The town of Alna and resident Jeff Spinney have reached a potential settlement agreement in their years-long litigation against each other over a boat ramp to the Sheepscot River on Spinney’s Golden Ridge Road property.

A groundbreaking for a new wing of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay saw a crowd of over 200 and bipartisan representation from state leadership on Thursday, Oct. 12.

A decision has finally set the fate of unpermitted aggregate rocks on Alna’s Pinkham Pond boat launch, while others remain to be made about addressing runoff at the site and chartering the town’s road committee. The Alna Select Board discussed these items and approved a seasonal road maintenance budget at its Thursday, Oct. 5 meeting.

The Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce and Information Bureau will see a change in leadership in the new year. Executive Director Lisa Hagen gave her three months notice last week, citing the long-awaited Sept. 28 completion of the chamber building’s renovation project and her plans for retirement.

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta’s 18th year marked the end of a challenging, wet growing season that still yielded enough giant pumpkins to celebrate with large crowds and the return of several pre-pandemic events. Though one weekend day featured continuous rain, crowds were level with previous years during the rest of the festival, according to observers.

Possible increases in building permit fees and sewer rates occupied the Edgecomb Select Board on Tuesday, Oct. 3, along with plans for the town’s anniversary and several grant opportunities.

Giant pumpkin, squash, and gourd growers from around the state battled a cold, wet, and humid summer to reach the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-off, held in Newcastle on Sunday, Oct. 1.

A section of Route 235 in Waldoboro near the Warren town line reopened to traffic Tuesday, Sept. 26 after a culvert washout May 1 and continued construction delays closed it to through traffic for months.

A draft ordinance setting building preservation requirements for areas of Newcastle will progress to the select board following a heated public hearing and an initial failed planning board vote on Thursday, Sept. 21.

Plans are solidifying for a potential addition to Edgecomb’s town hall and American Rescue Plan Act funds continue to finance municipal projects. The Edgecomb Select Board discussed these items and made several appointments at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Medomak Middle School students returned from summer vacation to new administration for the first time in eight years. Principal Michael Harris and Assistant Principal Joshua Snyder said they plan to focus on communication, connection, and involvement with their teachers, students, and families.

AOS 93 administrators are asking for ideas to restructure the school system and hope to have a top option by the end of the calendar year.

Jamie Hanna has spent the past five years locating and documenting hundreds of artworks her father, David Hanna, created during her childhood in Bristol and earlier years in Pennsylvania. While following international clues to bring his work to the public, hoping to organize his first exhibition since 1981, she has connected to her father, his relationships, and her own early life on the peninsula.