On Wednesday, June 19, "A Maritime Event" at the Skidompha Free Library in Damariscotta, Nick Dean of the River Road, author of "Snow Squall: The Last American Clipper Ship," joined Lincoln Paine ("Down East: A Maritime History of Maine") and Warren Riess ("Angel Gabriel") in a discussion of their books, and to answer questions about Maine's special relationship with the sea. Nick has just learned that "Snow Squall" has received the John Lyman Award from the North American Society for Oceanic History. This award honors maritime historian John Lyman. Huzzahs and cheers, Nick!

Early last Tuesday morning, a handful of hikers from the Boothbay Region Land Trust took the Kitzi Colby Preserve trail, despite rain and insects. Their leader, birder Nancy Bither, reported they heard more birds than they saw, but among the species, several Ovenbirds (who build neatly mounded nests on the ground), Veeries, Hermit Thrushes, assorted Warblers (Black- Throated Blue, Black-Throated Green, Black-and-White, and Yellow-Rumped) and a Brown Creeper. Most exciting, a Broad-Winged Hawk swirling overhead clued them to its nesting site. But alas, the mosquitoes, like Fort Edgecomb's recent invaders, gained the day. Your late-rising reporter was lucky to meet the group on its way out.

Chat and Check (for blood pressure) will meet again in the Edgecomb Congregational Church vestry, says Gail Boudin. This free health service opens at 9:30 a.m. and will close with a light lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Joan and Willie Myatt, with granddaughter Ruth, are at Old Hundred. Bob Bryant has been on Clifford Road with his sons Steven and Douglas. While here they celebrated Douglas' birthday.

A hearty toast to Les and Lee Smith who have just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary!

Come to a Lobster Dinner at the Edgecomb Congregational Church, Saturday, June 29, 5 to 7 p.m.! It will benefit the church's community mission program at Homeworkers Organized for More Employment (H.O.M.E) in Orland, to build homes for low income families. Lobster $12.00; chicken $8.00 plus corn, salads, beans, blueberry cake, rolls, coffee and punch. All are welcome! For more information, call Bob Hardina at 563-5236.

Last Friday evening, Gayle Fraas and Duncan Slade celebrated the completion of their "Lobster Lake Suite," an important art commission for Nuveen in the 333 West Wacker Drive Building, Chicago. Fraas and Slade, pioneers in the technique of intricate dyed and painted quilted fabrics, containing both pattern and imagery, had the added challenge of making the seven pieces of the suite conform to the space provided. All the pieces have been mounted on metal frames fabricated by Mid-Coast Machine of Boothbay. John Wood of Cross Point Road provided technical advice on curving the frames and protective plexiglass of two of the pieces to fit the curved walls of Nuveen's reception area. Their four companion pieces are also curved, but more subtly. The largest piece, a dramatic waterfall cascading over cliffs of detailed striped fabric, is to be mounted on a straight wall facing the reception desk. Joanne Minott, from Parsons Point, helped Gayle with the extensive quilting in these works.

The artists chose Lobster Lake, to the northeast of Moosehead Lake, as a holistic metaphor, combining natural features such as its geology Lobster Lake is both glacial and volcanic in formation-- and botany, with the cultural history of the region, visited by Henry David Thoreau and Jake Day, among others, and of great importance to the logging industry.

Can anyone help Janet Sawyer Michel? She is trying to locate a great great grandmother named Hannah Edgecomb from Vinalhaven, who married into the Sawyer family in or near Portland circa. 1837. If any readers have genealogical lore to share about the Sawyer and/or Edgecomb families, Janet can be reached at Jjm8533@aol.com.

Tangental news: I'm sure many Edgecomb readers know and love artist Ruth Lepper Gardner of Southport. Her retrospective exhibit at the Boothbay Harbor Framer's Gallery in the Meadow Mall continues through the first week of July. Go and see it! A refreshing treat from our red-hatted, purple-gowned neighbor!

Late-breaking tangental news: Hannah Holmes, who is the niece of Nick and Zibette Dean, just North of your correspondent on the River Road, is on the short list for the International Science Award for her book, "The Secret Life of Dust." The winner will be announced from London June 25. Among the running, Stephen J. Gould and Stephen Hawkings. Way to go, Hannah!

Meanwhile, I have not far to go to 234 River Road, 633-2978, bonesukl@midcoast.com.

This column appears in The Boothbay Register, The Lincoln County News, The Wiscasset Newspaper, and at www.edgecomb.org.