Last week, with my Selectman's hat firmly clapped on my head, I rode around the Edgecomb backroads with Scott Griffin, the Town's Road Commissioner. Everyone will immediately rush to tell us your own road needs urgent attention, and we acknowledge it. But the grim recognition is that this is going to be a very lean year for the Town's budget. It will deserve thoughtful discussion in the coming Town Meeting.
Briefly, the Town of Edgecomb lies on both sides of the Mt. Hunger Ridge. The top of the ridge is laced with ravines, and when torrential rains come, particularly when driven by hurricane-force winds, these ravines fill up suddenly and race over their banks. Small walls of water push downhill under great pressure, carrying topsoil and roadbed gravel with them. The Spring Hill Farm Road has the most spectacular damage, whole sections of 6-inch riprap tossed around, particularly thrust along the northeast side of the road, looking like floodplains along the Mississippi. This was brought on by a large dead tree breaking off and slamming across the western opening of the culvert.
Another serious case is the Mill Road, and here I want to emphasize: Do not trust that lower bridge (before you get to Route 27). It is a mere veneer of asphalt over a cave-in waiting to happen. The prognosis is to build a stone retaining wall and then to pack the cavity, like mega-dentistry. This will take time, specialized skills, and money. If you can bear the detours, avoid it as much as possible.
Scott is busy doing quick-fixes over the most serious places, in an effort to keep the roads passable. But thorough work will require funds. Do we trust FEMA? Don't all shout at once.
In the meantime, be polite and patient with your fellow drivers. Make way for approaching traffic. Along Mill Road, Parson Point Road and Mt. Hunger Road West, please do not overtake and pass; narrow at the best of times, these are truly one-lane roads because of the chewed-out asphalt along one or more edges. Since these roads were built through granite ledge, what we have is an immovable object (the ledge) meeting an irresistible force (the wind-driven water). The hottop and gravel construction never had a chance.
After 100 years of faithfully maintaining the North Edgecomb Cemetery, its Cemetery Association may be forced to disband, due to lack of residents' interest. For the sake of all those neighbors of ours ancient and contemporary who have passed on, please join and attend the Annual Meeting, Saturday, April 28, 10:00 a.m., at the Edgecomb Town Hall.
And while we are on the topic, pending Town Meeting on May 19, be thinking: The "Old" or "Baptist" Cemetery on Old County Road has had no dependable maintenance for a number of years. Since it contains the graves of U.S. veterans, State law requires that the Town be the default caretaker. This item will appear on the Town Warrant, although it will have no budget this year. Take a moment to consider your volunteer activities for the coming year, and please place "cemetery maintenance" on your Do It lists, for these and other cemeteries in Edgecomb. Late-breaking tidbit: I am delighted to tell you that the "Baptist" Cemetery will be tended by the Deck House School for another year at least!
April 29 will be a Fifth Sunday. The Edgecomb Congregational Church is presenting "The Chapel Ringers" in a rousing bell-ringing concert! Ice Cream Social in the vestry at 6:30 p.m., before the concert in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.
For your long-range calendars, the ECC summer supper schedule: June 2, July 7, August 4 and September 8. The first three will benefit various projects of the ECC's Mission Outreach Committee. The September dinner benefits the Edgecomb Fire Department. Enjoy them all!
Other ECC programs: Call Debbie Boucher, 882.8402, about the Needle Arts Group, which meets Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Call Gail Boudin, 882.7792, about the Edgecomb Community Play Group on Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Answer to last week's quiz: The Edgecomb Town Hall! How many missed it? Carve it into your memory cells. And when? Elections on Friday, May 18, 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Meeting itself on Saturday, May 19, starting at 10:00 a.m. Be there!
I note that several nearby towns are reconsidering their recent decisions to move to secret ballots and separate warrant discussion sessions. Hah! Why would anyone be tempted by such cumbersome arrangements (with accompanying complaints that no one attends the informational meetings), when you can get it all done, debate and decision, in one swell foop? Go figure.
Crashing through my soapbox at 234 River Road, 633-2978, jocam@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org..