During the past year, I’ve been volunteering for The Concord Bridge, our local newspaper, using my drone to capture aerial photographs on assignment. On my latest outing, I was approached by a security officer contracted to patrol the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Concord — the state’s oldest men’s prison, which officially closed on June 30, 2024.

The officer politely inquired about my activities, and I politely explained that I was working on an assignment for the local paper. We enjoyed a brief and civil discussion about airspace, property lines, and who actually controls what. In the end, he requested that I leave the parking lot, and I complied, relocating to a nearby public area where I relaunched and completed my photos, careful to stay well outside the prison boundaries.

Afterward, it occurred to me that it might be wise to obtain some form of press credential to confirm the purpose of my flights. I made my request to the Editor-in-Chief, who promptly mailed me a bona fide press pass — which arrived today. I plan to wear it with pride and, hopefully, with just enough authority to spare me from further impromptu civics lessons in parking lots.

On the home front, Jeanine’s sister Lauren flew in from Indianapolis and will be visiting for the next several days. I picked her up at the airport and returned home just in time to meet up with Jeanine, who gave her the grand tour, including a stop at the exercise bar I recently installed for her.