Only one story on the Boothbay roundabout, "Roundabout proposal presentation released," with 5,200-plus views in March, cracked the top 20 most viewed news stories on our website in 2016. (It came in at number 13.) But considering the dozens of stories, letters and commentaries written about the topic over the following seven-plus months, the combined viewing total makes it the top news topic of the year. The top nine stories on the roundabout had over 2,000 views. Also, of the hundreds of letters to the editor published on our website since 2012, 10 of the 20 most viewed letters were related to the roundabout project. And, as most people know, the project was approved by voters in November and work on the roundabout will begin in 2017.

The most viewed story of 2016, with 28,000-plus views, was when the names of the victims of the double fatal fire in Boothbay in October were released. The 20th most viewed story, with 4,200-plus views, was when we announced the cause of that fire. And columnist Joe Gelarden (Joe's Journal) wrote a late October column, "A tough day for our volunteers," about the firefighters who battled the fatal fire, which landed in the number 16 spot with 4,800-plus views.

Two crime stories held down the second and third spots on our top 20 list — "Deputy sheriff arrested," published in June, garnered 19,000-plus views, and "Two arrested in Boothbay Harbor robbery," published in September had 10,000-plus views. Another crime story making the list was "Two arrested in Boothbay Harbor car thefts (August, #11, 5,800-plus views).

Business news stories were also hot topics. When "Carriage House reborn" was published in April, it registered 9,400-plus views and comes in at number four on our list. In late August, the announcement that the Thistle Inn was closing indefinitely brought 7,700-plus views to our website and lands at number eight on our list. Almost as popular as the Thistle story was the feature on the Slick's twins, Andy Bielli and identical twin sister Adele Bielli, which had 7,700-plus views and is number nine on the list. Coming in at number 12, with 5,600-plus views, was the September story, "Abbotts vacate property as part of settlement," regarding their lawsuit brought against Boothbay Harbor Country Club owner Paul Coulombe. Two other business stories broke the top 20: "New owners renovating Linekin Bay resort" (January, #15, 4,800-plus views) and "It's official: They're the Thistle!" (September, #17, 4,800-plus views).

Accidents also cracked the top 20 list. Coming in at #5, with 9,300-plus views, was the July story, "Boothbay Harbor boat accident sends three to hospital." No one got hurt in the next accident, also in July, but "Waterfront parking," about a car that rolled into the inner harbor near Grover's Hardware, drew 8,800-plus views and was number six on the list. At number 10, with 6,400-plus views, was the story of the fatal accident in November, "Route One, Damariscotta crash claims Boothbay man."

One of the early leaders in 2016 website viewing (#7 with 7,800-plus views) was the sad story in January of the "Fishermen's Festival being discontinued," regarding a Boothbay Harbor event which started in 1974.

Two other fires were also among the top 20 most viewed stories of 2016: the November fire off Back River Road ("Boothbay battles house fire, no injuries") is number 14 on the list with 5,100-plus views, and "Fire being fought in Boothbay destroys shed and camper; house spared" in September is number 18 with 4,700-plus views.

And last but not least — and complete with tell-tale photos — was the 19th most viewed story (February, 4,700-plus views) and one that readers had been waiting to read for over two years: "F/V Westward scuttled," about the fishing boat which was moored in Boothbay Harbor too long and "whose long career focused on catching fish, will now be attracting them. Fuller Marine Services reports the vessel was towed out of Boothbay Harbor, where it has languished for the past few years, and sunk in 100 fathoms of water." The Westward now lies at 43^o 19.174’ N and 069^o 41.822’ W, approximately 32 nautical miles away from Boothbay Harbor.