Thirty-two years ago, Susan Quinby had a vision to support the Boothbay Region YMCA’s aquatics program. With her father being the namesake of the Y’s Emery Pool, Susan created a one-of-a-kind event for non-powered watercraft, combining fun on the water with fundraising for the Y’s beloved aquatics program. 

The event’s first launch point in 1994 was the Newagan boat landing, with participants rowing around Southport, passing Cozy Harbor, Robinson’s Wharf, and the Capital Island Bridge. During the pandemic, the event moved to Barters Island. The new course is a bit shorter, with an easy launch

The Visually Impaired Persons group will meet Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 1:15 p.m. at the Community Center in the Meadow Mall, Boothbay Harbor. Guest speaker Jeff Slack, case manager for Maine Health’s CarePartners program, will share resources for low-cost and free health insurance. 

Due to health, safety, and hygiene concerns, we cannot accept items such as tubing (breathing or sleep apnea equipment), exercise equipment, hard boots, braces, oral care products, or open containers. Please clean items before donating, as we are unable to clean them on-site. Donation hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thank you for

What do Baffin Island, South Florida, and Downeast Maine have in common?

One thing they have in common, as we write this column, are two birds of different worlds. A little over a week ago, a visitor from Florida was in Cutler, a small town along the coast of Washington County, Maine, and only 20 miles from the Canadian border. Perhaps they were enjoying seeing quintessential Maine birds like common eiders, herring gulls, and black guillemots when they spotted something pink.

Maine is not known for its pink birds.

It was a pink wading bird with a bill shaped like a spoon—a roseate

Setting out on a garden path, mind and pulse begin to relax, no modern life sounds, no deadlines. Peace surrounds us. We enter the garden greeted by the scent and sight of herbs and flowers. And our mind's eye remembers the sweet, intoxicating rugosa rose, lily-of-the-valley, dianthus, clematis, peony and phlox; memories from past lives come into focus fleetingly as you walk the path now scented with lavender, rosemary, geranium, English roses, hydrangea, sweet peas. Like the Fey, you're sorely tempted by foxglove, columbine, day lily, pansy, moss and creeping thyme ...

But a seaside garden

Were you in Wiscasset last week when the traffic lights turned red and stayed red?

Did you at first get that feeling not uncommon to sitting at most any intersection, the feeling the light has been red "forever" and maybe something's wrong with it? But you know it probably isn't, and it just feels like it should have turned by now because you have someplace to be?

I for one have that feeling when I press the "Walk" button downtown and, after a while, unless other, more downtown walking-savvy people are standing there also, I start to wonder if I pressed the button to walk in the right

I celebrated with my high school classmates on Saturday, July 26, 50 years, or approximately 18,300 days after we graduated from Boothbay Region High School. As published in this newspaper, there were 30 of us, plus our exchange student calling via Facetime, who got together for another reunion. It was a blast and it was nice to see everyone – some we haven’t seen for many years.

As I pondered the celebration the next day, I felt kind of melancholy as I was remembering a statement from a friend that the 50-year reunion was very important as “you never know if you might not see them again”

Have you cruised the channels on your TV set recently? It is hard not to watch, almost like racing fans glued to roaring machines in anticipation of a crash. We know something is going on in politics. We don’t know what, or who, or where it will happen. But like diehard NASCAR fans, we know, sooner or later, someone will crash.

Are we watching "Game of Thrones" without the dragons? Is it a fictional play starring the Shogun or Caesar or Henry VIII, maybe a modern version of the Red Queen’s command: off with their heads.” Someone once said: “Politics ain’t beanbag." It ain’t Boothbay seniors

It was not easy to schedule a visit with Alana LaCourse, recently crowned Miss Maine’s Teen. 

But between her very demanding commitments and my leisurely random sunbathing at the beach, we finally connected during a dance class at the YMCA annex. Unforeseen complications caused me to be a bit late for our meeting. Twenty minutes waiting at a long opening of the Southport bridge was followed by difficult access to the Y Annex while CMP worked on lines. Then I inappropriately walked through the construction site for which I was not awarded a gold star! Finally, I breached the perimeter and

Tom Rush. A true folk/blues icon. Yeah, “icon” is used a bit too liberally these days. But, in Tom’s case, it’s fact. Others I, and most likely many music lovers consider icons of this genre are Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Dylan, and Joan Baez. Tom was part of the folk revival back in the early 60s while he was an English Lit student at Harvard, and became known for music at Club 47.

At age 83, a new album was released March 1, 2024 entitled, “Gardens Old, Flowers New," which is his first new release in five, well, six years in 2025. If you haven’t heard some cuts of this 19th album already on

CAUTION: Construction Zone Information Ahead!  This summer, the Harbor Montessori School has been undergoing much-needed and transformational improvements, bringing new life to the space on the south side of the Y’s main facility’s campus. The upgrades include large windows to let in more natural light, additional bathrooms with tiny toilets for the younger children, sinks in every classroom, new flooring, lighting, and furniture, and an improved air circulation system complete with air conditioning in each room. A new outdoor canopy will provide shade and protection from rain, while also

As August rolls into town, the activities at SYC begin to ramp up. The past weekend we enjoyed a delicious lobster bake organized by Nancy Doyle, our new social chair. Nancy and her team decked out the lawn and buildings and prepared delicious desserts for all to enjoy. The Seguin Island Trophy Race also took place on Saturday with two classses of boats on the line.

It was another great week at the Southport Junior Yacht Club! Everyone enjoyed some beautiful weather on the water and had so much fun sailing.

We only had two new program members this week, one being a new member of the Munchkin Mariners. Eloise Hawke braved the cold Cozy Harbor water alone while Ella Beth Biggs completed a 10-second dip in the water, and both of them warmed up with hot cocoa afterwards. As a part of the Munchkin Mariners group, Ella Beth had fun this week travelling to David’s Island and making watercolor paintings with Jen Phippen!

The morning class sailors had lots of fun

We are nearing the end of July, summer is halfway over! Our family has begun to arrive, my brother from New Zealand has already been here for a week. Our youngest daughter and her family will come on Thursday from Massachusetts (they come every weekend!).  Our son flies in on Friday from North Carolina  and our daughter-in-law and the three granddaughters are driving and will arrive on Saturday, Our oldest daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter arrive from Rhode Island on Friday, as well. Our middle daughter and her husband live on Barters Island. And then there are my other two brothers and

Wow, it’s almost impossible to believe that we are at the end of the month. July has just flown, however, we are so happy to finally be experiencing summer-like weather.

It was again a busy week of activities here with many to thank.

Thank you to Sarah Dawson who organized the kid’s Bingo night last Tuesday and for a nature walk on Wednesday.

Thank you to Ann Hussey Hogaboom for chairing a hugely successful Attic Treasure Sale. Ann along with her committee members Liz Colten, Cookie Dana, Donna Logan, Holly Horner, Patti Gardiner and Lynn Wilson spent many hours planning and organizing the

Dear Editor:  

A cracked-out clown car. Their own campaign stooge, James Carville was not just referring to the irascible antics of Hunter Biden. National Democrats have found themselves wallowing in desperation and inner turmoil. Masters of deflection and distraction, the DNC is gasping for survival. Bleeding ineptitude rears its ugly head. DOGE has stepped on their air hose and will not relent. Not even National Public Radio will rigor out of this one with their frequency, modulated lies and deceit. Tulsi Gabbard has stirred-up the hornet’s nest of absurd proportions. After all, who ever

Dear Editor:

If you know anyone who belongs to the Southport Yacht Club, please tell them to cease using a megaphone to shout orders and corrections to the youth sailing program students. 

I’ve worked on the west side of Southport for 40 years in several capacities for private home and property owners. For years we’ve heard the called out instructions from coaches of the youth sailing classes at the yacht club based in Cozy Harbor. 

This year, some in the membership decided to authorize the use of a loud megaphone for the instructor to call out order’s and instructions to the students.  It

As a student-athlete at BRHS, getting things done efficiently is a big part of my life. This is true for many others. Changing after school is very important to get to practice on time and to prepare for events. Right now, the school lockerrooms are often inaccessible for those with after-school needs unless a coach requests them to be open. I am writing this essay in hopes of a better and more positive experience for student athletes.  

Although some may say that we have locker-room access if requested, in my opinion, they should be open and functional for all the sports teams, not just per

Dear Editor:

While I am sure the Seaside Masonic Lodge in East Boothbay performs some community work, the collection of recycling at the entrance to the Lodge is a disgrace. If the Lodge is going to solicit donations, the least its membership can do is collect the bags on a regular basis. Presently, it is nothing more than a roadside dumping ground.

Peter C. Gardner

East Boothbay

Last week, the Stays’l's and Mizzens at BSSC unpacked our “Maine Ingredient” - seaweed! Starting small, we looked at micro-algae, which are the basis of our food chains. By Tuesday, our budding scientists were ready to learn about the macro-algae they see every day. During most of the week we explored what varieties of seaweed are native to the region and how they can be used in daily life. Seaweed is a key element to Maine coastal ecosystems, and it was exciting to see students build connections from crabs in tide pools to their seaweed snacks.   

At BSSC, snack time is key. Through a taste

Three guests joined our meeting last week, and together, it seemed to me, they echoed everything that Rotary fellowship is all about. 

First was Judith Goodnow, a member of the Bow, New Hampshire club and a summer resident here in the Midcoast. She came with greetings from the Bow club and was warmly welcomed by us – it goes without sayingbut is worth remembering anyway that any and all Rotarians are welcome to visit any club anywhere in the world. There’s  an app that will help Rotarians find other Rotarians, and it’s part of our ethos that Rotarians are never strangers – just friends we’ve