mogensten, Pat Porter, Diane Randlett, Jessica Tukey and Dawn Watson. The meeting began with the Opening Ritual. 

Highlights of the meeting included Diane Randlett sharing a conversation with Jennifer Bridges, a Native American and sister of the late David Moses Bridges, a Native canoe maker from Portland. The Bridges and Chapter daughter, Neana

With the holiday travel season fast approaching, scammers are poised to capitalize on travelers needing help with last-minute flight changes and cancellations. Don’t let  fake customer service derail your trip – or drain your wallet. Here’s a few things you should know to stay ahead of airline call center scams.

Just because an airline customer service helpline number appears at the top of internet search results doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Fraudulent numbers often surface in search results, and scammers constantly find new ways to make their numbers appear first. To avoid this risk

“Is this a turkey vulture?”

That was the question a friend from Gardiner posed to us over Facebook with a link to a video. The clip was captured mid-morning in November by an automated security camera pointed at his back deck.

The bird was indeed a turkey vulture.

What was a turkey vulture doing poking around on his deck? Maybe it had learned to check around the entrances of houses for outdoor dog food bowls. Or maybe the grill had been used recently and still held some delectable barbequed meat smells?

Hard to know what it was doing that drew it there and inspired it to explore, but

The temperature was in the minus digits when I let the dog out this Tuesday at 6 a.m. Too cold, too early in the season – and it’s not officially winter yet (Dec. 21 is the Winter Solstice).

But after successfully starting my car remotely, I started thinking positively about the weather. I climbed into my semi-warm car with the heated steering wheel and heated seats and drove to work on sanded and ice-free roads. Much better than earlier this week when a big tree fell on wires in our driveway and my wife and I couldn’t drive past the scene. After calling Central Maine Power about the

Kudos to Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency for helping keep locals informed in the past week with several posts about the winter-like weather that has been hitting the Midcoast and how to stay safe in it.

One Lincoln County EMA Facebook post tapped a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) flyer recommending the one to two layers to wear when it's chilly out, the two to three layers plus a hat and gloves when it's cold, and all of that plus at least one more layer and a mask when it is extremely cold (as it was Tuesday morning, for example!).

Lincoln County EMA

Is it time to ramp up the annual Christmas chores, you know, cookies and goodies and presents and cards? Or are you going to send out a bunch of emails and texts to a group and call it good?

Maybe you plan to call up Amazon and exercise your credit card, or better yet, head down to the village and buy something in person from one of our local merchants.

No matter which door you choose, any one of them would be a better choice than sitting in the old chair by the stove and wondering what the dickens is going on in what passes for government these days in the good old US of A.

Are you confused

What a wonderfully inspiring community event! The Southport Town Hall was packed with every variety of islander in support of the first ever Southport Central School’s homegrown feast. The initial lunch crowd trickled in for early grub but then the second wave of guests arrived ready to be served by school students and their band of merry Parent Teacher and community helpers. It was a food fest of unrivaled proportions.

The 21 students from Southport Central School got to see the fruits of their labors enjoyed by approximately 100 guests. Foods that had been planted, nurtured and harvested

Dear Editor:

As I sweep the dismal news events of the past week out of my mind so I can get some sleep, I’m assailed by one film clip that won’t leave me alone. It features Donald Trump casually remarking on the Saudis’ hideous murder and dismemberment of a respected journalist, saying “The man had a lot of enemies, a lot of people didn’t like him, and things happen.”

Really? Does Trump hear his own voice? A lot of people think he’s unhinged -- an apt description of one who seems to function in a zone remote from any solid support -- and I’m one of those who agree that we’re hearing a madman

With holiday shopping—and shipping—comes the risk of package theft. Thieves — often called “Porch Pirates” — steal millions of packages from American doorsteps each year, totaling billions of dollars in merchandise. You can help protect your deliveries with a few simple steps.

Opt into delivery alerts, allowing you to track your package and know exactly when items arrive. If you won’t be home, ask a trusted person to pick it up, or instruct the delivery person to place it out of sight.

Consider requesting a signature upon delivery to ensure your package is handed to someone directly. You can

Like many people, we traveled to spend time with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. In our case, the travel was a car ride to New York City to be with our son and his girlfriend. We were among millions who visit the millions in Manhattan this time of year, many for the famous parade and holiday kickoff events and shopping, in addition to being with family.

We don’t love the traffic but after we get the car parked and out of mind until departure, we love the hustle and bustle on the streets, contrasted with the coziness of being together in a small apartment. The subway ride to Chelsea

I’m just gonna come out and say it – Larry Brown has been a great addition to our community over the many years and, because it is Giving Tuesday while I write this, it only seems fitting because he has given his time and effort to so many causes.

After joining Boothbay Harbor Police Department from Lewiston PD and opening a bed and breakfast in East Boothbay with his wife, Marti Booth, Brown has helped bring notice to, done fundraising for, and been involved with causes of various types. I will probably forget some here but many know he is always looking to help boost community togetherness.

On this next to last installment of 2025's five good things that happened in or near Wiscasset, we start with a November classic, one to always be thankful for: People voted. Area residents, on Election Day or by absentee ballot, did their part in deciding issues state and local.

And of course, you can thank a veteran for our being able to vote. Veterans Day observances in Wiscasset, Woolwich and elsewhere in the region honored those who have served. From the pledge of allegiance, to the playing of "Reveille" and placing of wreaths, these ceremonies are some of the most important things that

Thanksgiving is the most American of all our holidays.

How did you celebrate it? Did you share a meal with your family? Did you eat too much?

In the name of transparency, I confess I did, muttering yes when they offered me a piece of yummy apple pie and another of pumpkin, along with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Mea culpa.

After I finished my Friday chores, I drove to the edge of Boothbay to check in with her nibs, Ms. Pigette, who holds up a mailbox beside Route 27, the road off the peninsula. When I got out of the car, she waved me away.

“I am busy. Go away,” she said as she buried

A few weeks ago, a friend was describing his day spent stacking wood at his community’s wood bank. He stated, “Even though the weather was still warm, winter’s chill would be here soon.” His town was ready to ensure the resources were in place to help their fellow Mainers stay warm, secure and connected. 

Maine is fortunate to have a network of volunteer-led wood banks. Local wood banks offer resources to those experiencing a heating emergency and strive to build community resiliency and connections through neighbors helping neighbors. Community wood banks are supported by the Maine Wood

It seems to me that our local cormorant population has packed up and headed elsewhere. Elsewhere, I suspect, is someplace warmer than Maine. Even southern Maine may not be far enough.

These critters have always fascinated me, especially when they hang out on a float or piling or mooring ball. I always thought they had a sort of prehistoric look to them, similar to the pterodactyl, I think that’s the correct reference, especially when seen out of the water with their wings spread, drying their feathers. Of course, flatlander that I am, I had no idea what the reason for this was. I figured they

Either thing we mention here might also make it into next edition's planned list of five good things that happened in or near Wiscasset in November. But these are so good, the extra recognition is well deserved.

The first is Help Yourself Shelf's continuing of its yearly effort to help ensure a food-filled Thanksgiving, just as that St. Philip's Church-based pantry also helps keep the food coming the rest of the year. How can we say enough about the dedication the volunteers show year in and year out? This Thanksgiving and every week, for all your efforts, thank you.

And how about what Lincoln

Music is wonderful.

No matter where you go in the world, music is part of the journey. It connects culture and supports regional history. Music is as much of a cultural identity as the very people it accompanies.

Growing up with music was a big part of my life and the lives of our family. There was always music coming from the coffin-sized Zenith stereo, with pockets packed full of record albums. I suspect the music helped our mother survive four children and a house full of activities. Mother was from a large musical family which consisted of teachers, musicians and singers. All of

Thanksgiving.

It is a national holiday. A day we take off work to do what? To sit around a table with family and friends to eat too much turkey and stuffing and cranberry jelly and green bean casserole topped off with pumpkin pie? To ramble on with relatives and friends we see too seldom and catch up on the news of the family we love? To try to tiptoe around the toxic political issues of the day that could surround our pleasant family gathering with a black cloud?

Let the Old Scribbler make a suggestion. In my living room is a low bench on which sits a large black screen. It is a TV set that