With a lengthy list of events, spread out over five days Olde Bristol Days may feel like the big dog among Lincoln County local summer celebrations, but, as the Damariscotta BluesFest proved last weekend, size is no prerequisite for fun.

I agree that we should talk civilly, but also let us discuss thoughtfully and candidly. I can’t help feeling that Ms. Kanewske and Mr. Duffy are quoting talking points. There is a potential danger in doing so. Who wrote these points originally, and what was their real agenda? Also some may be false representations.

The cancellation of the MaineDOT plans for a bypass around Wiscasset means that those who wanted the bypass, and those who opposed a bypass (anywhere), now need to work together to help reduce the traffic congestion. Realizing that the summer delays are not worth the dollar and human cost of building a bypass, they are still excessive, and must be reduced.

It seems Gov. LePage’s administration is developing a track record of making jaw-dropping announcements regarding Rt. 1. In March DOT Commissioner David Bernhardt announced the state would immediately stop supporting the development of the long running Gateway 1 project.

The letter that Lisa Hunt wrote, “Enough is Enough,” (LCN, 7/28/11, Page 4) hit the nail on the head. It seems that Washington has become so terribly irresponsible and the incompetent people presently running the House and Senate have no idea that they are playing/talking about other people’s income.

So the American voter loses again. That is not a “debt ceiling,” it is a “debt target,” and the bumbling buffoons in Washington now have over two trillion dollars more to spend.

We urge the voters of South Bristol to adopt the proposed Comprehensive Plan at the town Meeting Referendum Vote on Mon., Aug. 8 at the South Bristol School.

The voters of Wiscasset rejected this year’s (RSU 12) budget. Hopefully this will send a message for RSU 12’s next budget.

We will just be completing production on this week’s edition of The Lincoln County News when the friends and family of Dustin Osier convene in the gymnasium at Medomak Middle School to celebrate his life.

Middle of the day, Monday, a busy day at the Maine Coast Book Shop, some sleazy no-account idler, probably someone who frequents the place and maybe hangs out in the café, someone who probably didn’t have a job to go to or at least some good purpose to occupy himself (yes, probably a “he”), who also probably doesn’t read this newspaper much and so has me wasting my time trying to help him reform and undo his crime, has stolen a bike parked just outside our back door.

Maine cannot afford higher taxes and reckless government spending and neither can our country. Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility and poor economic policy has not worked.

This is a familiar refrain, isn’t it? In light of $8 billion in the operating losses last year, the United States Postal Service is considering closing some 3600 locations across the country.

Throughout his legislative career, District 20 Sen. David Trahan has established himself as a fiscal conservative who works like a dog for his constituents. Starting as a pea green legislator, who as a freshman in the House would automatically vote ‘no’ on any piece of legislation he hadn’t read, Trahan has worked hard to learn the ropes in Augusta, so much so that, as a Senator in his sixth term in Augusta, (counting four in the House) he has become one of the respected Republican voices in state government.

Planning is hard work, make no mistake. There are no shortcuts, but our quality of place is our best economic asset, both now and in the future. It is worth protecting.