The early bird may get the worms, but they may also get an unexpected dump of snow that makes the worms hard to find. Although the snow has been relatively light (at least closer to the coast…
Columns
Joe's Journal
The cell phone on the table buzzed and, stupidly, I picked it up. Of course, it was herself, Ms.Pigette, and her ever-changing and sometimes interesting collection of insults.
Where have…
Cribbage results for Tuesday, March 18 with 23 players were: First, Ron Bodge, 842. Second: Roger Downs, 832. Third: Bob Gilman, 827. High hand: Roger Downs, 22. Low score: Mary Ellen Anderson,…
Fraud reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with a staggering $12.5 billion lost, a shocking increase of 25% over 2023. The number of reports remained stable from 2023 to 2024, but the percentage…
Community of Hope
Domestic abuse is a complex public health issue requiring a coordinated community response. A microcosm of the larger community, the work environment can also be a place where survivors who might…
A Bird's Tale
Some of you may remember that we have written fondly in the past about what we call a "pop-up pond" that appears after rain in a…
Rebuilding from last winter’s storms and ensuring communities are prepared for future severe weather are priorities for both me and my colleagues this year.…
All too often, victims of fraud are repeatedly deceived by the same criminals regarding the same scheme. Or, once victimized, some are that much more vulnerable to new scams.
If your loved…
Column
Is there a chance you’ve forgotten about an old bank account? Maybe you moved and never got your security deposit back? Or maybe there's an old COVID-19 relief check that you never received. If so…
A Bird's Tale
A birding friend of ours who travels the world to see and photograph birds sent us a photo of an African bird—a little bee-eater, a handsome bird with a yellow-belly and an emerald green back—…
Understanding the ways criminals seek to steal money can help you stay a step ahead of scams…
The next public supper will be April 2. The meal consists of French onion soup, salad, rolls, baked stuffed chicken breast, mashed potato/gravy, green…
WHERE IT'S AT
From time immemorial love has been expressed through the spoken word, poems, ballads, songs, films, art, signage and greeting cards. Love can be the “Elusive Butterfly” Bob Lind sang about in 1965…
A Bird's Tale
Most of us who live in the northern part of the globe, even those of us who love winter sports and activities, can’t help but look forward to the return of spring. It’s just part of being…
Joe's Journal
We have been bombarded on all sides with analysis, opinion, and outright propaganda stemming from the recent strange televised encounter between POTUS, VPOTUS and Ukrainian President Volodymyr…
'Round Town
Back in the early ’70s, I was teaching in a fairly large public high school in New Jersey, just outside New York City. The school had a growing new population from diverse backgrounds, notably…
The next public supper will be March 19. The meal will consist of vegetable soup, salad, Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage, potato, carrots, and key lime cake. The cost is $10 for members…
Winter is still here and many of us would do just about anything to find some warm weather. Enter the cruise scam. Many of these trips to nowhere literally pop up online as a “free” incentive…
Joe's Journal
Well, pilgrims, not much happened last week, except for the lovely community supper at the East Boothbay Methodist Church.
Not much, unless you count the “great TV” performance where it…
The sighting of a golden eagle has always been a prize for a Maine birder. There are some of these birds in the state every winter but only occasionally is an individual found that is enjoyed…
The next public supper will be Wednesday, March 19. The meal will consist of vegetable soup, salad, Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage, potato, carrots, and key…
I have photographed with folks at Bigelow Lab from the very early days with the Yentsch founders.
Over the years, from time to time, I would be called upon to record new developments…
A Bird's Tale
The bird and its band proved a perplexing mystery.
In October 2024, a bird that is exceptionally rare in Maine—a common gull—was spotted at the golf course at the Samoset Resort in…
Joe's Journal
On Saturday, as I rested my back after chipping the ice from under the garage door, my cell phone rang a familiar tune. I didn’t answer, as I recognized the caller as Ms. Pigette, the lovely icon…
Dealing with fraud in the aftermath can be fraught – not knowing where or if you should report (you should – it’s a crime), feelings of shame (even though it’s not your fault – blame the…
Salt ’n Spar
If you look upriver, a mile or so from the Wiscasset waterfront, two features stand out, one is the high hill known as Clark’s Point, the other is an iron railroad bridge. Both have…
The next public supper will be Wednesday, March 5. The meal consists offish…
Two Spoons: On Eating in Midcoast Maine
There’s a poem by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo — “Perhaps the World Ends Here.” “The world begins at a kitchen table,” the poet writes.
In the middle of a winter storm in early February, as I…
A Bird's Tale
As we write this on Feb. 17, the Great Backyard Bird Count is in its final hours. We’ve participated and seen some wonderful birds, though like many of you, we were confined to counting from…
Joe's Journal
Jimmy Breslin is giggling in his grave as the New York City mayor’s alleged attempt to rake in some cash and goodies in return for ignoring a building code violation has morphed into a national…
The next public supper will be Feb. 19. The meal consists of minestrone soup, salad, garlic bread, chicken Parmesan, linguini, and lemon gelatin cake. The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-…
Community of Hope
The proposed freeze on funding for over 2,600 federal grant programs has created a reality of uncertainty and turmoil for many nonprofits. This freeze has…
The holidays have passed, and for many, that means a stack of gift cards just waiting to be used. But before you check your balances online, beware of fake gift card balance-checking sites…
A Bird's Tale
A colleague at the Natural Resources Council of…
Where It's At
How do you "winter?" The cold, snowy season inspires many of us to don skates, skis, or snowshoes; while others prefer pulling on snow boots for walks around their favorite outdoor places. Like…
Joe's Journal
No, I am not talking about the season, the weather, or the "whatever you want to call it" in Washington.
No, the new sports season began on Sunday after the 2024-2025 Super Bowl. Today, all…
The next public supper will be Feb. 19. The meal consists of minestrone soup, salad, garlic bread, chicken Parmesan, linguini, and lemon gelatin cake. The cost is $10 for…
In recent years, cryptocurrency scams have surged, with billions stolen annually. One of the biggest drivers of this trend? Romance scams. By building trust and forging deep emotional…
A Bird's Tale
A few days ago, on one of the bitterly cold days we have recently endured, we looked out of the kitchen window to see a bird flit past the window and into the open garage. It was likely a…
Meanwhile ... back in the studio
I visited with John and Lynne at their gallery and home, Joy to the Wind, recently. Once up in their gallery space, it was clear that John was immersed in a new medium and its application to…
Joe's Journal
We are in the third week of the second term of the presidency of the new POTUS. If his idea was to flood the zone, to roll out so many orders that no one, neither his friends nor his skeptics,…
Salt ’n Spar
In just a few months the town of Woolwich will hold its 265th annual town meeting. That’s a pretty remarkable feat…
