As Boothbay Harbor prepares to celebrate the 64th annual Windjammer Days, this year’s theme proudly honors the past, present, and retired members of the United States Navy who have served our nation with dedication and distinction. Throughout the coming weeks, we will feature a series of profiles highlighting local Navy service members—sharing their stories, experiences, and the lasting impact of their service. These articles are a tribute to the men and women whose commitment to duty reflects the maritime heritage at the heart of Windjammer Days and the deep appreciation of our community

For most bird species, the first individual you see is indelibly etched in your memory. You may remember the place, the weather, whether you were hungry or tired, who you were with, even the smells, and the color of the sky.

But if you’ve been a bird watcher for a long time, the memory of the first encounter with certain birds can get a little hazy. For us, that’s the case for the distinctive stubby tail, silvery wingtips, and black head of the black vulture.

It may be because we didn’t see our first black vulture here in Maine where it would have been especially memorable. We are pretty

OK, I am a bit behind the times sometimes.

Thanks to the TV ad I saw recently, I checked out the website, PassItOn.com. It was started 25 years ago by The Foundation for a Better Life. Its website states it was started “to promote positive role models and remind people of the values we all share. We don't sell anything or accept monetary donations. We are not affiliated with any religious group nor do we have any political affiliation (either formally or informally). We exist solely to create & share uplifting messages that hopefully inspire everyone.”

There are many wonderful, uplifting

In the past several years, the village ducks have returned to our pond by now and are happily paddling around quacking as they scurry off to overhanging bushes lining the water. But this year, the pond seems to have a death grip on its ice, some of which may be the result of the deep freezing temperatures of early winter. From the amount of tracks on the snowy areas on the pond, the ducks' absence may be warranted. Seems like all the wildlife has been on high alert looking for food. I think it's been a tough winter for most.

A recent glimmer of hope, however, has been the sightings of robins

On Sunday, the nation’s energy secretary stared out of my TV set and said the Iran war was going forward according to a “meticulous” plan. The Secretary, Chris Wright, said the White House and the Navy had planned for the Iranians to close the Strait of Hormuz. He smiled, said it would soon be open, and all would be well very soon.

About that time, I glanced at my phone and saw that my oil supplier planned to deliver heating oil in the next few days. The last time they visited (in February), my wallet was drained of some $630. Heaven knows what the bill will be this time. I’ll bet a couple

Mah Jong class starts April 2! If you would like to learn how to play this fascinating game, join us on Thursdays at 1 p.m. for classes. Pam Utley will unravel the mysteries of mah jong and share her tips for playing. 

Great reads! Many thanks to everyone who brings us great books - including recent mysteries - to share. Grisham, Connelly, Patterson - we've got them! Come by and wait out the last days of winter with a good book! 

Perfect for Easter baskets - check out our boutique filled with jewelry and other small items, all reasonably priced for you or for a gift. And where else can you

Dear Editor:

How very fortunate we year-rounders are to live in such a supportive, thoughtful community!

Individuals, as well as groups, come together to give our lives some real blessings. We would like to honor three groups that helped get us through this real Maine “wintah” with their Community Lunches.

Alphabetically, Brady's. For five years, under the leadership of that dynamic mother/daughter duo, Momma T and Jen, how generous Jen has been all these years to freely open her impressive establishment so we could come together for a hearty meal, good conversations and a few laughs on every

Dear Editor:

Dear Editor: 

I’m writing to encourage Boothbay Harbor voters to consider writing in Mike Bartles to fill the vacancy on the CSD School Committee. 

Having served on the Southport Central School Committee myself, I understand how important thoughtful, steady leadership is at the local school board level. The decisions made there directly affect students, teachers, families, and the strength of our entire community. School boards benefit from members who listen carefully, respect different viewpoints, and focus on what’s best for students. 

Mike Bartles, a local sailmaker and business owner

Dear Editor:

Candidate Donald Trump promised to end the USA’s ‘forever wars’, especially in the Middle East.  

He has been in office less than 14 months. He has ordered the military into action, entirely without Congressional approval, in the Caribbean, the Pacific, Venezuela, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Nigeria. In the middle of negotiations, with no immediate threat to the USA and no support from allies,he launched a full-scale war of choice in Iran. 

The rationale for taking us to war keeps changing. There is no clear exit plan. We now have 5,000 Marines on their way to the battle

Dear Editor:

Spring is quickly approaching, and I’m proud to say that this past winter has been one of meaningful progress and steady momentum for our shipyard. Despite harsh temperatures and significant snowfall, our team’s dedication and determination have put us in an excellent position as we enter the busiest months of the year.

I’m pleased to report that projects—large and small—are on track for on-time delivery. In this business, that’s something I’m always careful about claiming, but in this case I have great confidence in our team and our ability to finish strong.

In recent years we

Dear Editor:

Wearing an American flag pocket square and sporting 11th-century Crusade and anti-Muslim tattoos, former Fox News host and least-qualified Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth began his tenure by posting real-time, highly classified information about a military operation to the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic. He is now treating us to testosterone-injected, daily announcements about Trump’s “short excursion” / Operation Epic Fury / war of choice against Iran.

To pump the hype, he has posted memes that mix violent video game clips, menacing TV images, vicious NFL hits, and actual

Dear Editor:

It took Trump’s invasion of Iran for me to comprehend why Renee Good and Alex Pretti had to be killed by agents of Trump’s administration.

In an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on Friday, March 13, Trump made clear why Good and Pretti were gunned down. Trump was discussing the fact that the Iranian regime was more entrenched and less likely to fall to street protesters than he previously thought stating, that the Basij militia, a plainclothes force affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, would likely respond violently to any mass protests.

“These

Dear Editor:

Yes, the law requiring voter ID and citizenship is already on the books, and 86% of Americans agree with it, while GOP senators like Thune, Cornyn, McConnell, Tillis, Barrasso, Collins, Murkowski, Graham, Lankford, and Cassidy care more about obsessively opposing everything Trump says and does rather than honoring their oaths by upholding the law.

Based on evidence, the number of illegal votes needed for flipping most elections is in the low thousands, and weeks are needed and provided by post-election day ‘long counts’ to pull off the steals. And so, a well-timed and legally

It is almost 40F, a stunning afternoon, and I will freely admit that writing indoors is not what I want to be doing, despite the fact that I had an amazing walk just about 20 minutes ago, I have heard what tomorrow is to bring, and I want to miss none of today, but the dog is currently tired and resting, so now is a good time. The week had it all, a false spring that brought everyone out of their homes to marvel at the sun and walk anywhere and everywhere; who knew there were so many were here. I rarely see more than one or two others on my walks around the island, but on that day many around

Dear Editor:

This is a wake-up call to the Edgecomb taxpayers! We all value our school and community and we want them to thrive. We need to keep these assets viable and sustainable. However, with the continued trend of increased spending along with financial mismanagement, some changes must occur.

1. Vote down the 17.4% school tax assessment increase in the proposed school budget. This will not close the school but will force the school board to revert to current year’s budget.

2. Elect candidates for the school board and the select board who will introduce new creative ideas and positive

Dear Editor:

Trump is amazing at one singular thing: the con. He convinced many of us that he had working people's interests at heart, wanted to "drain the swamp," and would release all of the Epstein papers. Then we elected him and he gave a trillion-dollar tax break to his uber-rich friends, cut medical and food assistance to the needy, and launched a billion-dollar-a-day war in Iran with no end in sight.  

We’ll pay for this war at the gas pump and with the lives of our kids and grandkids. The only ones who will win in Iran are his buddies Netanyahu - a friend of Trump's in-laws - and

Dear Editor:

We are familiar with the NRA’s central argument against gun control legislation: any abridgment of a right can lead us down the road to a total ban. That is, once a right becomes conditional, it is on its way to becoming a privilege and thus revocable.

So it is with our right to vote and elect a representative government. The so-called SAVE act is a significant curtailment of our voting rights. Among the provisions, the bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, eliminates online and mail-in voter registration and mandates that states verify voter

Dear Editor:

There are about 1,000 full-time residents that are missing their privileges at the "dump." Some feel strongly that their rights have been abrogated. The free-for-the-taking pile made going to the dump an opportunity for a find. There were the usual weed whackers that have to be restrung, appliances that need fuses or plugs, framed pictures, etc.

I know of four "jackpots" from "finds."

An antique dealer opened the back of a picture and found a copy of our Declaration of Independence fell out. It brought $100,000.

A sheaf of old military papers brought $31,000.

An antique Louis

Dear Editor:

Respectfully, we are looking to share some facts and search for a bit of clarity regarding the East Side Waterfront Park.

Approximately six years ago, a park was proposed on the waterfront next to our home. This proposal was sold as tree-lined green space, and our family supported and donated to this great cause.

Fast-forward to today. The developers’ plans for the property have dramatically changed, and we’re hoping folks in town will look at the following facts:

• From Green Space to Commercial Development: The developers’ plans for the property are now anything but green space