Dear Editor:

These days, instead of saying "I want to thank so and so for something" people call it "a shout out."

I'd like to give a shout out to all the Central Maine Power crews, town police, fire department, volunteers, and especially, electrician extraordinaire Robin Reed; not to mention the Flagship Motel who helped me out at 5 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, and Gary Arsenault, who worked on the other units.

Our Mill Cove condo home was hit with a huge power surge the night of the Thanksgiving snowstorm. Luckily I was up watching all the repair going on down the road. When the power came back on, an outlet burst into flames from the surge.

After putting the fire out and calling 911, folks arrived instantly. Thank you to Fire Chief Nick Upham and his men and to Robin who spent a good part of Thanksgiving Day helping me sort things out and get my unit up and running.

I've been in town since 1969, and was clergy at St. Columba's, so I know pretty well how amazing everyone is about helping each other, but there's nothing like a snowstorm on a holiday and the possibility of losing one's house to bring that reality home.

We are so very grateful. Thank you to everyone, and holiday blessings to all.

Suzanne Colburn, Karen Pritchard and Julie Degenhard

Boothbay Harbor