Around here, Joe Gelarden, whose “Ramblings from an old scribbler” columns enrich our weekly print edition and wiscassetnewspaper.com and boothbayregister.com, said: “You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.” In news, at least as much today as ever, that means once something is out there, it is, in one form or another, including social media, out there.

But with icy conditions sometimes still present these days in addition to, or instead of, this early Midcoast mud season, it is a good time to adapt the expression to something else you cannot do: Un-slip. So from a region that gets some of winter’s toughest weather, Aroostook County, we share this from Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency’s website. It credited these tips to the National Safety Council:

“Plan to give yourself extra time for walking, do not assume a clear path. Wear shoes or boots that provide traction. Wear flat-soled shoes and avoid shoes with heels. Footwear made of rubber provides better traction than plastic and leather soles. You can also purchase ice cleats or crampons for even more stability on ice.

“Move slowly and use special care when entering and exiting vehicles as well as buildings and climbing up or walking downstairs. Use handrails or your car for support and try to keep your center of gravity over your support leg. Keep your hands out of your pockets and remove snow or water from shoes or boots when entering buildings.

“Stay alert and walk on designated walkways as much as possible. Don’t take shortcuts over snow piles and look ahead when you walk. Avoid texting while walking ...”

There are a couple more if you go to the tips on Aroostook County’s EMA website. The texting one is a good note to part on here, as falling due to texting didn’t use to be a thing. But it is now. So do not text and walk. That is good advice year round.

Week’s positive parting thought: Wiscasset’s light is dimmer without Clara Wentworth. Her wonderful attitude and effort for Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion and anything that honored veterans will be missed. Wreath-layings at the veterans wall at Wiscasset’s town office will not feel quite the same without her taking part, but then the loss of anyone regularly a part of those leaves a void, and the rest carry on.

I always felt, you can’t say Clara Wentworth without feeling positive. So let’s still do both.