Woolwich hosted its annual community picnic under a beautiful sunny sky Saturday. The event had live music from The Montsweagers, free grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, cold soft drinks, cotton candy and four flavors of homemade ice cream to choose from, and the doors were open for tours of the historical society’s 1810 farmhouse museum.

“It’s the third year in a row we along with the Special Events Committee have sponsored this,” said Selectman Jason Shaw, spatula in hand as he fired up the grill. Wife Vanessa Shaw was there to lend a hand.  She works for the food services department at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

People were a bit slow in arriving although by noontime the tables under the big tent were filled.  Mark Anderson and Shelby Chamberland arrived with Eddie, their labradoodle they said is the friendliest dog in Woolwich. Anderson works as a deputy for Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office. Anderson said moving to Woolwich from Brunswick in 2016 was the best decision he ever made. “Shelby and I try to come to this event every year,” he said.

Scott Ciampa is a regular attendee, too. He plays the violin as part of The Montsweagers. “It’s a really wonderful event and another opportunity for me and the others who make up the band to get together and play music together, which is something we all really enjoy doing.”

Also on hand was Carol Grose, a Sagadahoc County commissioner since 2009. “It’s nice because you get to see people that maybe you haven’t talked to in a while and catch up on the news.” Grose told Wiscasset Newspaper she is a volunteer board member with Woolwich Historical Society.

The picnic is completely volunteer-run, Selectman Allison Hepler added. The selectboard, the special events committee and historical society work together to put on the picnic that first started as Woolwich Day. She said the only money the town spends is to buy the food and soft drinks. Among the regular volunteers is Roger Baffer, a Woolwich resident since 1974. He makes the pink cotton candy the kids love so much.

When people finished their meal, they could enjoy a dish of homemade ice cream for dessert made and donated by Gaius and Amy Hennin of Shelter Institute. The volunteers scooping the ice cream were Shelby Kaplan and Jan Stephen. Many guests left with freshly made cookies, brownies and other baked goodies donated for the historical society’s bake sale.