Once again, thanks for the organics. Although the tubs can get a little smelly in the heat, getting organics out of our waste stream is an important recycling tool. The amount of organics continues to increase. Keep up the good work.

Since writing about the black bear in our backyard last week, it has been amazing how many people have gotten in touch with me concerning wildlife that has been spotted in the area. Apparently bears are not as uncommon as I had thought. As wild animals’ habitats are infringed upon, it is to be expected that they will find their way into ours.

“Regrets are a waste of time except as things to learn from.” — Jane Fonda

Flowers of the forest: Let us salute the passing of Beverly Mulligan, who used to live on Town Hall Road during her retirement. Our deepest condolences to her extended family, who requests that donations be made in her memory to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb, or to animalaidunlimited.org. A memorial service is planned for September at St. Patrick’s Church in Damariscotta Mills.

I read an article this week in the Financial Times announcing a new initiative on the part of John Key, the prime minister of New Zealand. During the past several decades, as international trade and travel has proliferated, his island nation has been invaded by non-native predators, including rats, possums, stoats, and weasels.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.