Tired of cooking? Summer company craving lobster? Join us all Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Edgecomb Congregational Church Lobster Dinner, from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. or until the food runs out! Lobster dinners are $17, and can be ordered eat-in or to go; chicken for $7 and kids can have hotdogs for $3. All of these options include corn on the cob, salads, baked beans, blueberry cake, chips and beverages. Reservations are strongly suggested! Call 563-5236 or 882-4060, and leave a message with your phone number. Offers of food donations, serving or clean-up assistance are also appreciated.
The beneficiary of this dinner is Mandala Farm, whose farmhouse in Orland burned this spring, leaving ten people homeless. The Farm is run by the H.O.M.E. organization, whose mission is to meet people's needs for shelter, food, employment, education and health care. H.O.M.E. is part of the world-wide Emmaus Movement, whose motto is "Serve first those who suffer most."
Check out Susie Stephenson's latest assortment of lively hooked rugs in "Form, Function and Fashion," an exhibit by the Water Street Artists at the Stable Gallery on 26 Water Street. The opening reception will be August 10, from 5:007:00 p.m.
Belated Huzzah Report: The last term Lincoln Academy honors list includes Edgecomb senior Samantha Beam, high honors to junior Robert Langton and freshmen Mariah Bintliff and Cameron Blake. So bask on your laurels this summer, gang!
David Nutt and family have recently launched #1 Nutt Job, their second Boothbay Harbor One Design sailboat, a 21-footer carrying three sails, built as a phoenix-like comeback from scratch, since the original molds were destroyed by fire some years ago. The Nutts' first such model has been listed as #54 in the recent Boothbay Harbor One Design annual meeting; it is owned by the McGee family of McKown Point.
The Special Town Meeting last Thursday, July 26, resulted in a great go-ahead for the Broadband Internet Committee, who asked for $3,600 (down from a potential max of $45,000!) as Edgecomb's good faith commitment toward a grant offered by the new state agency, ConnectME, which is charged with overseeing the provision of highspeed connections to rural Maine. This fund, with Edgecomb's in-kind contribution (two Global towers, other assets both physical and fiscal) and our so far unique status as "only Maine municipality to attend ConnectME meetings," should result in some kind of results, but, as always, don't hold your breaths. The 21st Century likes to take its time getting things up to speed.
The Broadband Internet Committee has asked me to send its heartfelt thanks to you all for your voluminous response to their recent survey about what Edgecomb wants and needs in the way of internet service!
In other STM warrant articles, our Road Department budget is now complete, although an actual snowplow contract has not yet been secured. The Sewer and Blasting ordinances were amended in minor but key ways. The Harbor Committee has its mooring marker buoys which they plan to make serve the dual purpose of "Slow Down, No Wake" warnings as well as delineating the extent of Edgecomb's two mooring sites. In all, as good a way for some 40 citizens to survive a broiling summer evening as any other!
During the hot days of August, consider these possibilities for your languishing children or eager-beaver house guests: Thomas the Tank Engine TM is still rumbling over the tracks at the Boothbay Railway Village, today and tomorrow, Aug. 5. Call 866-468-7630 or log onto www.railwayvillage.org. Monday, Aug. 6 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., the Chewonki Foundation will show you all kinds of "Amphibians and Reptiles." ($5 for adults; kids free; call 882-7323. Maine Audubon is running a boat tour to the Puffin Islands Saturday, Aug. 4, but you'll need to register in advance at 781-2330. Or go pat dogfish at the Aquarium on McKown's Point! A splendid introduction to the marine life of this stretch of the Maine coast! Or cool off in a dungeon cell provided by Wiscasset's Old Jail Museum; then get heated up again by the Lincoln County Historical Society's "Ladies and Lads in Love" exhibit next door in the warden's house!
Or, pick or buy a bundle of mint, basil or tarragon (your choice), prepare a sugar syrup (one part sugar to one part water, brought to a boil and then simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved); chop the herb bundle coarsely and submerge it in the sugar syrup overnight. Tomorrow, strain out the herb, fill a glass with ice and a jigger of the syrup; make to the top with lemonade or tonic water, and if you're in the mood, gin, vodka or bourbon to taste. Next, prepare a lounge chair or hammock, a stack of Harry Potters, and if indoors, a fan trained upon you, and...that's where you'll find me at 234 River Road, 633-2978, jocam@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org.