Cooking at 43° North: A garden state of mind
September always reminds me of tomatoes. Jersey tomatoes grow in abundance at that time of year and I never grew weary of the taste. Those tomatoes are truly in a class of their own.
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Perspectives
693 posts
Lost on a Loop Trail: Onboarding
When I first came across the word "onboarding," I had to look it up. I thought it had something to do with getting on board a boat, but I was wrong. Instead, the word means to prepare a new employee to work in a company. Corporate America birthed this term into existence in the 1990s and, over time, it has replaced the word "orientation."
Never Not Amazed: Stewing kindness
I'm stewing. But not a pot of tomatoes freshly harvested from my garden. I'm stewing in my own juices because I'm thinking about kindness.
Thinking in Public: Wrap rage
If I were asked to select only one occupation to represent all occupations that have outlived their intended purposes, it would be an easy decision. The hands-down winner of the coveted Brass Butt-Nugget Award would be the world's packaging engineers.
Of weeds and men
A few years ago, I installed a small playground near my island home for my grandkids. Some of them have now outgrown the swings and slides, but I still like to keep the area looking nice. For beauty's sake, I have planted some rhododendra, hydrangea, rose of Sharon and shrubby St. John's wart in the vicinity.
To acknowledge a wonderful lady
From Carolyn B. Perow: I am writing to acknowledge a wonderful lady. Kathy D'Agostino is her name.
Our truth teller in Augusta
From John M. Mishler: I was rather pleased to know that former state Rep. Jay McCreight shares my positive thoughts concerning current state Rep. Cheryl Golek ("Golek helps people solve problems," Harpswell Anchor, August 2026).
Driving Cheryl Golek
From George Simonson: Four years ago, I began volunteering as a driver for state Rep. Cheryl Golek, taking her door to door around Harpswell and Brunswick as she campaigned for her first term in the Maine Legislature. I drove her again two years ago. And now, as she runs for a third term, I'm doing it again.
24/7 firefighter coverage needed now
From Ellen Glew: Remember those postcards saying the town needed to bring in a qualified consultant to develop a comprehensive strategic plan (like the one done in 2008) for Harpswell's fire and rescue services? And that this should be done before approving $6 million for a new emergency services building?
Intertidal: Squid courtship is unusual and colorful
Part of what I like about writing this column is that I get to research subjects I don't know about, or at least don't know enough about. Despite writing more than 200 columns during the last 10 years or so, it has never been difficult to find a topic. My favorite way to land on a topic is to be introduced to it by a reader of my writing.
