Overheard in the Town Hall office: I've come to register a dinghy. Ah, yes, when did you get it? Monday morning. How much did you pay for it? I didn't. I found it at the dump! Er, have you any papers for it? No, I tell you, I found it at the dump! Um, er, any numbers on the boat, any name of the previous owner? No, no I.D. at all. Hmmm. Guess its previous owner is "Dump."

Come all ye, come all ye, Saturday, July 19, to the Edgecomb Congregational Church for a splendid supper to benefit the Church's Mission Outreach Program for its various up-coming projects!

More Edgecomb high school honors: Wiscasset HS Freshman Honors to Kristy Chubbuck; Sophomore Highest Honors to Brandon Zak, High Honors to Rita Sieracki, and Honors to Brandon Carleton and Krista Oberuch; Junior Highest Honors to Leah Sandmaier, High Honors to Becky Beam; Senior Highest Honors to Erin Oberuch, and Honors to Jeff Cusumano and Ed Speed. Lincoln Academy Sophomore High Honors to Ruth Langton, Junior Honors to Marcia Carter and David Nickerson, and a little personal outreach here, across the river, Sophomore Honors to our niece Chelsea Cameron of Pemaquid. Well done, all! No matter what town you are from!

What are Chuck and Becky Benton up to? They are planting a vineyard! 200 vines of wine grapes. "Within two years," Becky tells me, "we will be picking our first late summer harvest. We then will sell our grapes (either fresh or juiced) to a local Maine winery." Here is my motto! "Conserve Maine water! Drink Maine wine!"

A reminder to area artists: The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is holding its annual poster competition for Common Ground Fair 2004. The selected design will be featured on posters, t-shirts, promotional literature and merchandise. The winner will receive a cash award of $1,000 as well as news articles and press releases focusing on the artist and the work. This contest is open to Maine residents; artists may submit 2 entries. All entries must arrive in the MOFGA office by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2003. Selection will be made by September 1. MOFGA will retain full rights to the design. All interested artists should contact the Common Ground Country Fair office for complete details and application form: PO Box 170, Unity ME 04988; phone 568-4142; e-mail cgcf@mofga.org; website www.mofga.org.

And speaking of art, rush down while there are still days in July to the Boothbay Harbor branch of First National Bank of Damariscotta to admire the bright splashes of color and design by Edgecomb artist and art educator Brady Nickerson! This exhibit, sponsored by the Boothbay Region Art Foundation, runs through July 31 during business hours.

Congratulations, Deborah Hammond! Debby Hammond, daughter of Maro Hammond and Peggy Hammond Doggett, has become the President of the Board of Trustees of Gould Academy, from which she graduated in 1961. She has recently retired from a career as Director of Marketing and Development at the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

Congratulations, also, Edgecomb Potters, owned by Richard and Chris Hilton, recently named one of America's "Best of the Road" attractions by the 2003 Rand McNally Road Atlas.

Open house Thursday, July 24 at a new business in town: Marcia Mansfield's Strawflower Gallery, located near the Pioneer Motel and Jackeroos, former home and gallery of sculptor Gil Whitman, who has retired to Idaho. Come from 5 to 7 pm to hear Muriel Havenstein on piano and nosh refreshments while enjoying Ms. Mansfield's imaginative wares.

Edgecomb kids: Get in practice for the well-dreaded first English essay come school: "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." Let me hear from you about your summer experiences! Camps? Work? Swimming? Travel? I understand the Morris Farm has a summer camp–any one want to tell us about that?

I myself am on the cusp of leaving for Bloomington, Indiana, to help out my daughter Daphne while she is recovering from foot surgery. Keep the news flowing to me at the usual places (see below), or collar Bruce with your items and he will forward them to me. Remember, I need your coming event announcements on Mondays to appear in Thursday's issues. That means if you have something going on Mon., Tues., Wed., or Thurs., you'd better get it in a full week ahead of time. On the other hand, reports of happenings over the past week or so need no such deadline, if you're not in a hurry!.