I'd like to start this week by congratulating Sarah Sherman McGrail on the publishing of her biographies of local Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, "Looking Back, Volumes I and II." An immense amount of work — eight years’ worth — went into this project. Her work ethic and patriotic attributes should be cloned. Be sure to pick up a copy to read about what our relatives, friends and neighbors had to endure during these war years. And be sure to stop by the Southport Town Hall on Saturday, May 28 at 1 p.m. to congratulate Sarah.

Secondly, the smell of freshly mowed lawns permeated the air this week, as the sun finally appeared and the grass is growing taller by the minute. Nice to see after a week of gray, damp weather. A sign of warmer days ahead and outside activities. Hitting the beach will hopefully come soon.

Thirdly, congratulations to the top ten students of the Boothbay Region High School class of 2016: valedictorian Gretchen Elder, salutatorian Hannah Morley — and, in alphabetical order by last name (not class rank) — Anna Baumm, Samantha Carter, Mackenzie Colby, Marinel Demmons, Gabrielle Ericson-Wenners, Angela Machon, Lisa Pawlowski and Gabriel Purin. Good luck in your future endeavors and remember to come back home to the Boothbay region after you see what the world has to offer.