Have you ever wondered why it is that some ducks have the word “duck” in their English name while others don’t?

Maybe you have to be a bird nerd like us to ponder that question, but ponder it we did recently.

Yesterday, we were taking in views of North America’s smallest duck, the green-winged teal, in a wetland not far from home. This is the time of year when lots of green-winged teal migrate north through Maine on their way to their extensive breeding grounds across Canada and Alaska. Green-winged teal do have a green patch in their wing, as suggested by their name, but it’s not

Once again, Camden's engaged citizens are offering petitions, this time on the issues of having a local police chief and the paid parking program. I closely reviewed the Select Board April 7 packet that included town attorney William Kelly's thorough analysis of the legality of moving these petitions to a town meeting vote. 

Although not required, I agree that giving residents the opportunity to weigh in on whether we want a full time, resident police chief is important for making our voices heard on this very important issue. A vote will be helpful when crafting future plans regarding public

Over the past two weeks, a citizen’s petition regarding the Camden paid parking program was initiated.  Approximately 15 Camden citizens worked together to take the pulse of their community regarding this most consequential issue for our town—paid parking and whether we want it.  I can say without hesitation, the answer to this question is a resounding “NO.”

During just a couple days of effort, 577 Camden residents enthusiastically signed and supported the petition.  This number far exceeds the 334 minimum signature requirement.  The purpose statement of the petition simply read the following

Let’s start with two post scripts from my daily log.  

  P.S.  When I was a kid in Delaware, seemingly endless flocks of grackles flew over our house, by the thousands. At a Tulsa McDonald's near daybreak there must have been thousands on the power lines, the trees, and anywhere a bird could roost all on the McDonald’s lot.

The noise they made was like an amplified static that as a sci-fi soundtrack would warn that something bad was about to happen. A day later a tornado hit Tulsa, killed three people and darkened the city's power grid. I had moved east through the storm before the tornado

Growing up, we had a full set of World Book Encyclopedias on the bookshelf in the front hall. I was the kind of kid who, from time to time, would pull down a volume and spend a good chunk of the afternoon flipping through it; 1980s doomscrolling.

All the information in the world was contained in those thick, hard-bound books. Or so my young self believed.

The news arrived by way of the early morning delivery of the Bangor Daily News, a far thicker paper than what you get today. I initially only read the comics page — an entire newspaper page of three panel strips. Most were great. I never got

Midcoast Habitat for Humanity has outgrown its home! We are excited to announce our relocation to the iconic Downeast Building at 680 Commercial Street, Rockport, Maine.

While the announcement comes on April 1, this move is no joke. It reflects real growth, need and momentum for Midcoast Habitat and the community we serve.

Thanks to the continued support of volunteers, donors, and the broader community, Midcoast Habitat is building more affordable housing than ever. This growth requires larger, more functional spaces that allow us to further expand our efforts to better serve Knox County.

“Th

On behalf of the Rockport Select Board, we’re writing to share an important development as we head into this year’s municipal budget vote in June.

After weeks of collaborative work with the Budget Committee and Town staff, the Select Board has finalized a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that reflects a decrease of $78,693, or 0.94%, from the prior year. This marks the first time in 16 years that Rockport’s municipal budget has declined. (Even when accounting for a significant increase in externally driven costs—such as Knox County’s 40% rise in E-911 and dispatch fees, which we have no

Summer camp experiences with Girl Scouts of Maine (GSME) unlock a world of excitement, adventure, and personal growth for young girls. From overnight camps to troop minicamps and family experiences, Girl Scout Camp offers endless possibilities for exploration and development. 

Girl Scouts of Maine is proud to provide these immersive opportunities, enabling girls to unplug from everyday life and connect with nature. Also, girls who attend Girl Scout camp do not have to be Girl Scouts. At Girl Scout camp, girls forge new friendships, build resilience, and gain the confidence to take on new

Isn’t it wonderful to have the sun streaming in late in the day while birds are still singing well into the early evening hours? That by itself is a sure sign of spring. Each of us have our own unique markers of the sometimes slow disappearance of winter into the season of light, warmth, and rebirth. Here’s a random few of ours from the past week or so.

One of our favorites is the faint, high-pitched twittering we heard from the car when we rolled down the windows on a cold evening soon after the sun had set. We stepped out to listen more closely, and we heard it: the loud, nasal, buzzy

Every day I am offended by the crass and vulgar terms that President Trump uses in reference to those he regards as critics and enemies; e.g. "lunatic Leftists," "deranged scumbags." His relentless flow of dehumanizing rhetoric has become so normalized in our public discourse that there is scant reaction to his racism, misogyny, and vulgarity.  However they might have spoken in private, no prior President has ever used such crude and demeaning speech in public.

As a Quaker, I inherit a long legacy of using respectful terms of address. At a time of transition in English language usage, the
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While sitting in the rain on the Hendersonville Road in South Carolina my windshield wipers died. This was the first real mechanical problem I had encountered on my travels. South Carolina was to be the last state that I visited before a month’s return to Maine. The radio new’s was abuzz about an ice storm making it’s way east. 

A friendly Walterboro convenience store clerk directed me to the garage he used and thought they might be able to get me in and do the repairs. I spent the next two days sitting in the waiting room at Paul’s Auto Repair consulting via texts with my mechanically gifted

Public lands throughout the country, including Maine’s new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, are being threatened by the Trump Administration’s latest effort to undermine the democratic process of how these lands are managed.

In January, the U.S. House passed a “resolution of disapproval” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that paves the way for mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. These CRA’s allow Congress to overturn the management plans of national monuments.

Representative Jared Golden was the only Democrat to vote

Section 8 of Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution grants to Congress the powers “To declare war… To raise and support Armies… To provide and maintain a Navy… “.

Since war and other military activities require the participation of and expense by the citizenry of the country, the Founders required such public approval via its representatives in Congress.  

There are emergencies in which it is inappropriate for the Commander in Chief to wait for Congressional approval, but even those circumstances are not without limits.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 restricts the power of the President from

ORONO, Maine — Dayboat scallops from inshore waters — known for their succulent texture and optimal balance of buttery and briny flavors — are unlike any other, according to Downeast Dayboat founder Togue Brawn. 

Most scallops can take many days — if not weeks — to reach shore after they are harvested, but dayboat scallops are brought back within 24 hours to be sold, packaged, shipped or frozen. 

Brawn launched Downeast Dayboat in 2011 to share the product she loves with customers nationwide. While the business showed promise, Brawn said her technical savvy didn’t match her passion. She

Three tundra swans showed up last week in Scarborough Marsh, a noteworthy find considering Maine is outside of the normal migratory path for these giant white birds.

We were fortunate when we lived in Ithaca, New York, to have had lots of opportunities to see tundra swans in strong numbers on Cayuga Lake and at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, abutting the north end of the 38-mile body of water. During migration periods, there could sometimes be hundreds of these massive, magnificent birds in the area.

Here in Maine, in contrast, swans of any kind are quite rare. Probably most frequent

ORONO — Wild blueberries, the iconic Maine crop dotting hillsides, decorating sweatshirts and adding personality to local menus, are more than a cultural symbol. Over 20 years of preclinical and clinical studies suggest that regularly consuming wild blueberries supports gut and heart health and may reduce risk factors associated with chronic disease.

Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Maine, recommends one half to one cup per day. She eats them alongside her morning oats or blends them into smoothies.

She has spent her multi-decade career researching the

Being at the hospital has a way of putting things in perspective, at least for me. Hospitals bring us together, touching almost everyone in the community at some point in our lives, and at some of the most emotionally charged moments — moments that bring out the best and the worst in us. You see people at every stage of their lives, and whenever I recognize someone, I do a quick scan before greeting them, trying to discern whether it's a time to congratulate or console. But for me, whether I’ve been at Pen Bay as a patient, volunteer, or visitor, it has always felt like home and I've always

For most bird species, the first individual you see is indelibly etched in your memory. You may remember the place, the weather, whether you were hungry or tired, who you were with, even the smells, and the color of the sky.

But if you’ve been a bird watcher for a long time, the memory of the first encounter with certain birds can get a little hazy. For us, that’s the case for the distinctive stubby tail, silvery wingtips, and black head of the black vulture.

It may be because we didn’t see our first black vulture here in Maine where it would have been especially memorable. We are pretty

As a member of Midcoast Maine Green Burial and a fellow Camden resident who cherishes Camden’s natural beauty and community spirit, I’m writing to continue a conversation about our effort to establish a dedicated green burial section in one of our local cemeteries.

We are often asked thoughtful questions about this practice. We welcome them, as open dialogue is the heart of our community. Below, I hope to address some of the most common concerns with accurate, kindly meant information.

“Wouldn’t a green burial ground fail to protect the land in perpetuity?”

A green burial site is a permanently