When I read Sen. Chris Johnson’s latest commentary in The Lincoln County News, it was no surprise he attempted to bash me and criticize our administration’s every move. However, his story is conveniently missing facts and fails to offer any viable solutions to move Maine forward on a path to prosperity. Here’s the rest of the story.

I have often read and heard the statement that a vision has no worth without implementation. But without a vision there is no need for implementation. In fact, without a vision that the world was not flat and sailing to the orient was a straight line from Spain, the Americas would not have been discovered so soon, nor would science have progressed, proving that Earth is a globe.

I appreciate your coverage of recent solar farms opened or under consideration in Lincoln County, including the Morris Farm most recently, and a proposal for Bristol. We installed solar panels on our home in Damariscotta in February as part of the Solarize Lincoln County effort, and hope more people will invest in this increasingly affordable contribution to reducing our climate footprint while meeting energy needs in a manner that creates new jobs in Maine.

Yesterday my family was driving back from Pemaquid as we noticed the cleanup crew on Route 130. Thank you, thank you. For many years I cleaned up the trash (and there was plenty of it) along Route 129, Harrington Meeting House Road, and Route 130. Then, I broke my back and was unable to climb down the embankments and/or carry the bags, which were too numerous to tally.

Many of our readers will have noticed a brief item entitled “Waste Watch” on page six last week. You can find “Waste Watch” on page 1B this week.

The Wiscasset High School chapter of the National Honor Society thanks the students and the parents and guardians of the students who participated in the National Honor Society-sponsored Penny War.

I am glad I live in a town that is moving in the right direction. Learning recently that the Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station budget for 2016 is significantly lower due to reduced tonnage was great news and a signal that people are doing more recycling and composting where I live.

We hope at least one of the three Wiscasset selectmen who voted against allowing firefighters to wash their personal vehicles at the fire department will quickly reverse their decision.

The town of Wiscasset is most fortunate to have an outstanding volunteer fire department. The key word is volunteer. Allowing the members to wash their vehicles at the fire station should be allowed, and the policy preventing this should be amended so the decades-old practice may continue.

Rite Aid Pharmacy is sponsoring a silent auction for the Miracle Children’s Network Hospitals. Our fundraiser supports The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. One hundred percent of the donations received will go directly to the only children’s hospital in Maine.

Democrats and Republicans in the State House should work toward a compromise on the minimum wage, and the compromise should include student and training wages.

May I be allowed to voice my appreciation to all our unsung heroes, both men and women, who protect our homes from fire and sometimes medical emergencies? Not the civil service, paid firefighters, but all those men and women who volunteer to man our fire stations throughout this wonderful state.

We are happy to welcome another new business to Lincoln County this week. Riverside Butcher Co. will open in the space on Main Street formerly home to Narragansett Leathers and Tori Anna Designs.