The unexpected happened and I, as well as my husband Walt, both find ourselves battling incurable, possible life threatening, degenerative diseases, at the same time. Finding that we are unable to do and enjoy some of the things that we had always done is unsettling and sometimes frightening.

I commend Newcastle Selectman Pat Hudson for her political courage in speaking of the plight of town property taxpayers at a recent public meeting. Mick Devin, our State Representative, organized that meeting in February to discuss changes in our municipal property tax system.

To those Bristol voters who cast their vote for me to return to the Bristol School Committee for another three-year term, thank you. Those who run for office do so for a variety of reasons and my goal is to make a concerted effort to give our rural children of Bristol the best education possible.

We have almost made it. It’s March. We have survived the deepest, darkest doldrums of what, by most accounts, was an exceptionally dark and dreary winter. The clocks spring ahead this weekend, spring is on the horizon, and honest to God, these days you can hear birds chirping in the morning, if you are lucky.

Just a short response to a statement made in a letter from Craig Elliott in the Feb. 19 issue of The Lincoln County News. Maine does not have the most millionaires per capita of any state.

I am one of those terrible grammar grouses who deplore the sapping of strength from the English language.

In the past few years, Jefferson Village School has continued to be plagued with issues hovering over the day-to-day activities involved in educating its students. It seems that money shortages are always present and the sports field issues, although improved, still remain unresolved.

Media and social commentators were all aflutter last week with the news convicted murder Billy Flynn is set to be released from prison in a few months.

What’s going on with our website, www.nobleborocares.com, and why are we buying ads in this paper to promote it? We pose a question to the people of Nobleboro: “Is a lack of attendance at our annual town meeting, town committee or board meetings evidence of a non-caring attitude?”

Over the last three years, through the combined efforts of the Bristol School Committee, administrators and staff, Bristol Consolidated School has made positive incremental changes in the education of our children.

We are not surprised to hear a local fire chief has asked his town to consider budgeting for a full-time fire department position. If anything, we are only surprised many other towns haven’t considered it before now.

On March 25, the Bristol School Committee and school administrators will convene a long range planning committee forum at the 1812 Farm on the Bristol Road in Bristol with the express purpose of discussing the educational direction of Bristol School in the next decade.

The derogatory “jokes” and statements expressing disdain for President Obama that Senator Michael Willette of Presque Isle has been posting on Facebook for the past several years have recently made headlines. The senator implies the president is a Muslim, is not a U.S. citizen, and is making common cause with ISIS, etc.

I will be retiring from the Newcastle Board of Selectmen after Town Meeting in June. Being on the board has been a very rewarding as well as challenging time in my life. I have greatly appreciated the support and encouragement that I have received from Newcastle residents.