Last week, it was the Wiscasset area’s turn for whale sightings, if  someone was fortunate enough, and apparently many were, based on the photos and videos we received via email and Facebook when we asked Aug. 24 after hearing of the sightings. 

Our News Contributor Phil Di Vece, always in the know when something breaks, went to look and the whale evaded his journalist’s eye and Di Vece’s usual good luck, which is really not luck but his skill and readiness. Instead, this whale would have to come to us through all of you. We thank you so much. And thanks for your patience as I try to catch up on adding images online. 

I might well have been caught up on this, or closer to it, had it not been the same news cycle as two other things that happened near the waterfront: a passenger train’s Wiscasset debut, the same morning a truck crashed into the deck of a downtown food stand that draws people from around the world, including famous people, and continual accolades from foodie media. Red’s Eats kept on trucking, opening as usual. Impressive. 

And then there was perhaps the most important Wiscasset story of the week. It has gotten far fewer reads online than the ones with whale, rail, or Red’s in the headline. This one had no truck crash, no tail splash and no comfortable blue seats from which to watch the scenery: We were sharing locals’ personal or work stories, or personal and work stories, ahead of Healthy Lincoln County’s 716 Candles event at Wiscasset Art Walk Thursday, Aug. 31, International Overdose Awareness Day. We hope you can check out the story, on page 4 and at wiscassetnewspaper.com 

Week’s positive parting thought: If you saw the majestic mammal(s) in the harbor, may the image stay in your mind, and may the world continue getting its  climate change response together for all mammals’ sake, including ours, and for all other beings, no matter how many legs, or none.