This is to salute Liz Matta, the Director of Band at Lincoln Academy, and thank her for her recent spirit of cooperation and understanding. On Sun., Dec. 6, Midcoast Dance had scheduled its Holiday Show for 2 p.m. As it turned out, Ms. Matta had also planned a band concert on that same afternoon at 3 p.m.

When Ron Pendleton joined the Bristol Fire Dept., Dwight Eisenhower was president, Rocky Marciano was the heavyweight champion of the world, and Elvis Presley was still an unknown wannabe with a funny name.

On behalf of the residents of Hodgdon Green, a senior assisted living facility in Damariscotta, I would like to thank the many people who have already purchased a 2009-10 “Warm Hearts” coupon book.

We of the Waldoboro Lions’ Club and the Waldoboro Food Pantry want to thank everyone who provided both money and food donations to us in the recent month or so in response to our plea in these trying economic times.

Newcastle resident Morrison Bonpasse is well known around Maine for his determined support of convicted murder Dennis Dechaine, but he could also be known as a man who is single handedly trying to save the world’s economic system by encouraging the global adoption of a single monetary unit.

In a story reported by John Maguire on the front page of the LCN (Dec. 3) reports that the Sheepscott Spa and Resort owned by Edgecomb Development LLC (Roger Bintliff) has been assigned to Priority Group LLC to” recuperate money for the Wiscasset Savings Bank.”

On principle we oppose papering over problems feigning a metaphorical joining of hands and a forced singing of “Kumbaya,” but if there is ever a time to embrace a “Kumbaya” moment, this is the annual time of year to do it.

On November 20, 2009, Great Salt Bay Community School had its first H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination clinic for children in our school, whose parents had pre-registered. We had approximately 160 students receive the vaccination in two hours. This type of event does not go smoothly without the support of many parents and community members, who gave of their time to our students.

The state’s case against Dennis Dechaine boils down to the fact that items, accessible to anyone, were removed from Dechaine’s truck, and to the desperately held hope at the attorney general’s office that Dechaine is guilty. Wishes, however strongly held, are not evidence.

We have already had our first frost and, recent decent weather notwithstanding, winter is on its way. A few degrees colder this past weekend and we would still be shoveling snow.

Last week I received a letter from the State of Maine Revenue Service. My interpretation of its contents is that our Legislature passed a law regarding monthly 911 surcharges on the sale of track phones when it already had a law on the books regarding the issue.

Thank you to everyone who sent along warm wishes for a speedy recovery. I am home for a few days en route to Maine Medical for chemotherapy. My writing and speech is poor so I am delivering this greeting via the newspaper.

We knew a Vietnam veteran who once said he didn’t mind being shot at so much. It was the mortar fire that scared him. There was no telling when a mortar round was coming in or where it was going to land, he said.

I read in the paper last week that over in Waldoboro the Rev. Mr. Murphy is retiring. I met him when I was distributing low-energy light bulbs to the food bank he has headed all these years.