On June 9, when next year’s town budget comes to the residents of Waldoboro for approval, we have a chance to vote for our priorities. When we read the list of tax-dollar-eating proposals, let’s give careful thought to what we receive for those shrinking dollars, and support the institutions that may best help us out of the financial fix we’re in.

I read in your May 28 issue the reports from the three police stations, namely Waldoboro, Damariscotta and Lincoln County Sheriff departments and their list of people they issued seatbelt violations to. The total number was 108.

It is hard to argue with a fire department. You might as well call a spandex-clad superhero a sissy.

Firefighters, by dint of their profession, are heroic public figures hell-bent on saving lives rescuing people and generally spending long hours in the saddle in the name of community service.

It has been our position since day one that Gov. John Baldacci’s school consolidation proposal effort is a poorly conceived, hastily enacted, and horribly mismanaged piece of legislation that was never given a hearing in front of the people most affected.

Let’s see, we have all conserved on our driving and gas use and the state now has to raise the gas tax. Otherwise our roads will crumble and bridges will collapse.

What the heck will happen when we all get 45 miles to the gallon or drive electric cars? Less tax collected means less money for our elected folks to spend.

A couple of weeks ago, Tim Dinsmore called to ask if I would be interested in joining a group of contemporaries at the old Taniscot Engine House on May 6 at 7 p.m. to share our memories of the great depression of 1929.

It is nice to see Sen. David Trahan hasn’t wasted any time jumping into the legislative fray that is Augusta politics.

The latest Trahan exploit involves LD 1399, An Act Concerning Water Quality in Watersheds. Among other points, the bill proposed the creation of a Clean Shores Fund that would direct state resources toward addressing pollution in shellfish areas.

This may sound “fishy”, but there is no way all the many events at the Alewife festival could be brought to mind without forgetting many – each of which took much time and planning and which paid off in a glorious combination of busy minds to make this yearly event memorable.

As summer approaches, Lincoln County is entering the high-risk drinking season. In addition to graduation parties and holidays like July 4, we will be inundated with summer tourists.

You will soon see petitions and petitioners everywhere asking for your signature to help bring Maine’s new gay marriage law to public referendum. You need to be aware that the people behind this drive are there for religious reasons.

At first blush, word the Damariscotta Police Dept. plans to open a satellite police station in the former home of the late Ed Whitney’s barbershop in the Elm St. Plaza plays like another episode of the “You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me” show.

There is a famous photograph that makes the rounds about this time every year. It depicts a Memorial Day parade making its way down Main Street, USA. As the national flag is approaching, one elderly man is standing at attention while the crowd around him, children and young adults, remain at ease; laughing, fooling around, blissfully ignorant of the significance of the moment.

Many of you will know me from my 28-year marriage to my late husband, Lee Dunning Jr. Many others will know me from my 17-year employment at Wiscasset Public Library. Many will know me from my four years with the Wiscasset Budget Committee. The point is many of you know me.

Thanks to the kindness of Jim and Glenda Drum, the Damariscotta Mills railroad station sign is coming home. It will be mounted at the old station site on Depot St. to greet people who arrive by train to attend the Fish Ladder Restoration Festival this weekend.