I am writing this letter in support of our Governor and his policies. By the time that you read this, he will have given his first state of the State address and the roadmap for at least the next year will be a bit clearer.

Now that we are in the heart of the winter season I am reminded daily of what a special place I left behind when I moved to the West Coast.

I’m writing in regards to a Main Street shop that has closed for the winter. On closing last fall, the owner removed their product flag but left the American flag hanging by the door. If I could physically remove it I would, until spring when they return.

The western side of Maine Medical Center in Portland looks out over the expanse of the city. Depending on the season and the room assignment, a patient with a window seat can watch the Sea Dogs in action on Hadlock Field below.

Before tip-off at a recent school basketball game, one of our associates couldn’t help but notice that not everyone stood up during the playing of the National Anthem.

On the Thursday afternoon before Christmas, the staff members of Savory Maine in Damariscotta were delighted to host a holiday sing-along and finger-food-feast to raise money for two very deserving local projects: the Community Housing Improvement Program (C.H.I.P.) winter heating fund, and the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.

When I saw the picture and article on the newly proposed up-date on the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder, my heart was crushed.

The lights are on, the sign is lit and vehicles are filling the parking lot. Hilltop is once again open for business. I have to give tremendous credit to new owners Gary and Jane Gravel for their investment and commitment to bringing back and carrying-on the great offerings of Arthur House and David Page at Hilltop.

The Bridge House, the old store and dance hall, is an important piece of history in the village of South Bristol for both local and summer residents.

One of our more disturbing stories this week is the allegation that a Damariscotta man may have bilked an elderly Bristol woman out of more than $200,000 while representing himself as a fundraiser for a charitable organization.

I am writing in response to “Lighten up” by Patricia Manning. (LCN, Page 4, 12/1/11) I would suggest that before she concludes that the residents of Chamberlain are wasting the funds of the Postal Service on an appeal, she should have gathered all the facts.

In 1991 the Russian ruble fell from $1 (one dollar) for a ruble to one dollar for 138 rubles.

Somehow it seems fitting that former Lincoln County Sheriff William C. Carter has left us at this time of the year. Carter’s passing truly closes the door on an era in Maine law enforcement.

We both would like to share some joyful bird news. On Dec. 17, we both were setting at the kitchen table working on a future article and looking out our double kitchen windows at the birdfeeders, when we saw a lot of action.