At time of composing this week's column, I am in an uneasy limbo. With the irony of time, when you read this, we will know who will be our next President, our state legislators, whether our taxes will be capped or in any other way reformed, and whether bears can munch doughnuts in peace in the State of Maine. The one "dangling chad" on the schedule is whether or not Edgecomb will be able to pursue its Tax Increment Financing District, which will, among other things, bring public water and sewer lines from Wiscasset to Edgecomb's business sector along Route 1. Attendance at our several informational meetings has been most disappointing. Only one or two of our home-town business entrepreneurs have ever shown up. Due to the above mentioned limbo, I am unable to comment on the official public hearing on Monday, Nov. 1. But I urge every one of you to come to the Special Town Meeting this evening, Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7:00 p.m.! Edgecomb Town Hall! Be there!
The good news: Daughter Daphne and family are settling in at their rented house in Guilford CT. Daphne will have started work at Yale's Physics Department on Monday. Kevin is looking for work also at Yale. The school and child care arrangements for Ben and Kate sound very good, easy commute, kids can be dropped off along their way.
Boston won some game or other. The moon was eclipsed but managed to come back. We have been making good use of our green tomato crop, and lo! Slowly, the few remaining are reddening!
There is still time to apply for help with winter heating. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program distributes an average of $450/household directly to your fuel company, to offset any unpaid bills, or as a credit against future fuel deliveries. The credit is good for up to 12 months. If you have queries about eligibility and applications, call the Lincoln County CED office in Newcastle, 564.8697, or the Maine State Housing Authority, 1-800-452-4668.
Check out the State's Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program, which pays back on local property taxes paid on eligible business equipment. Inquire for details at Maine Revenue Services, www.maine.gov/revenue or call 626-8475.
Edgecomb in the News: Merlene Cowles, RN, will be the full-time oncology nurse for the new outpatient oncology program at St. Andrews Hospital. Congratulations, little Emilie Marie Crocker, who has rounded her first birthday with grace and style!
Enjoying the particularly golden Fall this year at 234 River Road, 633-2978, bonesukl@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org.