Our esteemed Bristol columnist Lorraine Fossett passed away Sunday night.

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to her family at this difficult time.

We always find August to be a somewhat bittersweet time. It’s still summer. We still have plenty of cookouts and beach days and dog days ahead, but we can see Labor Day from here.

While travelling in a very poor country I had a real need for some assistance from the US Embassy or Consulate there. All I needed was advice on how to find a reputable attorney. This is no easy task considering the country I was visiting is known to have groups of lawyers working together to convey fraudulent property titles.

Last Thursday Lincoln County Healthcare officially announced that the St. Andrews Hospital Emergency Department will become an Urgent Care Center in April.

I just read The Lincoln County News online and was shocked to read about the Damariscotta Police Department.

Lincoln County Healthcare’s plan to shutter the emergency department at St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor may make financial sense, but it doesn’t feel good.

As my children grow up, I see what a positive impact sports have had on their lives. They’ve learned things such as determination, teamwork, cooperation, and perseverance. To give that experience, many people of the community need to be involved in supporting youth athletics.

Ever since Chris Johnson was elected to the Maine Senate, he has been unfairly criticized by people who refuse to understand his approach to governance. Almost weekly, there are inappropriate, inaccurate, and over the top attacks on Senator Johnson.

I am responding to Donald Kelly’s letter to the Editor “To spend or not to spend” in the Aug. 16 edition of the News. Mr. Kelly says “this is the only question one need answer before voting this November.” I disagree.

I know first-hand how hard it can be to keep up with expenses every month. The cost of living, the price of just about everything, and a shaky economy can be tough to handle.

On the letters pages last week, Michael Bourland made a long argument for the maintenance of tradition in the same-sex marriage debate. He seems to think that change is the enemy.

We commend the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen for being serious enough about the idea of doing away with the town’s police department to actually convince the Lincoln County Commissioners and sheriff to get their calculators out and start figuring out how it is going to work.

A friend has a sticker on her car that reads “Do Good Often.” Well, someone certainly did a good deed on July 9 in Waldoboro. While running errands, I managed to lose my purse. Someone spotted it and put it in a safe place. I am truly grateful for this act of honesty and kindness.

Former Senator Trahan’s passion for tax policy is impressive but I was surprised to see him make a whole column out of one line in Senator Johnson’s column from July 5. (“Tax cuts benefit all,” LCN, Page 4, 7/12/12)