Joe's Journal

Summer is winding down, kids are heading back to school, and the political silly season is getting underway. This time, we escaped the summer’s weather madness — raging wildfires out west, heatwaves on the South and East coasts, and especially in Europe, where air conditioning is nearly non-existent. Back home in Indiana, raging floods took over towns after rogue cells dropped nearly a foot of rainwater overnight, sending rivers into record territory, surpassing records set in 1913. This summer, there were so many strange weather events that TV weathermen could hardly keep up with the feeds…

'Round Town

Arthur

A quick riddle. How do you identify a vehicle from West Southport? Look in traffic for something that looks like it traveled between Caratunk and Rockwood via dirt roads. These are pretty easy to identify, often driven by disgruntled and confused drivers who make hand gestures during lane changes. Do not take these gestures personally. Just return the gesture and smile. Non-local drivers eventually realize how much we like to share! Now on to today’s adventure with my dear old, now applying inspection stickers in the sky, friend, Arthur Barlow. I loved Arthur. He was my first local auto…

AARP News You Can Use – September 2026

Whether we like it or not, the fall political season is upon us. There will be more political ads than we can count between now and Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Maine voters take their voting responsibility seriously, giving Maine the distinction of having one of the highest voting participation rates in our country. We truly live up to our state’s motto, “Dirigo,” or “I lead.” However difficult it might be to choose whom to vote for, the first step toward casting your vote begins by registering to vote. Maine voters must be: a United States citizen, an established…

News and notes from the Community Center

Please help if you can: Our community is rallying to support volunteer Wilma Tatlock following a devastating fire that displaced her from her home and destroyed many of her personal possessions. The Community Center has offered to act as a collection point for direct community support for Wilma. Please bring your contributions to the Community Center during our open hours in the form of a check made out directly to Wilma or cash in a sealed envelope addressed to her. Please note these are not contributions to the Community Center and are not tax deductible. Thanks in advance for your…

Sprucewold Column: The artists among us

Creatives are drawn to Sprucewold. It makes sense, given our Rusticator roots and the breathtaking beauty of this place. We have several residents who show their paintings and sculptures at the Boothbay Regional Art Foundation (BRAF) gallery in downtown Boothbay Harbor. At least three Sprucewold artists are showing their work at BRAF’s recent show. Leigh Pumilia’s work features paintings of landscapes, which are a regional favorite. If you were at our opening party, you might have noticed Leigh’s wrapped rocks holding down our napkins. They are beautiful and functional. Joan Mayfield is…

Southport Column: A few events coming up

By the time you read this we will have entered September, school will have begun and only one more big summer weekend lays in store. The weather has been stellar, water temperatures are up, perfect for in the water and on the water, but the cost is the continued drought. We have received 8 inches less than normal ... significant. Even the hardy Montauk daisy is getting brown leaves, delicate astilbes are crisped, only shaded areas have retained some green, all else is brown bristle. Some of my favorite marshy wetlands, the ones that have not been erased by building sites, show no pools of…

Letter to the editor

Plea to pave

Dear Editor: We recently visited beautiful Barrett’s Park down the road behind the Catholic church. It is truly an exceptional jewel on a quiet waterfront. If only the pebbly paths were paved with asphalt, disabled and wheelchair-bound visitors could also enjoy the full range of this lovely park. Marilyn and Jack Heise East Boothbay

Letter to the editor

In disagreement

Dear Editor: Two recent decisions by the Boothbay Harbor Planning Board chairman seem ill advised and one illegal. As I wrote in a previous letter I was chairman of the Edgecomb Planning Board and now live in Boothbay Harbor. #1: At the end of the last PB meeting, it was determined that there were too many items at the next PB meeting and an additional one would have to be scheduled. This was difficult for the abutters' lawyer to attend. After some discussion, the PB acting chairman made the decision that the lawyers should come up with the next meeting. This creates a chance for the abutters…

Letter to the editor

Ideas, not identity

Dear Editor:Donald Trump is what the Republican Party has been all along: an anti-democratic, anti-rule-of-law party bent on enriching the already rich at the expense of wage earners and consumers. The difference from other GOP leaders is that Trump has made this plain and open. American political life reached an inflection point in the 1970s. Coming after McCarthy's Red Scare, the civil rights acts, the movement toward ecological preservation, and the establishment of robust social programs, these developments left business interests grasping for ideas to win back power. Two ideas emerged.…

Letter to the editor

Great response from Boothbay Public Works

Dear Editor: I called the Boothbay Public Works department head Mr. Alley on Thursday of this week (Aug. 27) to report a broken and dangerous sewer main cover. Mr. Alley assured me he would come out to Ocean Point to take a look at the problem. Today, Friday (Aug. 28), one day later, a brand new sound and secure sewer grate is in place. Thank you for exceptional service, excellent attention to customer calls, and a clear focus on service and community safety. Robert Q. Dana East Boothbay

Letter to the editor

Knickerbocker Lake in trouble

Dear Editor: Knickerbocker Lake is in crisis, down over 40 inches since May. Yes, our region is in a drought—dry weather affects everyone—but that reality makes the Boothbay Region Water District’s (BRWD) current management strategy even more alarming. Meeting records reveal a troubling lack of forward-thinking strategy regarding our peninsula’s long-term water supply. As summer temperatures rise, the BRWD Board of Trustees appears stuck in a passive loop, while our local Board of Selectmen has offered little public oversight as these decisions unfold. Nowhere is this administrative inertia…

Letter to the editor

Nice article on ship's visit

Dear Editor: Thank you for that outstanding article about the Corwith Cramer and the Sea Education Association (SEA) in last week’s paper. As an alum of that program (1979!), past crew and instructor (1988-1992), and current trustee of the organization, it was my pleasure to help organize the ships’ visit to Boothbay Harbor. It was especially gratifying that so many local people had a chance to see the ship and learn about the work that SEA does in the worlds of education and marine science. Two reasons for this note: firstly, to thank you for that great article; and secondly, to…

Bayville Buzz

It’s true, September is upon us! Labor Day weekend is almost here and for many that means summer’s last hurrah. Days are getting shorter, cooler and quieter - a combination many people here welcome - and why not? Fall is a glorious time of year! This morning (8/29) Fishhawk had quite the convention of cormorants. There usually is quite a gathering, but this seemed larger than usual as it spread from one end to the other. On an aside, I’m not sure what happened to cormorants around here in the past or in an evolutionary sense, but in Maine they certainly seem to spook a lot more easily…

AARP scam alert: How scammers are exploiting product recalls

As food and product recalls continue to make headlines, criminals are following suit. They send texts, emails, or other messages claiming that a product you purchased has been recalled and that you’re entitled to a refund or free replacement. The message may look legitimate, appearing to come from a retailer or manufacturer you trust. It urges you to act quickly and click a link to claim a refund or verify your account. But in reality, the link takes you to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials and personal or financial information. If you receive a message like this, don’t…

American Legion Post 36

Labor Day has arrived! Here in the Boothbay region, Labor Day means a lot of different things. For many, it is the last big weekend of summer. The restaurants are busy, the harbor is full, the tour boats are still carrying visitors, and our working waterfront is going about its business. But Labor Day is also a good time to stop and think about the people who make this community work. We sometimes talk about the Boothbay region as a tourism community, and certainly tourism is a major part of our economy. But tourism doesn't happen by itself. It takes thousands of people working behind the…

Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club

Our double-header Rotary meeting gave us a chance to look back and reflect on our accomplishments, as well as to learn more about one of our newer members. Erik Bertelsen was that newer member, and his assignment was to tell us the story of his life – in 10 minutes. He spent about half that time sharing the story of how he and wife Abby Jones discovered Boothbay Harbor. It all started about 50 years ago when Erik’s sister married a Mainer. That brother-in-law introduced the extended family to the region, and eventually, Erik and his wife Abby Jones purchased the house that would become their…

Boothbay Region YMCA: Community Catalyst for Good

McEvoy Lodge: More than a Building

Architect’s rendering of the renovated McEvoy Lodge at Camp Knickerbocker. Renovations to begin at the end of August and completed by Spring 2027.

The Camp Knickerbocker campus of the Boothbay Region YMCA has only been quiet for a few days between the end of another amazing summer season and the beginning of renovations to McEvoy Lodge. On Monday, contractor JF Scott will begin selective demolition and renovation work and then will commence with the complete demolition and rebuilding of the building’s north side. This phase marks the start of a much-anticipated transformation of a building that has stood at the heart of Camp K for more than four decades. “We have been working on this project since 2024,” says Rose Mooney, the Y’s…

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library

Why do so many mystery authors write in a series? Most often either the author or their audience becomes enthralled with the protagonist. Each story ends with you wanting more from this character. Questions asked at a book club might be: Were you satisfied with the ending, if not what would you change? What do you think will happen to the character next? Does the author plan a sequel? Would the story make a good film? Here is a list of popular authors and their protagonist whose series were made into film or television. Karen Slaughter's Will Trent Lee Child's Jack Reacher Tess Gerritsen's…

BRHS Champions of Change commentary

Stopping bullying by hiring a monitor

Bullying at Boothbay Region High School goes beyond being a disciplinary issue, it is a threat to student safety, mental health, and the learning environment we all share. I am calling on the BRHS administration to implement stricter, more meaningful consequences for bullying, including the use of a structured in-school suspension that promotes accountability rather than avoidance. As a student who has experienced bullying firsthand in the past, I know the impact it has on my peers every day; I know the harmful behavior that goes insufficiently addressed. If our school is truly…

Where It's At

The First Friday Art Tours

The First Friday Art Tours in our Boothbay Harbor region date back to 2000 when it was Art Along The Avenues. Artist Lynne Seitzer, co-owner of Joy to the Wind Gallery, shared its evolutionary history, some years ago, but for the sake of this column, here's a much abbreviated version: Five to eight galleries hosted receptions set up to coincide with Boothbay Region Art Foundation's show calendar. This was followed by hosting art tours on the last Friday of each month, known as the Last Friday Art Tour but, it was not highly successful. In 2002, the decision was made to adapt to the nationwide…

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Main Street Shop

AHI TUNA CRUDO IN WATERMELON PONZU SAUCE AT 727 OCEAN SUNSET BAR

Smuggler’s Cove Oceanfront Inn

The Saltwater Hillbilly Sunday Show!! Costume Conga Line!!

Brady’s

10 More Days of August!!! *#@#!!

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Brady's is open Lunch and Dinner!!

Brady’s

Folk Legend Tom Rush, accompanied by Brendan Cleary on Sept. 4th

Camden Opera House

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Smuggler’s Cove Oceanfront Inn

Blue saxophonist Vanessa Collier on Sept. 25!

The Strand Theatre

Joachim Cooder, Presented by Bagaduce Music

Camden Opera House

Main Street Buzz

Coastal Senior College Begins a Series of Fall Walks

Coastal Senior College

Singer/Songwriter Karen McDine Sunday, August 30th from 5-8pm at 727 Ocean Sunset Bar

Smuggler’s Cove Oceanfront Inn

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Maine Open Lighthouse Day returns to Burnt Island Light

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 10:00 am

Castle Tucker Behind Closed Doors

Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 10:00 am to11:30 pm

Behind Closed Doors tour of Castle Tucker

Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 10:00 am

Open auditions being held on Sept. 12

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 10:00 am

Behind Closed Doors at Castle Tucker

Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 11:00 am

Waldoboro Public Library launches Poet's Corner

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 01:00 pm

Harbor Drum Circle

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 02:00 pm to4:00 pm

Opera House: Brad Myrick & Tom Pirozzoli

Saturday, September 12, 2026 - 07:00 pm

Music on the WW&F Railway Music Series

Monday, September 14, 2026 - 02:00 pm

Take More Time Tour: Castle Tucker

Thursday, September 17, 2026 - 10:00 am

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Coastal Senior College Begins a Series of Fall Walks

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Elmors back at Brady's Saturday 8/29!!

Watch the Video: Spotlight on Harbor Theater for September 2026

Women On the Water (WoW) Program Expands to the Classroom

“How Does Music Work?” and “Singing Our Roots”

Watch the Video: Maine Commercial Fishing Rememberance Day 2026

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