To all veterans, we at The Lincoln County News thank you for your service. We would not have been able to vote Tuesday if it were not for your courage and sacrifice. We might not have liked our choices, but we had a choice, and that’s thanks to you.

For months we have refrained from any endorsements, or for the most part, any pronouncements at all on the presidential race, state and local races, or referendum questions.

The six referendum questions on the November ballot have the potential to bring significant change to our state.

I originally was not for Donald Trump for President. Now I must support him and it’s because of the potential nominees to the Supreme Court.

One of the most read articles on lcnme.com this week was about the arrest of the head administrator at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset on a charge of operating under the influence.

Two weeks ago I wrote a letter about being robbed of my crop of cannabis that was being grown to make cancer medicine. I spoke of the “criminal mind” and its manifestations on the human character.

It isn’t very often one finds an exclamation point heading a letter to the editor. But Frank Slason’s “God is great!” of Oct. 6 is one such exception. Honestly, those words give me the creeps, as much as they should the average American, since they were said by the 9/11 terrorists just before they crashed the planes. They’re still being invoked by terrorists throughout the world. Tradition. (Have you noticed how often scriptural mentions of “God” are accompanied by death and/or destruction?)

Making a new law in Maine is not easy. From the original concept to the final statute, the path of legislation is long and arduous.

To no one’s surprise, Lincoln County’s legislative candidates at our first candidates forum far outclassed the presidential candidates in their second debate.

Maine earns a lot of superlatives. Among all the others, ours is consistently rated as one of the most beautiful states, with one of the lowest crime rates and the highest quality of life. There’s one distinction, though, for which we should be especially proud: our consistently high level of voter participation.

Over the past several months, I have been after the town of Waldoboro to deal with the intersection of Route 220 and Old Augusta Road. Recently I noticed the Maine Department of Transportation was rather prompt in putting up poles for mirrors. Now, two weeks or more later, there is no sign of mirrors, which I believe the town will supply. What is the date for mirrors to be installed and what about a date for installing a blinking light?

Another Pumpkinfest has come to an end and our children returned to their home outside of Boston this evening. But not before a final dinner together and our twin granddaughters recalling what they enjoyed this year … the moon bounces on Water Street, the pumpkin derby on the rainy Sunday morning. My son-in-law said it best, the spirit, the atmosphere, the creativity, and my daughter responded, what a great sense of community here!

As you can see from the 1,711.5-pound gourd on the front page, Pumpkinfest is back.

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Having watched my sister die, as much from the chemo and radiation as from the cancer, I decided to try an alternative remedy. I found out about a cannabis preparation called Rick Simpson oil that claimed to stop cancer. I got certified for medical marijuana and borrowed enough to buy a pound and make the oil – a tedious process. I took the oil, a gram a day for two months, and the prostate-specific antigen numbers went down to a safe level. After repaying the loan, I set up a growing operation to keep myself in cannabis for the maintenance dose and future courses. It’s a lot of work, but it’s keeping me alive and healthy.