When we all receive our copies of the Town warrant and report, let us be sure to answer the enclosed Selectmen's survey about guess what! The Wiscasset Bypass! However, be aware that since the Selectboard designed this survey form, changes have occurred. Some route options have been dropped; other options added, or re-named. The Committee to Save Edgecomb's Rural Community has sent out a newsletter to clarify the current situation. Read both documents carefully and send your completed surveys back to the Town Hall "in timely fashion."

Similarly, there will be enclosed a questionnaire concerning the disposition of the old Eddy School and/or the Edgecomb Town Hall. It is unlikely that the Town will be able to keep both buildings. So we must think very carefully about their respective present physical conditions, convenience of locations, appropriate new or additional uses.

The Edgecomb Historical Society met Thursday, April 25 to hear Nick Dean's appraisal of the several kinds of industrial sites that occur in our region. We discussed brickyards, mill sites grist mills, lumber mills, tidal and otherwise, feldspar/mica mines and other examples from the late 18th through the early 20th centuries.

Ruth Bryant brought over a number of clippings and photographs for the Historical Archive. I will take the liberty to quote from one, dateline Sept. 23, 1921:
"Bath motorists will be pleased to learn that early next year the "awful road" through Edgecomb will be eliminated, it being understood that the State Highway Commission has approved the construction of a road from the east end of Wiscasset bridge straight through the woods to join the state highway beyond Edgecomb. This will save the motorist two miles of bad road."

A reminder from the Edgecomb Tax Collector's office: Within the next few weeks, lien procedures will be started on any properties on which there are unpaid taxes for this fiscal year (2001-2002). During this time, extra charges will be added to the unpaid tax and interest. If you have any questions about the taxes that have been billed, now is the time to check with the Town Office, before the lien procedures start.

What? Do all roads lead to Edgecomb? A workshop about Route 27 will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. We will review the consultants' study of the highway, their compilation of traffic data, and then open the discussion to concerned residents. As you know, Rte. 27 is our long-established commercial corridor. There are issues which will affect the several businesses located along our stretch. Later, workshops will be held for Boothbay's and Boothbay Harbor's stretches of Rte. 27, which will mean feedback for Edgecomb. It seems we do not live in a vacuum, or more accurately, we do not live in a vacuum shared by Wiscasset!

And when will the spotlight focus on the River Road? I wonder nervously, from 234 River Road, 633-2978, bonesukl@midcoast.com.