In a word: Playing Scrabble for fun, literacy, positive qi

The 89-year-old game is still going strong, creating friendly rivalries, increasing vocabulary and, next weekend, raising money for local literacy efforts.

Pro tips: How to know when your compost is cooking just right

Face Time: Cartoonist Ernie Anderson talks about his sketchy passion

And to think this hot, new, local artist started by drawing a banana on roller skates.

The do’s, don’ts and benefits of composting

Mark LaFlamme: Follow me for more tips on healthy living!

Talk of the Town: Award-winning columnist Mark LaFlamme ruminates on easy-access fires, extraterrestrial ball armies, the halcyon days when Lewiston and Auburn were going to unite, working his gluten, and so much more.

Face Time: Farmington’s Matt Billian captures moments in time

The photographer is also an aviation enthusiast who sometimes combines his interests to get a bird's-eye view of Maine's beauty.

In a word: Cowabunga! Words and phrases from TV

Television programs have been a factory of word creation over the years, with many words becoming part of the lexicon yada yada yada . . .

What about smokeless fire pits?

A fairly recent innovation based on a very old method of fire building has resulted in a line of 'smokeless' fire pits to cut down on the amount of smoke released by a backyard fire.

Mystery Photo for April 10, 2022

Correctly guess where this photo was taken and you could win a $20 Hannaford gift card.

‘I must have a fire pit always’: The season of backyard fires is warming up in Maine

There was a time when life-changing decisions were made by a group of people huddled around a fire. The tradition continues today with every manner of fire pit imaginable . . . and some you may never have thought of.