A lot of words come to mind for winter. For me, “celebrate” is not one. But every year, Wiscasset celebrates Winterfest and makes the coldest, darkest time of year fun, for a couple of days. And even I must admit, Winterfest is better with snow.

But white or ashen brown, the best part of Winterfest is right in the middle of the fun: the u, aka you. You can’t have the word or the fun without it, and the more people who turn out, the more fun everyone has. Get there if you can.

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When is a surprise less so? When it is well-earned. When Wiscasset Middle High School’s girls soccer team won the sportsmanship award Phil Di Vece reports on this week, it was an honor for the student-athletes and their families, the school and the town. If it takes a village to raise a child, Maine’s prettiest village knows how to raise a kind one.

It’s nice to remember this as the basketball season winds down. One loss after the next, the Wolverines stuck with it instead of bailing; and the recent junior varsity jamboree Wiscasset hosted, and the town’s adult league, all show basketball still has a home in Wiscasset. Even a season in the L column as the Wolverines have had in hoops is still a win for the community. And the two c’s in soccer, translated to “see’s,” can refer to the students seeing good examples of sportsmanship and emulating them; and, in turn, setting that example for the next WMHS classes’ student-athletes to see. 

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Week’s positive parting thought: With the past week’s new snow, one of the snowmen in our Jan. 9 edition was back at the corner of Hooper and Federal streets. And what a great place for a Wiscasset Frosty to appear and reappear, opposite Wiscasset Elementary School.