Last Thursday, Sept. 13, we got a call from the Lincoln County sheriff, updating us on the decision of the grand jury to indict the man who killed our mother and mother-in-law, Carolyn Blouin, and his impending arrest.

In the spring of 2001 I was asked to direct “Our Town” for Lincoln Theater. It’s been one of my very favorite plays since I first saw it at age 12, so I was delighted. But for this play you need a large, predominantly male cast to represent an entire small town.

Our family moved here a little over a month ago, and my two children just had their first week at Great Salt Bay Community School. I felt moved to thank everyone who has participated in creating a fabulous public school.

As Damariscotta voters consider banning plastic bags, it might be good to remember why plastic bags came into such universal usage in the first place. Not many cashiers ask “paper or plastic?” at the grocery store these days, but as stores and consumers transitioned to plastic over the last few decades, it used to be a common question.

I recently bought a box of freshly harvested wild blueberries.

Kudos and sincere gratitude go out to each and every volunteer who made the first Pemaquid Triathlon such a fabulous event! What a great example of local leadership from the Bristol Parks and Rec crew.

For over 20 years I have been happily retired in this beautiful Midcoast area. This past week, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, I had an unsettling and troubling event happen.

The Bristol Mills Dam was built in 1914, largely for industrial purposes. No longer needed for that purpose, it has become a Bristol icon because of the unique opportunity it affords thousands of families and children as a premier swimming hole every summer.

After serving on the Bristol Dam Advisory Committee for 15 months, I was surprised to discover I had not formed an opinion on the two options arrived at by that study. These are the two options up for a public vote next Tuesday, July 24.

We hope you’ve heard by now that the Olde Bristol Days parade is happening. We’re currently looking for your involvement. Do you have a business that you’d love to promote? Are you a family or neighborhood who’d love to create memories for your kids that they’ll remember for years to come? Are you one of our “summah” people who want to join in on the fun?