The Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District would like to thank everyone who helped make our Spring Plant Sale and Fair at Union Fairgrounds such a great success. Over the weekend of May 4 and 5, we sold more than 2300 fruit trees and berries, (mostly) native trees, shrubs, and native perennials (organically grown in Maine).

The plants will feed people and pollinators, stabilize soil, and beautify landscapes in Knox and Lincoln counties and beyond. The proceeds of the sale will support district education and outreach programs over the coming year.

Our thanks go to the close to 300 families and individuals who purchased plants; the more than 30 volunteers who helped before, during, and after the sale; the many local organizations that set up displays and exhibits that helped make this an educational event; local CSAs and farm markets that supplied information about their offerings; and the businesses that helped us out along the way.

We would especially like to thank Rebel Hill Farm for growing such beautiful perennials; Cheryl Denz of Terra Optima Farm and Market for her fruit tree pruning and planting demonstration; Liz Stanley and Knox-Lincoln Extension Master Gardeners for volunteer support; Ober and Barrett Builders for delivering numerous bags of wood shavings to keep plant roots moist; Sharon Turner of Great Gardens from the Ground Up; Gail and Jane Hawes for the Medomak 4-H Bake Sale; Thomaston Grammar School fifth grade for bringing the Common Ground School Garden Seed Sale; and the Union Fair Society and Jerry Carr for their assistance. We could not have done it without you.

For a complete list of volunteers, exhibitors, pictures from the sale, and to sign up for our 2014 Plant Sale mailing list, visit www.knox-lincoln.org/spring-plant-sale/.

 

 

As the result of an exceptional gift from local philanthropist Paul G. Coulombe, the Boothbay Railway Village was able to purchase a three-plus acre plot of land directly across from its location on Route 27 in Boothbay.

This gift assures the future growth of the museum with respect to overflow event parking and more. For instance, the hosting of a Day Out With Thomas in August generates the need for parking cars for the over 1,000 daily visitors.

Coulombe is a resident of Southport and has been involved in many local worthwhile projects and endeavors.

“I am very very fond of the region. Investing in the area to make it more attractive will help the tourist economy,” Coulombe said. He also mentioned that the area’s special organizations such as the Opera House, the YMCA and the Boothbay Railway Village, among others, all help to make the region very special.

In line with Coulombe’s remarks, the Boothbay Railway Village will embark on a beautification program for the lot on Route 27. Acting as a gateway entrance to the region, the museum will begin to improve the appearance of this roadside piece of land.

Executive Director Robert Ryan said, “Paul Coulombe has given the museum an exceptional gift and I humbly submit that Mr. Coulombe and his philanthropy is an exceptional gift to the community.”

The Northeast Mini Stock Tour made its one and only appearance this year in Maine at the Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday night. Under the bright lights, 31 cars raced in an action packed 50-lap feature.

Starting the lineup were heat winners Mike Mason in an Acura Integra No. 51, the No. 33 driven by Matt Sonnhalter, and Shawn Swallow driving the No. 04. In what proved to be a close-quarter race, leader changes at the start were swift. Sonnhalter drifted back in the pack. Car No. 53 driven by Glen Thomas wove through traffic and took second place, George Fortin in his No. 9 advanced from sixth place to third.

Five laps into the race, a caution was thrown when Mason slowed on the front stretch then went off the track on turn one. Swallow became race leader.

Thomas and Fortin were close behind, looking for the lead. Thomas was unable to keep up, and Fortin passed him in lap six. No. 88 driven by Emerson Cayer was proving to be a force on the field, and advanced to fifth from his eleventh place start.

By lap 10, Swallow’s Honda Prelude had gained a five-car length lead. Cayer, now in third, driving a Ford Mustang was hot to catch up. Fortin went to the pits for adjustments.

Car No. 2 driven by Toby Wells was also making his way up through the pack, and looking to advance on the track.

Lap sixteen was action packed. Cayer, Thomas and Wells stalked Swallow down the track, all looking for opportunities to pass.

When Swallow’s No. 04 scraped a lap car, he fell back, losing his lead. In a scuffle, Wells moved to first, the Cayer Dimitri’s Pizza No. 88 to second, and Thomas back to third.

There was another caution with only 22 laps to go. Once again Skillings had spun on the front stretch. After the restart there was a battle between Wells and Cayer for first. They raced neck and neck around the track with Cayer briefly pulling ahead. Wells regained the lead.

Two laps later saw another caution, but once again Wells held off Cayer. Car No. 20 driven by Shawn Kimball took his opportunity during the restart. He had woven his up the track to forth from his fourteenth place start.

Wells gained a commanding lead over the ensuing laps, but the race for second and third position was fierce. In lap thirty-four Kimball was able to pass Thomas for third. Track leaders remained the same. Wells took first. Cayer, who holds first place in points standing in the NEMST took second.

In the Super Stock 25 lap feature, Car No. 1, Adam Chadbourne, was given a battle by Bobby Mesimer in the No. 3.

Mesimer briefly took the lead throughout the race. Chadbourne prevailed however, and secured his third first place finish at Wiscasset Speedway. Mesimer took second, and No. 2 driven by Josh Bailey placed third.

In a 15-lap show, the Thunder 4’s took the track. No. 91, Jamie Heath took the pole position, and there was a neck and neck battle between him and Ryan Ripley in the No. 09X. Ripley was black flagged due to fuel spilling out of his car.

Heath then took a commanding lead and placed first. Securing her third top three finish at Wiscasset was Leandra Martin in second. Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11 took third place.

Two cautions before the first lap was completed of a 30-lap feature marked the beginning of the Prostock race. When racing action resumed, the No. 09 Driven by Justin Drake and Chris Thorne driving the No. 17 were the race leaders.

Thorne gained a commanding lead by the conclusion of lap three, and drove his way to a first place finish. This was his third top three finish, but his first 1st place win at Wiscasset for the season. Drake placed second. Rounding out the top three was car No. 32 driven by Nick Jenkins.

Excitement filled the stands during the 20-lap Strictly Street race. Cheers were heard as Tasha Dyer in the No. 32 led the race Childs from her starting pole position. Childs made a determined effort to gain the lead, and the pair engaged in a 20-lap scuffle to the finish.

In lap seven, Childs passed Dyer on the back stretch, but coming out of turn three, Dyer tangled with Childs and he went off the track. A caution was called. Both went to the back of the pack. Both Dyer and Childs were eager to win, and furiously raced their way back to the lead. Lap 13 saw Childs back in first position, but Dyer was staring at his taillights, and coming on strong.

The pair scraped and bumped their way around the track to the finish. In lap 20, coming out of turn three, Dyer made one last effort to pass, and spun down the front stretch, crossing the finish line sideways. Childs took first, making this his third top three finish. Dyer placed second and Gerry Freve in the No. 39 was in third.

Four cautions in the N.E. 4-Cylinder Prostocks made for a lot of racing action on the track. However, Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11, was able to hold onto first from his starting position at the pole. This was his second win of the season at Wiscasset. Placing second was Tim Jeski in the No. 38. Third place went to No. 12 driven by Dave Patten, making this his third top three finish at the Speedway.

The 35-lap Late Model Sportsman race had four cautions. The first caution came in lap six when No. 15 driven by Nick Hinkley spun round, and Steve Minott in the No. 28 went off the track. The worst caution of the night was in lap 11 when rookie Steve Minott hit the wall coming out of turn one. His car saw damage. Lap 16 saw a caution when No. 20 driven by Corey Walker spun out on turn three.

With only twelve laps to go, another caution was called when there was a scuffle coming out of turn three. Car No. 23 driven by Dave Farrington Jr and Tyler Robbins in the No. 34 tangled from the turn to the home stretch. On the restart, Car No. 04 driven by T.J. Waston was in first, Farrington second, and Robbins third. Lap 24 saw Watson falter on the front stretch, and Farrington took the lead to win. Watson placed second, making this his third top three finish. Robbins took third, his first top three finish at Wiscasset.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, May 24 with its group two lineup of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, Late Model Sportsman, and the flex race of the week will be a 100 lap Enduro feature for six and eight cylinder cars. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset.

For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: www.wiscassetspeedway.com/.

Boys

May 15: Wiscasset 1, Spruce Mountain 3

1st singles – Nate Panarese (W) vs. Zack Baillargean (3-8) canceled because of rain

2nd singles – Tom Anderson (W) defeated Alex Hartford, 10-1

3rd singles – Logan Grover (W) lost to Mike Paradis, 6-10

1st doubles – Mason Whitaker/Camden Reiss (W) lost to Chris Floyd/Danny Berry, 8-10

2nd doubles – Andrew Walton/Ridge Barnes (W) lost to Jake Luce/Nick Guild 2-10

May 17: Wiscasset 1, St. Doms 4

1st singles – J.D. Souza (W) lost to Zach Deblois, 4-10

2nd singles – Tom Anderson (W) lost to Movak Liu, 0-10

3rd singles – Wiscasset forfeit

1st doubles – Logan Grover/Tom Anderson (W) defeated Jon Hodson/Clifford Greco, 10-0

2nd doubles – Andrew Walton/Ridge Barnes (W) lost to Jeffrey Ahlgus/Chris Laverdiere, 4-10

May 20: Wiscasset 1, Boothbay 4

1st singles – J. D. Souza (W) lost to Nick Gorey (B), 6-10

2nd singles – Nate Panarese (W) lost to Sam Schwem (B), 3-10

3rd singles – Tom Anderson (W) defeated Brady Duncan (B),10-7

1st doubles – Mason Whitaker/Logan Grover (W) lost to Ben Betts/Dan Drummond (B), 3-10 (B), 4-10

Girls

May 15: Wiscasset 0, Spruce Mountain 4

1st singles – Miranda McIntire (W) vs. Lindsey Allen (2-6) canceled because of rain

2nd singles – Maeve Carlson (W) lost to Emily Taylor, 4-10

3rd singles – Hannah Welborn (W) lost to Taylor Boynton, 0-10

1st doubles – Alexa Burns/Kennedy Orr (W) lost to Sam Richards/Kendra Peralt, 2-10

2nd doubles – Ali Richardson/Sam Arsenault (W) lost to Brooke Cushing/Nicole Hamblin, 1-10

May 16: Wiscasset 4, Mt. Abram 0

1st singles – Miranda McIntire (W) defeated Staci Plou, 6-3, 6-2

2nd singles – Maeve Carlson (W) defeated Maggie Elliott, 6-1, 6-1

3rd singles – both forfeit

1st doubles – Hannah Welborn/Alexa Burns (W) defeated Mariah Kendall/Michaela Zelie, 6-2/6-0

2nd doubles – Sam Arsenault/ Ali Richardson (W) defeated Alanna Ross/Emily Stanley, 7-5, 6-2

May, 17:  Wiscasset 1, St. Doms 4

1st singles – Miranda McIntire (W) lost to Kaitlyn Thompson,1-6, 0-6

2nd singles – Maeve Carlson (W) lost to Callie Greco, 0-6, 0-6

3rd singles – Hanna Foye (W) lost to Alaina Dyer, 0-6, 0-2

1st doubles – Hannah Welborn/Alexa Burns (W) lost to Zoe Caron/Jen McLean, 1-6, 4-6

2nd doubles – Sam Arsenault/Kennedy Orr (W) defeated Liza Gaylord/Emily Martin, 6-4, 6-4

The month of May in Maine means Mother’s Day, May Baskets, and of course, here on the coast, alewives. This past week, children at Story Time heard “One Little Alewife Counting Home” by local author and illustrator Coreysha Stone.

This presentation of the annual homecoming of thousands and thousands of these fish is done in a simple manner as it describes one little alewife making her way to the fish ladder and up to the lake. Will two osprey, five cormorants, six fishhooks, seven larger fish, or eight gulls prevent her from reaching her destination and destiny? You’ll have to read the book.

After this story, the children heard Ann Rockwell’s “My First Robin,” another springtime book for young children. When book reading was over, the mothers and grandmother showed the children pictures of real alewives, fish ladders and birds of prey.

As they looked at the pictures, a knock came to the door. There on the step were May baskets for all the children. Who could have hung them?

Story Time is each Thursday at the Wiscasset Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Story Time will not take place during the summer however, and the last Story Time will be June 20. Story Time will resume in September.

A spring nor'easter hit the region on May 25and Wiscasset Speedway was forced to call off the scheduled Saturday races. Ken Minott, track promoter said, “Back on Mother’s Day weekend we waited until the last minute to cancel. We really thought we had a window of opportunity for the races to carry on. This time it was an easy call because we could see there was no chance of getting it in.”

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action June 1 with its group one rotation of divisions, including: Prostock, Super Stock, Thunder 4's, and 4-Cylinder Prostocks. Additionally on the schedule are two make up races from Mother's Day Weekend: Mini Trucks and Outlaw Mini's.

The flex races of the week are ladies races. There will be two divisions for women, a beginner division for Thunder 4 and 4-Cylinder Enduro style cars, and an advanced division including Outlaw Mini and Strictly Street style cars.

Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: www.wiscassetspeedway.com/.

While wet weather is good for ducks, the mix of rain and sunshine and a three-day weekend was good weather for fish.

The Maine State Aquarium had what aquarium manager Aimee Hayden-Roderiques jokingly referred to as an “obnoxiously good weekend.”

“It's a small space, and we had a lot of people come through,” she said. “To have that many people is a definite positive for us. It was a great start to our year.

“Our employees were thrown right into the fire.”

Hayden-Roderiques said more than 1,000 people visited the aquarium on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

“It was no comparison (to years past),” she said. “Usually, Memorial Day Weekend is hit or miss. Windjammer Days is when we start to get busy.”

Hayden-Roderiques said the aquarium's opening, coupled with wet weather, was what drew people to the end of McKown Point Road.

Once they got there, the responses were positive, she said.

“We had a lot of people talking about our new species,” she said. “A lot of people were excited to see the new stuff we have this year.”

Some of that new stuff includes sturgeon from Maryland and clownfish donated from an aquaculture facility in Maine. The seahorse tank, which had been rotated in-and-out is now a permanent fixture. Over the winter the aquarium also picked up juvenile chain catsharks and Atlantic wolffish.

The Maine State Aquarium is open for the season from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.

The class, Practical on the Water Training, is a one-day, 8-hour seminar. It includes four hours of classroom training and four hours of training and practice behind the wheel of a boat. Instruction is provided by highly qualified U.S. Power Squadron instructors.

Instruction is offered in: basic controls, low-speed maneuvering, high-speed maneuvering, emergency maneuvers, avoiding collisions, docking, anchoring, line handling and knot tying and more.

The class is open to all, boat-owner or not, and is offered July 12, 13, 14, or 15 on the Cathance River in Bowdoinham. The cost is $200, with lunch included.  

Contact John McMullen at 207-433-7848, or postms@comcast.net/.  Participants may register online at www.usps.org/owt/.

Tee off the summer by registering for the upcoming Central Lincoln County Adult Education course Golf Instruction.

The course will be taught by teaching professional, Johnny Johnston II, June 25 through June 27 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Wawenock Golf Culb in Walpole.   

Take this course and you will enjoy three consecutive days of golfing while getting tips from a teaching professional. Choose your club and work on your swing, steady your drive, and perfect your putt.

This course is for the beginner who is considering golf as a potential hobby and the tentative player who wants to better their game. Class participants will decrease their strokes, increase their confidence, and deepen their love of the sport. Meet you on the green.

The cost of the course is $40 if you register on or before June 18 and $45 for all other registrations.

To register or for more information call CLC Adult Education at 207-563-2811, email clcae@aos93.org, visit our website at www.clc.maineadulted.org, or stop by the office in the Pine Grove Plaza (at the intersection of Route 1 and Business Route 1 in Damariscotta).

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held Thursday, June 6, 1-6 p.m. in the YMCA gymnasium

The Summer 2013 YMCA Program Session begins Monday, June 17. Register now for summer programs online at www.boothbayregionymca.org or at the Y front desk.

YMCA Summer Camps begin Monday, June 17. Register today. Scholarship application deadline is Friday, June 7.

A late inning Wolverine rally fell short on May 30 and Wiscasset (5-11) was eliminated from the playoffs. Spruce Mountain (9-7) held on and defeated Wiscasset 5-3 in the last game of the season.

Spruce Mountain took a 5-0 lead to the bottom of the sixth inning. But Wiscasset got back into the game in the home half of the inning, when they scored three runs on a couple Spruce Mountain errors and hits by Darren Wood and Chandler Longfellow.

Wiscasset’s Zach Ellison gave up six hits and struck out three batters in the loss. Winning pitcher, Scott Hall had 10 strikeouts and gave up five hits.

The Wiscasset High School Lady Wolverines ended their regular season schedule with a 13-1 loss at home to Spruce Mountain on May 30. Spruce Mountain hit well off Megan Corson and scored nine runs in the first inning. Kayla Gordon had the only hit for off Spruce Mountain’s Kaitlyn Castonquay.

Despite the 3-13 record of the Lady Wolverines, they claimed the last spot in the Western Maine Class C softball tournament. Seeded in 10th place, they will play a prelim game at Carrabec (5-9) on Monday, June 3 at 4:30 p.m. Wiscasset beat Carrabec 15-11 back on May 3.

Aleeya Jones of Wiscasset has been known to bounce a volleyball around the house, taking out lamps in the process. These days, she's the one bouncing off the walls, her mother and coach Julie Jones said.

Weeks ago, the mother and daughter, along with Aleeya's father Chad Jones held out only slim hope that the 10-year-old volleyball player would get to train out-of-state this summer.

The program she tried out for in Holyoke, Mass., in March puts athletes in a pipeline toward possible international competition.

At 4 1/2 feet tall, the Wiscasset Christian Academy fifth-grader was shorter than fellow competitors, but she is used to that. She's been on the academy's varsity high school volleyball team for three years.

When the Massachusetts tryout results came out, Jones had missed the cut; but she made the alternates list. “But then, it got so late, we kind of gave up on it,” her mother said.

Then, at about 10:30 p.m., May 23, the family got an email inviting the young player to the Team USA Future Select National Development Program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in July.

“I feel really, really excited about it,” Jones said May 31.

The academy's school year is done, but she has kept up with daily training on the family's own sand court at home on Sukie Lane.

The family is nearing its goal to raise $1,900 for Jones' entry and other costs associated with next month's training in Florida.

Chad Jones' employer,  Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay, is chipping in. “(P)assion like Aleeya's and her family's is infectious,” Hodgdon Yachts President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Hodgdon wrote to the Wiscasset Newspaper/Boothbay Register. “This is a fantastic but well deserved opportunity for her.”

Much of the company's success is due to its tremendous employees like Chad Jones, a very valuable member of the team, Hodgdon wrote in a May 31 email. “So when it comes to supporting … worthy causes in our community, it only makes sense to start at home.”

Julie Jones will accompany her daughter to Florida, but after the plane lands, the younger Jones will be under the supervision of USA Volleyball, the sport's national governing body.

The only time mother and daughter could get to see each other before the return trip home is an open-door training session that may take place.

In addition to playing as a setter on her school team, Aleeya Jones is a hitter for the Maine Juniors Volleyball Club.

She will be among the youngest of 128 girls chosen nationwide for this year's training in Florida and Grand Rapids, Mich., her mother said. One wrinkle occurred in ordering gear on the registration form: The clothes  sizes listed were all too big.

However, next month's training fits well into Aleeya Jones' big dreams. Her mother got her out of bed the night the invitation came by email. “And I remember Aleeya said,  'It's one step closer to the Olympics.'”

“She's been bouncing off the walls ever since.”

The family has a fundraising link here. As of June 2, $1,360 had been raised toward the $1,900 goal.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com

The Midcoast United U-12 soccer team continued their undefeated streak with an impressive 4-3 win over the Seacoast Mariners on Sunday, June 2. The Mariners jumped to a 2-0 lead with a goal in the third minute of play followed by a free kick in the fourth minute.

After that wake-up call, the Midcoast players settled down and got to work. Attacking midfielder Avery Stewart showed great hustle and goalkeeper Timmy Chappelle made several saves.

Midcoast had some scoring opportunities throughout the first half; they then turned the tide in the 26th minute with Simon Spear dribbling past several Mariner defenders and striking a fine free shot from outside of the box into the net. Will Shaffer followed that up with a well-placed strike on a free kick that arced over the Mariners wall of players into the top corner of the goal to tie up the match at 2-2 just before the half.

With a rest from the heat, both teams returned to the pitch. The Mariners came out with renewed vigor, but were matched by Midcoast at every turn. Timmy Chappelle made a leaping save to lift a goal-bound ball up and over the bar. Spear bested the Mariners goalkeeper by smashing a penalty kick into the left corner in the 35th minute of play.

With Midcoast’s offense and defense rolling smartly along like a well-oiled machine, the Mariners could only come up empty in their attempts to move the ball down the field. Spear earned a hat trick in the 46th minute by relentlessly working the ball up the field with his teammates and scoring a goal to make it 4-2. Spear had another opportunity, but was rebuffed with a save by the Mariners keeper.

With the clock winding down, Midcoast lost a bit of steam and allowed the Mariners to easily score on a breakaway. Midcoast maintained control of the ball and the game for the last few minutes and the match ended 4-3, with the win going to the overheated but happy Midcoast team and its coach, Lester Spear.

On June 2, the Midcoast United U10 team met the Patriots under the scorching sun at the Clifford Playground in Boothbay. The Patriots came out strong but were met with stiff resistance from the Midcoast defense (Ryan Russell and Grady Suhr).

A shot early on by left wing Wyatt Pinkham went wide, leaving room for the Patriots to take the lead 1-0. Getting into the groove, the Midcoast team fought back in the second half and were able to tie the game with Ben Pearce scoring in the last few minutes.

The Midcoast U10 team will try to maintain their undefeated status this weekend as they face WMU in Farmington at 2 p.m. on June 9.

People driving past the Boothbay Harbor Country Club can see dozens of workers scurrying around the elderly log cabin clubhouse.

Nearby, a hillside has been flattened to create practice facility, and George Whitten's house has been moved up the hill.

Despite all the activity, there is even more on tap.

Paul G. Coulombe, the retired spirits executive who bought the facility in February of 2013 for $1.4 million, is spending a lot more to update the clubhouse and practice range. He said he is just getting started.
In an interview with the Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper, the affable 60-year-old executive tried to answer two major questions. What was he doing with the golf course? Why was he doing it?

Coulombe said the answer to the “why” question is easy. It boils down to his love for the Boothbay region, a place he first visited with his father.

“I feel Boothbay is a great place,” he said.

“But there has not been a lot of investment (made in the community) in the last 25 years. The harbor is so pretty and I want to help create a better year-round economy for people here,” he said.

“I have the time, and the wherewithal to make a difference. Maybe other people will see it (and) decide it would be a good place to invest their dollars.

Echoing the theme of the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams,” he said it is sort of like, “if you build it, they will come.”

“I believe they will,” Coulombe said.

Sitting on the new clubhouse deck overlooking the lush green fairways, he said he retired in 2012 and took some time to “smell the roses.” Then he needed a challenge.

In June 2012, Coulombe sold his Lewiston company, White Rock Distilleries, for a reported $605 million.

In the meantime, he built a stunning 17,884-square-foot home on Pratts Island, (using local craftsmen), turned Gus Pratt's old store into a restaurant, Oliver's at Cozy Harbor, and became a major force in the renovation of the Cuckolds Light.

Coulombe also is a major benefactor in the campaign to maintain St. Andrews Hospital as a critical access hospital.

Looking up the hill from the clubhouse, he said he and Steve Malcom, the CEO of the Knickerbocker Group, are interviewing golf course clubhouse architects with a view of constructing a new clubhouse approximately 250 feet south of the current building.

“I want to keep the vista but provide amenities for the golfers, like a locker room …. It will take a little time, but we are shooting for May 2015.”

Further up the slope, he has acquired the hilltop home of Svend and Carol Jorgensen, in an unusual transaction where he “swapped” a house on West Harbor Pond for the home they occupied for 24 years.

“It is a beautiful spot,” he said of the Jorgensen property. It is located on the second highest hill in the region, affording a stunning view of Boothbay Harbor, the islands and the open ocean.

Svend Jorgensen, who lived with his wife on the 3-plus acre parcel for 24 years, said in the fall, when the leaves are gone, you can see all the way to the White Mountains and the big cranes at Bath Iron Works.

Jorgensen's hilltop is where Coulombe plans to build Family Center,  a facility for conferences and weddings featuring large dining facilities, tennis courts, swimming pool and other amenities.

Carol Jorgensen said the country club project was “very exciting” and said she and her husband look forward to the promised tennis courts.

Down the hill, Coulombe has purchased the Kenniston Hill Inn. He also bought additional adjoining acreage from Phil Webster in anticipation of creating a new entrance to the complex off Route 27. “I want to be able to meander through the big oak trees to come up the hill to the (clubhouse) parking area,” he said.

The old inn is in poor shape, but Coulombe said he believes it can be salvaged and turned into housing for his employees.

On the golf course, he said he plans to renovate the drainage and irrigation system during the offseason. His goal is to make the course playable for all levels of golfers. (He admitted to a handicap of 18.)

Also on tap are plans to build two “comfort” stations and a “halfway” house between the 9th and 10th holes, where golfers can grab a hot dog and a beverage.

The old log clubhouse sports a shiny new kitchen, revamped dining room and a new pro shop. You cannot see the extensive work needed to shore up the underside of the building.

“Tell the folks we will be open for lunch and dinner and I guarantee (we will serve) the best hamburger you ever ate,” he said.

He then looked over the fairway and smiled. “It (the Boothbay region) gets in your blood.

“There is something special about it. It has a small town feeling. People are real here,” he said.

Pat Merrill lives across the street from the club. She just shakes her head when asked about all the activity. “It is a hell of a job so far,” she said. “It is good for the community. They are providing jobs and that is good.”

Then she shook her head and chided the new owner for the new sign on the front lawn that says: Boothbay Harbor Country Club.

“This is not Boothbay Harbor,” she said. “We are in Boothbay.”

Like first time Wiscasset played Carrabec, the two teams battled back and forth in the preliminary round of the Western Maine Class C softball tournament. But this time Carrabec (seeded 7th) came from behind to beat the Wolverines (seeded 10th), 15-13, on Monday, June 3 in North Anson.

Wiscasset got going offensively in the second inning. Tylan Onorato led the inning off with a walk and stole second and third base. Megan Corson picked up an  RBI when she hit into a ground ball out which allowed Onorato to score, giving Wiscasset the 1-0 lead.

Hannah Campbell took first base after she was hit by a pitch. Charlene Reed then reached on a single. Both runners advanced on sacrifice bunt by Abby Dunn. Heidi Pinkham picked up two RBI on a base hit to right field.  Briana Goud hit Pinkham home on a hit to center. Wiscasset was up 5-0.

In the bottom half of the inning, Carrabec bounced right back scoring six runs on hits by Brooklynne Lewis, Ashlee Knight and Skyla Murray combined with Wiscasset’s two errors and four walks.

Wiscasset scored seven more times in the third inning, sparked by a hit by Campbell that drove in two runs.

Wiscasset took a 13 to 9 lead to the bottom of the sixth inning. The tiring Corson gave up six walks in the bottom of the sixth inning, leading to six runs and giving Carrabec the lead for good.

Pinkham went 4 for 5 with four RBI for Wiscasset. Goud had two hits including a double. Corson had five strikeouts for Wiscasset.  Wiscasset committed six errors.

Despite some early morning rain, Wiscasset Speedway was ready to roll at race time. Under the bright lights, and to the chorus of peepers in the infield, the cars hit the track in three exciting feature events and a spectator drag.

First up was the spectator drag flex race of the week. The drags ultimately saw Wayne Ambrose driving a Chevy El Camino face off again a Chevy truck driven by George Fortin. Fortin ultimately took the win in a close race.

First feature on the track were the Strictly Street racecars. No. 26 Corey Morgan took the pole position. In a straight forward race, Morgan took an early lead and dominated the track.

Tasha Dyer in her No. 32 Camaro started in second, but was passed in lap one off the start by No. 5, Guy Childs. Dyer said prior to race time that her car tires were not in top form.

Positions remained the same for the remainder of the 30-lap race. Morgan took first, Childs second, and Dyer in third.

In 45-lap, five caution race, the Late Model Sportsmen race proved to be exciting. Starting at the pole was Nick Hinkley in the No. 15, with Bill Pinkham in the No. 5 beside him. Right from the start in lap one, No. 4 driven by Allan Moellar, and No. 28 driven by Steve Minott tangled in turn three heading to four. Moellar had to go to the pits with frontend damage, and Minott went to the back.

There was a minor caution in lap 2 with the No. 5 developing power steering problems, taking him out of contention for the remainder of the race. On the restart Hinkley was still in the lead with No. 09 driven by Darren Ripley hot on his heels. The No. 00 driven by Alex Waltz and the No 27 car driven by Doug Coombs were close behind. In a close quarter's race, the leaders battle for position.

Lap 5 saw a spin out and a caution was called. On the restart, Hinkley and Ripley raced neck and neck, till Ripley pulled ahead by a car length.

As the race continued Combs moved from forth to third, and Waltz dropped back behind the race leaders. Then in lap 17, another caution was thrown.

Hinkley spun and the No. 8 driven by Steve Reno, and Tyler Robbins in the No. 34 scrape on turn three. After the caution, coming round the track, Reno clipped Robbins, and after they both spun round, Reno hit the wall, taking him out for the remainder of the race.

On the restart, Ripley was race leader, with Hinkley behind him, and Coombs in third. Coming up behind was the No. 7 driven by Nick Reno. Leaders remained the same till lap 35 when the fifth caution of the race was called when Hinkley spun on the track and collected Nick Reno and Minott in the jumble.

They all head to the back of the pack.

When the race resumed Ripley maintained first, Coombs second, and Corey Walker in the No. 20 moved up to third. The leaders kept their positions till the end of the race. Ripley took first.

After the race time Ripley said, “I would not be in victory lane tonight without my pit crew. Thanks to Travis Benjamin, Ryan Leadbetter, Dickey Ripley, and Nate.” Combs placed second, and Walker rounded out the top three.

Last on the schedule of events was the 30-lap Mini Outlaw feature. Starting in the pole position was George Fortin in the No. 9. Behind him was Shawn Kimball in the No. 20, Brent Roy in the No. 26, and the No. 7 driven by Darryl Moore. The Outlaw Mini event was also a five caution race.

The first caution of the race came in lap 13. On the restart the No. 13 driven by Nate Tribett took fourth when he pulled ahead of Moore. The second and third cautions were small, and both came in lap 15.

Roy went to the pits and Tribbet to the back of the pack as a result of the cautions. Fortin still in the lead, with Kimball and Moore behind, they battle for position on the restart. They maintain their positions. There was a forth caution in lap 21.

Tribbet, who had come up from the back of the pack was hooked by the No. 17 driven by Norm Cummings. Tribbet hit the wall on the backstretch, and his car was taken out of contention and towed to the pits.

The fifth and final caution came in lap 28 when Greg Cumming and Dunn tangle on turn one after a spin out. When racing action resumes, the continuing race leaders remained the same. There was a dramatic end to the race. Kimball tapped race leader Fortin coming out of turn four.

Fortin went sideways, but held it together. He maintained his position taking first. Kimball placed second, and Moore finished in third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, June 15 with its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Super Stock, New England 4-cylinder Prostock, and Thunder 4. The flex race of the week will a 100-lap Enduro race for six and eight cylinder cars.

This race is sponsored by Ames True Value Supply on Route 1 in Wiscasset. The race is 100 laps, one hour, or last car on the track for winner. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free.

Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: www.wiscassetspeedway.com/.


Although autumn gets credit for being the most colorful of Maine's seasons, the Boothbay Region YMCA is trying to bring a little color to the dog days of summer.

The first Color Me Rad 5k is slated to come to Vacationland on August 24 in Brunswick. Proceeds from the race will benefit Maine YMCAs, including the Boothbay Region YMCA.

But first volunteers are needed, Boothbay Region YMCA membership and marketing director Meagan Hamblett said.

For every volunteer, more money is donated to various YMCAs throughout Maine. Volunteers will be needed to help hand out race packets before the race. Volunteers can still run in the race.

The cost to register for the race is $45 through June 28.

Each Color Me Rad run benefits a different charity for the area where it is hosted.

Color is added via “color bombs” throughout the race, meaning that monochromatic runners at the start finish the race looking tie-dyed. The color is dyed cornstarch and is launched at runners throughout the race.

The Maine race is one of only three in New England for 2013. The first will be July 27 in Boston and the third will be September 28 in Providence, R.I.

Boothbay Region YMCA needs approximately 100 volunteers for the race. Potential volunteers should contact Hamblett at mhamblett@brymca.org. To register for the run, visit www.colormerad.com and enter the promo code YMCAME.

The Wiscasset Babe Ruth baseball team improved to 3-0 on the season by defeating Rockport Automotive by a score of 4-3 on a picture perfect day in Rockport June 9.

Daren Wood pitched a complete game giving up only two hits and striking out 13. Wiscasset had seven hits in the game. Lead off hitter Tyler Flavin had three singles, along with singles by Andy Hutchins, Matt Martin and Conlon Ranta, and a double by Wood. Martin made a spectacular catch in center field to end the game and secure the victory.

In the first three games of the season, pitchers Wood and Tyler Bailey have combined to limit opponents to five hits and three runs and have struck out 36 batters.

Wiscasset’s next outings will be a doubleheader at Wiscasset High School on Sunday, June 16at noon and 3 p.m. against Georges Valley and Union Farm Equipment

Wiscasset takes two from Bristol

The Wiscasset Babe Ruth baseball team opened its 2013 season with a doubleheader in Bristol on Sunday, June 2. In the first game, Wood pitched a no-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 3-0 win for Wiscasset. Wood and Hutchins each had two hits in the victory.

In the second game, Bailey pitched a complete game, shutting out Bristol 6-0 with 10 strikeouts and allowing only three hits. Offensively, Grant Hefler led Wiscasset with four hits, Wood had two hits including a double, and Flavin, Hutchins, Bailey and Cody Roberts each had one hit.

Bristol’s Greg Anderson, Spencer Weiss and Chad Cowen each had one hit apiece for Bristol.

The weekend of June 8 was another busy one for Midcoast United’s U-12 team with two friendly games in Waterville on Saturday, June 8 and their final regular season Pine Tree League game on Sunday, June 9 in Topsham.

In Waterville, Midcoast lost 7-2 to a skilled Central Maine United team, but bounced back to win 3-1 against Western Maine United. Will Shaffer and Timmy Chappelle scored the day’s goals for Midcoast. Chappelle and Avery Stewart shared the goalkeeping duties and both made some marvelous saves throughout the two games.

Saturday’s rain gave way to a beautiful sunny day at the Riverside Fields in Topsham on Sunday, where Midcoast faced Merrymeeting. In the first play of game, Shaffer scored with an assist by Simon Spear. Merrymeeting answered with their first goal three minutes later and followed with another a few minutes after that, making the score 2-1. Midway through the first half, Shaffer scored his second goal with a spirited assist by Aidan Manahan to even up the score. Midcoast followed up with several nice goal shots by Avery Stewart and Shaffer, but they were stopped by the Merrymeeting goalkeeper.

The second half got off to an exciting start with Merrymeeting scoring again to make it 3-2 in their favor. Midway through the half, Merrymeeting made it past Midcoast’s defense again and scored, making it 4-2. Merrymeeting was unable to take advantage of a subsequent penalty kick opportunity.

Solid goalkeeping by Chapelle and good defensive play by Ben Jacobs, Ethan Carmolli, and Ella Spear helped to keep Midcoast in the game, under strong pressure by Merrymeeting. With a flurry of Midcoast shots in the final minutes, Shaffer finally nailed one, closing Merrymeeting’s lead to 4-3. Midcoast persevered and Shaffer struck gold again on a series of passes from Aidan Manahan and Simon Spear to tie the game 4-4.

With its most successful season ever, the Midcoast U-12 team looks forward to the Coastal Summer Challenge June 15-16 at Bowdoin College.

Long known for its many excellent examples of Federal style architecture and its rich maritime history, Wiscasset comes alive this summer with art, music and its new Museum in the Streets display. Wiscasset's Museum in the Streets display is an in-town walking tour of places and buildings with descriptive signs and historical photographs that will amaze.

The town is again offering the live concert series Alive on The River on Thursday nights beginning on July 4. Except for the special Independence Day concert on the town pier, all concerts will be held on the Town Commons in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse (one of America's oldest operating court house).

On July 7, the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce is presenting Fiddle Day at the Flower Farm, an afternoon fiddle concert at Wiscasset's newest farm, Marianmade Farm, which specializes in flowers and events.

Marianmade Farm, quietly tucked away on Federal Street, dazzles with its fields of flowers overlooking the Sheepscot River. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon listening to the great Frank Ferrel, Old Grey Goose and more.

Finally, this summer, Wiscasset is kicking off its first ever Art Walk events. Wiscasset Art Walk will be held in the downtown area on the last Thursdays of June, July, August and September from 5-8 p.m. The first event will feature John Sideli's studio and gallery above In the Clover on Maine Street.

Each month village shops, galleries and studios will stay open late to share their beautiful spaces and showcase artists from near and far. Performers and musicians will be around the village as well to entertain Wiscasset Art Walkers. For more information on any of these events or to get involved with art in Wiscasset, please visit www.wiscassetareachamberofcommerce.com or call us at 207-882-9600.

Although the first official day of summer is June 21, the Boothbay Region YMCA has already started its summer with a host of activities, fundraisers and camps on the horizon.

Meagan Hamblett, membership and marketing director, said there are plenty of reasons for Y members and non-members to get excited for the months ahead.

The Y will have its usual slate of outdoor and indoor activities, classes, and starting June 17, summer camps.

With summer residents returning to the region, the summer exclusive membership has returned, Hamblett said.

Again offered this year is the Cottage Membership, where a house can be signed up for a membership at the Y for up to six months.

“So if someone rents out their cottage, (the renter) can still use the membership,” Hamblett said. “This is a great option for grandparents who have grand kids visiting them all summer.”

The cost to register a house for three months is $450 and $550 for six months.

Ballroom dance lessons in time for the summer wedding season, swimming lessons, Y Fit Camp, cycling, Zumba and yoga all return to the Y this year.

Also returning are the several fundraisers the Y hosts each year.

The 20th annual Boothbay Region YMCA Southport Rowgatta will be at 8:30 a.m., on August 10. Preregistration costs $35 while same-day registration costs $40 with proceeds benefiting the Y's aquatic programs.

“The money raised goes towards Boothbay Region Elementary School, Southport and Edgecomb swimming programs,” Hamblett said. “We have a great pool here and we want to make sure that swimming is part of the physical education program.”

The 12-nautical-mile row allows any non-motorized or non-sail craft to participate.

The last weekend of July will feature the annual silent auction, with several tweaks to the routine. The auction will start on Friday and continue through Saturday.

The money raised will go to youth programs. Any item that isn't snapped up at the auction is donated to the Rotary's annual auction. Last year, the silent auction raised more than $10,000 for youth programs.

The Y is still accepting donations for the auction.

Other fundraising events include the Y's annual fund drive, which this year will feature the mother-daughter combo of Pam Baldwin and Maddie Rideout, and the June 21 “Fill up the bus” event at Hannaford's.

Hamblett said there are classes and programs for every age range. One of the favorites for older walkers are the Walks with Rupert, which return for the sixth year. Rupert Neily will once again host laid-back nature walks throughout the Midcoast.

The first walk will be 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 29 at La Verna Preserve between Bremen and New Harbor. The La Verna Preserve boasts 2.5 miles of hiking trails The cost will be $10.

The second walk will be at 9:30 a.m. July 20 at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. There are two guided trail walks at Hidden Valley and the cost is $15.

The third walk is at 8 a.m. August 17 on Swan Island in the middle of the Kennebec River. The Y bus will travel to Richmond, then a ferry will whisk walkers across the river to explore Swan Island's trails. The cost is $18.

Other events, costs and a schedule are available in the YMCA's summer program guide which is available at the Y, or by visiting www.boothbayregionymca.org.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.

The Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper will have an early deadline for the July 4 issues. Advertising and editorial submissions will be due Friday, June 28 at 4 p.m. The newspapers will be printed on Tuesday, July 2.

Yes, Maine's other protein is a delicious choice for your next meal. But there is a lot more to do with lobsters than just devour them.

If you love animals but hate eating them, buy a few live lobsters and set them free in the ocean. We recommend completing item three on this list first, though. Be sure to clip off their rubber bands and watch your fingers. Bonus points if you play Michael Jackson's “Will You Be There” during the emancipation.

Learn a little something. There are several boats in the harbor that will take you out and show you the nitty gritty of being a lobsterman and the biology of lobsters. Or visit the Maine State Aquarium and see some lobsters who went a little nuts with the RGB scale.

Glamour shots. Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, a photo shoot with live lobsters will provide mementos for a lifetime. You'll need to find some tiny fedoras, capes or feather boas, but that shouldn't be hard.

Lobster versus human. A recreational lobster license gives you permission to drop a small number of traps into the ocean and bring home your own bounty. Visit Maine.gov to apply.

The Lobster Games: Play rock, paper scissors with a lobster. (Note: lobsters always go with scissors.)

Go all Dr. Claw on your lobster friend and put him to sleep. You might try playing “Rock Lobster” by the B-52's.

  7. If you want to get serious, you can keep a lobster as a pet. You need a huge tank, careful monitoring and a nice chunk of cash, but it'll all be worth it when your neighbor sees you walking “Shelly” on a leash.

 

In March 2013 the final buzzer sounded in the hallowed Bangor Auditorium. The facility that had played host to tens of thousands of players and the seats that held nearly 2.5 million high school basketball fans were empty as way was made for the opening of the Cross Insurance Center.

Before the historic facility came down, volunteers from Penobscot Job Corps and United Technologies Center carefully removed more than 300 pairs of seats. Those seats will be available for purchase at the Bass Park complex on Friday, June 21 between 1 and 6 p.m. and Saturday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.

“This has been a real community effort to salvage these pieces of history,” said Steve Pound, one of the MBHOF Incorporators and an organizer of the seat removal and sale. “Both Penobscot Job Corps and United Technology Center brought student volunteers to the building to help remove the seats and move them to the storage location. I’m sure it was a labor of love for many of them to serve their community.”

The seats will be sold in pairs at a cost of $25 per pair and will need to be paid for on site, using cash or check only the days of the sale. Seats must also be removed from the site when purchased.

“The only way to remove them, given how they were installed, was to bring them out in pairs,” Pound said.

Seats will be available on a first come, first serve basis and requests for specific seat numbers cannot be accommodated. Seat pairs will need to be mounted to a base or wall after purchase.

For more information on the sale of auditorium seats visit www.mainebasketballhalloffame.com/seatsale or contact Jen Brooks, jbrooks@emdc.org, 207-942-6389.

The heat was on at Wiscasset Speedway June 15. It was perfect racing weather. The grandstands were filled with fans. The drivers were ready to race. A pair of popular drivers returned to the track and found themselves in Victory Lane for the first time in years.

First on the schedule was a 25-lap New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stocks feature. Despite two early race cautions, the No. 12, driven by Dave Patten, was able to remain race leader.

Kevin Sherman in the No. 11 was able to move from fifth in starting position, to third by lap 7. Race leaders remained the same, with Dave Patten in the lead, No. 24 driven by Jeff Prindall in second, and Sherman in third until lap 20.

On lap 20, Sherman, proving to be a force on the track, pulled ahead for second on the backstretch. Then, in lap 22, Dave Patten lost it and a caution was thrown.

Sherman moved to first. Bob Patten in the No. 14 Dairy Queen car moved to third. On the restart, Sherman and Prindall raced hard for first, but Sherman pulled ahead. Then in lap 23, Swett spun on the track, collecting Bob Patten.

Yet another caution in lap 24 when a jumble on turn two brought Bob Patten, Swett and the No. 6 driven by Travis Dunbar to the back of the pack.

The race ended under caution with Sherman taking first. “It’s not about the best looking car out there, or the most money,” Sherman said. “It’s about having fun. If you’re not having fun, it ain’t worth it.”

Prindall took second, with his season’s best finish. The No. 8 driven by Craig Dunn took third.

The Super Stock class took to the racetrack in a 25-lap feature. Josh Bailey in the No. 2 started in the pole position. Car No. 48 driven by Dan Nesmith and Adam Chadbourne in the No. 1 were close behind Bailey. Early on, Nesmith dropped to the back allowing Bobby Mesimer in the No. 3 to take third.

Bailey and Chadbourne battle for first. Then during lap 3 Chadbourne pulled ahead of Bailey on turn 2. Lap 6 saw Bailey move to third when Mesimer passed on the outside on turn 1 for second.

Despite a late race caution, race leaders remained the same and ended with Chadbourne in first, Mesimer in second and Bailey in third. Chadbourne failed post-race inspection after the conclusion of the race. This brought Nesmith to third place, Bailey to second and Mesimer took his first win of the season.

In a straightforward race, the Thunder-4’s 15 lap feature sped by quickly. Mike Delaney driving the No. 10 took the pole. Behind him were Nate Martin in the No. 31 and No. 31X driven Adam Armstrong.

Martin dropped to third; however, during lap 10. He went sideways on the track, causing a caution. He was sent to the back of the pack. This brought Cody Tribbett driving the No. 13 to third place. Race leaders remained the same until the conclusion of the race. Delaney took first place. Armstrong placed second. Rounding out the top three was Tribbett.

The highlighted feature of the week was a 40 lap Pro Stock race. Leading the race was No. 17 driven by Chris Thorne. Kevin Douglass in the No. 21 and Scott Chubbuck in the No. 15 were hot on his heels.

Chubbuck had returned to Wiscasset Speedway after a 10-year break. You would not have known Chubbuck had taken a hiatus. He looked for an opportunity to pass Douglass and found it in lap 4 when he passed on the inside on the backstretch for second.

A determined Chubbuck raced hard for first. Thorne was able to hold him off until lap 10, when after an exciting race for first, Chubbuck passed him on the outside on the backstretch.

During lap 17, Thorne dropped back, and by lap 17, he had dropped to fourth place. Casey Nash in the No. 13 took third.

Lap 20 saw Thorne fighting back, and taking third place back from Nash. Chubbuck had gained a commanding lead. Thorne had Douglass in his sight. In lap 24 Thorne pulled ahead and passed Douglass on the inside of turn 4 for second. Douglass lost his momentum, and lap 29 saw Douglass drop back to forth when Nash retook third. Running order stayed the same until the end of the race.

Five time previous Wiscasset Pro Stock champ, Scott Chubbuck took first in his Ford Fusion. “It is good to be back here in Wiscasset,” Chubbuck said.

Thorne took second. Prior to race time Thorne said, “We have been messing with the car, trying to get it dialed in, but we are not there yet.”

Nash placed third.

The flex race of the week was a 100-lap Enduro feature. Early race leaders were the No. 6 driven by Jeff Lowe, and the No. 55 driven by Kevin Sherman. Lowe nipped at Sherman’s heels until lap 75, when he was black-flagged for an issue with his right front tire. This took Lowe out of contention, and Sherman sailed to the checkered flag for the win. Coming in second was Ron Whitcomb in the No. 8.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, June 22. This will be Mainely Motorsports Fan Appreciation Night. Mainely Motorsports will be filming its show at the track.

Also, all drivers racing that night will be available at 5:30 p.m. on the track to sign autographs and meet with fans. There will be bicycle races for the kids, and plenty of giveaways.

On the roster at the Speedway, with its group two lineup of divisions are: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, Late Model Sportsman, and the flex race of the week will be a 25-lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends feature. This is the second appearance of four scheduled this year of the Amsoil Nelcar Legends.

Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. Racing begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

A couple hundred people gathered on the shore of Nequasset Brook in Woolwich to witness the launching of two student-crafted skiffs during a break in rainy weather  June 13, according to town officials and residents who attended the ceremony.

“It went well,” Woolwich Selectman Lloyd Coombs said. Members of the Maine Maritime Museum, town officials, Woolwich Central School students and staff, residents and others braved somewhat damp weather to see the completion of a year-long boatbuilding project.

The program, offered through the Maine Maritime Museum’s Boat Shop, is sponsored in large part by the Bank of Maine and the town of Woolwich, as well as by generous unnamed benefactors.

“I don’t think there is one straight line on a boat,” Coombs said, adding that it takes significant effort for students to apply theoretical knowledge to two plank-on-frame flat-bottom skiffs ready for launch by the end of the school year.

Coombs said he is a strong supporter of the program as it is a great experience for students.

“It’s really a good program and it has gotten a lot of support,” volunteer instructor Nickolas Locsin said. “I enjoy watching the kids learn.”

Fourteen seventh and eighth grade students at Woolwich Central School wrote essays as part of their application to the program last September, as has been the practice for the past five years, according to Locsin.

Parents are often involved in the process and students must demonstrate their commitment.

Students begin the program by constructing personal tool boxes, which they are allowed to take home with them, according to Boat Shop Manager Kurt Spiridakis. The design phase of each skiff begins with half models mounted on boards (called “lofting.”) The curriculum stays pretty much the same from year to year, Spiridakis said, but there are differences. Design of each of the skiffs varies.  Students also travel to different locations each year to learn the many facets of boat construction.

“We’re not churning out junior boat builders here,” he said. “But our goal is to get kids to use skills in science, math and engineering outside the classroom.” Spiridakis said the program also gives students a chance to build confidence, to work on a team and see a project through to its end.

Spiridakis said it is often difficult to tell by the look on students’ faces and their reactions to the work whether they are enjoying the experience, until launch day. Their smiles, evident pride and enthusiasm in seeing their work afloat on Nequasset Brook “brings everything together.”

In addition to speeches made by Bank of Maine officials and program directors, students were given the opportunity to speak in front of their teachers, parents and peers about their experience during Thursday’s ceremony. “It’s kind of cool to be part of that,” Spiridakis said.

Conflict over a “blessing of the fleet” was absent on Nequasset Brook, unlike a similar boat launching ceremony in South Bristol on June 14 where some residents have raised concerns about the tradition. This was due to the absence of a blessing given by an ordained minister, according to Spiridakis.

Spiridakis said the boatbuilding program has not had a blessing of the fleet since the first year. It was not a deliberate avoidance of potential conflict, though. “There was nobody in charge of that,” he said, adding they are not opposed to the practice; but instead are more focused on the getting the finished boats in the water and celebrating students’ accomplishments. “We just want the launch to be about the kids and the boats,” Spiridakis said.

The Boat Shop blog online is temporarily on hold, but a lot of information about the students’ work this past year is available on the blog. Visit blogs.mainemaritimemuseum.org/boatshop to learn more.

On Tuesday, June 25, Chewonki will open its doors to campers for the 99th summer. The day marks the arrival of nearly 200 families to our Wiscasset campus, including parents and grandparents of boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 21 who arrive from locations around the country and even the world.

Chewonki’s staff of 150 is busy preparing for a momentous day here on our 400-acre saltwater campus.

“We are hoping for a beautiful summer day to show off the best that our town and our campus have to offer,” said Chewonki president Willard Morgan. “Our goal is for families to feel inspired by the beauty of our campus, by the high quality of our leadership staff, including boys and girls camp counselors and trip leaders,” he added.

Camp parents have been sending their youngsters to Wiscasset for nearly 100 years, and the greater community,  including the town of Wiscasset, have been integral to their experience.

Over the course of the summer, Chewonki will serve a total of 500 campers in our boys’ camp, our girls’ camp, and through our teen wilderness trips. Summer camp runs from Tuesday, June 25, to Monday, August 12, followed by Family Camp, and a final 5-day camp offering, which bridges the end of summer before the start of the school year.

To learn more about our camp programs, visit www.chewonki.org.

The Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous promises that pirates large and small will invade the Twin Villages in search of lost treasure on Saturday, June 22.

“This is an event that is for and about children,” said Greg Latimer, Event Director of the Pirate Rendezvous. “The event benefits three local nonprofits that are child and youth oriented, and during the event hundreds of costumed children join the pirates to help find the hidden treasure.”

Since its inception almost seven years ago, the Damariscotta River Pirate Rendezvous has benefited the Lincoln County Family Holiday Wishes food and gift drive, which assisted over 500 children and their families in 2012.

This year the event has incorporated the Great Salt Bay Community School Field Hockey team and Boy Scout Troop 213 into the fundraising.

The pirates have also joined forces with the Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA) to offer “Pirate Duckies” as part of the PWA Rubber Ducky River Race. The Pirate Duckies will be on sale at the PWA table in front of the Maine Coast Book Shop and Café, and will be priced to include a donation to Lincoln County Family Holiday Wishes.

For information on joining the Mystic Pirates the Damariscotta and participating in the Pirate Rendezvous as a volunteer or sponsor, please contact Greg Latimer at 207-380-9912 or piraterendezvous@yahoo.com.

Despite cold and rainy weather, a group of eighth grade students ventured out into the mudflats behind the Wiscasset Middle School onto Polly Clark Cove June 11.  Their mission was to continue a 4-year clam seeding study.

Dr. Brian Beal, professor at University of Maine Machias (UMM) and Richard Forrest, member of the Wiscasset Shellfish Committee, joined Cindy Collamore, Sue Kistenmacher, Erin Haggett and some very hearty eighth grade students for a morning full of hands-on science.

Beal has been working with the eighth graders at Wiscasset Middle School trying to determine the best conditions for seeding clams.

Forrest and others have dumped thousands upon thousands of crushed clam shells onto the flats in Wiscasset to see if the calcium in the shell will help to counter the acidic conditions of the mud and also attract baby clam spat. Preliminary findings are showing that the shells are indeed helping to reseed the flats.

Beal and two of his students at UMM directed the group across the mud as they seeded the flats with pots utilizing several different combinations of clams, mud, shells and netting.

Daily children’s activities begin this week at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. Kids who visit the Bibby and Harold Alfond Children’s Garden can enjoy Storytime in the Garden at 10 a.m. and a puppet theater at 11 a.m. They can feed the chickens at 11:30 a.m. and take part in nature investigations at 2 p.m.

Starting in July, every Friday will be Fairy Friday, when storytime focuses on fairy stories, there’s Sugar Plum Fairy dancing on the maze, and the Great Bubble Machine will churn out oodles of bubbles. Other activities will make Fairy Fridays special, too. A treasure hunt will reveal fantastic fairy houses.

On July 19, the Celtic group Naia will perform fairy music on the Great Lawn. During the first weekend in August, face painting and fairy teas will be offered, in addition to the Fairy Friday activities. Costumes for little fairies, elves, gnomes, and wizards are, of course, always welcome; and there will be a dress-up box in the Keeper’s Cottage on Fairy Fridays for anyone who forgets to bring wings.

The Education Department is presenting “Little Diggers,” a series of gardening and nature programs for ages 3-5, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Thursday, including June 27. Children can attend one or many of the programs in this series that continues through August 22.

Fun in the Garden youth classes include the following: “Green Thumbs,” for ages 6 and up (June 28, July 26, August 19); “Bug Safari” for ages 4-7 (July 2, August 5); “Fantastic Flowers” for ages 7 and up (July 13, August 6); and TREEmendous Trees for two ages groups, 4-6 and 7 and up (July 22, August 10).

For these, too, children may attend one or more of the sessions. Gardens Activity Passports are available and offer discounts on multiple programs or for multiple children.

The first camp of the season is Nature Explorers Camp for ages 9-11, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. each day from July 8-12. Then come several five-day camps offering programs for ages 4-5 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and ages 6-8 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. These are Nature Adventure Camp from July 15-19 or July 29-August 2 and Garden Explorers Camp from August 12-16.

The new twig tunnel in the Children’s Garden’s Traditional Arts Area is a big hit with kids. Families will also enjoy a July 6 field trip to the Viles Arboretum, a 224-acre preserve in Augusta that boasts an extensive botanical collection.

To sign up, or for more information about any of these programs, visit www.mainegardens.org or call 207-633-4333, ext. 101. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is on Barters Island Road in Boothbay.

Teens to Trails is a finalist for a $25,000 grant from The North Face.

Your vote for T3 will give teens life-changing outdoor experiences. 

Click here to vote; you can do so every day until July 31.

Teens To Trails is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit engaging Maine teens in the outdoors. T3’s goal is to establish an Outing Club in every Maine high school community, thereby promoting fun outdoor adventures, healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship. For more information on Teens To Trails & how to get involved, visit www.teenstotrails.org.

Varsity softball awards were handed out on June 17. From left are: Charlene Reed, Coaches Award; Katie-Lyn Mills, Most Improved; Heidi Pinkham, Best Defensive Player; Megan Corson, Most Valuable Player; and Coach Claire Daniels. Briana Goud received the Best Offensive Player Award and MacKenzie Chancellor received the Sportsmanship Award.

The weather is improving and many pumpkin plantlets that were adopted during the May 19 Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant Giveaway are enjoying this week’s sunshine. However, some may have not weathered the recent rains and look a bit puny. Do not despair, volunteer pumpkin growers, there is a supply of healthy plantlets available at Pinkham’s Plantation in Damariscotta.

For all who were not able to come to the May 19 Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant Giveaway and would like to join in on the fun of growing one of these monster pumpkins, you are not too late. Pumpkin volunteers planted an additional 100 plants after the May 19 Giveaway, waiting to be adopted.

Come by Pinkham's Plantation, 431 Biscay Road in Damariscotta, to get your free Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Plant and five gallons of free compost (please bring your own bucket). There are only about 100 plantlets remaining, so don’t wait too long to adopt yours.

To help you grow a monster pumpkin, visit www.damariscottapumpkinfest.com or follow us on Facebook, where growing tips will be posted throughout the summer.

We also ask that you upload photos of your pumpkins as they grow and share your growing experience with other volunteer pumpkin growers onto Facebook. Sharing your photos and experience on Facebook is also an excellent way to increase the number of pledges you receive if you are sponsoring a pumpkin for an area nonprofit association.

A special thank you to all the volunteers who planted the 500-plus seeds, giving them a healthy start, and to all pumpkin growers for your work to ensure Pumpkinfest will have the giant pumpkins needed for the fall festival. If you haven’t picked up your seedling, or need to replace one, be sure to stop into Pinkham’s Plantation before they’re all gone. The weather’s great for planting.

Pumpkinfest & Regatta is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote education to citizens of all ages regarding the specific agricultural science required to grow giant pumpkins, and to provide local nonprofits with opportunities for dissemination of information on their activities and fundraising.

For more information, visit www.damariscottapumpkinfest.com or follow us at www.facebook.com/damariscottapumpkinfest.com or www.twitter.com/squashbuckler.

Pumpkinfest is pleased to again have Down East magazine as the official magazine sponsor for the festival.

There is a certain roadside restaurant that gets a lot of press in Wiscasset. When the line gets too long, don't get out of town; get out, poke around and see what you can find while the line whittles away.

But remember: No line cutting and no takesies-backsies.

1. Go antiquing

Wiscasset has the most antique shops per capita anywhere in Midcoast Maine* and the options for antiquing are spread throughout the self-styled “Prettiest Village in Maine.”

There are several spots to find treasures along Main Street Wiscasset and across the water in Edgecomb.

2. If you lost your spot in line, try Sprague's

If you are dead-set on eating at a small, Wiscasset eatery that overlooks a pretty slice of water there are two good choices in downtown Wiscasset.

Sprague's, which is located across the street, offers up fresh seafood with big flavors and few frills.

Also, Sarah's Cafe is in the neighborhood if the weather forces you inside.

3. Paddle on, Garth

Instead of indulging in a few calories by the water, why not burn some calories on the water?

Wiscasset Trading Post has self-propelled boats of all shapes and colors and rents them out all summer long. For more information, visit their site or stop in at their Route 1 location.

And where can you take that boat? Why not plop it down in the water outside of Wiscasset.

Don't want to get wet when you play outside? Try Monkey C Monkey Do, also on Route 1, to climb and clamber in the nice weather.

4. Descend into gardens

A true phoenix story in the heart of Wiscasset belongs to the sunken gardens.

After the Hilton House Hotel burnt to the ground 110 years ago, a garden was planted in the foundation of the building. The Sunken Gardens offer a unique oasis near the heart of Wiscasset by the Nickels-Sortwell House on Main Street.

5. Castle-mania

Castle Tucker may not be a castle in the classic, dragons-and-damsels sense, but it's another one of Wiscasset's historic sites to visit on a nice day.

The Castle overlooks the Sheepscot River on Lee Street in Wiscasset.

While not a castle, Fort Edgecomb Historic Site (66 Old Fort Road on Davis Island) is one historic site well worth visiting.

The two-century-old structure saw action in the War of 1812 and has been standing since.

*Not a verified stat. In fact, I made that up.

With summer officially started, strawberries are on the menu in Wiscasset.

The 61st annual St. Philips Strawberry Festival begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29 at St. Philips Episcopal Church, 12 Hodge St., Wiscasset, and runs until 2 p.m.

The festival features multiple iterations of the small red fruit for strawberry fans and aficionados, including strawberry shortcakes with or without a healthy dollop of homemade whipped cream, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry (and vanilla) ice cream from Lear's, and quarts and servings of strawberries for sale.

There won't be just strawberries; lunch will also available with sandwiches and hot dogs for sale throughout the day.

Magician Amazing Lou will perform at 11 a.m., and there will be a pie auction during the festivities.

The bargain basement will be open during the festival and there will be craft vendors on the grounds and a children's area.

The Union Farm Equipment at Waldoboro Game on Sunday, June 30 at Begley Rec Field will begin at 4 p.m., not 2 p.m. as first reported. The day will begin with the 3-3 suspended game from June 14 at 4 p.m. with the regularly scheduled game to follow.

The Damariscotta Lions vs. Bristol Game will be played on July 1 (was set for July 2) and will be played at the Begley Rec Field in Waldoboro. The game was moved following the damage suffered to the Bristol Field in June.


When pirates attack Wiscasset Harbor on July 4, two of the people who may be most enjoying themselves are Alan and Judith Boyes. They'll be two of the pirates.

The Boothbay couple, both officers of the Wiscasset Yacht Club, will be coming in on the Pagan Moon, the Boyes' 34-foot sailboat with dark red sails and a dark green hull. That's how the boat always looks, but it fits perfectly with the occasion.

“It looks like a pirate ship,” Alan Boyes said.

The couple will be styling, too; he, in a bought pirate costume; she, in one she's assembling in part from items she found a collectibles store up the coast in Warren.

“It's been quite a challenge, that's for sure,” she said about making her costume look as authentic as possible.

She'll be portraying Irish pirate Anne Bonny, who, according to Boyes' research, was raised as a boy. “She was a ruthless pirate, but I'm just not feeling that way,” Boyes said. This will be a nicer interpretation of Bonny, she said.

That's a good thing, because the day's events are aimed at being family-friendly.

Alan Boyes said club members are enthused about the pending attack and other festivities. A half dozen or so plan to dress as pirates, but the more people who do, the more fun the day will be, Judith Boyes said.

“If we can really make a presence, that would just be awesome,” she said.

“We welcome anyone who wants to be a pirate,” on a boat or on land, she said. If interested in being a volunteer pirate, call the couple at 207-633-5341.

The town, the yacht club and the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce have all helped plan the day's events.

The “Treasures of Wiscasset” parade is set to start at 10 a.m. on Hooper Street, continue onto Federal Street, then hit Route 1 and end on Water   Street.

At 11 a.m., a 21-gun salute and flag-raising are planned on the Waterfront Pier, to honor veterans.

The pirate attack on the harbor will start around 11:45 a.m. after boats have done a circle or two, Alan Boyes said. Black-powder cannons belonging to yacht club members will be fired both on and off shore during the attack.

“It'll be quite loud and there'll be a huge amount of smoke,” he said.

Pirates will hand out treasure maps leading to a sand pile at the club. The pile will feature goody bags of children's items donated by Papa Geppetto's Toys & Treasures in Wiscasset, the business' co-owner Julie Groleau said.

“Whenever there's something we can do to help the community, we'll do it,” Groleau said. “We like doing it.”

While at the yacht club, children can make their own boats with a shingle and easy-to-assemble parts. Those post-attack activities are set to wrap up around 1:30 p.m.

Club members will be serving up strawberry shortcake will local ingredients at 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit the club's general fund.

Julie Bellefleur's Bellefleur Bakery of Wiscasset is donating the shortcakes.

In other festivities, from 5 to 7 p.m., old fashioned carnival games, tall tales and an open mic for talent are scheduled on the waterfront; rockabilly band Pete Whitham & the Cosmik Zombies, out of Portland, are set to perform from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

The celebration concludes with a bang, or many of them, with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. They'll be set off from Wiscasset Middle School, making for great viewing spots including the Main Street and Recreational piers and across the Sheepscot River in Edgecomb.

Look for some new designs and a couple of new colors to be in the mix for this year's approximately 25-minute show, Central Maine Pyrotechnics owner Steve Marson said. His company has been doing Wiscasset's fireworks shows for about 20 years.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.

Midcoast United Soccer Club is uniting with Seacoast United Maine to offer four sessions of summer soccer camp. Three sessions for ages 7 to 14 will take place at the Harold B. Clifford Park in Boothbay. They are scheduled for July 22-25, from 1 to 4 p.m., July 29-August 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, and July 29-August 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. The fee for each session is $90.

There is also a "mini mariners" session for kids age 4-6 that will be held July 29-August 1 from 9 to 10 a.m. with a $50 fee. Please contact Pam Wiley, Midcoast United Club Administrator, (pwiley@roadrunner.com) for information on scholarships.

Each day begins with a fun “camp warm-up” that gets everyone loose and gives everyone lots of touches on the ball. The players are then split up into age-appropriate groups and matched up with a coach for the week.

As a group they play fun games and exercises that promote confidence with the ball. Each day ends with scrimmage play, which may be different from day to day but encourages every player to be involved as much as possible. All campers receive a Nike soccer ball and Nike T-shirt.

If you're an experienced player or are just starting out, please join us for a fun learning experience! To register, please visit our websitewww.midcoastunited.comand go to the announcements page for the 2013 Soccer Summer Camp announcement.

A Walk with Rupert Neily will be held this Saturday, June 29, 9:30 a.m. to noon at the La Verna Preserve (part of the Pemaquid Watershed between Bremen and New Harbor). The Y will provide transportation. Please register at the Y front desk.

Boothbay Region YMCA Summer Camps Week of July 1, 2013: Critter Camp for 3-4-year-olds, Scamper Camp for children entering kindergarten in the fall, Camp Knickerbocker Day Camp, Y-Arts Music Theatre Camp Session 2, Half-day Art Camp, and Acadia National Park Adventure Camp. Sign up at the Y front desk.

Y Dolphin Summer Swim Camp, July 15-19, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with Dolphin swim coach Nan and Aquatic Director Shane Pennington. Join Coach Nan and Shane for a week of drill work, games and fun in our beautiful pool.

Our goal by the end of the week, each swimmer will have learning a lot about swimming all four competitive strokes. We will cover stroke techniques, swim workouts, drills, relays, starts, turns and swim games. Register at www.boothbayregionymca.org or through Maddie Rideout at mrideout@brymca.org.

Free Tennis Lessons through our Y’s Quick Start 10 & Under Tennis Program on Wednesdays beginning July 3. Quick Start is taught by Larry Rioux, Tennis Director at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. This program is designed for youth 10 years or age or under (12 years and under if a first time player). Documentation supports that youth who start out in Quick Start programs are more likely to stay with the sport. Register at the Y front desk for the whole summer or per Wednesday.

The YMCA is now collecting items for its annual summer Silent Auction, Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Please contact Rose Rivera at the Y, rrivera@brymca.org if you have items to donate. We will pick up or you can deliver. The Y will provide a tax deductible form for your taxes.

Furniture, dishware, holiday decorations, artwork, boats, exercise equipment … you name it, we will take it and sell most anything. The 2012 YMCA Silent Auction raised more than $10,000 to support Y youth programs.

A NASCAR Sprint Cup car, a No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Fusion, stopped by Wiscasset June 26 for the public to get an up close and personal look at the 900-horsepower track monster.

A NASCAR simulator was set up alongside the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Fusion to allow young race fans the opportunity to see what drivers see when they zoom around the track.

On June 27 participants of the Wiscasset Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Dig Into Reading” learned all about dinosaurs.

Former Gifted and Talented teacher Georgie Thompson showed her collection of fossils, dinosaur models, books, and even a cast of a dinosaur footprint.

Those who attended this wonderful, hands-on presentation were given a fossilized bone fragment collected by Georgie. These fossils, from a beach in South Carolina, are possibly from a mammoth.

During the presentation the audience learned of Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut, which has an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. For more information on visiting this park, check out their website at: www.dinosaurstatepark.org.

Wiscasset, at 7-2, still leads the standings of the Midcoast Babe Ruth baseball league, following the June 27 games. Right behind are the Damariscotta Lions at 6-2. Other teams records are as follows: Waldo County 6-3, Swan Lake Grocery 5-3, Waldoboro 5-4, Rockport Automotive 4-4, Rockland Café 4-4, Georges Valley 4-5, Union Farm Equipment 4-5, Camden Rockport 3-7, and Bristol 0-9.

On June 27, Damariscotta defeated Wiscasset, 11-5; Waldoboro defeated Georges Valley, 9-7; Rockland Cafe defeated Union, 10-3; and Waldo County defeated Camden, 25-0.

It was an action packed evening under the bright lights at Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday, June 30. Fans filled the bleachers to cheer on their favorite drivers. In addition to its regular lineup of Thunder 4’s, Prostock, Super Stock, and New England 4 Cylinder Prostock, there was also a conclusion to last weeks Late Model Sportsman 45 Lap feature, which had been rained out. There was also a bonus Late Model race on the roster, as well as a flagpole race.

First up was the Late Model Sportsman 45-lap feature continued from last week. Last week saw several cautions to start the race before being rained out at lap six. When racing action resumed, Nick Hinkley driving the No. 15 was race leader. Behind him was the No. 5 driven by Bill Pinkham and the No. 34 driven by Tyler Robbins. Before lap six was completed, Robbins dropped back and the No. 4 driven by Allan Moeller Sr. slid up in position.

There were two cautions on lap nine. The restart saw car No. 09 driven by Darrin Ripley move from a last place starting position to fourth. Lap 17 saw Ripley pass Pinkham on the inside of turn four for third.

A jumble on the track during lap 18 caused another caution, and on the restart Ripley passed Moeller for second place on the inside of the backstretch. Lap 29 saw the No. 33 driven by Josh St. Clair pass Moeller for third. A caution was thrown in lap 30, and the restart saw Josh St. Clair move into second place when he passed Ripley for second.

Hinkley had gained a comfortable lead over his competitors, maintaining first place. There was some heavy racing for position, then in lap 40, Moeller and Ripley scraped on the track out of turn three, and both slid off the track. When racing resumed, Josh St. Clair maintained second behind Hinkley, and the No. 25 driven by Will Collins moved to third. Race leaders remained the same until the conclusion of the race.

Hinkley took home his first Late Model win. Josh St. Clair took second with his first top three finish at Wiscasset this season. Rounding out the top three was Collins, also taking home his first top three finish this racing season.

Fans had been eagerly waiting the special feature 35 lap Late Model Sportsman race. This was the second race of the Sportsman class of the night, and it proved to be exciting and action packed. Heading the pack was car No. 8 driven by Steve Reno. Behind were the No. 51 driven by Puncin St. Clair and Darren Ripley in the No. 09.

Off the start, before lap one was even completed, Ripley passed St Clair for second on the inside of turn two. Ripley was focused on getting the lead. His chance to claim the lead came quick, in lap two, when he passed Reno on the inside of turn one. Reno was hot on Ripley’s heels, and looking for an opportunity to retake the lead. Ripley is able to hold of Reno.

Lap 15 saw Reno falter and he allowed Puncin St. Clair to take second. Ripley, Puncin St. Clair, and Reno raced in a pack, each wanting the number one spot. Lap 18 saw a caution, and on the restart, Puncin St Clair and Reno raced neck and neck for second. Lap 19 saw Reno head to the bottom of turn three, and he took second position.

Lap 34 saw Puncin St. Clair drop back, allowing the No. 30 driven by Ryan St. Clair to take third. Reno, still in second, tried to take first away from Ripley. Ripley was still able to hold him off. The two race together to the finish in a hotly contested battle for position.

Ripley took first, making this his third top place finish this year at Wiscasset. Reno placed second. Ryan St Clair took third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, July 6. On the schedule at the Speedway, with its group two lineup of divisions are: Strictly Street, Mini Trucks, Outlaw Mini, Late Model Sportsman, and the flex race of the week will be a 25-lap Amsoil Nelcar Legends feature. This is the third appearance of four scheduled this year of the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 4. Racing begins at 6. Admission is $5 for adults and children aged seven and older. Kids six and under are free. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at: http:www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Top five official finishes June 29

Late Model Sportsman: finish from race started June 22 (45 laps): 1. No. 15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset; 2. No. 33 Josh St. Clair, Liberty; 3. No. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro; 4. No. 00 Alex Waltz, Waldoboro; 5. No. 09 Daren Ripley, Thomaston

Thunder 4’S (15 laps): 1. No. 11 Kevin Sherman, Wiscasset; 2. No. 31X Adam Armstrong, Bath; 3. No. 13W Cody Tribett, Richmond; 4. No. 31 Leandra Martin, Richmond; 5. No. 28 Pete McCollet, Randolph

New England 4 Cylinder Prostock (25 laps): 1. No. 11 Kevin Sherman, Wiscasset; 2. No. 24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls; 3. No. 17 Mark Turner, Norway; 4. No. 14 Scott Dorr, NA; 5. No. 6 Travis Dunbar, Lisbon

Prostock (30 laps): 1. No. 15 Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin; 2. No. 1 Jeff Burgess, Fairfield; 3. No. 17 Chris Thorne, Sidney; 4. No. 72 Charlie Colby, Newcastle; 5. No. 8 Steve Reno, West Bath

Super Stock (25 laps): 1. No. 1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich; 2. No. 2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset; 3. No. 05 James Osmond, Wiscasset; 4. No. 3 Bobby Mesimer, Wiscasset; 5. No. 48 Dan Nessmith, Wiscasset

Flagpole Flex Race (10 laps): 1. No. 3 Randy Henderson, NA; 2. No. 25 Pat Hinkley, NA; 3. No. 8 Roy Glidden, NA

Late Model Sportsman Special Feature (35 laps): 1. No. 9 Darren Ripley, Thomaston; 2. No. 8 Steve Reno, West Bath; 3. No. 30 Ryan Sinclair, Liberty; 4. No. 51 Puncin Sinclair, Liberty; 5. No. 25 Will Collins, Waldoboro

When Forrest Faulkingham checks the forecast before taking a fishing client out of Wiscasset Harbor, he isn't just determining whether or not to bring rain gear.

Barometric pressure and the tides help the Alna man figure out where the best fishing will be.

Changes in barometric pressure, especially abrupt ones, have more of an impact than most people realize, he said.

“We can have four days of low pressure and good fishing, and all of a sudden high pressure and the fishing shuts down,” said Faulkingham, president of the Maine Association of Charter Boat Captains; pressure changes from high to low can have the same effect.

At times like those, he'll take clients to the spots where they still have a shot at success, despite conditions.

Striped bass are creatures of habit, tending to feed at the same spots historically, Faulkingham said.

“What you're paying for is local knowledge,” he said.

Faulkingham started Maine Saltwater Outfitters & Guide Service in Wiscasset 18 years ago; he later moved it to Bath, where most of his customer base was at the time.

But he's back in Wiscasset this summer, running the business out of the Recreational Pier with his 18-foot Hewes flat skiff. With three people on board, it can float in as few as 10 inches of water. Faulkingham also has five, one-person kayaks, to take as many as four people out at a time.

He returned to Wiscasset because there was no other fishing guide business in the town, he said.

At the Waterfront Committee's recommendation, to help draw water-related business to the waterfront, Wiscasset selectmen waived Faulkingham's first-year fee.

“I think it's great that the pier is actually starting to get some use, and I wish him all the success in the world,” Selectmen's Chairman Ed Polewarczyk said. “Wiscasset is seeing a lot of new businesses, and I think this is just one more business that helps Wiscasset to become a destination.”

The pier is near the local Verizon office where Faulkingham worked for 32 years as a switching equipment technician.

His guide business lets him work on the water, a love he has passed on to the next generation. Son Michael Faulkingham has produced television programs on fishing and runs Fish Portland Maine, a fishing guide business in South Portland.

Michael's sister Amy Faulkingham fishes, too; their mother Sydney Faulkingham, Forrest's business partner and wife of 44 years, has pulled in her share of stripers, her husband said.

The only non-fisherman in the family is Bessie, the St. Bernard. She doesn't like to get on a boat.

For Faulkingham, the best part of his business is getting to see the look on a client's face when that person is catching a fish, maybe even for the first time.

About 95 percent of his clients release their catch back into the water, he said.

In addition to the help with fishing and the use of the business' equipment, clients are often treated to the sight of eagles, ospreys and seals, and the occasional deer swimming across the river.

Faulkingham can be reached at 207-841-7973 or mesaltwtr@yahoo.com; he has a website at www.mainesaltwater.com.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.

Which United States President first spoke of a government of the people, by the people, for the people?

The capital of the U.S. is Washington, D.C. What does “D.C.” stand for?

What do we call the boundary line that once separated slave states from non-slave states?

If you can answer these questions and are between the ages of 2 and 12, come to Sherman’s Books and Stationery Store in Boothbay Harbor on Sunday, July 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. to participate in BrainQuest’s All-American Challenge.

Participants can answer questions both individually and as members of a team. There is a time limit of 10 seconds to answer a question, and participants will be asked questions appropriate to their grade level. All participating kids get an official certificate, and winners receive a special surprise prize.

There will be BrainQuest giveaways throughout the event.

Participants do not need to sign up ahead of time, simply show up at Sherman’s Book and Stationary Store (5 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor). It’s best if participants show up around 1 p.m. This is a free event.

And, in case you were curious, the answers are the Abraham Lincoln (in his Gettysburg Address of 1863), D.C. stands for District of Columbia, and the divisional line is known as the Mason-Dixon Line.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com.

It appears that Mother Nature will suspend her fireworks show and allow the region to enjoy some of its own.

NOAA is reporting Thursday night to be mostly cloudy for Independence Day, meaning the thunder and lightning will make way for rockets' red glare.

Wiscasset

Fireworks over the Sheepscot blast off at 9:15 a.m. July 4 with a rain day on Friday.

Best place to watch the fireworks: Again, on a boat is the top spot, but along Route 1 on the bridge is a close second. The restaurants in Edgecomb and Wiscasset also afford firework views.

Damariscotta

Fireworks will boom over the Damariscotta's cove at dusk, or 9 p.m. on the fourth.

Best place to view fireworks: Head down to the town landing (near Metcalf's) for the show, but be warned: space fills up quickly to watch the fireworks across the water.

Boothbay Harbor

The fireworks will be at approximately 9:15 p.m. in the harbor with a rain date of July 5 at the same time. Best place to view fireworks: On the water. Try to snag a ride with a friend to get up close to the action. For the nautically-impaired, try driving out to the end of McKown Point Road to the Department of Marine Resources, or one of the many restaurants that line the harbor, such as Brown's Wharf.

More fireworks

If you are unable to make it to any of the Independence Day fireworks, the Bath Heritage Day goes out with a bang at 9:15 p.m., Sunday, July 7.

Best place to watch the fireworks: The fireworks are launched over the Kennebec River, so the waterfront park is the top spot.

Olde Bristol Days, which is August 10 and 11, will have a fireworks show at dusk Saturday, August 10 over Pemaquid Beach.

Click here for a searchable database of all fireworks shows in Maine.

Daren Wood, Tyler Flavin, Tyler Bailey and Andy Hutchins, members of the Wiscasset Merchants Babe Ruth baseball team, were named to the Midcoast South 15-Year-Old All-Star team. The 15-year-olds will compete in a regional tournament July 11 through July 14. Winners of the regional tournaments will go on to play in the state tournament in Auburn July 19 through July 21.

Other members of the South squad include: Matthew Tomasello, Nick Morton and Baker Gove of the Damariscotta Lions; Nicholas DePatsy, Ollie Brown, Adam Eutsler and Owen Gilbert of Waldoboro; and Ben Turner, Tyler Emerson, Riley McCollett and Patrick Madden of Union Farm Equipment.

The team is being coached by Jay Bailey of Wiscasset Merchants and Allen Tomasello of the Damariscotta Lions. Manager is Scott Gove of the Damariscotta Lions.

Boothbay Region Land Trust’s (BRLT) hiking trails, waterfront access and environmental education are available year-round, free of charge. In order to keep these community resources available at their current levels, BRLT kicked off its Stewardship Campaign at the July 6 Volksmarch for the Land event.

Businesses and residents have come forward and generously contributed over $1.5 million (more than half of the $3 million necessary for long-term stewardship).

BRLT is now reaching out to the community, Boothbay region residents and visitors, to help meet a $500,000 challenge before year’s end. To encourage the public’s participation, donors have provided matching dollars to double the value of all public gifts in 2013.

The land trust is fortunate to have all campaign costs underwritten; therefore, 100 percent of all gifts go straight to BRLT’s endowment fund.

BRLT now has 22 preserves with over 30 miles of hiking trails and six preserves accessible by water. These preserves provide habitat for over 160 bird species and include 17 miles of saltwater frontage, six islands and 200 acres of deer-wintering area.

The Osprey Program, BRLT’s environmental education program, reaches over 500 kids and 150 adults annually with over 175 free programs serving ages 3 and up. BRLT is able to offer its programs free to the community directly and through partner programs with the Boothbay Region YMCA, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and area schools.  

BRLT relies entirely on voluntary donations and grants to fund its work. When hikers visit preserves or attend an educational program, there is no fee, no required membership or gate. Currently, seed grants fund a significant portion of preserve access and education. These grants begin to expire at year’s end. Tax deductible gifts and pledges will provide the dollars necessary to sustain these community resources – today, tomorrow and forever.

Gifts of all sizes are welcome and necessary. For more information, please call 207-633-4818, visit the land trust at 137 Townsend Avenue or at www.bbrlt.org, or stop by one of the preserve kiosks for more information. Stewardship Campaign information is also available at business locations throughout the community, including J. Edward Knight, Topside Inn, Washburn & Doughty and First Federal.

The first ever Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) Volksmarch and Grill Party on July 6 was a lot of fun, in spite of the heat and humidity. Participants had an opportunity to hike on two of BRLT's 22 preserves, as well as feast on a German-style barbecue. It was a festive event with games for the kids and great music by The Spaceheaters.

This could not have been possible without the generosity and support of community partners and volunteers. Thanks to the kindness of Pine Tree Preserve neighbors, attendees were granted special permission to hike private property surrounding the preserve.

We also had many business contributors which included our lead sponsor OsmanPage; second tier sponsors Flagship Inn, Griffin Law Offices, Harbor Embroidery,  Pottle Realty, and Tindal & Callahan; and third tier sponsors Bath Savings, Coca-Cola, Computer-ninja.net, First Federal Savings, Geary's, Gimbel's Country Store, Grover's Hardware, Hammond Lumber, Harborfield's Cottages, Janson's Clothing, J. Edward Knight, Morse's Sauerkraut, Oak Street Provisions, Red Cup Coffeehouse, The Bank of Maine, The Maine Grind, Tidal Transit Kayak Co. and Topside Inn. We also thank Kennebec Rental Equipment and Mill Cove Lobster for their special contributions.

An event such as this requires a tremendous amount of work and wouldn't be possible without dedicated volunteers. Hats off to the planning committee that included: Pauline Dion, Deezie Flower, Stephen Gottlieb, Tim Hanley, Kathleen Jones, Dick Palmer, Nancy Raithel and Ingrid Roveillo. They all did multiple jobs. Kudos to Cameron Jones for his design of the Volksmarch icon. Special thanks to those who ensured we ate and drank well: Kate and Ken Culbert, Judith Crane, Barbie Eldred, York Fischer, Jack Fulmer, Jeanne Harding, Debbie Holmes, Frank Johnson, Enid and Bruce Johnson and Carol Ostermann. Registration was ably handled by Kathy Bugbee, Jean Hawley, Merry Knowlton, Angie McLellan and Patty Zinkowski. Taking care of a myriad of other tasks were Linda Burley, Jim and Alec Dun, Bill and Jo Haney, Mark Knowlton, Jodi Lunt, Ham Meserve, Carole Palmer, and Mark and Patty Wood. Alan Lewis and Rupert Neily also helped to establish the trail. Holding it all together and working more hours than can be counted were the incredible BRLT staff members: Michael Warren, Skye Wood and Nick Ullo. Many thanks to all.

If you missed the Volksmarch, you can still purchase one of the magnificent T-shirts commemorating the event for $5 at the BRLT office on 187 Townsend Avenue. Thanks to all of those who came out in support of Boothbay Region Land Trust and our mission to conserve for the public benefit the natural habitat, scenic beauty and working land of the Boothbay Region. We hope this will become an annual event.