This enterprise of citing five good things that happened in or near Wiscasset, each month of 2025, has been a good experience, hopefully for you also. Will we go for six a month in 2026? Undecided!

So let's wrap up this year on the final five high notes, or a final five; for, as we have said before, it is not hard to come up with five a month in and around this town.

December's first one stems from that September experience that has to be one of the most incredible things that happened in Maine or the nation this year: Wiscasset Police Officer Jonathan Barnes, as you have hopefully heard or read by now, and the Narcan he administered, saved Wiscasset Police Chief Lawrence Hesseltine after the chief's accidental exposure to suspected fentanyl.

Besides underscoring that Barnes is one of Wiscasset's assets, this event also brought added attention to the risk illegal drugs' presence poses locally to public safety workers and anyone else; and the importance of Narcan like it was for the chief that day. Dec. 16, Barnes got a plaque and applause from a grateful community.

Also this month, Alna eyed devices to keep beavers from clogging culverts, and to let the beavers live. No votes have been taken, but kudos to Third Selectman Coreysha Stone for exploring it and helping the town learn about it as a potential option.

Speed round: Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest had another wonderful year; Westport Island Town Clerk reported the Westport Island Woodchucks have "a decent pile of seasoned firewood available for those in need"; and rounding out December's five good things and '25's 60 of them, the Wiscasset Sno-Goers presented selectmen with a wreath and calendar in honor of the town's support.