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…
Columns
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…
If we really want to keep ourselves - and our money - safe from fraud, we must all come to terms with one thing: our personal information is likely already out there. In a time where data…
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-…
A Bird's Tale
Sure, they’re common. Some would even say they’re a water-loving version of a pigeon, the way they rush in to feed in droves for handouts of stale bread. Still, on a cold winter day against a…
Joe's Journal
My phone buzzed the other day. “Unknown caller-not in your contact list,” it said.
So, like a dummy, I picked up and got an earful. Of course, it was Ms. Pigette, the icon standing in the…
House District 47
As a new member of the Maine House of Representatives, I am deeply honored to serve on behalf of the people of Alna, Jefferson, Whitefield and Wiscasset. I’ve lived in this area my…
Two Spoons: On Eating in Midcoast Maine
In the middle of winter, it is pitch dark when Jan Goranson wakes at five to begin her day. In the kitchen of the Dresden farmhouse that Jan’s family has called home for more than 60 years, she…
Receiving a call from an unknown number may seem harmless, but it could be the start a scam. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive you into revealing personal…
A Bird's Tale
What bird is more iconic here in Maine than the common loon? In summer, there’s nothing more stirring than hearing the wailing cry of a loon echoing across the still waters of a Maine lake on…
Joe's Journal
On Monday, Donald John Trump, 78, became the 47th president of the United States.
If the pundits are right, and they probably are in this case, he has a fat laundry list of executive orders…
The next public supper will be Jan. 22. The meal consists of corn chowder, salad, biscuits, baked ham, mac & cheese, peas, and…
Getting tickets to top concerts is tough – don’t let scammers make it harder. With most concert venues switching to digital tickets only and concert demand through the roof, criminals are…
A Bird's Tale
We are fortunate here in Maine that winter brings an abundance of waterfowl, including some species that can’t be seen in many other states. Common eiders make their downy nests on the ground…
Where It's At
Photographer Michael Giglia’s image of an osprey lifting up off the water carrying an alewife in each talon was creating quite a stir last week. I went to see the show at Southport Memorial…
Joe's Journal
Next week, the 45th president of the United States will become the 47th. Our nation wishes him well. Me too.
But as he moves back into the White House, he will find an 800-pound gorilla…
With temperatures dropping in many states, scammers are turning up the heat on their deceptive tactics. Each winter, criminals pose as utility company representatives, claiming a missed payment…
A Bird's Tale
Depending on your point of view, the number of new books on birds published each year is either a fabulous blessing or a confusing babble. Maybe a little of both.
We, personally, love to…
Joe's Journal
As I write this missive, the talking heads warn us a massive storm is set to wallop much of the nation. For once, it looks like the winter snow wallop will spend much of her time south of us. So…
Meanwhile ... back in the studio
I still remember the first time I saw one of Sandra Chase Morrissey’s paintings. I was at one of Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s annual shows maybe five years ago? What initially attracted me to…
The next public supper will be Jan. 8. The menu will be carrot soup, salad, herb bread, lemon chicken, rice pilaf, broccoli and cheese and cream puffs with chocolate sauce. The cost is $10…
Over one-third of U.S. adults who have bought something through an ad on their social media feed report being defrauded, according to a new AARP survey. Don’t let scammers ad-vertise their way…
A Bird's Tale
This column arrived too late for print in the Jan. 2 issue.
It all started with a discussion of harlequin ducks.
With a few days off at the holidays, we were thinking…
Joe's Journal
This year, I joined much of America in a mini migration seeking Christmas joy.
The journey to Indianapolis was relatively painless unless you enjoy spending four hours in an aluminum tube…
'Round Town
“Moosey Brick,” a new fiction novel written by East Boothbay resident Matt Hurley, is available at Sherman’s bookstore and at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. It is Matt’s first book, largely…
The next public supper will be Jan. 8. The menu will be carrot soup, salad, herb bread, lemon chicken, rice pilaf, broccoli and cheese and cream puffs with chocolate sauce. The cost is $10 for…
Overwhelmed by holiday bills? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to face your debt alone either. The New Year is the perfect time to take control of your finances — but beware of criminal…
Where It's At
We’ve just celebrated the Winter Solstice/Yule on the 21st…
