Drop everything and come on down to the Edgecomb Historical Society's meeting today (Thursday, Nov. 21) at 2 pm! We will be in the Edgecomb Town Hall. The guest speaker will be Mary Burnham Reeves of Boothbay Harbor, who will tell us about her father's, John Burnham's, general store on the River Road.

The EHS also reports a great interest from you all concerning our plans for a display at the new Edgecomb school. Donations and loans of photographs and other school memorabilia are coming in at a great rate! Incidently, I should have said at the beginning, EHS will scan or otherwise reproduce any photographs or documents which persons may want to have returned.

Nick Dean has given us one of the old desks from the Salt Marsh School! Nick has also provided some clues as to the eight schools known to have served Edgecomb in the past. In the interests of column brevity, I will make a "serial story" of this information. Chapter I: Nick's copy of a Lincoln/Sagadahoc Counties map from the 1887 Colby's Atlas of the State of Maine shows a school on the west side of the River Road, just north of the Merry Island Road intersection. Sue Ripley recognizes this as "Schoolhouse No. 6." Any other recognitions? What, if anything, occupies that location now?

Also today, Edgecomb author Van Reid will be speaking at the Rockland Public Library at 6 pm. His books include three volumes of the Moosepath League series, and a novel, Peter Loon.

‘Tis the time for seasonal jollity! The Edgecomb Congregational Church announces its annual community Thanksgiving Dinner. Call Louise Hardina, 563-5236, if you are planning to attend, need transportation, want to bring foods, or to help in any way. Spread the word! No one should be alone on Thanksgiving.

The church will be selling Christmas wreaths made by Downeast Wreathmakers at the H.O.M.E. center in Orland. $12.00 for a simple wreath with bow, $15.00 for a fully decorated wreath. Call 882.4060 now! to reserve however many you may want, to be picked up Saturday the 23rd, when you are also invited to join in a wreath decorating bee at the church.

Then, on Sunday, Nov. 24, starting at 5 pm, an Advent wreath making bee cum pizza party (at 6 pm) will kick off the new Sunday School program. Special seasonal music will be a feature of this party, and you will be able to take home an Advent liturgy to use for lighting your Advent candles. Again, call 882.4060 if you plan to attend.

Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 24, is also the new drop-off deadline for "Hungry Bag" food collection for the Boothbay Region Food Pantry. You can get empty bags from the Post Office and drop them off, full, at the church Saturday or Sunday.

If you want more wreath making, go over to The Morris Farm Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 to 4 pm. Amanda Russell of the Middle Road will be teaching how to make wreaths for all seasons, not just Christmas. To register and get details, call the Farm at 882.4080.

Lea Wait's mother Sally died Nov. 13, of lung cancer. Mrs. Wait had been an off-and-on summer and year-round resident in Edgecomb since 1957. We all send Lea our deepest sympathy.

Back, meanwhile, to the Bypass. Public meeting at Wiscasset High School Monday, Nov. 25, at 7 pm, to discuss the referendum vote results.

Gazing out at white stuff on the ground, still waiting for La Bambina del Bloomington, 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.