My deep apologies to Edgecomb author Lea Wait, whose name I inexplicably got wrong in last week's column. You can catch Ms. Wait signing copies of her latest book, "Shadows at the Fair, " at the Maine Coast Book Shop and Caf‚ on Saturday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This novel is the first in a series of detective stories featuring an antique dealer named Maggie Summer. Later the same day she will be the featured speaker at the Lincoln County Historical Association's annual meeting at the Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden. The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m.; Ms. Wait will speak at 2:15 p.m.

Incidently, Andy Abello and Sue Carlson, both of Edgecomb, have been nominated for 1st vice president and 2d vice president, respectively, of the LCHA.

Tomorrow, Friday, July 19, Van Reid, another Edgecomb writer, will be signing his new post-Revolution coming of age novel, "Peter Loon," at the Maine Coast Book Shop and Caf‚, from 4 to 6 p.m.

It is interesting that both Reid and Wait have set stories in the period just following the American Revolution. (Wait's juvenile, "Stopping to Home" is about 1805 Wiscasset.) Our fledgling nation had not yet found itself; there were great upheavals, largely to do with land acquisition and ownership, turbulent veterans of the Continental Army, often paid only with the promise of land, up against an ambitious set of "neo-land barons," whose only clear idea of government was the form they had just tossed off: the feudal monarchy and hierarchy of aristocrats. I have just finished reading Alan Hale's "White Indians and Great Proprietors," and recommend it as background reading for both these historical novels.

And speaking of the 18th century, the Friends of Fort Edgecomb have a regular schedule of encampments, most at the Fort, but some elsewhere. Their next activity will be celebrating Vienna, Maine's, Bicentennial in Vienna July 27-28. If you plan to go, please call Fred (829- 5753) or Laurel (377-5335) so they can plan food for a communal Saturday meal. And be sure to buy a raffle ticket for the Fort Edgecomb quilt!

Gertrude Allen of Dodge Road e-mails me that she will be guest of honor at a family luncheon celebrating her 90th birthday! Hosting the affair are her daughter Melody Vale of Warwick RI, granddaughter Susan O'Brien of Andover MA, stepdaughter Mary Cheney of Moutonboro NH, with their spouses and families, including great grandson Dr. Todd O'Brien and his wife who are both in medical training as hospital residents in Rochester NY. "I believe there will be three dogs brought by people who cannot leave them behind," reports Gertrude. She also expects good neighbors Gladys Betts and Bertha Paquet, among the 30 or so guests.

A reminder from the Town Hall: Owners of documented boats should be aware that their 2002 excise tax is now due. If you no longer own a boat that was documented last year, please notify the Tax Collector!

On my way down to Salt Marsh Cove Friday morning, I encountered a pleasant couple touring "all the [Boothbay Region] Land Trust preserves," with the aim of taking pictures to enter in BRLT's photography contest. This is a great idea! I encourage everyone to come take prize-winning pictures in the Kitzi Colby Nature Preserve on the River Road and in the Singing Meadow on Cross Point Road! The deadline is September 1. Submissions should be sent to BRLT at 1 Oak Street (or P.O. Box 183), Boothbay Harbor 04538. Call 633-4818 during business hours for details.

Sunday afternoon we went with friends to a matinee performance of the River Company's production of "Under Milkwood" by Dylan Thomas, splendidly presented in the new auditorium of the Skidompha Library. The wonderful swirl of Welsh rhythms sustains me this morning. Nothing (or perhaps, everything!) to do with Edgecomb the play is a tribute to small towns everywhere--but I urge you all to support this local theatre group who specialize in challenging plays with small casts! (Well, this play, I counted 31 roles, but six actors and a narrator, director Ann Foskett, handled them all!) Casting is on-going for a production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." This will make an interesting comparison with the Thomas' work.

"Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs / About the lilting house... " at 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. Quote is the first line of Dylan Thomas' poem "Fern Hill".