Sure, in this latest installment in the still-fresh 2025 series, we could list just four good things, because February is so short, and I had a staycation in there. But this is about Wiscasset and its neighbor towns, so five will be easy, made tough only by limiting it to five. 

Here we go.

Let's get Wormfest in there. The second annual (yay!) Wormfest is not until May 31, but the thoroughly Wiscasset event with the irresistible name broke new ground in February with the opening of applications for its scholarships. As cool as the event that makes the scholarships possible, they are not limited to college use. As Jane Carpenter reports this week about the applications' recent opening, these scholarships can also help graduating seniors entering the workforce. A thoroughly 2025 way of thinking, hatched (worms come out of eggs, ew) as the first Wormfest was planned in 2024.

The other February four start with Wiscasset Rod and Gun Club's fishing derby for kids. It was a success again this year, with, as you can see from all the pictures in print and online, lots of smiling faces. Our thanks to Tim Soule for getting us all the who's and other details!

Three to go: Following the closing of a food pantry in Westport Island, Westport Island Town Clerk April Thibodeau in February let residents there know St. Philip’s Episcopal Church's Help Yourself Shelf, at that Hodge Street, Wiscasset church, is open Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and offers food and household goods. Thibodeau's February island update read, "If you need a ride or can't get out to pick up food, please contact: Susan Gallagher at (207) 350-2038, Chelsea Eyre at (617) 592-9543, or Judy Pagon at (609) 703-4790."

Number four is Wiscasset schools' continuing to do placed-based learning in Alna. As with Wiscasset, Alna and history go together. And thanks to school department press releases, we are reading and seeing all about the learning and experiences.

Fifth and final for February is the effort Wiscasset officials made to maximize public input on a state bill to name the Route One railroad crossing for James Weldon Johnson. The poet-diplomat-civil rights advocate died at the crossing in 1938 and opinions on whether and how to honor him in Wiscasset have been mixed over the years. The early input ran largely in favor of this latest proposal, but the board went on to set the March 5 public hearing to gather any more comments before selectmen consider whether or not to sign a letter of support for the bill.

March gives us 31 days to work with for the next five good things. Sneek preview: One is bound to be spring! Go away, winter.