Columns

A Bird's Tale
The spring peeper-like song of Swainson's thrush migrating overhead at night are a signature sound of fall in Maine. Photo by Cephas, courtesy of wikimedia commons

Cool mornings, earthy smells of fallen leaves, and those first high, thin clouds that are more common in winter—it’s late fall here in Maine.

On Friday nights,…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

I planned to begin this alleged column this week with some witty banter from Ms. Pigette, the vocal/local candidate for U.S.Senate who does not have a controversial tattoo. Then the fallout from…

'Round Town
Photo by Robert Mitchell

One of the most…

AARP logo

In August, AARP testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to spotlight a growing threat to Americans: fraud carried out by translational organized crime groups. Operating openly…

At the Western Wear Party on Oct. 18 are, from left, Past Commodore Kristen King, Past Commodore Aaron Rugh, Suzanne Rugh and Dan King. Courtesy photo

As the Maine boating season came to an end, the Down East Yacht Club (DEYC) cruised into its 60th year with the ever-popular Haul-Out Party at Blake’s Boat Yard in…

American Legion logo

As we approach the holiday season, the scammers come out in full force — and unfortunately, veterans are among their favorite targets. While these scams…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

Despite the grayness of the day, there is still a wonderous golden glow emitted by the many

Rotary logo

Here we are, in the midst of what is rapidly growing into one of the longest federal government shutdowns in…

A Bird's Tale
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers have been appearing around the authors' neighborhood during this fall migration, though not as many as were counted flying to the mainland from Cousin’s Island in Yarmouth in the fall of 2011 - that total reached 358! (Yellow-bellied sapsucker photo courtesy of Jeff Wells)

The distinctive buzz and tiny, high-note sputters of the juncos are now everywhere when we walk the neighborhood. That and the high “seet” notes of the white-throated…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear.

About 60 years ago, a strange…

'Round Town
Photo by Robert Mitchell

First off, let me…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

We remain in what is termed severe drought. This is brought on by having only about 50% of our normal precipitation,…

Rotary logo

Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy being a member of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club? I travel a lot – and speak a lot – for Rotary, and I do it because I enjoy…

From the Maine Senate
Senator Cameron Reny

If you are unaware of Maine’s shortage of dental health care, then you must be one lucky person! Although our number of dental health professionals is finally beginning…

American Legion banner

Most in our community know that members of American Legion Post 36 are deeply involved in helping homeless veterans and preventing others from becoming homeless. Post…

AARP logo

Nearly all of us use social media to stay connected with friends and family. Unfortunately, scammers use social media to connect with us, too. Before accepting a friend request on your social…

A Bird's Tale
The authors enjoyed looking for birds on the warm, sandy beaches of Florida in October. Courtesy of Reese McAtee.

Soft powder blue skies extend in all directions. The sea is shades of blue as well. Dark steel blue in the distance flecked with lines of white from barely curling wave…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

The other day, we passed an annual milestone. The calendar calls it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, but here in Vacationland, it is the traditional end to the summer season. It is the time…

'Round Town
Photo by Robert Mitchell

A friend from Maryland…

American Legion logo

I have to admit a little prejudice when thinking about writing this article.  As a retired Navy guy, I can’t help but write about Navy events occurring in October…

Two Spoons: On Eating in Midcoast Maine
Sweets on the table at Treats Bakery in Wiscasset. Photograph courtesy of Stacy Linehan

There’s a ribbon of warm light at closing time that catches the long harvest table through the window of Treats Bakery in Wiscasset. It calls to mind a Rembrandt painting. I mention this to…

Shawn Lewin, AARP Maine member

Fraud today is largely run by sophisticated, large-scale operations led by transnational crime groups, stealing an estimated $158 billion from Americans in a single year. This is not just a…

A Bird's Tale
This evening grosbeak was photographed in northern Minnesota. Note the large bill and bright yellow body. Photo courtesy of Lauri Shaull, wikimedia commons

Sometimes we birders can be lulled into thinking that once we’ve figured out that the yellow bird on the backyard feeder is an evening grosbeak, not an American…

'Round Town
Photo by Robert Mitchell

It has been a while…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

Last weekend, Mother Nature blessed us with some of the greatest weather we have had in years, so I went for a drive. The air was cool and crisp, the sky clear and bright, leaves turning, giving…

Community Center logo

We are pleased that starting Monday, Oct. 6 Jane Carpenter joined us as our office manager. Please stop by and say h…

Where It's At
ARTinME 2025 First Place awarded to Helen Matthews' "View" by jurors David Estey and Jaap Helder. Courtesy of Lauren Palmer/BRAF

I walked into Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) last Saturday night for its annual ARTinME opening reception and awards. And, wow. Just wow. I’ll say it now (and probably later as well): This…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

Another week of sun, warm temperatures and fall colors, other than continued concerns about the drought conditions, there is little that one could

One of our resident deer was hit by a car in the early hours of Friday morning near the corner of Crest Avenue and Lobster Cove Road. I don't know how many there were in Sprucewold in total this…

American Legion banner

First, a big thank you to everyone who came out last Saturday on the beautiful fall day to support the Post 36 annual Yard Sale and Craft Show! Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $3,000 -…

Rotary logo

This week our club celebrated Oktoberfest.  There was a beer tasting contest and fun games such as shuffleboard and golf, and the funniest very British game of “Splat…

AARP logo

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – a great time to remind ourselves just how much of our lives take place online and the…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

Time to get scary, pretty, silly, or be someone you have always wanted to be. Wednesday, Oct. 15 will be a very big

Community Center logo

Mark your calendar for Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for our annual Pie Sale. Bakers always needed. Please…

A Bird's Tale
As the authors were standing on a jetty overlooking the Gulf of Maine in Rockport, Massachusetts, they heard a mysterious but familiar call note fly in off the water - a lapland longspur (here the species is shown in breeding plumange). (Photo Wiki Commons: By Ómar Runólfsson - Flickr: Lapland Longspur - Calcarius lapponicus - Sportittlingur, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19955368)

We were standing on top of a tall, hill-like jetty near Rockkport, Massachusetts, gazing out at the Gulf of Maine, when we heard a short rattling call from somewhere…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

How many of you remember radio?

No, not the soothing NPR empathy/classical music kind, the mighty Rock & Roll blasts, country twang, or endless breathless rants from the right or the…

'Round Town
Joe
Photo by Robert Mitchell

Joe Gelarden shared a…

American Legion banner

This past weekend, I had the honor of attending two special ceremonies in the life of the U.S. Navy warship—the USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126). Friday’s…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

Although it’s officially fall, the weather indicates that we are still enjoying summer and I have decided that this is truly “the endless summer.” For those not…

Joyce Bucciantini

As summer blends into…

Where It's At
Diana Kerr introduces artist Matt Barter to the group attending the opening reception of "Oil Paint & Brimstone," a show of Matt and his father, the late Philp Barter's work. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Childhood memories of growing up Down East greatly influence the art of Matt Barter. For Matt, memories are both relived and preserved on canvas and board and through statuary. From crabs being…

Saturday night at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor saw Grammy and CMA award winning artist Kathy Mattea on the stage with her band. It was a great performance and we discovered that one of her…

Drawing by Diane Spofford Randlett

Things are changing, the leaves, the sounds of the animals, day and night, the spiders inside and outside are abundant, flowers fading, some with last bursts of…

AARP logo

October marks the start of Medicare open enrollment, and unfortunately, the peak season for Medicare fraud. From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, eligible beneficiaries can review options and make changes to…

Rotary logo

Sometimes things just don't go according to plan. They work out way much better

Black-capped chickadees are among just a few birds that cache food for later use. Courtesy of Jeff Wells

The late afternoon sun lit up the tops of the trees along the street. Most were still green, but the maple at the corner was already showing bright yellows and reds. A…

'Round Town
Photo by Robert Mitchell

My first encounter with Mr.…

Joe's Journal
Joe Gelarden

Dear Reader,  This notice showed up in my inbox this week. I tried to call Ms. P, but she didn't pick up. I will try to reach her later.

Pigette for Senate…

Where it's at
"Lobster Boat on Deer Isle" by Roy Smith

I've always found Wiscasset’s Maine Art Gallery to be a most charming gallery always exhibiting work that attracts, intrigues, and inspires many a delightful imaginative tales for viewers. It’s…

Community Center logo

A quick reminder, State Representative Holly Stover will be visiting the Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss…