Testimonies from a small coastal town in Maine
“Clerks, treasurers, selectmen, and constables are still a necessary part of our machinery of government, whereas fence sealers, tithingmen, wardens, deer reeves, leather sealers, surveyors of lumber, haywards, pound keepers, hog reeves and cullers of fish have ceased to have meaning…”
– Jasper Stahl, The History of Broad Bay, Vol. 1, 1956
I love municipal government. We are the most accessible of all forms of government. That’s why I’ve worked in it for 25 years. But I’ve never had a … Continue reading about Kristine Poland
It was terminal curiosity that got me into town government. It was wanting to know, “How does this work? Where did these numbers come from?” I … Continue reading about Delia Mohlie
When my grandmother passed away in 1986 leaving us a little money, my father used it to buy my brother and me a Commodore 64. We each had our … Continue reading about Peg Tynan
I don’t like it when my taxes go up. If you look at my house, there’s a lot wrong with it. And it stinks because when I bought it last year, … Continue reading about Ben Hunter
The first accident by our house happened the year we moved in, 2007. Some drunk kids in a truck jumped over the curb and landed right outside of … Continue reading about Charlotte Davenhill
We’ve always been a patriotic family. My father’s father, Lesley Staley (though people called him Les) was a veteran. He served in three foreign … Continue reading about Loretta Severson
You choose your battles. But I try not to choose battles, but to choose conversation, so that we can have a talk. And we can hopefully walk away, … Continue reading about Bob Butler
I grew up in a pretty religious family. Basically, we were Southern Baptists, and I was used to seeing things either one way or the other, black … Continue reading about Reuben Mahar
One Sunday, Abden Simmons and Bob Butler came over and said, “How would you like to run for Select Board?”
I was honored. Everybody … Continue reading about Jan Griesenbrock
It was probably 1962 or ‘63 when I went to my first County Committee meeting with AD Gray and Ronny Dollof. I was just an involved citizen and … Continue reading about Bill Blodgett
When I was new here, I met someone who said, “I know what it’s like to eat lunch on a Friday and not eat again until lunch on a Monday.” Before … Continue reading about Julie Keizer
A lot of people like Waldoboro just the way it is. A lot of the same people say they would welcome the return of business and good jobs. But … Continue reading about Max Johnstone
You don’t wish for the call as a paramedic. But you wish to be there when it comes. When I was a new paramedic, there was a young child who had … Continue reading about Derek Booker
Later today I’ve got to go to a mobile home in Waldoboro that last year a woman in her 80s lived. We’d gotten a phone call, and Karen … Continue reading about Stan Waltz
Most crime in Waldoboro is against property – thefts and burglaries. And a lot of that is drug related – it’s either people stealing from each … Continue reading about John Lash
These days I’m going door to door to every house in Waldoboro. And there are about 2,800 properties with buildings. I’ll finish next month. The … Continue reading about Darryl McKenney
Waldoboro wasn’t always a sleepy little village. Not at all. In its heyday, it was full of manufacturing and businesses. We even had police in … Continue reading about Jen Merritt
I like to start my day with joy. I want people to know that I’m here to help that I’m not the enemy. If I don’t know the answer to something, … Continue reading about Pam Jameson
A great day is after a big snowstorm when the sun comes up and there’s snow everywhere. It’s when you don’t have any breakdowns. When the boys … Continue reading about John Daigle
At the top of my list is completing three trails – the first, to link the pocket parks from Elm Street to the Rest Area which would include … Continue reading about Caren Clark
Some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets are at Pitcher’s Cove. I’d see them driving in and out of Harlan Creamer’s to board the Michelle … Continue reading about Will Pratt
