An issue that many say is the invisible elephant in the room this legislative session is being studied by the Utilities and Energy Committee, which is trying to determine which side, if any, it should endorse.

The Damariscotta River Grill has been selected for the Restaurant Neighbor Award by the National Restaurant Association. This award honors restaurant companies that have gone above and beyond in giving back to their communities.

In a conference call held during the Newcastle Board of Selectmen meeting Jan. 26, Ron Smith, of RHR Smith and Company, reported finding $147,000 double counted as revenue during part of the 2008 audit.

Lincoln County will wake up to fresh snowfall and the possibility of hazardous road conditions Mon. morning – a combination that may mean an extra day of vacation for local school children, and a messy morning commute for their parents. The most intense snowfall is expected for the early morning hours on Mon., falling at up to 2 inches per hour and creating whiteout conditions in some areas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine is pleased to announce three new members have joined the board of directors.

Judy Metcalf is an attorney at Eaton Peabody in Brunswick with a practice balanced between trial work, resolution of real estate disputes, and contract negotiation and drafting. Metcalf is very involved in her summer community of Northport, is the mother of two champion swimmers and the wife of an avid reader and a terrific cook.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Wynn Parkerson of Richmond, Va., are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Catherine Wynn Parkerson, to Andrew Thomas Hodgkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Thomas Hodgkins of Jefferson.

Detective JC Allen is a veteran law enforcement officer, a 20-year veteran of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, a former prison guard, a military veteran, a husband and a father.

He is also out of work and, according to his wife, Lori, fast running out of options.

January 14 was Graduation Day for some Midcoast residents who received certificates for having completed a 30-hour training course organized by Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers (CFHV) and led by Ann Cole, CFHV Executive Director, and Hilary Carr, CFHV Bereavement Coordinator.

Voters’ rejections of school consolidation proposals in 143 towns will generate more than $6 million in penalties during the next fiscal year, money that will be used to fund transition costs for the towns that voted in the affirmative.

Judith Ann Nielsen of Boothbay Harbor was granted a divorce from David William McCaig of Boothbay on Dec. 23, 2008. They were married in Whitefield on Dec. 12, 1994.

Investigators are examining causes for the blaze that overtook a house on Brooks Lane in Waldoboro in the early morning hours of Feb. 19. Ken Grimes of the State Fire Marshall’s Office said the fire was intentionally set.

Detective Lance Mitchell of the Waldoboro Police Dept. said the home, owned by Wells Fargo Bank was unoccupied when firefighters and other emergency personnel made it to the fiery scene shortly after the 911 emergency call at 1:50 a.m.

With just enough time for Lincoln County residents to dig out and enjoy some sunshine on Sat., the National Weather Service (NWS) has upgraded a Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning, advising that beginning Sun. afternoon 5-10 inches of snow may fall in the Lincoln County area by Mon. morning.

Wiscasset Municipal Airport has been awarded a $123,693 federal transportation fund grant for a snow removal equipment building.

At its Feb. 3 meeting Wiscasset’s board of selectmen gave the green light to the municipal airport manager to apply for the grant. At the same meeting, the board opened sealed bids for construction of the facility.

Kendall and Mona Hall of Nobleboro and Michael Kinney of Washington are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Michelle Kinney to Shawn Gregory Berry, son of Robert and Karen Berry of Union.