hindsight: n. 1. the ability to understand, after something has happened, what should have been done or what caused the event.

First of all, we congratulate Earl Brewer on his multiple wins in the recent Fishin’ for Fashion event held at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Secondly, we apologize to Earl for the problems we caused because his photo did not appear on the front page of the June 20 issue – when it was revealed to a friend of his before the issue hit the press that it would – or that it wasn’t included with the article about the event.

If anyone thinks that we – the staff of the Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper – did not run Earl’s photo in the June 20 issue because he is gay, they would be wrong – wrong like why it happened.

I don’t think it is necessary to explain the whole scenario of why or how it happened. We know that Earl knows and others do too but we now have the hindsight (see dictionary meaning above) to never let something like this embarrassing situation happen again. Naming names to blame, I feel, is not necessary in this issue. I think the hole has been dug and it doesn’t need to be dug any deeper.

It caused a Facebook stir and the newspaper has been bad-mouthed on social media and in the public. As the person with the longest tenure with this newspaper, I have dealt with other issues that I still think about and learned from. I am totally ashamed of what happened in this case and will never forget it – as others on the staff will hopefully do.

We have apologized in person, through a Facebook posting and, as others have called for, I hope this serves as our public apology to Earl and others hurt by our mistakes.