The Community Center is excited to announce a field trip to the Frances Perkins National Monument, located at 478 River Rd, Newcastle, on Sept. 18. The group will depart from the Community Center at 10 a.m. Join us as we explore the extraordinary life and contributions of Frances Perkins, the first woman appointed to a U.S. presidential cabinet. She served as the fourth U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945—the longest tenure in the position’s history. Spots are limited—reserve yours today by calling the Community Center at (207) 633-9876.

Due to health, safety, and hygiene concerns, we

As we slide into August, the bird soundscape here in Maine undergoes a major change compared to May and June when the morning chorus of bird songs can seem deafening. Now there are periods of almost silence. True, the cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and other sound-producing insects are reaching the height of their contributions to our natural soundscape. But their mostly higher frequencies are more of a sizzle in the ear rather than the full-throated, all-encompassing caroling of five robins, three cardinals, two red-eyed vireos, a song sparrow, and a house finch—those are some of the

Domestic abuse, sometimes called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), goes hand in hand with food insecurity. People are considered food insecure whenever they have limited access to safe, healthy food. Although food insecurity is not a cause of abuse, each can intensify the negative effects of the other. For example, domestic abuse can make survivors and their families more vulnerable to food insecurity when abusers strategically withhold money or other resources in order to maintain control. They may limit access to groceries or spend household funds on things that benefit only themselves

Last week, I said social media helped spread the word when traffic lights in Wiscasset were stuck on red. And I gave a somewhat vague clue to this week's somewhat related topic that stems from a post found when searching Facebook under "lights stuck on red Wiscasset." I said the post was something we could "pond-er" this week and it involved a place far outside New England. Did you figure it out?

The pond part is from the expression "across the pond," for across the Atlantic Ocean to England, and the far outside New England part also alluded to England. So how does Great Britain relate to

“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” – Henry David Thoreau

Hiking remains a popular outdoor activity and those of us fortunate enough to make our home in the Boothbay/Wiscasset area have many land trusts and preserves to explore that are suitable for all ages. Two small, but enjoyable places to visit are Colby Preserve and Singing Meadows. Located within five minutes of each other on opposite sides of Edgecomb,  these open areas are managed by Boothbay Region Land Trust.

Let's start with a walk around Singing Meadows located a short distance from Edgecomb Community

Getting ready for our second fifty. 

Turning 50 is a milestone birthday; a time to celebrateand reflect. Debra Whitman, PhD and EVP and Chief Public Policy Officer for AARP used her own 50th birthday to research aging in American society. Her book, "The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond" explores her questions related to longevity, health, work life, happiness, finances, housing, and the end of life. 

Each chapter focuses on one topic.You could read the entire book or select a few chapters for the most personally relevant information. After reading the book

The Boothbay region’s laugh meter dropped to near zero last week with the passing of two men who incidentally were named after their fathers and who kept us all laughing during their time here.

Dave Parkhurst Jr. and Sereno Brown Jr. were two of the most humorous men I knew. Both of their obituaries make mention of their quick wit and their penchant for telling funny stories anywhere and everywhere.

And they weren’t just funny – they were kind, loved their family and helped make this community stronger by their volunteerism and work.

I knew Dave the longest and we kind of ran in the same

The other day, the online news feed mentioned a story from the U.K. suggesting a pair of royals got in a scuffle over something.

In case you’re wondering, I couldn't care less if Prince Harry took a swing at his brother, Prince William. Did you ever take a swing at your brother? After all, isn’t that what brothers do? Did one of the princes get a drop of royal blood on his royal upper lip? Who cares.

I don’t care about J Lo’s latest squeeze, either. Nor do I care about antics of the rest of the Hollywood acting club. And, I couldn't care less about snarky internet wise cracks and fake AI posts

From my earliest years here in Maine, Monhegan has held an almost mystical fascination for me and ultimately my family. Every summer or fall someone in our circle of friends, members of our family or visiting guests makes a restorative visit to the island. It’s an almost imperative day trip, overnight, or longer stay.

My visits in the 1970s mixed well with the island residents. There were a lot of fishing families then, reminding me in a funny way of people I had known as a younger person in the work a day world of coal. Something about the manual labor set that shares a common thread

Our sailors had a great week seven at the Boothbay Sea and Science Center. During the morning our Mizzen sailors spent a lot of time on our Turnabout sailboats and rowboats while splitting their time on land working on their sailing skills. We gave out many “skill beads” last week, as many sailors worked hard to demonstrate their knowledge in knot tying, rigging, de-rigging, tacking, gybing, and sail trim. Our weather on Friday was beautiful, and our youngest sailors got to spend their whole morning on the water sailing in Turnabout sailboats while our more experienced Mizzens spent some time

Saturday’s 12th annual Rock the Boat 5K provided a balance of camaraderie and multi-generational community spirit. There were several course records broken and many pies given out to winners of each category. Special thanks to Gerry Gamage and Adam Harkins and the Southport Fire Department for keeping runners safe and traffic moving. We could not have done this without the support of so many volunteers -- we appreciate the pie bakers, the watermelon prep, course marshals and to all the volunteers who made the event a success. The overall winner was Sam Curtiss with a time of 18:15. He was

The annual meetings of the Sprucewold Association (SA) and the Linekin Heights Association (LHA) are behind us! So much work and preparation and all went well. The Sprucewold Beach Club annual meeting will be on Saturday, Aug. 9 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Hall at 8:30 a.m. Please send a proxy if you are unable to attend.

Both the SA and LHA welcomed Kent Nelson, Forest Ranger Specialist and Spruce Budworm RFA Coordinator, Maine State Forest Service. Kent updated the groups on how the Firewise Program will change going forward. No more chipping days but there is a grant opportunity. Firewise co

 Changes: The annual summer changeover has happened for many cottages with sadness for the July folks leaving July 31 and relief for the August folks arriving the next day.  

July Events Continued:  Milli McClennan and Moritz (Mo) Grell of Frankfurt, Germany and with son, Milo McClennan present, celebrated their 2024 marriage with a brunch for family on 7/20 at the McClennan/Phillips cottage. Milo celebrated his 1st birthday on the 29th with family and friends. Welcome Mo and Milo! 

Thank you to the Millers for hosting a well-attended Bingo crowd at the Casino on the 23rd. Three days later an

August already!  I’ve still got batches of fledgling juncos at the bird feeder, eating like starved teenagers and the day lilies are still popping out. But every once in a while a yellow leaf drops on the lawn, a reminder to enjoy every day of this month.  

Since it’s my column still,  I’ll start off by directing your attention to this week’s Register where Emily Whiting’s interview of chef Carl Dooley appears. As some of you know, Carl decided to become a chef after his kitchen experiences here in Boothbay Harbor many years ago. Emily has written a wonderful piece that gets to the genesis of

The Boothbay Region Garden Club will be hosting the second of two evening meetings on Wednesday, Aug. 13. If you have been interested in learning more about your local Garden Club but can'tattend daytime meetings, this is your chance to come and find out what we are all about! Refreshments will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. and the membership meeting will begin at 6, which will include a brief overview of the many ways to get involved in the club. 

At 6:30, Jason White, general manager at Plants Unlimited in Rockport,will present on All Things Hydrangea!  Hydrangea cultivars from Plants

Finally we have some beautiful weather; I do hope that it continues for our August vacationers.

Last week was another busy one of activities with many Ocean Pointers to thank.

Lisa Slayton presented a very enlightening and informative talk on her book, "Life In Flux,” last Tuesday night, thank you. If you have not had the opportunity to read the book I highly recommend that you do so; you can purchase your signed copy from Lisa.

Thank you to the Raymond Family for hosting the kid’s yard games last Wednesday evening with a great turnout. 

Despite the weather all of the kids thoroughly enjoyed

Dear Editor:

Our government, both state and federal, has been corrupt and acting like spoiled children for a long time.

Elite Democrats have spread so many lies. Republicans have also. Trump is exposing lies. He is hated because of this. They have been trying to destroy him and they bash each other like two little kids. Career politicians waste peoples tax dollars on their own agendas.

Past administration let in illegal criminals. Drugs and sex traffickers are rampant. They tried to control the people with mandatory shots, shutting down churches, schools, businesses, etc., yet liquor stores

Dear Editor:

Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the community for the incredible kindness and support we received following the passing of our beloved family member, George McEvoy.

We were deeply moved by the outpouring of sympathy, generosity, and care shown in so many ways — from kind words and heartfelt cards to meals, visits, and quiet acts of support. In particular, we want to thank everyone who took part in the memorial boat parade. Seeing the boats gathered in tribute was incredibly moving, and it meant more to us than we can fully express. It was a beautiful and

Dear Editor:

As of August 2025, Knickerbocker Lake is down 11 inches since June—measured directly at the Boothbay Region Water District pump station. Aquatic growth is heavier than ever, and August is typically our driest month. Concerned residents living on Knickerbocker Pond are raising a critical issue: how much water do we actually have?

Local organizations such as the Clean Water Initiative, Boothbay Region Land Trust, and Bigelow Labs have worked hard to protect water quality. But water quantity—how much water is being withdrawn, how much remains, and whether current amount is

Dear Editor:

Not just a cadre within the extreme Right of the Republican Party (recall “Dr.” David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the of the Ku Klux Klan, Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, who endorsed Trump’s three candidacies), it is also the acronym for a key tenet of the Nazi Party: Kirke, Kuchen, und Kinder (Church, Kitchen, and Children).

Hitler’s anti-immigrant, racially-pure Christian nationalism imposed subordinate roles on women within the Reich. Their lives were to be grounded in traditional "family values," valorizing above all the birth and nurturing of