When is “common sense” not common sense? When it is factually wrong.

People live in this area for a reason. Each has their own story of why they stayed here or moved here. Some are attracted by the scenic beauty, others by the high level of services for retirees and still others by the low crime rate. Retirees “from away” now make up a large part of our population and economy.

We think downtown Wiscasset business owners have a legitimate gripe about the Maine Department of Transportation’s plan to install a stoplight at the intersection of Main Street (Route 1) and Gardiner Road (Route 27) in Wiscasset.

I noticed last week that the pylons placed at crosswalks advising motorists, in eye-catching yellow, to yield to pedestrians have reappeared. They first materialized during last fall’s Pumpkinfest. I chose not to complain at the time because I assumed they would disappear with the end of the fest or else be swept into the Damariscotta River by snowplows. I believe the first assumption was correct.

As a monthly contributor to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, I am both dismayed to hear that the shelter is experiencing such poor management, and grateful that one of their own has had the courage to bring it out into the open.

While I was purchasing a bottle of Oh Be Joyful at Rite Aid yesterday, the clerk at the checkout, the one with the fluorescent hair, told me that the company was instituting a policy of requiring ID for all sales of tobacco and alcohol.

I am very glad I live in an area where both high school and elementary school students can work together to achieve success for both their schools and the planet. Hannaford’s annual CLYNK competition recently awarded $2,000 to Lincoln Academy’s Climate Action Club for first place in their division in the state and Great Salt Bay Community School garnered second place with a prize of $1,000. It is not the first year our town had two winning teams in this competition!

I was unable to attend the celebration of Ann Day’s life May 17. It was held at the Lincoln Theatre. How fitting. These are some of the thoughts I may have shared had I been there.

The Trooper: Ann graced the stages of many local theaters over the years. I had the privilege of directing her in an improvised performance we called: “Our Lakes, Our Rivers, Ourselves.”

We haven’t seen it for ourselves, so take this with a grain of salt, but we have heard that foreign nationals are fascinated and amused by America’s obsession with its national flag.

This coming Monday is Memorial Day. Everyone should ask themselves, “What does Memorial Day mean to me?”

We would be remiss if we did not take a moment to stop and thank the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Committee.

Thanks to The Lincoln County News for sending a reporter to take pictures and create a story centered around Riverside Park.

I want it known, after much consideration, I will not be making a motion to adjourn the May 31 town meeting, and I hope no one else will either.

Lest the reader assume respecting our nation’s colors is something new, the U.S. Flag Code goes back 72 years (1942) and many years before that when citizens were proud of their flag.