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.

A Merry Christmas to you and all your readers and also a Happy New Year.

My heartfelt and sincere thank you goes out to all the kind and generous folks who gave their love and support to me after my recent accident. The benefit you arranged for me at Schooner Landing on Sat., Nov. 30 was a real extravaganza!

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?

It may have been uttered as a casual observation, but budget committee chairman Bob Blagden sounds a sour note in Charlotte Boynton’s story about outgoing Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith. “It’s too bad we can’t find a town manager that wants to be part of the community and move here,” he said. “I believe we have had seven town managers in the past 10 years.”

I just wanted to say thank you to all the dedicated Salvation Army volunteers who do bell ringing at Christmas time. The weather has been pretty cold lately and I really appreciate the kindness and caring of these volunteers. Over the years the Salvation Army has touched the lives of many Mainers in need.

I was having a conversation over dinner recently on a subject that was simply startling. The conversation consisted of some grumbling by a few individuals in our town over the school budget and the belief that our teachers are overpaid. Frankly I find the mere notion to be absurd. When I pull into our school every day I don’t see a line-up of Mercedes Benz, Audis and BMWs in the teacher parking lot.