Those of us who love birds and nature, and who recognize that the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, and the clean water we need, are only possible because of nature, are always more than a little perplexed by the fact that government budgets never provide more than a minuscule token toward nature conservation and protection.

We’ll leave that conundrum for social scientists and politicians to explain.

Meanwhile, it’s already a given that, literally, only a tiny fraction of a penny of your tax dollars goes to programs that help the birds you love and that help keep the world healthy. On

Next week, during our 63d edition of Windjammer Days, one of America's historic sailing vessels will cross our harbor. But this one will not be ferrying happy tourists.

She is the Niagara, a two-masted, 110-foot-long brig, square-rigged warship. On that day, Niagara is scheduled to sail about 300 yards from her harbor mooring to the Bristol Marine shipyard. Once hauled, she will begin a year-long, $5 million rebuild.

It will be the fourth rebuild for a vessel that once battled and bested the British not far from a Lake Erie Island called Put-In-Bay. That fight was on Sept. 10, 1813.

It was

Last week’s story about my memory and lost items has yielded some fascinating responses. I guess I’m not the only person with this unique assortment of tendencies. One reaction in particular was so wonderful that I wanted to share before launching into a new tale. 

My wife and I got pretty jammed up with our “To Do” list the other day and decided to stop by Dunton’s Doghouse for dinner. While there I bumped into one of  my favorite local humans, Richard Hallinan. We chatted a bit to catch up, then Richard proceeded to tell me that he’d gotten a good chuckle reading about my exceptional memory

Summer is here again with beautiful weather, stunning views, and the great outdoors all around us. But if you're looking for something a little more social, the Community Center is a great place to relax, connect, and meet new people. For visitors, it’s a chance to get to know our locals, make friends, and create lasting memories.

Our regular daily games continue each week, offering fun, laughter, and friendly competition. Whether you're a regular or new to the group, there's always a seat for you at the table!

We’re looking to bring people together through new ideas—do you enjoy arts and

Surprising no one, it rained on Saturday, but today the sun is shining, the breeze waves the wildflowers and the boughs of the trees, gently and calmly upon the island, one of the many reasons to make a life here. Some of you will know me, many will not, but it is my hope that by bringing this column back we can once again highlight all that bonds us together as the Southport community. As the decision to do so just firmly took place last evening, after a call to the former First Lady of the column, Leigh Sherrill, I have only a few items to share, but I wanted to introduce a system for the

Dear Editor:

As a mother, I see what’s at stake — not just for my child, but for the future of our towns.

When school budgets are voted down, when we talk about closing or consolidating schools, what message are we sending? That our children aren’t worth the investment? That families don’t belong here? Because that’s exactly how it feels.

Our kids are still recovering from the pandemic — academically, emotionally, and socially. The disruption was deep, and its effects are still with them. They need more support, not less. And yet, at the very moment they need us most, we’re pulling back.

I’ve

Dear Editor:

Setting the entire nation alight.

All part of the fundamental transformation of America. Both George Soros and Barack Obama are laughing at us right now. Bought and paid for insurrectionists fit into the Karl Marx label of “useful idiots.”

There is one political party in this country devoted to destruction and mayhem. They have no mind, they have no heart, they have no soul.

They are not, nor deserve, to be Americans.

Dave Gregg

Southport

Our Lions group met last week for our last meeting before summer break. We celebrated with pizza (thank you House of Pizza) and stories about our outgoing King Lion Jay Andrews.  Lion Jay has been King Lion for four years. During those years he provided the club with many a delicious meal and guidance and direction to carry on what Lions do. Lion Glenn Tilton will fill those King Lion shoes starting July 1.

We're a small group but have hopes of increasing membership. If you have an interest in serving your community and working with members who believe in the Lions motto "WE SERVE" then please

The First Friday season opener was a low key event for most, but not all, of the 10 participating galleries June 6: Boothbay Region Art Foundation, Studio 53, Joy to the Wind, Ae Ceramics/Home, Gleason Fine Art and Black River Gallery in Boothbay Harbor, aka those within walking distance! It’s been quite some time, but there are two “drive to” galleries in East Boothbay: Kerr + Jones and, new to the region, East Boothbay Trading Co. Also on the driving route are new additions Mitchell & Co. and (Rick) Dickinson Fine Art.

My first stop was East Boothbay Trading Co. This was Laura and Tony de

Each year, Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor stands as a proud celebration of our maritime heritage -- a time when windjammers, old and new (well sort of) fill the harbor, downtown streets come alive with parades and music, and our coastal traditions take center stage. But this year, the festival holds special meaning for those of us who’ve worn a uniform: the 2025 Windjammer Days is dedicated to honoring the United States Coast Guard. 

For veterans across our community, especially those who served in the USCG or alongside them, this focus feels both personal and powerful. The Coast Guard

A sliver of sun warms the porch and boats are starting to appear in the harbor as an early summer weekend unfolds at Blue Moon Cafe. It’s my favorite time of year to wake up in time for breakfast on the porch. In a few short weeks there will be a line out the door by seven, but in early June the pace at Blue Moon is slower. Regulars linger over blueberry pancakes and a copy of the Boothbay Register. There’s room for a dog to nap underfoot. And until the summer season hits in earnest, proprietors Fred Munro and Stephanie Conzelman have time to enjoy a cup of coffee, catching up with customers

Join us for a community Dutch treat lunch on Wednesday, June 18, at noon at Tugboat Restaurant! Enjoy good food, great company, and meaningful conversation with fellow community members. We'll meet at the Community Center parking lot at 11:45 a.m. and carpool to the restaurant for anyone who wants to join. RSVP to Betsy at 207-633-9876. 

Join Us for a Special Presentation on Artificial Intelligence! Bethany will be at the Community Center on Friday, June 20 at 11 a.m. to give a presentation on AI—what it is, how it’s being used today, and what it means for our future.  

Come hang out with the

It’s a simple call that’s hard to ignore—a single, loud “wheeep,” or sometimes a burry “reeep.” The sound itself seems confident, brash, maybe a little raucous.

Which is why, when you search for the bird making the sound and have trouble actually seeing it, you may feel pretty frustrated. One reason that the bird making that boisterous sound—the great crested flycatcher—is hard to spot is because it is a species that prefers to stay generally within the interior of the deciduous trees and shrubs it inhabits.

But, the great crested is a flycatcher after all, so eventually one will sit out

If it's Saturday on the Midcoast, it might just rain again. That's quite a streak we are on.

If you're reading this the Thursday of our week 24 print edition, Wiscasset's Class of 2025 members have been graduates a full week. We wish them joy, peace, adventure and good decision-making. And no matter when or where anyone reading this did or did not graduate, may we repeat here new Wiscasset graduate Ismael Martinez' advice to his classmates to know they can fall back on someone, and not to isolate themselves. Words to remember.

If it's June, we are getting Strawberry Festival announcements. St

The fun has just begun. The region has graduated its high school seniors and the ceremonies were a delight to behold. Boothbay’s 114th annual Grand March is a beautiful tradition which will hopefully go on, and on, and on! Congratulations to the Wolverines and Seahawks who received diplomas last week. May you have great memories of your time at WMHS and BRHS, respectively, and be successful and happy in your future endeavors.

And good luck to our area eighth graders who move on to high school after this week. Grades nine through 12 will pass by quicker than you think but the memories gained

Back in the day, Darrell Martinie, “The Cosmic Muffin” (for those of us with a more outer space orientation) would provide astrological information on, yes, wait for it, WBLM radio. His presentation was always an event with a legendary signoff: "It’s a wise person who rules the stars,it’s a fool who’s ruled by them. Over and out.” For what it's worth, Mr. Martinie provided some obtuse suggestions regarding how things might go, given particular extraterrestrial alignment. It was a glimpse. A small segment of what could be in store for us at any given moment. And when Mercury was in retrograde

The other day we celebrated a key battle in a great conflict. No, I am not referring to Godzilla v. King Kong, although that might be fun to watch. And I am not thinking about the latest national political cage match, POTUS v. Musk.

No, last week we marked the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the massive Allied invasion of Normandy that was the beginning of the end of the Nazi occupation of Europe. This year, this annual milestone was skipped by most American national leaders, except for the SecDef, who began the day doing PT with Army Rangers on Omaha Beach where an estimated 2,400 Americans were

Dear Editor:

Since 1976, the Maine Legislature has been centrally managing our economy, as the wealth divide has continually expanded. Economic growth is encouraged (subsidized) at the top but penalized at the roots.

This is no more apparent than in the affordable housing system, wherein the development corporation owns the land, rationalized as a means to retain the land for affordable housing, as the system caps the income of the inhabitants to keep them needing affordable housing. When the terms of the deed expire and affordable housing provisions no longer apply, the development might

Dear Editor:

Throughout history, authoritarian regimes have feared an educated and informed public. From slaveholders banning literacy to dictators burning books and silencing the arts, the aim has always been the same: control not just actions, but thoughts. Sadly, we are seeing echoes of this in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to rewrite our nation’s history.

Trump’s recent attack on the Smithsonian Institution is part of a broader campaign to undermine five pillars of democratic thought: education, science, the media, the arts, and historical truth. His proposed executive order

Dear Editor:

One might get the impression from the fascist quarters that our universities are hotbeds of antisemitism. Certainly there are people who truly exhibit racial hatred, but is that what’s driving the protests against genocide?

In an Orwellian twisting of words, fascists are attempting to change the meaning of anti-sematism from a general bigotry against people of the Jewish race and culture to a broader criticism of Zionism or actions taken by the Israeli government.

This shift in definition is an attempt to deplatform people and organizations who express honest humanitarian concerns