Congratulations to the Boothbay Region High School Rotary Interact Club for raising $1,000 for the victims of the mass shooting in Lewiston in late October. It was a great idea to have the popular “Lewiston Strong” wristbands made to sell. And the fundraiser fell together nicely with Lewiston Police Department’s Chief David St. Pierre and Lt. Trevor Campbell accepting to be the grand marshals for the Lighted Fire Truck Parade, where the public presentation recognized the students’ efforts.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce has done a bang-up job organizing and promoting Boothbay Lights events. Watching the Lighted Fire Truck Parade – the largest parade since its inception by Jennie Mitchell four years ago – the traffic in the region on Saturday night reminded me of summer traffic (although Gardens Aglow has a lot to do with it). Boothbay Lights’ big weekend is upon us with the return of Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. at the Whale Park – followed by a meet-and-greet with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Pot Buoy Tree on Pier 1. Also on Dec. 2 is the opening weekend of the North Pole Express at the Railway Village, lots of church fairs, open house at the Boothbay Region Historical Society museum, the Lighted Boat Parade and Sparkle Fireworks. For more information, visit boothbaylights.com

One of our fellow co-workers who likes to ski was excited to learn of the snowstorms which blanketed the Maine mountains recently. Yours truly, and others in the office who don’t ski, etc., were glad the coast has been spared thus far through November. Whether or not it is a sign of global warming, those of us who don’t enjoy a long winter of white will be happy to see as little as possible through April (did I just jinx ourselves?).

Waiting for the Major League Baseball winter meetings to be held since we don’t have a “local” National Football League team to get excited about this season.