Coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic — whatever term you use — is the story of the year, and perhaps the century, due to its impact on society. Since the beginning of the year, the world has battled this deadly virus and, despite public precautions and governmental health mandates, the fight rages on. As of Jan. 1, according to the World Health Organization at covid.who.int, 1,808,041 people worldwide had died from the virus, including 335,789 in the U.S. and, according to state data, 351 in Maine. Lincoln County has been one of Maine’s most fortunate counties as far as the number of cases (308) and deaths (two).

Wearing masks, social distancing and washing/sanitizing your hands have been the order of the day for over nine months and counting. Some good news came in late December with the approval and administering of two types of vaccines, but the supply is not meeting the demand fast enough.

The worldwide economic impact has been immense, with people put out of work and businesses being forced to close. People who rent have been facing eviction, and food shortages remain constant. There have been federal and state stimulus funds distributed during this desperate time, but how far that money will go toward keeping businesses open is anyone’s guess.

Locally, many events were canceled, which made the summer and fall tourist season hard on the businesses dependent on those dollars. Some of the popular events that did not happen were the Boothbay region’s Memorial Day parade, Lobster Boat Races, Windjammer Days, Rotary Auction, Home and Garden Tour, Harbor Fest, Boothbay Charities Classic, Fall Foliage Festival (the host site, Boothbay Railway Village, shut down its operation for the summer), Halloween parade and Festival of Trees. In the Wiscasset area, the Fourth of July parade and festivities, Summerfest, Pumpkinfest, Strawberry Festival, Garden Club of Wiscasset’s plant sale, Wiscasset Art Walk, Westport Island Road Race and Sheepscot River Race and more were canceled.

Other events were altered or created, so communities could still honor veterans, light a holiday tree, bless the fleet, dress up for Halloween, view Gardens Aglow, or gather socially, at a distance. Churches canceled services or moved them online, then back to in-person and some, wholly online again as Maine’s COVID-19 cases surged.

Schools went to remote learning for three-plus months to finish the 2019-2020 school year and, while most schools opened to in-school learning in September, a number of schools have had cases since then and have at times returned to virtual instruction. Most spring and fall sports were canceled, and traditional graduation ceremonies were modified. Wiscasset’s moved to Wiscasset Speedway. Wiscasset Municipal Airport hosted graduation for Morse High School in Bath.

Weddings, family and class reunions, church suppers, fire department fundraisers, indoor and outdoor concerts — you name it—were canceled. Nonprofits depending on contributions and fundraisers were not spared from the economic impact.

Area residents found ways to help one another through the pandemic, making masks, ringing bells for solidarity and hope, and holding drive-by birthday celebrations. Town meetings were postponed, truncated, held outside or with doors open for ventilation, or by referendum. And selectmen and other boards met via Zoom, You Tube and UberConference.

Other news of 2020

The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District held several meetings on a master plan regarding the future of area schools.

Wiscasset EMS Director Dennis Simmons became town manager in July. John O’Connell had resigned.

Discussion on replacing Boothbay Harbor’s footbridge continued, with the curved designs of the proposed bridge rebuffed by the public.

A town meeting in September fixed Wiscasset’s budget ballot vote that raised no money for the Parks and Recreation Department. Town officials said it was a printing company’s error.

The Boothbay region mourned the death of Boothbay fisherman Chris Pinkham, 44, who died in a boating accident off Portland harbor in January.

Alna officials and some residents spent many nights in Zoom meetings over Jeff Spinney’s shoreland proposals. One landed in mediation; the planning board passed another.

I.J. Pinkham, boys varsity basketball coach at Boothbay Region High School, announced his retirement after 44 years. He is the winningest boys coach in Maine, amassing 659 victories.

Westport Island cut the ribbon on its much anticipated history center at Wright House in October. The first exhibit was  “Westport Island in Times of Pandemic, Epidemics & Outbreaks.”

The Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper became one publication in April.

A longtime Dresden official, past administrative assistant Trudy Foss, announced in February she was resigning as selectman because she was moving to Richmond.

Toby LeConte, special education teacher in the Boothbay region, retired after 45 years.

Woolwich voters in November agreed to buy a lot off George Wright Road as a possible Route 1 access point, depending largely on the state’s plans for George Wright Road where it meets Route 1 near the dike.

The new Thompsons Bridge on Southport was completed and opened in July.

Wiscasset’s Grace Moclair and Edgecomb junior firefighter Ryan Potter drew praise from family, officials and their boss, Monkey C Monkey Do owner Roland Lacombe, July 1 for their help rescuing a woman having a medical emergency up on the course of the Bath Road business.

Ocean Point Colony Trust celebrated the opening of its new casino and recreation facility on July 4.

St. Andrews Village celebrated its 20^th year in business.

Burnt Island Light Station’s renovations were completed in time for its 200^th anniversary in 2021.

Boothbay Green closed after nearly 20 years in operation as housing for the elderly. A staffing shortage and budget shortfalls were the reasons for the closure.

Clifford Park received a $250,000 grant and matching funds from Paul Coulombe for park renovations and expansion.