Two most important Edgecomb Planning Board informational meetings are coming up, the first one Thursday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m., the second Saturday, March 13, at 9:00 a.m., both at the Town Hall. The Planning Board invites and urges all Edgecomb people to attend. Proposals to be discussed: Amendments to the Subdivision, Building Code, Land Use and Site Plan ordinances, minor changes to the Shoreland Zone ordinance, additions to Definitions, and a new Resource-Based Subdivision Development ordinance. Also to be discussed is a proposed Blasting ordinance. These two meetings will be followed by a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall, to approve the final wordings which will appear in the 2004 Town Warrant to be presented at the Edgecomb Town Meeting, Saturday, May 22. It is essential that the public take advantage of this opportunity to give the Board your vital input!
Edgecomb Republicans will be holding their 2004 caucus at the Edgecomb Eddy School from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 29. Persons wishing to register as Republicans should arrive a half-hour earlier. Dirk Poole is the Edgecomb convener, 633-2228.
Don't forget, Lea Wait will be speaking on "Currier & Ives: Myths in American Culture" to the Lincoln County Historical Association, on Sunday, Feb. 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the County Communications Center, Wiscasset.
Come and learn the story behind the Genetic Engineering controversy! On Tuesday, March 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., the third in The Morris Farm's Food for Thought series, "Genetically Engineered Foods," will be presented by Logan Perkins of The Institute for Social Ecology's Biotechnology Project. Refreshments provided by The Rising Tide Food Co-op.
On Monday, March 1, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Chewonki Foundation will be giving a program on "Mice to Moose: Mammals of Maine," by Chris Coleman of the Foundation. Small fee for adults, children free. Besides specimens to be examined for their adaptations to habitat, come and admire a live native-to-Maine Big Brown Bat!
A big three cheers to Michael and Roxanne Zak, summer people on the River Road, who have enabled the Boothbay Region Land Trust to purchase 150 acres in the Wildcat Creek area on the Edgecomb/Boothbay border, from Route 27 over to the River Road. This territory contains a salt marsh estuary of the Sheepscot, freshwater wetlands, forested uplands and an important deer yard.
We salute the passing of Grant Beam last month, and extend our sympathies to sons Jim on the McKay Road, and Malcolm, who lives in Tenants Harbor.
Note from the Tax Collector: It's time to mention boat registrations, etc. Owners of Documented Boats, your 2004 excise tax is now due and payable at the Town Office, hours are Mondays, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The excise stickers are available.
For Registered Boat owners, the preprints are not yet here from Augusta, but if you need a registration right away, bring last year's registration with you and a new one can be typed out while you wait. If you do not need to renew the registration at this time, it is better to wait until the preprints are here. [Jo sez: Watch this space!]
It's not quite too late to catch the display of "Over the Top Hats," created by June Campbell Rose of the River Road, at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. This show lasts through the end of February, so everyone, rush on down!
The Edgecomb Congregational Church newsletter, and I quote it shamelessly, relates interesting lore about the observance of Lent, which dates to the 3rd century of the Christian era, predating the official observance of Christmas. At first it was only a 40-hour fast for people who were going to be baptized on Easter. This timing coincided with the belief that Jesus spent 40 hours in the tomb. However, over time, the Lenten period was expanded to include all the faithful, and lengthened to 40 days, not counting the Sundays. Lenten Sundays are regarded as "little Easters." [Jo asks, what is it with the number 40? Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. Noah spent 40 days and nights in the Ark... Is this a Babylonian holdover, as is our 60 second minute, 60 minute hour?]
The Friends of Fort Edgecomb meet Wednesday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Sheepscot River Inn. They are planning their 1812 event, "The Battle of Fort Edgecomb," which will occur the weekend of June 12 and 13. This year FOFE wants to salute Old Glory, in anticipation of Flag Day on Monday, June 14. Any creative input on this idea will be cheerfully accepted! Also in the works, the 2008 Bicentennial of Fort Edgecomb. Y'all pitch in! This should be a Town fiesta! Call Matt Dunn, FOFE President, 377-5335 to find out more.
Good luck, Edgecomb high school juniors! It will be the MEA exam time for the next few weeks.. I'm sure you'll all do well.
Gee, it's Leap Year! So Sunday I celebrate my 17th birthday (grin), and Monday, my 68th (sob). Time-warping at 234 River Road, 633-2978, bonesukl@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org.