Some of us envision Maine converting from burning fuels to electricity, cutting energy consumption by one-third. We see Maine using 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, creating 31,000 permanent jobs and realizing $8,900 annually in per capita health and climate-related savings. We look to getting 22 percent of our energy from solar, 70 percent from on- and offshore wind, 6 percent from hydropower, 1 percent each from wave and tidal power — and paying for the whole transition within seven years from air-pollution and climate-cost savings alone (learn more at thesolutionsproject.org).
Marilyn Beane’s World
Hi, dear readers! Here is Marilyn Beane’s World coming to you in another new week in July with more journal news about our lives at Crawford Commons Assisted Living, 132 Middle Rd., Union, ME 04862-0628.
Ponder & Stir
We need our neighbors. We are so thankful we do not live in a world lamenting the fact that we do not have good neighbors. When life throws us lemons, we all need a neighbor to help us set up our lemonade stand.
View From Over the Hill There are good things happening
The news this morning contains accounts of folks settling their disputes in very bad ways. There is the story of the woman in Brewer who had a fight with her man, got in her car, chased him onto the sidewalk, struck him, and then drove off. She is in jail.
Westport Island
Lots of walkers, runners, and bikers this summer on the island. Hope to see many of you at the 12th annual Westport Island Shore Run on Sunday, Aug. 14! “Maine’s Best Little 10K Road Race” starts at 9 a.m. at the town hall, and the 3.5-mile “fun walk” begins at 8:30 a.m. Stretch those muscles and head to westportisland.org to register.
Just a Thought
Back in the 1940s, we had an aptly described and capable Department of War. The name has since been changed to the much less descriptive and less appropriate Department of Defense. In earlier days, the Department of War accomplished the fighting of wars, the winning of wars, and the stopping of wars. Since then, we have managed to get ourselves bogged down in the fighting part with no end in sight.
Medomak Valley Senior Citizens
Medomak Valley Senior Citizens met on Monday, July 18 at the VFW Hall on Mill Street in Waldoboro. We had 21 members present, and four guests and one new member.
Wiscasset Senior Center
A big “thank you” goes out to Bob MacDonald, who did a fabulous job as grill master for our community barbecue on July 20. Also thank you to all the members who helped with the setup, cooking, serving, and cleanup that evening. Everyone in attendance had a good time and we are now looking forward to our next community supper on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m., which will feature baked ham with mac-and-cheese. Please call 882-8230 at least two days in advance for meal reservations. Chicken is always available as an alternative to the featured entree but must be specified with the meal reservation. All are welcome!
Nature Notes Rising Waters
Rising waters are usually followed by an eroding sand beach. This is the case at eastern Maryland and Virginia coasts. More specifically, Wallops Island and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, and the Assateague Island National Seashore, off the coast of Maryland, are the present cases with sand beaches.
Round Pond
There have been a few things that I have written about over the years for the newspaper that have surprised me, but I have to say that I never thought I would be writing about a black bear in Round Pond, let alone one in my own backyard!
View from Over the Hill Medical Marijuana
I have a few choice observations to make concerning marijuana. Since mankind discovered smoking, we have been using marijuana for various human ailments, including depression.
Morning Rounds In medicine, there are many good treatments but few are truly risk-free
“Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.”
Coastal Economist
During my 15 years of working as a financial arbitrage trader in Chicago and London, more often than not I found myself glued to the trading desk when lunchtime rolled around. Our runner, Jack, knew all of my favorite sandwich shops.
View from Over the Hill Conspiracy Theories
I have been amazed at how many folks have asked me: did I get the water back? The water came back quickly. Since I wrote last week about losing the suction, I have discovered what really happened. Robin was mowing and asked my nephew to move the hose. He gave it a yank and flipped it out of the way. But no one could see down in the bushes where the hose joint was pulled apart, thus running freely till the water went below the end of the intake pipe. I poured a lot of water for nothing until I discovered it.