For almost 20 years, my wife Judi and I have been “permanent transplants” to Maine’s beautiful Midcoast area in Newcastle. For 17 of these years I have worked Wednesdays at The Lincoln County News. In fact, they refer to me as “Wednesday Ernie.”

I am writing to praise one (actually two) of our local merchants. My letter is long overdue, but that does not make it any less sincere.

If you are a resident of Jefferson who is alarmed at the recent increase in your property taxes, vote “yes” on the Jefferson School Committee budget in the Jefferson special election next Tuesday, July 23.

The signs of summer; those days we dream of all winter, the days of our childhood that are recalled quickly as adults; fireflies in Hellmann’s mayonnaise jars with holes punched in the metal top, beach sand in our flip flops, hamburgers on the grill, potato salad and watermelon seed spitting contests. Let us not forget the crowning jewel of summer: ice cream.

This is an attempt to give a voice to two groups of fellow human beings who cannot speak for themselves.

I’ve written letters to the editor on a variety of subjects in the past, urging folks to vote, offering commentary on issues, extending pleas to come and stand on the bridge for a variety of reasons and causes. Rallying support through an occasional public letter has been a way of speaking to many rather than just a few.

On any given day, you could be forgiven for not wanting to get out of bed.

The kids will be going back to school in another month or so.

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could have wanted Route 1 in Maine to look like Route 1 in Massachusetts, but it’s understandable if some people felt that a wider road is a safer road and a faster road is a more convenient road.

Long-time Damariscotta residents frequently pine for the days when their police force was primarily composed of one man, the late, legendary George Hutchings.

Fifteen months ago, when The Lincoln County News hired me to report on events in Bremen, Jefferson, Nobleboro, Somerville and Waldoboro, I was a relative rookie with less than four years of full-time reporting experience under my belt and little knowledge of the people and events of Lincoln County.

I have recently been informed that Jefferson has fired two art teachers. If this is correct I would like to point out how unfortunate this act is.

We hate to admit it but we can see Labor Day from here.

We have been told by Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson Steve Bodge, that the widening, straightening and curbing of two miles of Route 129 is for reasons of “safety” and “drainage.” This is hogwash. Anyone who lives down here knows that there have been no accidents along this stretch due to road conditions (zero) and that the minor drainage problems can be accomplished in any number of smaller ways.