There’s a poem by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo — “Perhaps the World Ends Here.” “The world begins at a kitchen table,” the poet writes.

In the middle of a winter storm in early February, as I sit at my generous kitchen table with a cup of hot tea, the lines of this poem settle silently around me like a blanket of snow, burying immediate concerns under a drift of memory. “The gifts of earth are bought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.”

This house in Maine is the first one I’ve lived in with room for a proper table. I love sitting here with a view of

As we write this on Feb. 17, the Great Backyard Bird Count is in its final hours. We’ve participated and seen some wonderful birds, though like many of you, we were confined to counting from home for part of it because of the snowstorm.

One thing that we found particularly fascinating and enjoyable during our snowbound day at home was how the different species and numbers of birds change throughout the day when you are watching very closely. The close scrutiny of our yard and feeders made us realize that we have as many as five cardinals. Despite the cold, we also noticed that the male

The Boothbay region’s giving community spirit came through once again on Monday as over $4,100 was raised for Robbie and Kristen Campbell at Community Lunch. The couple lost their home to a fire on Feb. 12 and the donations will help them get back on their feet somewhat. As people said, this community cares for those in need. Thanks to everyone who donated and best of luck to the Campbells.

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There are those of us in the office who are not fans of snow and ice and are tired of the constant storms so far in February. We had it nice through late January then … the roofs, walkways

Every once in a while, my brain goes on sabbatical. It seems to have a mind of its own which is a bit unsettling when trying to prepare a regularly scheduled column for the newspaper, among other things. I’m not sure if this is caused by some neurological short circuit or if it has to do with too many other things floating about in my head. Let’s hope it is the latter please. 

It’s sort of like what happens when your vehicle develops a skip. You know, the car goes through its paces on the way to a nice cruising speed when out of nowhere there is a pause without notice. A hiccup. A slight

That was one long and sometimes unusual presidential election season that ended a few months ago, from a change in the Democratic ticket to an assassination attempt on a former president seeking to return. However you voted, if you voted, you as a news consumer and an American may have needed a breather after.

But get back up off the bench; you have had your rest and it is time to think local elections and town meetings. They are headed this way fast. 

Stay up on our reporting and we will as always do our best to keep up with draft proposals and completed proposals on municipal and school

Jimmy Breslin is giggling in his grave as the New York City mayor’s alleged attempt to rake in some cash and goodies in return for ignoring a building code violation has morphed into a national scandal.

The late great NYC newspaper reporter, who told us of goofy tales of gangsters who couldn’t shoot straight and why the Mets couldn’t play baseball, would be in his glory.

Why?

Well, it began in the tradition of NYC politics going back to the last two centuries of corrupt Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed.

Da Mayor, an ex-cop, allegedly tried to inflate his retirement package with some cash ($100

The next public supper will be Feb. 19.  The meal consists of minestrone soup, salad, garlic bread, chicken Parmesan, linguini, and lemon gelatin cake. The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Additional meals may be purchased for take-out at the same cost when reserved. Takeouts should be picked up at 5:45 p.m. For more information or to make a reservation, call 882-8230. Please join us for this delicious meal.

Cribbage for results Tuesday, Feb. 4 with 19 players:

First place: Pam Frenier, 836

Second place: Beverly Blair,  815

Third place: Catherine Rolerson, 809

High Hand: P

Dear Editor:

When it comes to protecting health care for Lincoln County families, our Democratic legislators—Lydia Crafts, Holly Stover, Cameron Reny, Wayne Farrin, and Denise Tepler—have stood strong. They voted to ensure that doctors’ offices stay open, emergency rooms remain staffed, and that children, seniors, and working families don’t lose access to essential care.

But Republicans, including Waldoboro’s Representative Abden Simmons, voted against the funding needed to keep MaineCare afloat. If they get their way, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics across Lincoln County will be

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my frustration with the rising cost of elementary school in our town and the apparent disregard the school board has for taxpayers' concerns. Education is undoubtedly a vital investment, but the financial burden placed on families and homeowners has reached an unsustainable level.

Despite repeated requests for transparency and fiscal responsibility, the school board continues to approve budgets that increase taxes without adequately addressing efficiency or accountability. Many families are struggling with these costs, yet our voices seem to go unheard

Dear Editor:

I grew up in a home, in public schools and in a church learning right from wrong and truth from falsehood. In the years that followed World War II, there was no question that the majority of our country knew and valued the basic tenets of truth and doing the right thing. 

However, if the majority of people in this country believe that Donald Trump tells the truth and promotes the values of democracy, then our homes, our schools and our churches have failed in the education and moral upbringing of the majority of today's American people. 

God help us.

Terry Heller

Wiscasset 

The proposed freeze on funding for over 2,600 federal grant programs has created a reality of uncertainty and turmoil for many nonprofits. This freeze has the potential to greatly disrupt the critical work of many charity organizations resulting in a loss of benefits for many individuals and families in our communities. Some nonprofits are locked out of websites used for filing claims. Others that work on a reimbursement model are working to access funds to cover monies already spent. Most are scrambling to understand the full impact of the freeze and are looking for ways to continue

The holidays have passed, and for many, that means a stack of gift cards just waiting to be used. But before you check your balances online, beware of fake gift card balance-checking sites designed to steal both your post-holiday joy and your money. 

Just because a website to check your gift card balance appears at the top of internet search results does not mean it’s legitimate. Search results can be filled with fraudulent gift card balance-checking sites, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to get their pages to show up at the top of results.   

A safer way to check the balance

A colleague at the Natural Resources Council of Maine headquarters called Allison recently.

An urgent work-related communication?

No, he had seen a flock of plump robins, their deep rust-red breasts gleaming against the white snowy backdrop. They had shown up outside his window at their Augusta office building. “What are robins doing here now?” he asked.

This colleague wouldn’t call himself a birder, but he is one of the more than 100 million people in the U.S. who are interested enough in birds to pay attention to them and know at least some bird species.

Some American robins do

How do you "winter?" The cold, snowy season inspires many of us to don skates, skis, or snowshoes; while others prefer pulling on snow boots for walks around their favorite outdoor places. Like other locations around the world, winter brings a magical Narnia-like feel into our lives … well, maybe not the shoveling!

For others, the winter season is a time to hibernate, immersing themselves in some of those great books they’ve been meaning to read, crafting, planning new gardens, spending time with family and friends, writing, catching up on projects around the house, we've been waiting to find

The idea for Project Graduation began at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School 45 years ago and locally it has been around for over about four decades. The program was started to bring to light the dangers of drinking, drugging and driving, to reduce the number of youth involved in alcohol or other drug-related car accidents. Several OHCHS students were killed in 1979 in accidents, which prompted the program. Visit maine.gov and search for the history of the program.

At Boothbay Region High School, post-graduation Project Graduation trips to various locations have been the norm. However, the

Coming into this week, it seemed we might any day be needing to ask area school superintendents their game plan, given recent news reports of the possible dismantling of the nation's education department. But by press time Tuesday, no such dismantling was occurring, and there is enough real news to track, such as the latest on the different federal funds promised to Wiscasset and in recent weeks either frozen or not, depending on the grant and the latest word received.

Federal funds that help Wiscasset and other U.S. towns can sometimes run six or seven digits and, if you have a sewer plant

No, I am not talking about the season, the weather, or the "whatever you want to call it" in Washington.

No, the new sports season began on Sunday after the 2024-2025 Super Bowl. Today, all the pro football teams are equal. We must wait until next year to learn if our favorite team will be a winner.

This year, I am intrigued by the WNBA. It is gearing up for a new season to take advantage of newfound popularity. Much of the new interest is due to Caitlin Clark, who got the ball rolling. Public interest in her skills drew new TV coverage, and the new TV coverage attracted big crowds and

The next public supper will be Feb. 19. The meal consists of minestrone soup, salad, garlic bread, chicken Parmesan, linguini, and lemon gelatin cake. The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Additional meals may be purchased for take-out at the same cost when reserved. Takeouts should be picked up at 5:45 p.m. For more information or to make a reservation, call 882-8230. Please join us for this delicious meal. 

Cribbage results for Tuesday, Feb. 4 with 19 players: First place: Pam Frenier, 836. Second place: Beverly Blair,  815. Third place: Catherine Rolerson, 809. High Hand: Pam

Please know that I do not judge. I try, as best I can, to not criticize. I know that no one is perfect. Being right all the time is clearly not possible. But, three to five inches, or four to six inches were predicted for our recent snowfall. Without any axes to grind or truths to be altered, the snow pile at the end of our driveway tells a slightly different story. 

For two hours, our Kubota tractor and I set out to defeat nature’s call, or at least attempt to reconcile the difference between what we were told was coming and what actually arrived.   

When the pure as the driven snow

In recent years, cryptocurrency scams have surged, with billions stolen annually. One of the biggest drivers of this trend? Romance scams. By building trust and forging deep emotional connections, scammers can manipulate their victims into making financial decisions they would not normally consider. 

If someone you’ve only met online claims they are making money with crypto and offers to help you do the same, it’s a scam – full stop. It does not matter how genuine they seem or what “proof” they attempt to show you; encouraging you to invest and claiming that you can make extraordinary