The temperature was in the minus digits when I let the dog out this Tuesday at 6 a.m. Too cold, too early in the season – and it’s not officially winter yet (Dec. 21 is the Winter Solstice).

But after successfully starting my car remotely, I started thinking positively about the weather. I climbed into my semi-warm car with the heated steering wheel and heated seats and drove to work on sanded and ice-free roads. Much better than earlier this week when a big tree fell on wires in our driveway and my wife and I couldn’t drive past the scene. After calling Central Maine Power about the

Is it time to ramp up the annual Christmas chores, you know, cookies and goodies and presents and cards? Or are you going to send out a bunch of emails and texts to a group and call it good?

Maybe you plan to call up Amazon and exercise your credit card, or better yet, head down to the village and buy something in person from one of our local merchants.

No matter which door you choose, any one of them would be a better choice than sitting in the old chair by the stove and wondering what the dickens is going on in what passes for government these days in the good old US of A.

Are you confused

What a wonderfully inspiring community event! The Southport Town Hall was packed with every variety of islander in support of the first ever Southport Central School’s homegrown feast. The initial lunch crowd trickled in for early grub but then the second wave of guests arrived ready to be served by school students and their band of merry Parent Teacher and community helpers. It was a food fest of unrivaled proportions.

The 21 students from Southport Central School got to see the fruits of their labors enjoyed by approximately 100 guests. Foods that had been planted, nurtured and harvested

The next meeting of the genealogy group will be  in January.

Our Dec. 11 trip to Kennebunkport has been canceled due to lack of participation.

Did you know that the donation of your time is valuable too? We are always looking for drivers for our People Helping People program. If you can drive someone occasionally, please give us a call at 633-9876.

And here are some other ways you can help your neighbors: 

• Help us fill the wagon. Stop by and donate canned goods and other non-perishable items to be delivered to the Community Fridge by our volunteers. 

 • Drop off clean, warm winter coats of

Dear Editor:

Recently it was announced in this paper that Boothbay Region High School technology educator Chip Schwehm is soon to retire. Schwehm is the school’s STEAM teacher and holds a special industrial arts and technology certificate that allows him to run the shop and technical education program.

Dear Editor:

The two largest land wars in Europe since 1939 were started by dictators who disingenuously claimed the need to expand their empires at the expense of independent nations on their borders.

The parallels between Hitler’s ‘Lebensraum’ (‘Living Space’) campaign against Poland and Putin’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine are instructive. History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes; let’s hope we learn these hard truths before it is too late.

A discharged German corporal rises to power in the democratic Weimar Republic, ten years after the defeat of the Second German Empire in

Dear Editor:

Enemy of the state, hero to the free Mainer. All hale Steve Robinson and the Maine Wire. Robin Hood of modern exposé journalists.

Corruption under every rock. Fighting the forces of the enemy of the people. You will never read about these topics on any other news source: Green Energy scams, woke academia, welfare fraud, the ineligible stealing mediocre, sorely failing elementary education, our power of the vote.

Online truth, stranded in a sea of propaganda-ridden press outlets. Very few real journalists with guts enough to stand-up, boldly against status-quo democrats and an an

Dear Editor:

I must raise my voice in shock and anger over the behavior of our military in the recent strikes against small boats in the Caribbean. It is sickening and shameful, morally abhorrent and completely illegal.

We are not "at war" with Venezuela. No evidence has been presented to show that these boats and the people aboard pose any more of a threat to our country than the drug cartels anywhere else or the powerful men who have been recently pardoned for their actual crimes.

I am incredulous that our administration has not acted vigorously to challenge this action to prevent further

Dear Editor:

Before we congratulate the Dells for their gift of $6.25 billion to children’s “Trump accounts,” let’s examine the societal implications. Yes, superficially it means some kids are getting a $250 boost to their educational savings.

But American society is becoming one that the rich elite are supplanting the roles of government, community and family in shaping our norms. So should we be thankful that this billionaire benefactor for taking on a role (that of savings) traditionally the purview of parents?

Unlike most wage earners, the Dells are taxed differently. The tax breaks that

Dear Editor:

As I sweep the dismal news events of the past week out of my mind so I can get some sleep, I’m assailed by one film clip that won’t leave me alone. It features Donald Trump casually remarking on the Saudis’ hideous murder and dismemberment of a respected journalist, saying “The man had a lot of enemies, a lot of people didn’t like him, and things happen.”

Really? Does Trump hear his own voice? A lot of people think he’s unhinged -- an apt description of one who seems to function in a zone remote from any solid support -- and I’m one of those who agree that we’re hearing a madman

Dear Editor:

We are a very "dog friendly" town with water bowls out wherever your eye roams. Shop owners may even hand out dog treats! With that being said … (although not a dog owner myself) what about creating a "dog park?” Many of my dog owning friends have voiced the need over the years and I personally feel it's long overdue. Any thoughts?

Carrie Langlois

Boothbay Harbor

Ahhh, if only Petula Clark could have seen Boothbay Harbor when she sang "Downtown." And, this time of the year, the lights really are much brighter there, er, here!

Driving around to see holiday nights downtown and through our neighborhoods was always a family Christmas ritual when my daughters were young. I still go solo - hey, it only happens once a year, right?

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens takes holiday lighting to cosmic heights each year drawing thousands of visitors to our region. Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper readers no doubt saw ace photographer Steve Edward's photos of

The days of this month seem to be passing quickly, but each has had something special, like an advent calendar with a small surprise.  We got the second snow, this one lingers as the temperatures remain chilly, and the sun is not with us often, or for long, but there are things happening that are filled with the light and warmth of the season, so let us focus our attention there. 

The library is now decorated thanks to the successful Deck The Halls event last Thursday. This Thursday, the 11th, from 6 to 8 p.m., you can enjoy those festive surroundings, and get your wrapping done at the first

The Army–Navy Game: A Rivalry Rooted in Service, Honor, and Football Greatness 

You’ll have to indulge me this week. The Army–Navy Game is here again, and while many around town may not follow it closely, those of us who came out of Annapolis or West Point, USNA Class of 1966 in my case, we are honor bound to spread the word. I don’t watch much football anymore, but this game is different.  It is in our USNA alumni DNA, dare I say West Pointers too, to get excited!   

Few American sporting events carry the emotional weight or tradition of the Army - Navy Game. Since its first kickoff in 1890

It is sure to be another fantastic evening at the BICA hall on Dec. 17. This is a night you won’t want to miss as the trustees and officers do most of the work with things getting started at 5:30. Everyone is invited to bring a side dish or dessert to share, and let’s make it a true feast! Coffee and water will be provided, but feel free to bring your beverage of choice to keep the good times rolling! 

Bill B., Bill H., Mel, Les, Jeffory and Alan did an outstanding job hosting the November potluck. Brian provided an extra special treat with hot dogs from his hot dog cooker. That was a wow

I never win the weekly 50/50 raffle.  Never, never, never.  And I always support the raffle – frugally.  Partly I support it frugally because history shows I am never the winner; partly I do so frugally because I visit a lot of clubs and I’d have to sign up with Gambler’s Anonymous if I supported each one as liberally as some people I know at the club – people with long arms who go for an arm’s length of raffle tickets, while I’m sidelined with the three-tickets-for- $2 deal. 

All this is preparatory to say that I won! I won! I won the big $15 prize at last week’s meeting.  I suspect

With holiday shopping—and shipping—comes the risk of package theft. Thieves — often called “Porch Pirates” — steal millions of packages from American doorsteps each year, totaling billions of dollars in merchandise. You can help protect your deliveries with a few simple steps.

Opt into delivery alerts, allowing you to track your package and know exactly when items arrive. If you won’t be home, ask a trusted person to pick it up, or instruct the delivery person to place it out of sight.

Consider requesting a signature upon delivery to ensure your package is handed to someone directly. You can

Like many people, we traveled to spend time with family for the Thanksgiving holiday. In our case, the travel was a car ride to New York City to be with our son and his girlfriend. We were among millions who visit the millions in Manhattan this time of year, many for the famous parade and holiday kickoff events and shopping, in addition to being with family.

We don’t love the traffic but after we get the car parked and out of mind until departure, we love the hustle and bustle on the streets, contrasted with the coziness of being together in a small apartment. The subway ride to Chelsea

On this next to last installment of 2025's five good things that happened in or near Wiscasset, we start with a November classic, one to always be thankful for: People voted. Area residents, on Election Day or by absentee ballot, did their part in deciding issues state and local.

And of course, you can thank a veteran for our being able to vote. Veterans Day observances in Wiscasset, Woolwich and elsewhere in the region honored those who have served. From the pledge of allegiance, to the playing of "Reveille" and placing of wreaths, these ceremonies are some of the most important things that

I’m just gonna come out and say it – Larry Brown has been a great addition to our community over the many years and, because it is Giving Tuesday while I write this, it only seems fitting because he has given his time and effort to so many causes.

After joining Boothbay Harbor Police Department from Lewiston PD and opening a bed and breakfast in East Boothbay with his wife, Marti Booth, Brown has helped bring notice to, done fundraising for, and been involved with causes of various types. I will probably forget some here but many know he is always looking to help boost community togetherness.