"No more classes! No more books! No more teachers' dirty looks!" Watch out! The Edgecomb Eddy gang will shortly be released upon an unsuspecting world! The Graduation Ceremony will be Monday, June 20, at 9:30 a.m. Classes officially end at 11:00 a.m.
We all are invited to the first of the Edgecomb Congregational Church Summer Suppers! Saturday, June 18, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., come to benefit Habitat for Humanity, which has recently brought its program committed to providing adequate family owned housing for the poor to the Greater Boothbay area! An Italian menu offers us spaghetti, lasagna, salad, garlic bread, Italian desserts (dietetic alternative available) and beverages. Adults $6.00, children under 12, $3.00. For anyone who wishes to help out with preparation or clean-up, call Gail Boudin, 882-7972, or the Church office, 882-4060.
Eleven family members joined Dot Brown on Wawenock Road to celebrate her 90th birthday last Wednesday, June 8. They took her out to The China Rose in Brunswick for a splendid dinner. A bodacious icecream cake was enjoyed by all. Happy birthday, Dot, who was one of my "other mothers" growing up!
Congratulations, Julie Rollins on the Middle Road, who has made Dean's List at the University of Maine for the spring 2005 semester! Welcome, Richard Staples and family, new to the River Road! And cheers to Bill Speed, son of Lincoln and Martha on Shore Road, who will be a Wiscasset High School delegate to 2005 Dirigo Boys State at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, June 19-24.
In re the arrival of the schooner Danza on the 11th, my sister Anni Black recalls, "David Nutt was one of my swimming students ‘way back when... What an adventure!" Our cousins Janet and Nick Nichols were once sailing cronies of David Nutt's parents!
Susie Stephenson on the River Road is teaching the art of making hooked rugs. Call her for more information at 633.2907. Brady Nickerson, also on the River Road, will be holding an Art Camp for children ages 9 to 12 at her home studio, July 5 through 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They can try all kinds of media, even including creative cooking! For information and reservations, call her at 633.2588.
Tammy Richards on the River Road tells me she has just been notified by her advisor at the University of Southern Maine in Portland that she is on the Dean's List for the spring 2005 semester! Tammy is at present concentrating on courses in Linguistics. Her Goal #1 is to get licensed to interpret for the deaf. She is also working part-time with special needs children while going to college. Tammy, we are all so proud of you and for you! You go, girl!
Big Edgecomb News Story: Who has not yet observed the changes MDOT has made in the traffic pattern at the Route 27/Route 1 intersection? The northbound slow traffic lane is now only a right turn onto Route 27; no through traffic. Southbound traffic on Route 1 can no longer turn left at the 1 / 27 intersection, but must use a left turn only lane onto the Cross Road, at the top of the hill, to get to Route 27. (This is the road which passes the Cod Cove Inn, and enters Route 27 near the Edgecomb Post Office.) There is new signage accompanying these changes, along with a flashing warning sign about "New Traffic Pattern Ahead" for traffic northbound from Wiscasset. Traffic from Route 27 must turn right on the Cross Road to go north on Route 1; to go south toward Wiscasset, must continue to the intersection and turn left. Got it? There will be a quiz next period.
This new traffic pattern is one result of the collaborative Route 27 Corridor Study, started in 2002 by MDOT and the Towns of Edgecomb, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. This improvement is a great help, not perfect. Rte 27 southbound traffic still has to watch for Route 1 traffic in both directions before turning toward Wiscasset, but there is now only one northbound lane to worry about, not the two we used to have to fight. With the Bypass still in suspended animation, it is hoped that this low-cost, admittedly temporary solution will reduce accidents and frustrations at this troublesome location.
Arrived at the Town Hall, a package of information from the US Department of Agriculture having to do with various Rural Development repair and rehabilitation grants and loans for qualifying rural residents. If interested, please come and inspect the material to see if it will help you in any way.
Let's all go to the Schmid Preserve at noon on Tuesday, June 21 and play "Stonehenge" among the cellarholes! Why? It is the Summer Solstice! Digging out my Druid gear, golden sickle, rune stones, now where did I last see my ashwood staff... at 234 River Road, 633-2978, bonesukl@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org.