This is from a recent NBCnews.com article: “Pope Francis suggested there are limits to freedom of expression, saying in response to the Charlie Hebdo terror attack that ‘one cannot make fun of faith’ and that anyone who throws insults can expect a ‘punch.’

For those of us from away who have chosen to make our home here, there is a process that happens over a period of years that transforms the community from a new home to a home to just home.

The recent accident in Edgecomb where the vehicle involved was taking a left-hand turn into the pottery business was upsetting to me. As a longtime instructor, now retired, for the AARP Driver Safety program, we always suggest avoiding left turns if at all possible.

The holidays have come and gone and the people of Waldoboro have been amazing once again. As always, I feel very privileged to be part of such a wonderful and generous event. This year’s Waldoboro Toy Program went very well, with a lot of help from a lot of you.

The letter from Susan van Alsenoy (“Rightfully protesting,” Dec. 11) regarding the protests and her suggestion that the “decisions” from grand juries have permitted police officers to kill black men with impunity, surprised me.

Thank you to all the businesses (way too many to list) for your generous donations to the Ginny Ellison-Herald benefit supper and silent auction Dec. 13. It was an incredible turnout of family and friends to help support and honor the memory of Ginny.

The news of the Genesis Community Loan Fund leaving Damariscotta as reported in the LCN on Nov 21, 2014 prompted me to clarify CEI’s move to Brunswick, as reported in the LCN Aug. 28, 2013 – and to offer this bit of history and concept of community investing.

On Friday, Dec. 12, I hired a person for some last minute work to ready my home for the holidays. I had to leave before the job was complete but could see the project was being done with care and attention to detail. I paid with a check and expressed my heartfelt appreciation.

My father always disliked Christmas because he never knew what gift to buy for his family. I always loved Christmas because I loved finding the gift that fit the person. Everyone in the family was easy to figure out – except my dad.

We are delighted by the news that RSU 12 is one of 13 Maine school districts to share in a $14.8 million Department of Education preschool expansion grant.

To date, all available research indicates the earlier children start learning, the better they do over life’s long haul. We certainly support pre-K classes in concept. As always, however, the devil is in the details.

The United Nations Convention Against Torture was ratified by the United States in 1994. Thus, Americans who torture prisoners violate international law and the laws of the United States.

By now, we are almost seven years into what historians will probably end up calling the Great Recession, the historic contraction of the global economy that rivals anything else on record.

To the Editor:

The Ecumenical Food Pantry wishes to thank the many volunteers, local farms and businesses, and donors of food and money who made it possible to pack and distribute Thanksgiving Food Baskets to 225 families in 10 towns in Lincoln County.

The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hand of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.