As a veteran, I am very angry and dismayed with the draconian reductions in personnel at the Veteran Administration. I cannot understand how these senseless and heartless cuts in VA manpower levels to bring employee numbers to 2019 levels, will improve the delivery of service to our veterans.

This is in combination as well with the massive cancellation by President Trump and Elon Musk of private contract services at the VA.

This whole process seems counter productive since 400,000 new veterans needing VA services have been added to their rolls since 2019.

These changes were abrupt and

The Very Light Pistol has been used in maritime rescues and military operations for years. Pretty cool that its inventor was Edward Very, a native of Belfast, Maine!

Born in 1847, his family emigrated west and, at age 15, Edward was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy. His was the first appointment from the then-territory of Washington. 

He took a leave of absence from Annapolis to serve in the Civil War, shipping aboard the Maine-built USS Agawam (more on that ship later) before ending his duties off North Carolina aboard the blockade ship USS Gettysburg. 

Back at Annapolis, he graduated

CAMDEN — On the day five years ago that businesses all across Maine went dark due to COVID-19, the award-winning Finding Our Voices campaign breaking the silence of domestic abuse came to light.  

Businesses were shuttered on March 25, 2020 in a public health directive by Governor Janet T. Mills. On that very day, the route from Camden to Rockland was suddenly alive with the faces and voices of 14 Maine women domestic abuse survivors. As a survivor, Patrisha McLean had quickly put together the 4’ x 2’ posters to mitigate the spike in domestic abuse she knew the social distancing would bring

We are only seven weeks into the Trump Presidency, and most of what he promised on the the campaign trail is evidently all lies!

Instead of a stronger economy, the markets are crashing in response to Trump's tariffs, inflation is up 3%, and jobless claims are up 242,000.

Instead of improving the health and safety for U.S. citizens, there is an unprecedented and deadly measles outbreak, 36 million Americans' health insurance is at risk due to GOP Medicaid cuts, and both airline safety and critical weather forecasting are threatened by DOGE cuts.

Instead of protecting U.S. veterans, veteran

It's a fallacy to think we can keep doing the work of resisting the moves of the current administration without taking the time to process and move through the grief.

We're watching the destruction of our government by an administration bent on their own power and greed. Don't for a minute think otherwise. Things we thought could rely on here in Midcoast Maine — accurate and timely weather forecasts, FEMA funds for storm-ravaged fishing piers, free food programs at the elementary, middle, and high schools — are being ravaged as I write this.

Your Social Security check may or may not come

The following was submitted by Maria Libby, Five Town CSD Superintendent

Transparency, being upfront and honest about our goings-on, and keeping the public well informed about our schools is a priority in the Five Town CSD. We communicate with our staff, students, parents, and community a lot. That ethic of transparency is what motivated us to go to referendum for the recent HVAC/Siding and Windows/Turf Field projects.

The timing was unavoidable, even though we knew it was less than ideal. In order to meet the Maine Municipal Bond Bank deadlines for a Summer 2025 start once we had the

Most of us who live in the northern part of the globe, even those of us who love winter sports and activities, can’t help but look forward to the return of spring. It’s just part of being human and feeling connected to the earth and the rhythms of nature. We respond to more daylight and, at least intermittently, warmer temperatures. But we also look for signs of spring in nature—especially in the birds. We’ve been noting four signs of spring in the bird world this year. Maybe you are noticing them, too?

More Singing

It seems like even as we head into January, we start to notice certain

For more than a century now, 106 years to be precise, The American Legion has stood as a pillar of strength, service, and unwavering dedication to our nation's veterans. The Legion serves not just those who wore the military uniform, but their families as well. We serve young people. We serve communities. And we continue to serve our great country.

On March 15, we not only celebrate the remarkable history of our American Legion but also reaffirm our commitment to the mission that has guided us since 1919. Since its founding in the wake of World War I, The American Legion has been a steadfast

Reference: Karen Grove’s comments about the TV report on Montgomery Dam. 

Allison McKellar’s statement that the elvers die at the wall: I believe that is true since there is nowhere they can live and mature.

Karen states that they are “going to die anyway.” By implication, why bother ? Ultimately we all die.

If the elvers were able to reach upstream lakes and rivers they would grow and mature. Males mature in two to three years while females take 10-20 years and possibly up to 40 years .

All this before returning to the salt water and swimming to the Sargasso Sea where they breed. After

ROCKLAND — Three dedicated students from Mid-Coast School of Technology are heading to the SkillsUSA competition with a powerful story of community service and compassion. Their project, focused on supporting the Knox County Homeless Coalition, has not only raised much-needed funds but also brought the community together.

The students, Grace Wesbrock, Haley Blake, and Arden Kondracki, embarked on their project with a simple goal: to make a positive impact. Their journey began with a delicious spaghetti dinner at Warren Community School on November 22, 2024. The event was a resounding success

Long before the United States declared independence on July 4, 1776, the people of the British Colonies in North America were taking sides – Patriots vs. Royalists. Here in the District of Maine, residents of Damariscotta took an early and definitive stand, formalizing their support for the Patriot cause in a public document.

On March 6, 1775, Nathan Chapman, Thomas Flint, and Anthony Chapman signed the Five Resolves as representatives of “the Inhabitance of a place called Damiscota,” making a clear declaration of their commitment to independence. The document, with minor spelling adjustments

In the wake of President Trump's repeated delusional assertions that the U.S. will "take over Gaza" after some two million Palestinians are summarily evicted so that he can carry out his biggest real estate and renovation deal a remarkable AI video appeared on Trump's Truth Social site in support of this cruel fantasy.

It provides a vivid illustration of the President's utter disconnect from reality and the scale of his self-imagined projection into grandiose worldly success.

In place of near-total destruction in Gaza the Trump video portrays a massive makeover into a successful tourist mecca

I am angry and frustrated with President Trump’s and the Republican Congressional management of our country. Two of my concerns are the following:

I vehemently opposed the Medicaid Bill in Congress, supported by President Trump, and being pushed through Congress by House Republicans. There are about 75 million Americans on Medicaid — 21% of our population.

If these cuts are enacted, it's projected that millions of working citizens will lose their Medicaid, with the probability of resulting deaths, and untold increases in medical illnesses. These draconian budgetary cuts are another example

PenBayPilot.com is reprising past columns written by Barbara F. Dyer, our friend and Camden historian, who died in 2022. We miss her, and her insightful pieces about Camden history. We are grateful for all that she has left us. This column, "Goodbye to old schools", was first published in 2016.

As in every town and city, schools are always not only a budget item, but the building of new schools and districts are a hot voting project, as well. Camden is no different and now the question on everyone's mind is the school board's recommendation to tear down the buildings on Knowlton Street and

The Elm Street School is one of the most iconic buildings in Camden. It has served our community for generations, having been built before the Civil War. Our families are among the many who have learned at Elm Street. In the Flanagan family, 12 members belonging to three generations have attended school in this building. For the Gutierrez children, Elm Street represents a beloved community playground where they can run and play on the same ground their mother did over 30 years ago when attending kindergarten at Elm Street School. Seeing them and their friends play brings so much joy as they

Loss of federal funding, diminished investor interest and a President Trump anti-offshore wind Executive Order make Maine’s plans for developing a commercial-scale offshore wind manufacturing facility on Sears Island obsolete. To date, neither Governor Mills nor MDOT officially recognize this reality.

What is the current state of Maine’s Offshore Wind initiative? Is there hope for the Research Array? Are the Maine Dept. of Transportation and the Governor’s Energy Office re-evaluating the state’s offshore wind aspirations?

A year ago, Governor Mills loudly proclaimed Sears Island as the site

Is Maine so liberal that there isn't a scintilla of disapprobation regarding Janet Mills' recent activity as our Governor?  In addition to her very public support for including males in female sporting events, she has proposed a budget for 2026-2027 at a staggering $11.63 billion — an 11% increase over the previous budget. 

Even with her proposed 5.3% digital streaming tax on subscriptions like Netflix, a 6% tax on ambulance providers and a new 70 cent fee on every Maine prescription, the state will now incur a $450 million "structural deficit" — code for expenditures exceed revenue. 

To top

Special Olympics Maine successfully concluded its Winter Games in just one action-packed day on February 26, 2025, as organizers made the decision to adjust the schedule and complete all competitions in response to a potential weather-related cancellation for the following day. Despite the change, the event was a resounding success, with over 360 athletes showcasing their skills across multiple winter sports.

Athletes competed in Alpine Ski, Dual Ski, Speedskating, Snowshoe, and Cross-Country Ski, making the most of gorgeous weather conditions for outdoor events. The energy and enthusiasm

The 1925 Camden Herald reported on April 28  that Camden Garden Club held its first meeting of the season.