Dear Editor:

The annual Christmas community dinner held at the American Legion hall served approximately 135 people on Christmas day.  Despite snow-covered roads, many enjoyed the free meal and festive environment, with most people staying an hour or more appreciating the company of friends or new acquaintances. Numerous individuals commented on the excellent quality of the food and the smiles of those who served them. Ham, turkey, pork, and beef were available choices, along with all the “fixings,” topped off with many pie choices, punch and coffee.

Thank you to all those who donated and/or

We wish everyone a wonderful 2026! Looking for good company and a warm welcome these cold winter days? Stop by the Community Center any weekday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for puzzles, games, coffee, tea, and sweet treats! Bring your ideas, share a few laughs, and help us enjoy our snacks – without overindulging! We love welcoming new faces and hope to see you soon.  

SOUP! Yes, we'll have another of our popular community soup lunches on Jan. 14. Stop by to enjoy free soup and breads from our great cooks. Soup's on at 11:30 a.m. and continues to the last drop.  

Also on our upcoming schedule are: 

If your New Year’s resolutions include finding a new job, work-from-home opportunities may sound appealing. While many remote positions are legitimate, some aren’t what they appear to be. Criminals often pose as legitimate employers on job boards, social media, or send unsolicited texts, promising easy money, flexible hours, and a quick hiring process. 

What they’re really after is  personal information or our  money by asking  to pay upfront for “training,” purchase expensive equipment, or provide sensitive details—such as your Social Security number—as part of the application. 

Be cautious

The Barn had barely closed a few weeks ago, when folks started asking us how soon pickups would begin in the spring. It’s nice to be missed.

And it’s a great opportunity to explain how the Barn evolved. To do that, we need to go back in time to 1958, when the Boothbay Center PTA began Lobster Time, an opportunity to purchase a lobster roll and support schools. At some point the PTA asked the Rotary Club to take over the event, and gradually, the lobsters were augmented by a flea market and informal auction organized by Brud Pierce, Boothbay Harbor’s immortal Hot Dog King. (If you don’t

This enterprise of citing five good things that happened in or near Wiscasset, each month of 2025, has been a good experience, hopefully for you also. Will we go for six a month in 2026? Undecided!

So let's wrap up this year on the final five high notes, or a final five; for, as we have said before, it is not hard to come up with five a month in and around this town.

December's first one stems from that September experience that has to be one of the most incredible things that happened in Maine or the nation this year: Wiscasset Police Officer Jonathan Barnes, as you have hopefully heard or

It’s almost over … 2025. Hope you got more done than I did this year. Not that I had a whole big list of things to accomplish but it’s always a bit disappointing when you reach the last calendar page and you look back to the things not done.

I know my wife is still waiting for some needed repairs to be done on the house. I know I should have not put on more weight. I know that I didn’t get out on the water again this summer … etc., etc.

But I did have fun, and time with family was most important and accomplished. A trip to Omaha to visit our son and daughter-in-law for a week was one of the

Last week was a tough week, locally, nationally and internationally.  An awful lot going on, much of it sad, heavy stuff.  

Locally, we had some difficult weather that was very anticipated as storminess tracked  up from the south and in from the west, switching gears from deep cold to 50F, rain and strong winds, then back again as a cold front worked in. The coldest December in decades! Not as cold as the record setting December of 1989 which jarred us statewide with an average temperature of just 5F. Jeeez!  Glad I don’t remember that. My personal thermostat has had a real difficult time

If you are like the rest of us, your phone and your TV are filled with ads suggesting you purchase this gadget, gizmo, or whatever.

In the words of Tom Lehrer: “Angels we have heard on high, tell us to go out and buy.” It is the Christmas season, and, once again, we are bombarded with ads suggesting that if you don’t use your credit card or dig into the family mattress for the hidden cash, you are a grinch-like, hateful, un-American wretch.

But, and you knew there was going to be a “but,” is that how we ought to celebrate this season of all seasons?

Once upon a time, if you believe in the

Happy New Year everyone!

Did you know that our wonderful volunteers have driven their neighbors more than 5,000 miles this year? Through our People Helping People program those who need rides are taken to medical appointments, grocery shopping and other errands. We are always in need of drivers so if you have a few hours every now and then to help out, 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.

 •

It’s that special time of year again, full of magical anticipation, wondrous excitement, and pure-hearted thankfulness. We are, of course, talking about Christmas Bird Count season, otherwise known as the Birder’s Holiday.

Christmas Bird Counts are an official early winter bird survey overseen by the National Audubon Society that have been taking place for over a hundred years. Each Christmas Bird Count (or CBC, for short) is a tally of all the birds within a designated 15-mile-diameter circle on a single day. That day must fall between mid-December and early January. The National Audubon

Twenty-seven bakers were inspired to enter this year’s Gingerbread Spectacular held at the Opera House for 19 years now. Their designs always charm, amaze and delight us all leaving us to wonder how did they do that? What went on in those kitchens?

Well, that’s exactly what I asked Eni DeLisle and Hilary Allen who constructed the fabulous Harbor Theater in gingerbread, including an audience of wee gingers watching “White Christmas!” Recently, we met at the theater to look back at their experience – and their were some surprises.

Eni was in the food industry most of her life. She’d made

Dear Editor:

Trump Derangement Syndrome indeed! Finally we have a diagnosis for the president’s recent hateful utterances. Unfortunately TDS may also be prevalent among the 70 million who voted for him and we can only hope that common decency is the cure.

David Eifler

Berkeley, California

and Boothbay Harbor

Dear Editor:

They can’t handle the truth. Finally, a president proud be an American.

He hit the nail on the head the other night, especially calling for, even demanding, we all stop, look and listen, to be grateful. The horrendous scandal in Minnesota simply mirrors what is happening now in Maine.

For a country built on legal immigration, we sure are not living up to our creed. Maybe, we have it too good here, too comfortable perhaps.

“…to the alien who comes here intending to become a citizen should be helped in every way to advance himself, should be removed from every possible disadvantage

Dear Editor:

Like Cassandra, the mythological princess blessed with the gift of true prophecy but doomed never to be believed, prominent conservatives have tied to warn us of the danger lurking within an American-built Trojan Horse.

Andrew Sullivan, author of The Conservative Soul: "In terms of our liberal democracy and constitutional order ... [Trump] is an extinction-level event.” (2016)

Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump’s first Secretary of State: “Trump is a [expletive deleted] moron.” (2017)

George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States: “Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a

While we are in the midst of the holiday season, I hope you can enjoy time with family and friends celebrating Christmas, New Year’s and other festivities in the coming weeks.

This year, I know the holidays may be particularly challenging for many in our community. The rising cost of living continues to strain family budgets, making it harder for working families to make ends meet – let alone get ahead. Many are also having a hard time affording groceries and putting food on the table. Across the state, 192,000 Mainers are struggling with food insecurity, including over 50,000 children. 

In

A Christmas present for the military and veterans 

It looks like the military and veterans did receive a Christmas present from Congress this year. By a strong 77 - 20 vote, Congress passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). While it still requires the president’s signature, that will likely have occurred by the time this is published. 

So, what was left under the Christmas tree? 

First, the NDAA provides a 3.8% pay increase for active-duty service members and military retirees.

Second, Maine benefits directly. Bath Iron Works (BIW) receives $450 million to strengthen and

On the brink of a Clipper, heavy winds, rains, and high temperatures, we will see how things go. Christmas is coming this week, all of us are at various stages of preparedness, but in our hearts we know it will come one way or another, and the significance of the day is not diminished by whatever might be lacking, those worries are ours alone, for if this time of year is your story, you know it was humble beginnings, so let the light and love in and let all else fall to the wayside. Enjoy family, friends, community, worship, traditions, that is what matters during this season. 

Last week I

People were dressed so strangely at last week’s Christmas party you would be excused if you thought we were honoring another holiday – you know, the one that comes in late October. 

But people took the “bling” and “ugly Christmas sweater” clothing suggestions seriously. So seriously, in fact, that by popular acclaim we had to have two costume winners – Vicki Haugen and Barbara Thornton. They each received a prize, but this correspondent wasn’t in on the secret, so I can’t share just how fabulous their prizes were. 

Then we moved on to the Yankee swap. A small explanation is probably in order

How many Polar Plungers would a Penguin Polar Plunge if a Penguin Polar Plunger could plunge? 

You can find out on New Year’s Day at 11 a.m. at the beautiful Hendrick’s Head Beach in Southport! 

This year, the Boothbay Region YMCA Polar Plunge team is making a few exciting changes to invite more fun, more families, and more community support—all for a great cause. 

First, we’re thrilled to announce a new plunging venue at Hendrick’s Head Beach. Larry Brown and friends will be setting up a kiddie pool right on the sand, where participants can join in for a spirited round of the Hokey Pokey and