Mainers are famous for playing down Maine’s famously and fickle bad weather. Blizzard shuts down half the country? “‘Tweren’t nuthin’,” your average Mainer says.

We want to thank Central Maine Power and their extra crews for being there during the ice storm, and all the many individuals watching out for everyone’s safety.

A rather interesting letter appeared in the Jan. 9 issue of LCN, entitled, “According to the liberal Democrats’ dictionary.” We are getting used to such rants as the writers: in Washington, by our elected “representatives,” on television, via commentators, etc. Why, even the president is fair game for them, seen as the antichrist; even the new pope is a Marxist, because, for one thing, they point out it’s a shameful matter to not care about the most needy among us.

We have said in this very space that town meetings are democracy on the hoof and it is the duty of every citizen to inform themselves and participate. Democracy is decided by those who show up.

On a trip to Brunswick last week, I could not locate a parking space without driving and then walking the length of the Main Street business district. The streets needed grooming, but the sidewalks were treacherous!

In 2014, I’m looking forward to working on a number of measures that will help the people of Maine. In order for Maine to have a bright future, we need to make sure our students have a bright education.

Two hundred ninety-one Wiscasset voters participated yesterday, in what some locals called going in, the most important election in Wiscasset history.

Newcastle chef, author (and the LCN editor’s wife) Cynthia Finnemore Simonds was doing a cooking demonstration at the Maine Agriculture Trades Show Jan. 8 when she ran into Gov. Paul LePage.

A week ago Sunday, in the slush on Route 220, my Subaru drifted to the right, then described a slow arc left across the empty (thanks, guardian angel!) road, down an embankment and into a tree. After 50-some years of driving on snow and ice without any problem, I couldn’t have been more incredulous if it had taken wing.

I am a very new member of the Nobleboro Budget Committee, and we just concluded four Monday evening meetings reviewing every budget item, from the removal of three trees to the multi-page – and amazingly complex – school budget.

The holidays have come and gone and the people of Waldoboro have been amazing once again! As always, I feel very privileged to be part of such a wonderful and generous event. This year’s Waldoboro Toy Program went very well, with a lot of help from a lot of you.

On Dec. 26, I was caught in the 4-8 inches of snow that “surprised” Lincoln County. I left my work in Freeport at 10 p.m. to make the usual trip up I-295 and Route 1. Nothing about the trip that night was usual. The Interstate was clogged with snow and Route 1 was barely recognizable.

Looking ahead, we are mindful 2014 is an election year. Being that the issues and feelings that set the table for the last election have not abated a whit, we fully expect a rancorous year ahead as the divisions between us are highlighted and underscored all year long, as if Americans’ fundamental right to disagree is the issue, more so than the things we actually disagree about.

Every Christmas season our culture is consumed with buying gifts. What is Christmas really all about? Is it just limited to receiving gifts or is there more?