Boothbay Region YMCA Summer Camps, week of July 15: 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 3; Half-Day Media Camp with BRCTV’s Jonne Trees; White Water Rafting Adventure Camp; and Baseball Camp with Colby College Coach and former minor league player Dale Plummer.

Y Dolphin Summer Swim Camp July 15-19, 10:30-11:30 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.

Y-Arts Music Theatre Camp presents “My Son Pinocchio” at the Boothbay Playhouse on Friday, July 12 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Free tennis lessons through our Y’s Quick Start 10 & Under Tennis Program on Wednesdays beginning July 3 throughout the summer. 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.

Saturday, July 20, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., join Rupert Neilly on a Y Walks adventure at the Hidden Valley nature Center. Travel by Y bus to Jefferson for two guided trail walks. Warbler Way is a one-mile ancient kettle hole bog where you’ll see various forms of wildlife.

Then, head to Moose Alley, a three-mile easy interpretive trail. Pack a lunch and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors. Fee: $15 per person.

Now collecting items for the YMCA’s 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. Featured item for 2013: A 2002 Subaru Legacy with only 52,500 miles valued at $4,800.

Save the date: The 20th annual Southport Rowgatta is Sat., Aug. 10; 8:30 a.m. start at Newagen Landing. Calling all kayakers, paddle boarders, canoers and surf boarders to journey around Southport Island in a 12-nautical-mile paddle. Costs: $35 preregistration fee at the YMCA; $40 day of registration at Newagen Landing. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit Y aquatic programs.

It was a bright, warm evening at Wiscasset Speedway last Saturday, July 6. The Amsoil Nelcar Legends made a third appearance out of four scheduled this season. Also on the roster were Strictly Street, Late Model Sportsman and an Outlaw Mini race. There were some new faces in victory lane, and fans were there to cheer them all on.

First up was the flex race of the week, the Amsoil Nelcar Legends 25-lap feature. Coming into the race, Ryan Hammar, driving the No. 2, was points leader. Behind him in second place in point position was Mathew Bourgoine. Only 10 points separated the two leaders.

Prior to race time, Hammar said, “Pretty much up to me and Mat (points). We are more on the line. We are focusing on our setups better. But, we are friends, and respectful of each other on the track. If you have the fastest car, you have the fastest car.”

Starting in the pole position in the Legends race was No. 96 driven by Wyatt Alexander. Behind him in the No. 38 was Mathew Bourgoine. Driving the No. 81 was Dan Winter, in third position. Right off the start, Bourgoine pulled ahead on the outside of turn 2 to pass Alexander, taking the lead. Winter dropped back, and car No. 59 driven by Reid Lanpher took third.

Lap seven saw Alexander move down the track and pass Bourgoine on the inside of turn three. The next several laps saw both Alexander and Bourgoine battle it out for position until a caution was thrown in lap twelve due to a mechanical problem on the track.

Alexander pulled ahead on the restart, but Bourgoine faltered allowing Lanpher to slide into second place. By lap 14, Bourgoine had regained his momentum, and he passed Lanpher to retake second position on the track. The second caution of the race came in lap 18, when a car spun on the track.

When the action resumed, Alexander took an early lead, but once again Lanpher slid by Bourgoine’s Corinna Auto Body Coupe Legend car for second place. Lanpher came up the track behind Alexander, looking for an opportunity to pass. His chance came in lap 22, and he passed Alexander on the inside of turn two. Then behind him, Bourgoine moved up to pass Alexander, and slid by him on turn three.

However, Bourgoine was not able to hold onto the lead when in lap 23 he and Alexander bump together. Bourgoine moved to third, and Alexander to second. Still in the lead was Lanpher. Then in the last lap, Bourgoine had a burst of speed to regain second. Race leaders went past the checkered in that order. Lanpher took the win. Bourgoine took second. Alexander placed third. Point leader Hammar took sixth.

Lanpher said in victory lane, “Started off the year really, really good. Then we had a streak of bad luck …. Today we got lucky with the restarts and had a good day. I would like to thank Scott's Recreation and Houlton Power Sports. Sponsors make it all possible.”

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, July 13 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 25 lap Outlaw Mini race. 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: www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Wiscasset Speedway Official Finish

July 6, 2013 – Top Six

Amsoil Nelcar Legends

1. #59 Reid Lanphier, Manchester

2. #38 Mathew Bourgoine, Newport

3. #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth

4. #51 John Peters, Westbrook

5. #21 TJ Laro, Concord, N.H.

6. #2 Ryan Hammar, Pembroke, N.H.

Strictly Street

1. #26 Corey Morgan, Lewiston

2. #39 Gerry Freve, Turner

3. #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic

4. #5 Guy Childs, Turner

5. #13 Chuck Grey, Wiscasset

6. #06 Zach Poland, Woolwich

Late Model Sportsman

1. #25 Will Collins, Appleton

2. #3 Shane Lane, Kingfield

3. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset

4. #00 Alex Waltz, Walpole

5. #4 Allan Moeller Sr., Wiscasset

6. #34 Tyler Robbins, Montville

Outlaw Mini

1. #9 George Fortin, Greene

2. #18 Tim Collins, Farmingdale

3. #61 Chris Morris, Poland

4. #44 Ozzie Cummings, Vassalboro

5. #84 Michael Bolduc, Windsor

6. #13 Nate Tribbett, Richmond

Midcoast United soccer club traveled to Portland to watch the Portland Phoenix face the Western Massachusetts Pioneers on July 6.

But Midcoast did more than just watch the game. The young Midcoast players escorted the Phoenix players onto the pitch during the opening ceremony and entertained the crowd at half time with some small sided games.

For most of the Midcoast players, this was their first time attending a professional development league match. Despite the heat, the kids and parents were treated to some impressive play by both sides.

Midcoast United is a nonprofit soccer club dedicated to bringing high level soccer training to the Boothbay region. For more information or to sign up for fall soccer, call Pam Wiley at 207-776-9496 or to support the club, please send your donation to Diane Spear, P.O. Box 120, Boothbay, ME 04537 Fax: 207-633-2766.

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. Midcoast South will play Auburn at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 12 at the Elliot Avenue Complex in Lewiston.

Other members of the South squad include: Matthew Tomasello, Nick Morton and Baker Gove of the Damariscotta Lions; Nicholas DePatsy, Ollie Brown, Adam Eutsler, Owen Gilbert and Bryce Collamore 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.

The National Weather Service in Gray has announced that strong thunderstorms are approaching Lincoln County from the west. Heavy rainfall may be expected, with local ponding in streets and low-lying areas. The statement was issued at 11:16 a.m.

Sick of melting? With warm weather back with a vengeance, it's time to finally break out the swim trunks and pool noodles.

Below is a list of places to beat the heat.

Hendricks Head, Southport

Hendricks Head beach, located near the Southport General Store, is Maine in a microcosm.

There's a lighthouse, a little sandy beach, some rocky coastline and a big hunk of a rock in a quiet cove where lobstermen haul-out traps.

The water's not exactly warm, but for a compressed Maine landscape, few can compare with Hendricks Head Beach.

The beach is actually private, but the family allows swimmers to come and use the space “respectfully.”

Ocean Point, Grimes Cove

When one thinks of Ocean Point, swimming isn't typically the first thing to come to mind.

Ocean Point evokes images of crashing waves, craggy shoals and where the ocean truly meets Maine.

But, on nice days Grimes Cove does offer a place to swim in a protected cove. If the water's too choppy, just hop onto the public trail and clamber over rocks for some of the region's best views.

Barrett's Park

Want a place close to town to cool off but don't want people looking at you funny for jumping off the footbridge? (Note: Do not, as in ever, jump off the footbridge. It's illegal and you will be known as the New Town Lunatic, supplanting Pigeon Whispering Tony).

Try Barrett's Park; it's a short walk up Lobster Cove Road and has plenty of room to spread out, enjoy a shaded picnic and cool off in style.

Plus, people won't refer to you as the lunatic who jumped off the footbridge.

Knickerbocker Lake

Want to stretch out but the ocean seems scary? Try Knickerbocker Lake, which makes up in big-pond charm what it lacks in scaly, toothy malevolent sea monsters.

The lake, which is located a short distance from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, would seem more at home where alpine skiing is more popular than water skiing (if water skiing is still popular anywhere). It's big and spread out and peaceful: the trifecta for a perfect summer swimming hole.

Pemaquid Beach

With white sands that look more Bimini than Brunswick, Pemaquid Beach is something of a Maine oddity.

The white sanded-crescent overlooks Johns Bay and sits within striking distance to Fort William and Mary, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and the public boat launch.

The quarter-mile long beach can accommodate quite a few sunbathers and swimmers alike. The beach also has rocky outcroppings book-ending the beach for a chance to explore.

Other places

West Harbor Pond doesn't have public access, but if you are able to talk your way into someone's back yard and into the water, it might be the premier place to take a swim in the region.

It's big, it's warmer than the ocean, has rope swings and rocks and turtles and it's a reasonable distance to town. If you ask nicely, the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club will allow non-members to swim in the pond via its waterfront property for no charge.

But again, the pond itself has no public boat launches or beaches.

Damariscotta Lake is a bit of a trek from Boothbay Harbor, but it does have public access, is large and is quite pretty.

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

Can your dog carry a hot dog in his mouth without eating it? Would he (and you) like to be in a pooch parade?

Any bidders on an L.L.Bean kayak? An antique sofa? Theme baskets?

Shh. It's a silent auction.

These activities and more are set to make up Summerfest 2013 at the Wiscasset Town Common on July 27. This will be the 30th year the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset has put on the event. The objective is the same as always, to raise money the church will give to several community organizations, Summerfest Committee Chairman Nancy Roby said.

“Mission is very important to us, and raising money to support the  organizations means a lot,” she said.

Summerfest is the biggest event the church does; it takes a lot of work, said Roby, who's been helping with it all 30 years. The scope of activities has grown over the years, she said.

The dog events are in their eighth year. A $5 entry fee covers both the parade and the contests that follow.

Church member and Summerfest dog parade veteran Linda Winterburg hopes to be in it this year with her pug Phoebe.

“It's just a great part of Summerfest,” Winterburg said. She and Phoebe are not in training for the contests afterward, however. They don't plan to compete in them.

The two have no plans to be in costume for the parade, either. But Winterburg didn't rule out a last-minute decision.

As for the silent auction, more than 40 items have been collected so far, the auction's chairman Margot Stiassni-Sieracki said.

The fair also features the “Candy Kitchen” and the “On Common Cafe,” children's games, local musicians, and tables of jewelry, books, toys, baked goods, plants and other items, according to a church press release.

Summerfest runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Common. The parade of dogs begins at 10 a.m., followed by the canine contests. Anyone wishing to enter should try to arrive by 9:45 a.m., organizers said.

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

July 13 was bright and sunny as the race cars hit the track for five exciting feature races that included Super Stock, New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stock, Pro Stock, Thunder 4’s, and the flex race of the week, Outlaw Mini’s. It was Bath Iron Works Day, and employees of BIW received discounted admission prices.

First on the track was the Super Stock class. It was a quick, straightforward 25-lap race. The No. 1 driven by Adam Chadbourne took the pole position. He was followed by the No. 05 driven by James Osmond, and Josh Bailey in the No. 2.

Chadbourne surged off the finish line, but Osmond was behind him, dogging his heels. The No. 3 driven by Bobby Mesimer came up from the back of the pack to take third and challenged Osmond for position.

The three raced in well- matched cars, but Chadbourne kept his lead through the remainder of the race. Chadbourne raced across the finish line with Osmond only a second behind. However, Chadbourne did not pass post-race inspection. Osmond took the win, making this his second win at Wiscasset this season. Mesimer, who ran the fastest lap in the race, placed second. Dan Nessmith driving the No. 48 finished third.

Several race cars spun on the track during the opening lap of the New England 4-Cylinder Pro Stock feature. When the dust settled, the No. 12 driven by Dave Patten had taken first place from heat winner Scott Collins in the No. 26. Collins was driving in second, and behind him was the No. 38 driven by Tim Jeski. During lap four, Jeski edged by Collins for second place.

The three top racers then raced in a pack during this 25-lap feature. This fulfilled Jeski’s earlier wish, when he said prior to race time that, “This should be a lot of fun. Hopefully it will be a race up front and I am looking forward to it.”

On lap 18, Jeski made a bid for first on the outside of the backstretch. Dave Patten and Jeski went neck to neck for a full lap, then Jeski pulled ahead and cemented his lead to take first. Jeski tore across the finish line, making this his second win at Wiscasset this season.

Dave Patten took second. Rounding out the top three was Collins in third.

Outlaw Mini’s were the flex race (25 laps) of the week. In the pole position was Nate Tribbett in the No. 13. Jimmy Childs was behind him in second driving the No. 10. Jeff Prindall in the No. 5 started in third. Right off the start Childs passed by Tribbett on the outside of the front stretch. Coming up quickly from the back of the field was the No. 51 driven by Mike Mason.

Mason was able to snatch third place from Prindall by lap two. Then, on the outside of turn four, Mason passed Tribbett to take second during the same lap. Lap three saw the No. 9 driven by George Fortin pass by Tribbett to take third.

Mason, in second, tailed Childs looking for an opportunity to pass. His chance came in lap five when he was able to pass Childs on the outside of turn four for the lead.

Lap six saw a caution and position changes when Childs and Fortin scraped together on turn one. Fortin went off the track, and Childs spun to a standstill. Neither was able to return to the race. When racing action resumed, Mason was still in the lead. Behind him were Tribbett and Tim Collins driving the No. 18. Tribbett and Collins raced furiously for position. Then, in lap 19, a caution was thrown.

On the restart Tribbett lost speed and dropped back. Collins quickly snatched third. Coming up from behind, driving the No. 61 was Chris Morris.

Morris also was able to pass Tribbett and took third place. Tribbett regained his momentum, and in lap 22, passed Morris on the inside of turn three to regain third position.

Mason took first place, saying, “Thank you Wiscasset most of all. You guys are doing a great job! Thanks for having us!”

Collins placed second and Tribbett took third place.

The 30-lap Pro Stock race was next on the agenda. In the pole position was Bill Penfold in the No. 0. Behind him were Jeff Burgess in the No. 1 and the No. 3 driven by Mike Orr. During the first lap, Penfold pulled away, leaving Burgess and Orr to battle for second place. In lap two, Burgess pulled ahead of Orr on the outside of turn two. Orr dropped back, and the No. 13 driven by Casey Nash sped by Orr to take third.

Nash raced up the track, looking for second. Then, on the inside of turn one, Nash passed Burgess for the position. Race leaders remained the same throughout the remainder of the race. Penfold had his first win of the season at Wiscasset.

Penfold said in victory lane, “We’ve been having trouble with the car this season. But, we had it all hooked up tonight. I’d like to thank VIP Charter.”

Nash placed second and Burgess placed third.

The bright lights came on at Wiscasset for the high-lighted race of the evening, a 25-lap Thunder 4 feature. Leandra Martin in the No. 31 had the pole position. Behind her were Kevin Sherman driving the No. 11 and Kalib Bernatchez in the No. 21K. Sherman passed Martin coming off the start on the outside of the front stretch.

In lap three Martin spun off the track coming into turn four. A caution was thrown. Martin went to the back of the pack. Sherman was in first, Bernatchez in second, and moving to third was the No. 18 driven by Dustin Salley.

Lap four was a scuffle. There were three cautions in lap four. When the dust cleared, Salley was out of the race after crashing into the wall on the front stretch. The No. 86 driven by Jeff Herbert moved to third. Bernatchez had taken the lead, and Sherman was in second.

When racing action resumed, Sherman passed Bernatchez on the outside of the front stretch. Herbert and Bernatchez raced neck and neck, just behind Sherman. The three top contenders were racing in a tight knit group.

Then, in lap nine, Herbert passed Bernatchez on the inside of turn three. The two continued to race for position. Then in lap 11, Bernatchez and Herbert came together. The resulting damage sent Bernatchez to the pits. Car No. 51 driven by Kyle Hewins moved to third.

Lap 20 saw Cody Tribbett in the No. 13 challenge Hewins for third. Then, on the outside of the front stretch, Tribbett passed Hewins. The two raced neck and neck, and by lap 25, Hewins was able to retake third.

Sherman, who said prior to race time that he was, “Looking for a win,” raced his Chevy past the checkered for first.  Herbert placed second, and in third was Hewins.

Next week Wiscasset Speedway is taking its midseason break. Racing action resumes on July 27. There will be a birthday atmosphere, as the track celebrates its 44th year. A special tribute will be made to track founder, Wilford Cronk. Cronk built the track during the mid-Sixties, and the track opened for business in July of 1969.

There will also be a driver recognition ceremony for past drivers and other drivers who have contributed to the history of the track. All seven divisions will race: New England 4- Cylinder Pro Stock, Thunder 4’s, Super Stock, Pro Stock, Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, and Outlaw Mini’s. The end of the evening will feature a display of fireworks.

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, visit www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

With summer in full swing, the time has come to comb the beaches.

Beachcombers' Rest Nature Center at Pemaquid Beach Park opened July 16 for its 10th season of exploring the Pemaquid area in conjunction with the town of Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission.

To register for an event, call 207-563-2196 two days in advance and arrive 10 minutes early. All events are held at the pavilion near Pemaquid Park.

Unless otherwise noted, programs are free and donations are accepted. There is a fee to access Pemaquid State Park.

There will be two ongoing programs, including Touch Tank Tuesdays every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. until August 27, and Story Time Thursdays at 11 a.m.

At 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 19 there will be a presentation on the Gulf of Maine by Phil Averill. The presentation will focus on what makes the Gulf so special.

The next event will be “Seaglass in a Wrap” by Lynne Thompson, where she instructs participants on how to wire-wrap seaglass to make jewelry. The demonstration will begin at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 26. Wire and seaglass will be provided but participants should bring their own needle-nose pliers.

Under the Sea: Diving Show-n-Tell will be at 9 a.m. Saturday July 27. Beach-goers will have the opportunity to see sea creatures up close and personal when diver Brian Boone dives into the cold water near Pemaquid. Boone will also talk about scuba diving. Participants should wear clothing and footwear appropriate for going into the water.

The last July event will be the Beachscapes Contest at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27. Beachcombers' Rest encourages participants to let loose and allow their imaginations roam wild in this contest.

The constructions will be “gently judged” and there will be prizes handed out. Participants should arrive at 10 a.m. with their own shovels and other construction and sculpting tools.

Following the contest there will be a celebration to commemorate Beachcombers' Rest's first 10 years.

For a list of events, click here or call 207-563-2196.

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

To the rest of the world, Taryn Friedman is a business owner bent on spurring children's interest in science.

But to a classroom full of youngsters, Friedman is mad scientist “Lightning Lucy.”

On August 6, Friedman will go from a classroom to an airplane hangar as she dons Lucy's lab coat and presents at the Wiscasset Municipal Airport.

Friedman is participating in “Wings Over Wiscasset,” the freedom-themed day of fireworks, history, science, fund-raising music and the Texas Flying Legends Museum Warbirds.

“It's a great opportunity to expose kids to science and technology,” Friedman said. Her aeronautics presentation “Up, Up and Away” is set to start at 1:30 p.m. in Hangar 10.

Friedman is chief mad scientist and co-owner of Mad Science of Maine. The Portland-based business offers camps, school programs, and presentations at parties and other events.

The presenters, or mad scientists, gear scientific concepts to kindergarteners through sixth-graders. For example,  Friedman called Earth the biggest magnet of all.

“The key to our approach is making science hands-on and fun, and tapping into kids' natural curiosity about the world,” she said.

Although she keeps air pressure and other concepts at a kid-friendly level, adults in the audience often tell Friedman they learned something, too, she said.

With her father, grandfather and uncles all doctors, Friedman suspects all the science talk she heard around the house growing up probably sparked her own interest in it.

Presentations like the upcoming one at the airport can help do the same for other children, she said. She hopes some will choose to go into the  science field.

To learn more about Mad Science programs, visit www.maine.madscience.org.

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

A traveling trophy (passed on to winners each year) and a gift certificate for a local restaurant will be awarded to the winners of this year’s Lobster Roll 5k Workplace Challenge. Previous winners include Compass Rose Events (2010), Lincoln County Healthcare (2011) and Boothbay Schools (2012).

The Workplace Challenge adds an additional level of friendly competition to the Lobster Roll 5k Walk/Run scheduled for July 27 at 8 a.m. Although you must have at least three members to qualify, there is no limit to how many more people can be registered for each team.

The lowest three times recorded for each team are added to get an overall score and the team with the lowest score wins the challenge. There is no additional cost to register as part of a team as opposed to registering as an individual. All teams and members must be registered before the race begins.

You can log on to www.lobsterroll5k.com to register for the race individually and indicate what team you will be running for. This annual race is a fundraiser for Community On Track and all proceeds will go toward the construction of an eight-lane outdoor community track for our student athletes and community members.

Congratulations, you made it to vacation.

But your hotel doesn't have Wi-Fi, the pool is closed and the kids won't stop complaining that they're bored.

Summer doesn't have to be this miserable. Instead of withering away in the heat, go explore the friendly waters of the Boothbay region.

Kayaking is the best way to stay cool while taking your family on an outdoor adventure. It's fun, healthy and relatively inexpensive.

A good starting point is Knickercane Island. Nestled between the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Hodgdon Island is this peaceful passage.  

Just park the car at the public landing, break out the kayaks and life jackets and leisurely drift away the afternoon on the Back River, where the water stays warm and the going is easy.     

If you've got time to spare, paddling south is a nice option. Keep the mainland on our left and head down the passage next to the botanical gardens. If the tide is relatively low, you can shoot through the giant culvert that empties into the Sheepscot River.

You'll pop out next to Indiantown Island, a pristine preserve partially owned by the Boothbay Region Land Trust. With public docking and hiking trails covering half the island, this might the place to park for an afternoon picnic on the rocks.  

From Indiantown you're now at the gates of the Sheepscot River, and there are plenty of things to do. Hike Ram Island's forest glades, straddle the isthmus of Spectacle Islands or lie on the picturesque sandy beaches of Powderhorn; the options are endless.

But if the sun is getting low, your internal gas tank is probably running close to empty. Better head home in time to get the lobsters steaming before dinner.  

Simply paddle through the waterway that splits the southern tip of Barters Island with Sawyers Island. This route will loop you under the Barter's Island swing before switching back around to the Knickercane boat launch.

You've made it!

Not only did you conquer Maine in your Crocs and kayak, you've heroically saved your summer vacation. Time for a margarita.

Remember:

• Always allow more time than you think the trip will take.
• Always bring plenty of fresh drinking water. You're not a camel.
• Always check the tide chart on www.boothbayregister.com, so as not to end up the creek without water.

It was in a pumpkin boat on the Damariscotta River that Buzz Pinkham finally understood the appeal of Mark Twain.

Pinkham, owner of Pinkham's Plantation and “co-instigator” of Damariscotta's Pumpkinfest, said he didn't enjoy reading about the exploits of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn when he was in grade school, but as he bobbed in an oversized pumpkin on the Damariscotta, it all came together.

“There I was, in my 'raft,'” he said. “It made sense to me then.”

With Pumpkinfest three months away, the time for pumpkins to sprout and bloom has arrived. Wet weather has recently invaded the area, lashing the soil with rain.

But, not to worry, Pinkham said, the pumpkins should be ready to carve, paint, chuck, drop and sail in time for the October 5 to 14 Pumpkinfest.

Growing behemoths takes several things: good soil, good weather and good luck.

Pinkham said the weather so far hasn't cooperated, but with a few warm, sunny weeks, the pumpkins will do just fine.

Pinkham's Plantation gives out pumpkins near the end of May to be grown by members of the community, before heading back for the weigh-off.

Pinkham relates the outgoing pumpkins to baby sea turtles; a lot go out into the world, and only a few make the return trip.

Of the 600 pumpkins Pinkham gives out, only approximately 100 will grow into behemoth pumpkins and return in time for the October 5 and 6 weigh-off.

“We gave out 400 in late May,” he said. “Since then, we've given out another 200, because accidents happen. Pumpkins aren't calamity-proof.”

Along with Bill Clark, whom Pinkham calls his co-instigator, the pair have grown the festival from 12 art pumpkins in downtown the first year to more than 70 that decorate Damariscotta.

What started off as a way of getting the community together to celebrate the ridiculous turned into a week-long event with camera crews and a Pennsylvania-based “punkin chunkin” machine, Pinkham said.

Pinkham believes there are a variety of reasons the festival has taken off.

“It's a good family project,” he said. “It gets the kids, dad and mom, in some cases grandparents out working on a pumpkin project.”

What happens after the pumpkins reach gargantuan size is where imagination comes into play, Pinkham said.

“There was a little boy, eight or nine years old, and the pumpkin was his summer project,” Pinkham said. “When he brought it in to the weigh-off, they asked him what he wanted to do with it, and he said 'I want to drop it on a car.'”

So, a crane was brought in several years and pumpkin drops have been a staple since, Pinkham said.

“Other people's imaginations bring them to turn a pumpkin into a boat, or carve it or paint it,” he said. “Some people just want to a grow a bigger pumpkin than their (neighbor's).”

That friendly competition, and how large the festival has grown, showcase not only a strong sense of community, Pinkham said, but reflect on the plant itself.

“When you think about pumpkins, they have vines that stretch out through the garden,” he said. “This festival is like that: it's just taken off and spread.”

While the festival has been a boon to businesses, Pinkham said there are still those who don't quite get the appeal of carving out a pumpkin, attaching a motor to it and plopping it in the water.

The point is: there is no point other than enjoying the spectacle and absurdity, Pinkham said.

“I would say 99.4 out of 100 people enjoy it, but there's always someone who thinks it's foolish nonsense,” he said. “I think those people need Pumpkinfest more than anyone.

“That's what it's about: we spend too much time trying to make sense of things. We just want to celebrate the ridiculous.”

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

The ninth annual Westport Island Shore Run 10k Road Race will be held Sunday, August 18 beginning at 9 a.m., on bridge-accessible Westport Island. This exciting race will be run on a beautiful USATF-certified course through scenic pine and fir tree forests and over two bridges spanning inlets to Heal Cove and Montsweag Bay.

The race will start at the Old Town Hall on the Main Road at 9 a.m. The 3.5 mile “fun walk” begins at 8:30 a.m.

The proceeds from the event go to the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department. Over the past eight years, over $10,000 has been raised to benefit the island firefighters. Come be a part of the “best little 10k race in Maine.”

Online registration for the 10k road race and “fun walk” is now open at www.westportisland.org, or through www.active.com. Race-day registration takes place at the historic Old Town Hall, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Computer timing services will be provided for the ninth year in a row by 5k Sports Race Management. There will be distance mile markers and water stations on the course route. On-site EMTs and medical assistance will be available, if needed. The race is sanctioned by USATF-Maine.

Awards will be presented to top male and female finishers, and to age group winners. Race T-shirts are only guaranteed to those who preregister online or by mail before July 26, 2013.

Post-race refreshments and the awards ceremony will take place at Old Town Hall. For additional information about the race, go to www.westportisland.org.

On July 12, participants of the Wiscasset Public Library’s Summer Reading Program “Dig Into Reading” had the opportunity to learn about the forest through a blend of cultural folklore and science.

Keith Crowley, Program Director for the Chewonki Foundation’s Traveling Natural History Program, presented “Stories from the Forest.” He brought with him two non-releasable live animals; August, a Big Brown Bat, and Varia, a Barred Owl.

Those attending also had the chance to take part in a night in the life of an opossum though the use of an interactive slide show.

For more information on the Chewonki Foundation’s Traveling Natural History Program, please visit: www.chewonki.org/tnhp/default.asp

The Boothbay Region YMCA is still in need of volunteers for the fundraising Color Me Rad 5k road race on August 24 in Brunswick. The YMCA, which receives some proceeds from the race, has committed to supplying 100 volunteers.

Below is a list of volunteer shifts and the amount of volunteers needed for each shift:

Thursday, August 22: Race Packet Pick Up Shift 1 (9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) Need 12 volunteers total

Thursday, August 22: Race Packet Pick Up Shift 2 (2-7:30 p.m.) Need 12 volunteers total

Friday, August 23: Race Packet Pick Up Shift 1 (10 a.m.- 3 p.m.) Need 12 volunteers total

Friday, August 23: Race Packet Pick Up Shift 2 (2:30-7:30 p.m.) Need 12 volunteers total

Saturday, August 24: Race Day, start/color stations/water stations/etc., (7 a.m. to noon) Need 52 volunteers total.

Volunteers must contact Meagan Hamblett directly at: mhamblett@brymca.org. She will be in touch with all volunteers at least two weeks prior to the race to let them know exactly where to be during their shift. Important: If people volunteer thru the Color Me Rad website, they will not be counted as one of the Boothbay Region Y's 100 volunteers.

Race packet pick location for volunteers and runners on August 23-24 is not yet determined and will not be until two weeks prior to the race. Color Me Rad staff determine the location as to where the majority of the registrants are from. Most likely packet pick up will take place in either the Brunswick or Portland areas.

Artists, music, crafts and stunningly unique shops are all part of the July Art Walk in Wiscasset on Thursday, July 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. In addition to Wiscasset’s galleries (Wiscasset Bay Gallery, John Sideli Fine Art, Sylvan Gallery and Maine Art Gallery) a visitor to the Art Walk will find art in some surprising locations.

Mac’s Place on Main Street, Wiscasset’s newest coffee shop, becomes an art gallery for the evening with artist Kate Nordstrom’s sparse and beguiling architectural paintings on the walls, while twig artist Susy Perrine displays her twig structures and makes twig jewelry there.

The large communal table in Treats becomes the venue for the illustrations of local graphic designer Sean Closson, who will be drawing while visitors watch over his shoulder. Meanwhile, a wine tasting in Treats’ back room adds a lively dimension to art gazing.

While artist Robert Noreika paints in the front window of Sylvan Gallery, Danielle Paus’ Celtic harp will fill the air at Sideli Gallery and Jeff Grosser’s violin adds to the creative ambiance at Wiscasset Bay Gallery. Strolling musicians, Married with Chitlins and Friends will use the village sidewalks as their stage.

The public pier, visible from the Route 1 bridge, is another Wiscasset venue. The Craft Shack is featuring artist Kathleen Anderson while baker Judi Casella invites visitors to sample her (free) mini-whoopie pies. And peruse photographer Rick Scanlan’s display of photographs of local sights and landmarks.

And this is just the beginning . . . so much more awaits visitors during Wiscasset’s Art Walk. Look for the gold and blue balloons and village maps at each location.

The August and September Wiscasset Art Walks are scheduled for the last Thursday of the month. For more information about Wiscasset Art Walk, contact Ann Scanlan at 207-882-8290.

Like moths to a flame, people flock to Maine's waters when the weather is warm.

But they aren't alone.

Phil Averill, a retired marine biologist and coastal educator spoke Friday at Pemaquid Beach State Park during Beachcombers Rest Nature Center about the Gulf of Maine and what makes it one of the truly unique bodies of water in the world.

“If you go to Pemaquid Point and look out, what do you see? It's not the ocean,” he said. “It's the Gulf of Maine. The ocean is another 200 miles away.”

“A gulf is a big body of water with land on three sides,” Averill said. “The Gulf of Maine is unique because it has four sides.”

The Gulf of Maine is defined by Maine and New Hampshire to the west, Nova Scotia to the north and Cape Cod to the south.

“Georges Bank is the fourth side,” Averill said. “In some places it's only nine feet deep. You can go way out and look down and there's the ocean floor.

“(Georges Bank) acts like a dam, and very cool things happen there.”

Because Georges Banks creates a barrier to the ocean, it keeps all the algae in the Gulf, which makes it a veritable buffet.

“Fishing is a big deal in Maine,” he said. “We catch a lot of fish here.”

It starts at the smallest level, Averill said, with some of the ocean's microscopic inhabitants.

“The first part of the puzzle is that if you were to come down here in the springtime and ran into the water, you'd find out quickly that the water is very, very cold,” he said. “It's usually only 38 or 39 degrees Fahrenheit; there are very few places where the (ocean) gets that cold.”

Because cold water is denser it allows more carbon dioxide to collect, Averill said.

There are more than 50 rivers that empty into the Gulf, but six of those pump out massive amounts of nutrients from run-off. That run-off comes from as far away as Mount Washington in New Hampshire to Quebec, Canada.

Plant nutrients are frisked away on rivers that end in the Gulf, which along with the increased density of carbon dioxide and early-season sunshine, make algae grow exponentially.

“There's so much algae in the Gulf of Maine, you can see it from space,” he said.

That algae represents the first strand in the feeding web. With an abundance of food, smaller microorganisms feast on the algae, and the food chain continues until it reaches people, Averill said.

With Maine's fishing industry under a lot of stress and scrutiny, Averill said there are more fish in the sea than people have been led to believe.

“It's a resource that's not as depleted as they say it is,” he said. “There's a lot more fish than they say there is.”

Averill displayed a pie chart that showcased where total landings of fish came from along the eastern seaboard. The three Gulf of Maine states (Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts) comprised roughly 40 percent of the total take.

“If Georges Banks wasn't there, none of this would be going on,” he said.

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

The pilots of the Maine Aeronautics Association do more than help one another, President Lisa Reece said. Their efforts also support other nonprofits, including ones for veterans and youth.

The group helps with fly-ins, where pilots give rides and tell about their planes; supports ACE Camp, a summer aviation camp for teens; and gives to both the Wounded Warrior Project and Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation (formerly Maine Handicapped Skiing), which also serves veterans, Reece said.

“We really strive to make ourselves part of the community,” Reece said.

The association is one of three nonprofits for which donations will be collected at “Wings Over Wiscasset,” August 6 at the Wiscasset Municipal Airport.

Reece is on the committee planning “Wings.” In addition to the free, daylong event's other goals, she hopes it will help spread interest in the association. The group currently has about 250 members across the state, she said.

For more, visit www.maineaeronautics.org.

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

If you favor a vegetable garden with perfectly straight, weedless rows or flower beds where each individual plant is set off elegantly in its own space, you probably won’t find anything of interest here.

I’m not writing about gardening with your mother or my mother. I’m writing about gardening with The Mother, who views every empty space as an opportunity and is well known for her love of diversity and excess.

I have been gardening for 16 years here in Maine, but my garden attempts date back 30 years.

My first gardening book “Crockett’s Victory Garden” is still on my shelf; but over the years, I have been lured away from Crockett’s engineer’s precision to nature’s free-for-all.

Along the way, I have learned that some “weeds” and “non-producers” have an essential place in the vegetable garden.

Weeds not only help the soil retain moisture, but they provide another food source for garden pests.

Flowers may not produce food for the table (although some do) but they are candy for the eye. More importantly, they attract pollinators, without which there is no fruit.

The essential plants suggested below offer beauty, attract beneficial insects and some have uses for humans, as well.

They are also hardy and will need little encouragement to thrive and reproduce in any garden. Some will find their way into your garden without being asked.

These are gifts waiting to be given a chance.

Milkweed

Monarch butterflies are the number one reason I find space for this familiar roadside weed in my gardens. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed and their developing caterpillar young feed exclusively on this plant. The milkweed’s juice renders both caterpillar and adult distasteful, giving them protection from predators.

Milkweed spreads by both seed and underground roots, but it is quite easy to pull up from unwanted areas.

My goal is to give it an entire bed of its own some day; for now, I let it mingle among vegetables and flowers.

Plantain

This hardy weed can be found in poor soils, disturbed areas and lawns, but reaches its full expression in good soil.

Plantain’s leaves are used to sooth wounds and sores and are particularly useful for insect bites. Stung by a bee or wasp? Grab some plantain, macerate the leaves with fingers or teeth and apply to the stung area.

In short order, the pain, swelling and itching will subside. I used to weed plantain from my garden and then would have to search for it when needed. Now I always allow a few plants to develop.

Echinacea

No garden is complete without this beautiful purple cone flower, known for its healing attributes.

Butterflies, bees and other winged pollinators are drawn to this plant; some people use its roots to make immune-boosting tonics.

Calendula

Also known as pot marigold, these sunny annual flowers are bountiful over a long season.

Sow it once, allow some seed heads to mature, and you will never need to buy seeds or plants again.

Although calendula are exuberant in their growth and reproduction, they are small enough to grow side by side with vegetables. The blossoms can be used to make ointments, washes and salves that sooth the skin.

Golden marguerite

This perennial flower is not only beautiful and prolific, it attracts beneficial insects, like lady bugs, parasitic wasps and lace wings, that prey on the “bad” bugs.

Put away the pesticides and grow more beneficial plants. By making your garden more diverse and hospitable to more bugs, you may find you have fewer bug problems.

Sue Mello can be reached at 207-844-4629 or suemello@boothbayregister.com.

Wiscasset Speedway will present a special race program on Saturday, July 27, celebrating the 44th birthday of Maine's fastest track.

The race program will showcase all seven of the track's weekly divisions and other special ceremonies will take place to commemaorate the occasion.

A special prerace dedication ceremony, honoring track builder/founder Wilford Cronk will take place at 5 p.m. on the main grandstand side, followed by racing beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Following heat race action, the track will hold a driver recognition ceremony on the track during intermission, spotlighting over 50 current and former champions and popular drivers who have contributed to Wiscasset's history.

The track will also honor its June Napa Auto Parts Driver of the Month.

To cap off the celebration, fans will be treated to a fireworks show at the end of the program.

Pit gate opens at 1:30 p.m.; grandstand gate at 3:30 p.m. and pre-race activities begin at 5 p.m.

Admission is $5 for adults & children 7 and older. Children 6 and under are free.

For more information, go to the track's website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

With five holes-in-one this season at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club, head golf professional Chad Penman said the club's average is better than what is recorded on the professional golf tour.

“Our calculations say that we have had 13,060 par three holes played so far this season. Out of those 13,060 chances, we have had five holes-in-one. The current average puts our odds at 1 in 2,612 for a hole in one. That is better than the tour average,” said Penman in an email to the newspaper.

Players who have made a hole-in-one this season at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club include: Bryan Shepp on hole #2; Munro Dodge on hole #7; Alan Tilton on hole #7; Tim Smith on hole #17; and Seymour Kagan on hole #17.

Penman listed below what he had found in Golf Digest regarding the odds of getting a holes-in-one: tour player making an ace: 3,000 to 1; low-handicapper making an ace: 5,000 to 1; average player making an ace: 12,000 to 1; average player acing a 200-yard hole: 150,000 to 1; two players from the same foursome acing the same hole: 17 million to 1; one player making two holes-in-one in the same round: 67 million to 1.

Source: Primary source is Golf Digest;more info on acer odds and holes-in-one can be found in the September 2005 issue.

Boothbay Region YMCA Summer Camps Week of July 29: 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 4, Half-Day Culinary Camp, Mt. Blue State Park Adventure Camp and Baseball Camp with Colby College coach and former minor league player, Dale Plummer.

Free Tennis Lessons through our Y’s Quick Start 10 & Under Tennis Program on Wednesdays beginning July 3 throughout the summer. 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).

Quick Start keeps the “fun” in tennis while improving stroke production all the while increasing participation because the child is actually playing tennis.

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’s annual Summer Silent Auction will be held Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Furniture, dishware, holiday decorations, artwork, boats, exercise equipment, you name it, we will take it and sell most anything. Last year's auction raised more than $10,000 to support Y Youth Programs. Featured item for 2013: A 2002 Subaru Legacy with only 52,500 miles valued at $4,800.

Save the date: The 20th annual 2013 Southport Rowgatta, Saturday, August 10; 8:30 a.m. start at Newagen Landing. Calling all kayakers, paddle boarders, canoers and surf boarders to journey around Southport Island in a 12-mile nautical paddle. Costs: $35 preregistration fee at the YMCA; $40 day of registration at Newagen Landing. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit Y Aquatic Programs.

Save the date for the YMCA’s Special Event of 2013: Once Upon a Time with the Time Pilots. Thursday, September 5, 1 p.m. golf tournament; 6-9 p.m. catered event with the Time Pilots (www.timepilotsband.com), Maine’s hottest band.

The Lady Seahawks basketball program hosted the third annual Boothbay Lobster Jam on July 19 and 20. Teams competing included Boothbay, Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus, Foxcroft Academy, Gray-New Gloucester, Kennebunk, Lincoln Academy, Poland, Schenck, Spruce Mountain, Westbrook and Woodsville (New Hampshire).

The field was divided into three pools with each team playing three games. Three pool winners and one wild card team squared off in a single elimination “Final Four” bracket. The “Final Four” included Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus, Spruce Mountain, and Woodsville, N.H.

In the championship game, Cheverus edged Spruce Mountain, 55-50, in a physical game that featured multiple lead changes and was only a one-point game with under 30 seconds to play. The Lady Stags were able to hold on though, making a couple key plays to take home the championship.

Cheverus’ Jess Willerson was named the tourney most valuable player. The 6-foot-3-inch Willerson proved to a force throughout the tourney, recording a double-double in points and rebounds in each of her five games in the tourney.

The Lobster Jam also featured a Skills Competition relay, similar to the event held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Players were asked to dribble through obstacles, successfully pass a ball through a target, make a free throw, make a 3-point shot, and dribble the length of the floor for a lay-up in the shortest possible time. Nicole Hamblin of Spruce Mountain took the crown finishing with the fastest time of 27.57 seconds.

The tourney was a smash hit with players, coaches and fans. Many thanks go out to the parents and student volunteers who helped organize and run the event. The Lobster Jam is a huge fundraiser for the Lady Seahawks program.

We received many contributions from local businesses and townspeople and would like to thank the following: Andrews Harborside, Coastal Maine Popcorn, Grover’s Hardware, Hannaford, The Lobster Dock, Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, Eddie Tibbetts and the lobstermen of Atlantic Edge, Dave Bean and the lobstermen of Bristol Lobster, Hugh Thompson and the lobstermen of Robinson’s Wharf, Douglas Carter and the lobstermen of Sea Pier, P.T.A., Boothbay Region High School Boosters Club, the YMCA and Channel 7.

Special thanks go out to Eric Dunton for setting up both gyms and being on call all day.

The West Woods and Morris Farm trail system has been recently updated with trail kiosks at each entrance and trail posts at each intersection in order to facilitate trail use.

These improvements were completed as part of David Marcus’ Eagle Project. He is an Eagle candidate with Troop 621 in Bath and will be a senior at Wiscasset High School this fall.

A dedication ceremony was held on Saturday, July 13 at the Wiscasset Community Center trail head. Town selectmen, family and friends gathered as Marcus spoke about the project and the people that made it possible. He thanked the Bath VFW Post 7738 for its generous donation of $800 towards materials for the project.

Marcus went on to thank other contributors which included K&A Property Services, Ames Supply, Wiscasset Glass, Ray Soule Excavation, Davis Allan, Dan Sortwell, Sheila and David Sawyer, Dick Thomas, Linda Hanson, Barbara Baston, D&W Vye, Bruce Larson and his parents, Bob and Paula Marcus.

This project would never have been possible without Buck Rines and Ryan Chadwick (the kings of the drilling rig), Dan Sortwell, Neal and Camden Larrabee, Russ and Carl Shumaker, Tim Custer, Tom Trundy, Brian Murray, Anne Leslie and Bob Bruce who worked diligently to set the 19 trail posts and three kiosks.

To help maintain the trail system, Marcus established an annual trail clean-up day with the help of Wiscasset High School Principle Deb Taylor and Wiscasset Parks and Recreations Director Todd Souza. This will allow students to fulfill community service hours while helping to improve the trail system. This annual effort will be coordinated by the Recreation Department and the Wiscasset High School Student Council.

It is Marcus’ hope that this effort will make more people aware of the West Woods and Morris Farms Trail system and allow the public better access and navigation of this gem that is within reach of their own backyard.

The night of July 25, Mark Murphy had just finished playing in his soccer league near Albany, New York, and was in line at a Burger King drive-through with his son.

On August 6, he expects to be flying 250 miles an hour over the Wiscasset Municipal Airport in one of the biggest draws at “Wings Over Wiscasset.”

Murphy, 43, is one of the pilots of the Texas Flying Legends Museum Warbirds.

The World War II-era planes and warplanes from other eras will be on display at the airfield. The Warbirds' airshow is set to start at 5:15 p.m. when they taxi in a parade past the crowd before taking flight.

Juggling the whopper burger order along with a reporter's questions over the phone, Murphy said he's looking forward to being back in Wiscasset, the Warbirds' summer home.

Wiscasset is smaller than many of the communities the Warbirds visit, so he has more of a chance to get to know the town here, he said.

Murphy has been a pilot for 27 years. His father first taught him to fly, not an uncommon story among pilots with the Warbirds, he said. Although the museum is at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, the pilots hail from all around the country.

One of the best parts of the job for Murphy is getting to talk with children and veterans at the airshows. He has a passion for flying and gets to share that with the next generation, he said.

It's an honor meeting the veterans, looking at the photo albums many of them bring, getting photographed with them, and getting to pay tribute to them with the shows, Murphy said.

“When you're flying with a purpose, that really makes it an honor,” he said.

“They are amazing,” Murphy said of the veterans he's been able to meet through the Warbirds.

To learn more about the museum or donate toward its mission of honoring veterans and inspiring the next generation, visit www.texasflyinglegends.org.

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

Over the 44 years since Wilford Cronk opened his Wiscasset Speedway in 1969 for its first season of racing, the place has gone through a number of hands and name changes.

Through it all, the track Cronk built has been a source of lasting family memories for drivers and racing fans from around the state.

Driver and Kingfield businessman Richard Jordan bought the track with wife Vanessa Jordan in a 2012 bank auction. They restored the name Cronk gave it and, on July 27, found another way to permanently honor him.

They named the concession stand “Wilford's,” unveiling the sign in a dedication ceremony that was part of the night's celebration of 44 years of racing at the track.

“We finally got the concessions looking about how we wanted it, and how he would want it, so this is a way to say, 'thanks, Wilford, for what you did,'” Richard Jordan said.

Cronk died March 25 at home in Wiscasset at the age of 85. Several family members were at the track Saturday when the concessions stand was named in his honor.

“It's very nice,” son David Cronk said. “It makes us feel very proud. My dad would have been very proud.”

“He would be so tickled,” Cronk added.

Within the night's crowd were people who had been a part of the track's past and were pleased that the Jordans have given it a future. Among them was Jerry Childs, 71, of Belgrade. A couple decades ago, he sponsored several cars.

“I would not have wanted to see it close,” Childs said.

Mary Nelson's brother-in-law used to race there. “I think it's great,” the Pittston woman said about the track's survival.

“I'm so glad they re-opened,” she said. “It gives us something to do on a Saturday night.”

The cupcakes and noisemakers at the celebration fit well with another special occasion Jamie Beers of Eustis and his daughter Cameron were celebrating: She turned 8 one day earlier; the trip to the track was a birthday present for the young racing fan.

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

The musical theater bug bit chiropractor Ron Bouffard of Boothbay Harbor back when he was a student at Lewiston Junior High School. The production was “The Yankee Doodle.”

Bouffard got the lead.

That same musical is the source of some of the patriotic songs “Wings Over Wiscasset” attendees will get to hear next Tuesday, August 6. The non-profit arts group Music Doing Good, including Bouffard as one of the singers, will be putting on its “Voices of Freedom” program.

“So it's sort of coming full circle,” Bouffard said of the connection between his theatrical debut and the upcoming concert.

Bouffard, a tenor, has performed at the Boothbay Playhouse, the Heartwood Regional Theater Company in Damariscotta, and the Chocolate Church in Bath.

He plans to sing in a “Lady Liberty” medley of circa 1920s songs at the “Wings” performance.

His work with Music Doing Good gives him an opportunity to perform with very talented people, Bouffard said.

Patriotic Broadway, rhythm and blues, classical and pop music will all be represented in Tuesday night's concert, Music Doing Good's executive and creative director David LaDuca said.

The concert will energize event-goers' patriotic spirit, LaDuca said.

“I think it will be a great, moving tribute,” Bouffard said.

The concert is set to run from 7:30 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. in Hangar 10, just before a fireworks show concludes “Wings.”

For another Music Doing Good singer, Dennis St. Pierre, Tuesday's performance and the day's other activities at the airport will culminate months of work as event producer of “Wings.”

“It's awesome,” St. Pierre said when asked how the final days of preparation were going. “It's crazy, but awesome.”

Music Doing Good's outreach includes after-school music programs, youth scholarships, gently used instruments for schools, the concerts and other programs to help bring music into people's lives.

For more information or to donate, go to www.musicdoinggood.org.

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

The phenomenon known as Thomas the Tank Engine has passed through a couple of generations and it’s not slowing down if the rainy day crowd at the Boothbay Railway Village is any indication.

“A Day Out With Thomas” event has once again arrived at the Railway Village and Friday was the first of three straight days of fun and activities which come along with the price of the ticket to ride the rails with the storybook engine in the lead. Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 9, 10 and 11, Thomas will make a return visit.

Sir Topham Hatt was hard to find on Friday (we are sure he was there but we must have missed him while we were riding the train), but the children enjoyed the many other stations of entertainment, including the self-propelled Kranky Karts, Imagination Station with arts and crafts, toy trains and more, and jumping in the inflatable castle. Kids were getting Thomas & Friends tattoos, taking a break and watching Thomas videos, or enjoying lunch under the big tent. Hayrides and barrel rides were provided and the entire Railway Village facility was open for all to enjoy.

Thomas provides 12 different departures from the station, beginning at 9:15 and ending at around 4 p.m.

For more information and tickets, call the Boothbay Railway Village at 207-633-4727.

As summer steams towards its end, the Pemaquid Watershed Association is offering the first Family Fun Fest to add something to the August schedule.

The Family Fun Fest, which will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, will feature several events designed for the whole family at Lakehurst Lodge in Damariscotta.

At 1 p.m., there will be a square dancing demonstration by SAGE Square and Round Dance Club, which will be followed by music performed by Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection.

The day will tie together several facets of the PWA's programs, including several activities and demonstrations in the Lodge's grassy parking area.

Some of the events include a giant bouncy castle, a “hands-on” watershed model provided by the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, a demonstration by Midcoast Kayak, a flyfishing demonstrtation by Russ Guibord of Maine Trout Unlimited, a mold-able clay table feature donated by Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts and one of the Damariscotta Fire Department's trucks will be on display.

PWA's large foam ducky, Pemaquacky, will also be on hand for photo opportunities.

There will be food from Pemaquid Oyster Co., as well as ice cream and a bake sale.

Tickets cost $15 per person, while children under 12 will be admitted for free, so long as they are accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on a weekday at the PWA's office, 15 Courtyard St., in Damariscotta.

“Wings Over Wiscasset” got the blue-sky day organizers had been hoping for.

“I'm excited, and very excited to see that everyone who had to show up and do their part showed up,” Wiscasset Municipal Airport manager Ervin Deck said. “It's all coming together great.” About 4,200 people turned out for "Wings," event producer Dennis St. Pierre said August 7.

For 39 youth campers from the Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Department, hands-on activities with Mad Science of Maine culminated days of lead-up with enrichment activities about air flight, camp director Jay Reith said.

Area youth camps, young families and veterans helped make up the crowd of hundreds for the first wave of activities before the night's concert, airshow and fireworks.

“It's cool to see all the planes,” Alannah Bryer, 9, of Wiscasset, said. She was there with brothers Ian, 15, and Corbin,19 months, and parents Darrell and Aimee Bryer.

Ian Bryer enjoyed looking at the antique autos. “That Porsche 911 over there is pretty sweet,” he said.

Wiscasset's Stephen Jarrett Sr., representing American Legion District 6 and Post 34 in his native St. George, was volunteering with fellow veterans.

“This is one of the greatest things that could happen in this area,” said Jarrett, who served in Vietnam on the aircraft carrier Enterprise. “It's time well spent, just thinking of those veterans that sacrificed so much, some that sacrificed their lives. Let's hope people are thinking of them today,” Jarrett said.

Signs on Route 1 near Route 144 warned of possible traffic impacts Tuesday; no tie-ups or slow downs were known to have occurred due to the event in its first several hours. Volunteers at the corner of Route 144 and Chewonki Road directed event-goers to parking.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, arrived in the afternoon and met for an hour with representatives of a business tenant at the airport, Peregrine Turbine Technologies. He wanted to hear about the company's very exciting work in energy and discuss how he might be able to help, he said afterward.

Three King grandchildren were also at the airport Tuesday. “Wings” was giving people an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful day in Maine, he said.

Radio-control flying club members Ted Poirier of Dayton and Toby Guimond of East Waterboro said the event was giving them a chance to talk with pilots and get an up-close look at planes they will build models of.

The two men also got to speak with King as he joined the crowd. Poirier asked him how things were going in the Senate.

“I'm having a good time. A little frustrating. It's a hell of a challenge,” King told him.

At a kickoff for sponsors and guests Monday night, representatives of non-profits thanked “Wings” organizers for choosing to have donations collected Tuesday for their causes.

“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Bill Legere, co-founder of the Not Here Justice in Action Network aimed at fighting human trafficking and gender inequality. “It's a real honor ...,” he said.

Just over $4,500 was collected at “Wings” for the nonprofits to share, said Tom Boudin of Edgecomb, the volunteer who tallied the donations. An anonymous donor agreed to match the donations, which would bring the total to $9,000.

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

Each year, the Boothbay Harbor region hosts many fundraisers for good causes; but the Wannawaf waffle eating contest is in a class all by itself. With disregard to personal health, the brave and the hungry forgo utensils and dig into bowls piled high with tasty waffles, ice cream and toppings before a cheering crowd, all in the name of charity.

Wannawaf’s annual event may also be the only local fundraiser with its own superhero, Waffle Girl, a.k.a., Wannawaf owner Anya Arsenault, overseeing the day’s activities.

This year, the rain on August 3 gave way to bright, sunny skies just in time for some serious eating. Wannawaf manager Matt Forgues and crew scrambled to keep up with the flow of contestants, pulling together more picnic tables and turning out waffle after waffle for the assembled crew of 28 diners.

Meanwhile, BRCTV’s Larry Brown made the rounds, interviewing everyone he could find, so the event could be shared with the wider community.  Once the eating began, an enthusiastic crowd cheered on the contestants as they made their way through three rounds of mindless consumption.

By the end of the match, Wes Bare, who finished first in each round, was crowned top waffle eater and awarded the $200 prize. Jon Lewis and Dave Cyco, placed second and third respectively.

Nick Scott, known locally for his teaching, coaching and running skills, showed he is also a fine eater. Scott made it to the final round but was finally edged out by more seasoned competitors.

Wannawaf owner and contest creator, Anya Arsenault said the waffle eating contest, 50/50 raffle and silent auction raised over $4,000 for the Scott family. Mandy Scott, who is currently undergoing treatment for colon cancer, mingled with friends and family before and during the event; and with baby Emma, she cheered on the competitors.

In the spirit of the event, Bare turned over half of his winnings and recent BRHS graduate Lynn Pawlowski donated her entire share of the 50/50 raffle to the Scott family.

“Each year we do this event I am  touched by the generosity of our local business owners and the continuous support of the community,” Arsenault said. “This year I am most proud of Matt Forgues and the rest of the Boothbay Harbor Wannawaf crew.”

Forgues, a former local high school running star, was coached by Nick Scott and not only suggested the Scotts be this year’s beneficiaries, he managed to organize the most successful Wannawaf fundraiser to date.

“It was our best contest ever,” Arsenault said. “Matt has been part of the Wannawaf team for seven years so he certainly understands the spirit of the contest and why we give back, but I think more than ever before Matt was inspired by Mandy Scott herself.”

To show your support for the Scotts or to make a contribution visit the Wannawaf Facebook page or stop by Wannawaf, located just below Andrews’ Harborside near the footbridge.

Sue Mello can be reached at 207-844-4629 or suemello@boothbayregister.com.

Ocean Point’s Marlies Boyd walked out on the new driving range at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club and prepared to practice.

As she stared at the practice facility, which opened this week, a gaggle of automatic sprinklers began watering the new sod. Bright morning sun shone through the sparkling water and provided her with a cascade of mini rainbows.

Boyd, an avid golfer, stopped her practice routine and just stared at the sight. “It is so beautiful. It looks like it has always been here,” she said.

It took just three months for Paul Coulombe, the club’s new owner, to create his dream practice range.

All he and golf course architect Bruce Hepner had to do was hire a small army of construction craftsmen to blast out a huge granite ledge, remove the surface, and grade the hill into a shelf. Oh yes, they moved a house, too.

Then they installed a sprinkler system, added 21,000 square yards of sand, shaped it and covered the surface with 8,000 square yards of top soil. Next on their list was to round out a trio of target greens and top the whole nine acres with sod.

And they did it in just three months. Harry Potter and his magic wand couldn’t have done it much faster.

Hepner, a disciple and former associate of famed golf architect Tom Doak, said Boyd had discovered his plan. As he looked over the trio of target greens and lush rolling fairway, he explained his work to Dan Hourihan, the club’s general manager.

“I wanted it to look like the land has always existed this way,” he said.

The practice tee, which measures about a half acre, is sodded with bent grass. The large size allows course superintendent Rob Wyllie to move the practice areas around.

Each day, after the golfers are finished practicing, course workers will seed and top dress the teeing areas. “It takes about 21 days for new grass to fill in the divots,” Hepner said.

Now that the practice facility is open, next on Coulombe’s to-do list, is to rework some of the holes, fix drainage trouble spots, rework some greens, build some new tees, rework the bunkers and on and on.

New forward tees will be crafted to make the course playable for golfers of all ages, sexes and skill levels, Hourihan said.

So far, Boyd couldn’t be happier with the course, especially the new practice range.

“It looks like heaven,” she said.

Wiscasset Middle School teacher Warren Cossette was the DJ for the I Dig Rock’n Roll Music Sock Hop, which took place at Wiscasset High School.

This event was a joint effort between the Wiscasset Community Center’s Summer Camp and the Wiscasset Public Library’s Children’s Room Summer Reading Program, Dig Into Reading.

The five-day camp is being held at Chewonki's main campus in Wiscasset August 19-23. In this introductory program, girls and boys ages 8-11 begin to explore relationships with peers, mentors and the natural environment while gaining the skills to travel in the wilderness.

Campers and their leaders will spend three nights in Chewonki's rustic cabins and one night camping along the coast.

Daily activities include boating, campcraft, map and compass, and team challenges, as well as plenty of additional time for games, swimming, arts and crafts and relaxing. Meals are enjoyed with the greater Chewonki community in our dining hall.

Cost per person is $1,250.

For more information, visit www.chewonki.org or call 207-882-7323

With the first-ever “Wings Over Wiscasset” in the books, organizers are looking ahead to the future of the event that drew thousands to the Wiscasset Municipal Airport on August 6.

Does it have a future? Town Manager Laurie Smith said all the partners in the project will have to decide, but, based on her own observations that day and the comments she’s been hearing, she can picture “Wings” becoming an annual event.

“So far I've heard very good things,” Smith said about the premiere.

“I am so tickled,” Airport Manager Ervin Deck said. “There are a thousand things you can't plan for, but the volunteers worked endlessly ... In every respect, it was a success.”

The “Wings Over Wiscasset” or “WOW” committee was already making plans to meet again soon to debrief about the event, Smith said.

Weeks ahead of “Wings,” organizers hoped as many as 10,000 people might come; Afterward, event producer Dennis St. Pierre estimated the turnout at about 4,200; Smith said August 8 she believes attendance hit the 5,000 mark.

One factor that may have cut both ways in attendance was holding it on a weekday. Smith said there were people who made a point to come for part of it, but couldn't catch as much of it as they would have if it had been held on a weekend.

However, a weekend event would have had to compete with other ones, like the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland the weekend before “Wings,” Smith noted.

Organizers favored a weekday so summer day camps including those in Wiscasset would be able to bring their youth.

Speaking to Wiscasset area senior citizens at the Wiscasset Community Center August 7, Wiscasset Selectmen's Chairman Ed Polewarczyk said he expects “Wings” to go on.

Planning will begin further out from the event next time, Polewarczyk said. The WOW Committee began meeting last January to prepare for this year's event.

The weather St. Pierre said he put in for this year turned out to be ideal, with no threat of  scuttling the Texas Flying Legends Museum Warbirds' airshow or the fireworks.

Other activities included wartime talks, a science presentation, a freedom-themed concert and static shows of the World War II planes and antique autos.

This was the Warbirds' third year at Wiscasset, and the best weather yet for the airshow, Deck said.

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

Fall sports practices at Wiscasset High School start on Monday, Aug. 19: Cross-country at 10 a.m.; Boys and Girls soccer at 6 p.m.; and golf at 4:30 p.m. at Mr. Flanagan's house.

For more information, call the high school at 207-882-7722.

Join the Pemaquid Paddlers as they tour the Boothbay Harbor Area on August 20. We’ll paddle onto the Sheepscot River and around the Isle of Springs.

All trips will leave the put-in point at 9 a.m. and will last 2-3 hours. The trips are easy to moderate in difficulty. Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak and wear a life jacket.

All trips are free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact John Will at 207-677-6380 or email at pemaquidpaddlers@aol.com. You can also visit our website at pemaquidpaddlers.blogspot.com to find out more details about each trip.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, we will put-in at the Knickercane put-in site. Take Route 27 south from Route 1 toward Boothbay for 9.6 miles to the monument in Boothbay, turn right. Go to the 4-way stop and go straight, where the road comes to a "Y" go to the right. You can also follow the signs to the Botanical Gardens and just continue past it until you come to a bridge. Just after crossing the bridge the parking lot is on your left. We will paddle the Back River.

Wall-to-wall sunshine prevailed over a picnic, yard sale and train rides at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum in Alna August 10 and 11.

August 10 was a great day for racing at the Wiscasset Speedway. The day was warm and sunny, and the grandstands were filled with people ready to watch some racing action. On the schedule was the group two lineup of divisions: strictly street, Mini Truck, Outlaw Mini’s and Late Model Sportsman. 

First on the track were the st.rictly st.reet’s for a 20 lap race. The No. 39 of Gerard Freve was in the pole position. Behind him were Guy Childs in the No. 5 and Ben Erskine of the No. 43. During the first lap around the track, Childs passed Freve on the outside of turn three for the lead. Moving up quickly from a sixth place st.arting position was the No. 32 of Tasha Dyer. Dyer had navigated her Morse and Doak Builders Chevy through the pack, and during lap two passed Freve for second. Coming up behind Freve and Dyer was the No. 26 driven by Corey Morgan. Morgan passed Freve for third on the outside of the front st.retch coming out of turn four during lap two. 

Dyer was looking for her opportunity to pass Childs, and that opportunity came during lap 17. Dyer made a bid to pass on the inside of turn three. The two raced furiously around the track neck and neck. During lap 18, Childs slipped up the track on turn three going into four. Dyer held the bottom line and made a clean pass. 

Dyer led the race and Childs was hot behind her attempting to retake first. During the final lap, Dyer and Childs were negotiating around lap traffic on turn four. As the pair headed out of turn four, Childs clipped the left rear of Dyers car while attempting to head to the inside. Dyers car went sideways and st.ruck the wall on the front st.retch while going at a great rate of speed. Dyers car crumpled, but she was able to walk away without serious injury. Childs went on the win the race. This makes Childs fourth first place finish in st.rictly st.reet this racing season at Wiscasset. Morgan placed second. Freve took third.

The Mini Truck 15 lap feature was action packed and filled with leader changes. The No. 22 of Jeff Schmidt was st.arting at the pole. Behind him were the No. 69 of Ryan Farrar and the No. 12 driven by Gerry McKenna. Right off the st.art, Ryan Farrar passed Schmidt on the outside of turn two. Then in lap three Gerry McKenna passed Schmidt on the bottom of the back st.retch.

Race leaders remained the same until lap nine. Schmidt was able to move to second place when he passed Gerry McKenna on the back st.retch. Schmidt was not satisfied with his second place position, and he moved to the outside making a bid for first during the final two laps.

Ryan Farrar and Schmidt raced furiously, battling for first. Then, Schmidt pulled ahead on turn three of lap 14 to sweep beneath the checkered a fraction of a second ahead of Ryan Farrar. Prior to race time Schmidt said, “The truck is running good today. I’d like a top three finish tonight. That would make me happy.” Schmidt must. have been more than happy with his top finish. This is Schmidt’s fourth win at Wiscasset this season, and his second first place finish.

Ryan Farrar placed second. Gerry McKenna rounded out the top three.

The Outlaw Mini feature was the next crowd pleaser in the lineup. The No. 8 of Calvin Rose Jr had the pole position. In second was the No. 13 of Nate Tribett. Behind Tribett was the No. 44 of Ozzie Cummings. When racing action began, Tribett pulled ahead of Rose, and looked like he was going to lead. However, Rose surged ahead on the inside of turn two and took back his lead. 

Ozzie Cummings dropped back in the field during the first lap. Moving from an eighth st.arting position was Shawn Kimball driving his No. 20. Kimball slid into third place during lap two. Kimball looked ahead for a chance to pass Tribett. His chance came in lap eight, when he was able pass on the outside of the front st.retch and take second place.

Lap 13 saw another pass from a contender from the back of the pack. George Fortin of the No. 9 had woven through traffic from his ninth st.arting position to pass Tribett on the outside of turn two during lap thirteen to claim third. Ahead of Fortin, Rose was st.ruggling to maintain his lead with Kimball hot on his heels. Kimball swept up from behind and passed Rose on the inside of turn one during lap fifteen to take the lead. 

A caution in lap nineteen saw race contenders play out a new st.art. Fortin used the rest.art to his advantage and passed Rose on the inside of turn two for second place. Race leaders then remained const.ant until the conclusion of the race. Kimball’s ERA Webb Realty Mini car took first place. This was Kimball’s second first place finish this season at Wiscasset. Fortin placed second. This was Fortin’s sixth top three finish of the racing season. Rose took third place.

The spotlighted feature of the week was a 45 lap Late Model Sportsman race. This was a high energy feature, and despite four cautions during race time, the action sped by quickly. The race began just. as the bright lights of Wiscasset began to shine on the race track. In the pole position was the 33X of Josh st. Clair. Behind him were Allan Moeller Sr in the No. 04 and Bill Pinkham driving the No. 5. When the green flag flew, Josh st. Clair and Moeller raced furiously for the lead. Josh St. Clair was able to hang onto first place, and Moeller slipped in behind him to watch for a chance to pass. Nick Hinkley in the No. 15 passed Pinkham on the outside of turn two for third during lap two.

The first caution of the race came in lap three. On the rest.art Ryan St. Clair driving the No. 30 came from his sixth place st.art to take fourth. 

During lap 10 Josh St. Clair fishtailed on turn four. Moeller used that to his advantage and made the pass to take the lead. While Josh st. Clair st.ruggled to get back on track, Hinkley moved up to challenge for second place. In lap 13, Hinkley came up the back st.retch and passed Josh st. Clair for second. Then, during lap 16, Ryan st. Clair passed Josh st. Clair on turn four for third.

The second caution of the race came during lap 24. Hinkley was passing the lap car No. 33 driven by Ed Tyler when the two made contact on the back st.retch. Both Hinkley and Tyler damaged their cars, and Hinkley went into the wall. As this was happening, Pinkham and the No. 27 driven by Nick Reno and were rounding turn two. Pinkham and Reno made contact, and Pinkham could not avoid the tangle on the back st.retch and was caught up in the jumble, his car also hitting the wall.

On the rest.art, Moeller surged ahead, holding onto first. Ryan St. Clair was behind him in second. Josh St. Clair was in third. Another caution in lap 35 resulted in another rest.art. When racing action resumed, Reno passed Josh st. Clair for on the outside of turn two for third. For the next five laps Reno and Josh St. Clair battled for position, but Josh St. Clair fishtailed on the track, and Reno solidified his lead. 

The fourth and final caution of the race came in lap 41. There were no leader changes after the rest.art. Moeller placed first in his st.ate Paving sponsored late model. Moeller previously had been a three time track champion at Wiscasset, but this was his first victory of the season. Once in Victory Lane, Moeller said, “Good to have the No. 04 back on the car. I have got to thank Scott Chubbuck for setting up the car; he sure knows how to set up a car!” Moeller also wanted to thank his pit crew, Alan Jr. and Jonny C. 

Ryan St. Clair finished second. Nick Reno rounded out the top three in third.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, August. 17. There will be a car show in the parking lot from 4-6 p.m. There will be driver autographs on the racetrack at 5:30 p.m. During intermission there will be two groups of bicycle races for the kids on the racetrack. The groups will be ages 5-7, and ages 8-12. Please remember the bike helmets.

At the conclusion of the feature races there will also be fireworks. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. Grandst.and gates open at 4 p.m. Prerace activities st.art at 5:30 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. 

Some local athletes tested their abilities and had a unique opportunity to lend a hand to a wounded warrior at the Tough Mudder event at Mount Snow in Vermont on August 10.

Tough Mudder obstacle course challenges are held around the globe to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded service members and their families.

The Tough Mudder’s personal challenge and its support of wounded service members attracted Jared Mitkus and Jason Nein to the Tough Mudder in 2012. Mitkus is a police officer in Boothbay Harbor and Nein is a sergeant with Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

“We were talking about doing it. It sounded crazy and then we just figured, let’s do it,” Nein said.

Crazy seems an apt term for a course that includes running 10-12 miles up and down mountains, while enduring obstacles like the “Arctic Enema,” “Electroshock Therapy” and “Underwater Tunnels.” According to their website, Tough Mudder courses are designed by British Special Forces to test both physical and mental strength and endurance.

Unlike many athletic challenges, the Tough Mudder is not a competition; it focuses instead on camaraderie and team work.

“The point of this is just to finish and getting everyone else to finish. You’re helping friends, family, complete strangers get through the course,” Mitkus said.

“It’s the biggest team building exercise imaginable,” Nein said. “It’s something to go through an obstacle and have somebody grabbing your hand to help you and you have no idea who on earth they are. I didn’t hear a single negative word between people during the entire event.”

Mitkus and Nein’s positive experience in 2012 convinced some other local athletes to attempt the Mudder this year, as well.

Karen Colby, who with Ellen McFarland and Jenny Mitkus, joined Mitkus and Nein to form a core team that stayed together throughout the course on Saturday, described the Mudder as the best event she has ever experienced.

“It’s all about finishing and getting through it together,” Colby said. “You feel so good about doing it and just simply doing your best. It’s an amazing experience.”

Saturday was a day of highlights but one moment outshone the rest. After successfully mounting “Everest,” a quarter pipe wall near the end of the course, Colby, Mitkus and Nein were waiting for their teammates and helping other athletes over the wall. Then, a volunteer with a bullhorn announced a special competitor approaching “Everest.”  Mitkus saw Noah Galloway, a veteran who lost both an arm and a leg in Iraq, heading toward them.

“We had no idea that he was coming our way,” Mitkus said. “But when I saw him I lined up with him at the top of the wall.”

“I admit I got a little choked up when I grabbed what was left of his left arm,” Nein said. “Jared had gotten ahold of his right arm and then I got ahold of his left and I thought, ‘There is absolutely no way I will let this man fall. I will go down with him before I let him fall.”
    
“It didn’t really sink in until later how special that moment was,” Mitkus said. “I still look at the photos and I’m in awe.”

“It was an awesome moment,” Colby said.

Dmitry Gudkov’s photo of Galloway soaring up as Mitkus, Nein and another competitor reach down to help him speaks volumes about Galloway’s courage and triumph over adversity and the spirit of the Tough Mudder itself. Nein said he plans to frame the photograph as an inspirational piece.

‘We all have are down moments,” Nein said. “Then you look at what somebody like Noah has accomplished and think, “It’s time to stop whining and get off your duff.”

One might think that after completing an endurance trial like the Tough Mudder, Colby, Mitkus and Nein would be thinking about kicking back a bit. Quite the opposite.

On Tuesday, Mitkus was texting Nein about workout plans and Colby was back at her disciplined exercise program. All three athletes use the Cross Fit method, as well as running, to gain good overall conditioning. And the three have begun to talk about the marathon/half marathon in Portland in the fall. Aparently, one good thing does lead to another.

“I encourage people to get involved in something like this,” Nein said. “You get in great shape and it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. It gives such a sense of accomplishment and it’s kind of crazy, in a good way. I’d love to see a bigger Boothbay region contingent take this one on next year.”

Tough Mudder events have raised over $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project and appear to be growing in popularity. Mitkus said there were over 7,000 participants at Saturday’s event.

Mike Elwell and Randy Miller of Newcastle Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep supported the local team by graciously providing them with a minivan for the weekend and John Mitkus served as team photographer.

Sue Mello can be reached at 207-844-4629 or suemello@boothbayregister.com.

The weather looks like it will be just perfect for the 9th Annual Westport Island Shore Run - “Maine’s Best Little 10K Road Race” – which takes place this year on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Sunny skies and mid-70s are predicted for race day! In this exciting 10K road race on bridge-accessible Westport Island, the runners will race on a USATF-certified course through scenic pine and fir tree forests and over two bridges spanning inlets to Heal Cove and Montsweag Bay.  

There will also be a 3.5 mile "Fun Walk" starting at the Old Town Hall on the Main Road at 8:30 a.m. The race is to benefit the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department, whose members will be directing traffic and providing logistical support at the race. Over the last eight years, the race has generated over $11,000.00 in proceeds for the Volunteer Fire Department. 

Our 2013 sponsors include: Maine Yankee; Boothbay Region Boatyard; Sheepscot River Marine Service; Abbott, Inc.; Wiscasset Ford; Rynel; Newcastle Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Bath Savings Bank; Ames True Value Supply; Norm's Used Cars; Sharon Drake Real Estate; Baxter Brewing Company; Hampton Inn of Bath; Road ID; and the First Federal Savings Bank.

Come join us in celebrating the contributions made by the brave men and women of the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department, and participate in the race, the "fun walk," or just come cheer!" Directions and additional information about the race can be found on the race website: www.westportisland.org.

Long before there were stunning ornamental gardens or “real” buildings, one of the first projects at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, was the Fairy House Village beside the Shoreland Trail.

Volunteers designated waterfront real estate for the forest dwellers, and children have been creating tiny structures in that space ever since. As the kids see it, forest fairies, elves, sprites, gnomes, and other creatures of the forest appreciate young humans’ efforts to design and build structures for them that are as practical as they are fanciful.

This year, a full-scale construction project took the shorefront Fairy House Village to a new level, with enchanting stone structures and other imaginative improvements. Gardens guests curious to know what’s going on will delight in the end result, and all visitors are invited to an opening celebration at the newly reimagined Fairy House Village on Saturday, Aug. 24. The ribbon cutting will be at 10:30 a.m. There is no additional charge to attend.

“We know that many children who visit us believe wholeheartedly that here at the Gardens we coexist happily with the fairy realm,” said Executive Director Bill Cullina. “The new Fairy House Village has a sense of the magical and mystical that will reinforce those believes and will surely make it a favorite stop for kids, before or after they explore the Children’s Garden. The imagination and creative work of our visitors will add the finishing touches.”

Of all the submissions received, the Gardens selected the design proposed by Joe Norton, who owns Norton Stone & Tile in Boothbay. He grew up near the Gardens and has always felt that the woods where the Fairy House Village is located have a magical quality.

“It doesn’t take a giant leap of the imagination to wonder if fairies really do live here,” he writes in his submission. “I approached the design as if there had once been a kingdom here, now forgotten, whose ruins are home to fairies and other magic.”

The new Fairy House Village will attract Gardens guests of all ages. Whenever they visit, they can stop by to experience this wondrous spot anew and admire the fairy houses. Or, better yet, they can create their own.

To learn more about Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, visit www.mainegardens.org; call 207-633-4333, ext. 101; or stop by the Gardens, located off Barters Island Road in Boothbay.

On September 5 at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club, a fairytale evening awaits guests at the “Once Upon A Time” golf tournament and cocktail party, featuring a happy ending of raising money for the Boothbay Region YMCA.

“Every year, we have a golf tournament, and we also have a fundraiser like the ‘Chair-itable’ auction we did last year,” Meagan Hamblett, the Y's Membership, Marketing and Child Enrichment Director. “This year there are so many other events going on it just made sense to combine them.”

The golf tournament will take place at noon and the cocktail party will take place at 6 p.m. under a tent on the new driving range. Access will be by golf cart, and there will be games, dancing, and live entertainment along with a silent auction of local-artist decorated mirrors.

Hamblett came up with this year's theme, “Once Upon A Time,” last March.

“I was thinking about how the Y is about stories. Each member has a story to share, and every great story starts with 'Once upon a time.' I said to Dana (Paolilo) that I don't want the party to turn into something corny and princessy, and she's come up with some amazing ideas to hit just the right tone with it,” Hamblett said.

Some of these ideas include centerpieces decorated in a fairytale theme, such as a bunch of red apples for Snow White or golden-dyed straw bales for Rumpelstiltskin. There is discussion of possibly creating a game out of the centerpieces, by having guests guess which fairytale is represented at each table.

Last year, the Y auctioned off Adirondack chairs decorated by local artists. This year, to match the theme, mirrors of varying sizes and shapes have been given to local artists to design.

“It's a lot easier this year,” Hamblett said. “Last year we needed people to assemble, deliver, and pick up the chairs; and the day after the auction, delivery took a while. It's going to be a lot simpler this year.”

Only 15 mirrors will be designed and auctioned off. This year will be a silent auction rather than a live one. The Boothbay Region Art Foundation has loaned display panels for the mirrors to hang on, and volunteer Sue Bradley is in charge of coordinating with the artists and mirror sponsors.

When Hamblett approached Boothbay Harbor Country Club owner Paul Coulombe about holding the Y's annual fundraiser and golf tournament at the club, he was “incredibly supportive,” according to Hamblett. “He sat down with me and Sue Bradley and asked what we needed. We said a tent and a caterer. He said ‘consider it done,’ and the next day, he had both.”

Coulombe also came up with the idea of having a Mashed Potato Bar at the event, and having the Time Pilots, one of his favorite bands, perform, and had them booked that week for the party.

Golf teams are limited to 25 teams of four players, and there will be special surprises along the way for players. Dianne Gimbel is heading up the golf tournament, and is planning some of the surprises along the way.

The Y is still seeking sponsors to help with the event. Sponsorships range from $25 for a card sponsor, and $500 for business sponsorships, which includes a team of 4 for the tournament. Contact the YMCA to sign up or for more information.

Tickets are $100 for the tournament and cocktail party, or $50 for just the party. Tickets can be reserved at the Boothbay Region YMCA and need to be reserved by August 24. Evil Queens not welcome.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.

Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway was bright and sunny. Fans gathered at the Speedway for the planned Fan Appreciation Day festivities. There was a car show at the speedway, with numerous cars both old and new. The car show entrants also had the opportunity to parade some laps around the speedway in their cars. There were kids bicycle races on the race track during intermission. Additionally, the drivers gathered on the track to greet fans and sign autographs prior to race time. Presented Saturday were its group one lineup of divisions: Prostock, Super Stock, New England 4-cylinder Prostock, and Thunder 4's. After the races were completed the fans cheered as a display of fireworks brightened the Wiscasset sky.

First on the track were the Thunder 4’s for a 15-lap feature race. Pete McCollett was in the pole position in the No. 20. Behind him were Adam Armstrong of the 31X and Leandra Martin driving the No. 31. There was plenty of action and numerous leader changes right from the start. Martin passed Armstrong in turn one on the outside, and took second before the first lap was even completed. The cars raced several laps with no leader changes. Then, in lap five, the No. 13 driven by Cody Tribbett passed Armstrong on the outside of the front stretch for third place. The following lap Tribbett passed Martin on turn four for second. Coming up from behind was Ryan Chadwick driving the No. 5. Chadwick passed Martin during lap seven to take third.

A determined Chadwick raced furiously up the track, looking for second. Then during lap eleven, Chadwick passed Tribbett on the outside of turn three for second. The pair raced neck and neck around the track, close behind McCollett. Tribbett wanted second place back. He came up behind Chadwick in turn one of lap fourteen. The pair made contact. Tribbett was able to slide back into second place. Chadwick could not regain second before the finish. McCollett took first place. This is McCollet’s first Thunder 4 win at Wiscasset this season. Tribbett placed second. This is Tribbett’s fourth appearance in victory lane this season. Rounding out the top three was Chadwick in third. This was Chadwick’s first top three finish this season.

The Super Stock class provided an exciting 25-lap race for the fans. Josh Bailey driving the No. 2 had the pole position. Behind him were James Osmond of the No. 05 and Bobby Mesimer of the No. 3. Bailey surged ahead at race start. The race for second was heated between Osmond and Mesimer. Mesimer pulled ahead on the inside of the back stretch during lap one. Osmond and Mesimer raced head to head for the following three laps, vying for position. Then, in lap four, Mesimer was able to pull ahead by a car length coming out of turn two onto the back stretch, solidifying second place. Osmond looked for his chance to pass Mesimer. His chance came in lap twelve when he pulled ahead of Mesimer on the outside of turn two to take second. Osmond looked ahead at Bailey, and headed up the track to challenge for first.

Mesimer found himself battling for third when he saw Adam Chadbourne driving the No. 1 coming up from behind. Chadbourne passed Mesimer during lap 14 on the outside of turn three for third. Mesimer and Chadbourne battled for third for the next two laps, then during lap 16, Mesimer passed Chadbourne taking back third. The pair continued to battle for third. Then, in lap 23, Chadbourne passed Mesimer coming out of turn three for third place.

Bailey, still in first, had held off Osmond. Osmond was in dogged pursuit of Bailey, and as the pair made their final lap, it looked as if Bailey was going to fly first under the checkered. However, as they were rounding turn four, Bailey got loose and fishtailed on the track. Osmond seized his opportunity and surged past Bailey on the front stretch and went across the finish line 183 seconds ahead. The crowd roared with enthusiasm. Prior to race time, Osmond had said, “My car is running so-so, but I feel good, like I am going to win!” Osmond must have had a crystal ball, because he did win. Osmond thanked his sponsors Red’s Eats and Dave the Tire Guy. This makes Osmond’s eighth appearance in victory lane this year. He had three prior first place wins, two second place finishes, and two third place finishes. Additionally, Osmond was selected as July’s Napa Auto Parts Driver of The Month. Bailey placed second and Chadbourne took third. 

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, August 24 with its group two lineup of divisions: Strictly Street, Mini Truck, Late Model Sportsman, and the spotlighted feature of the week a 35-lap Outlaw Mini race. The flex race of the week is a 20 lap Wicked Good Vintage Racer event. There will be fireworks at the conclusion of the races. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., grandstand gates open at 4 p.m. and 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, visit the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com.

Don’t let summer slip away without getting your kayak wet. Join the Pemaquid Paddlers on August 27 as we explore Pemaquid Pond. This 1,515-acre pond is home to more than a dozen variety of fish and serves as a spawning area for alewives.

All trips will leave the put-in point at 9 a.m. and will last two to three hours. The trips are easy to moderate in difficulty. Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak and wear a life jacket. All trips are free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. For more information, contact John Will at 207-677-6380 or email at pemaquidpaddlers@aol.com. You can also visit our website at http://pemaquidpaddlers.blogspot.com to find out more details about each trip.

The put-in is the Nobleboro Boat Launch which is off of Route 1, 4.2 miles north of Damariscotta. Look for the ball field along Route 1. We will paddle the northern end of the pond.

Join renowned fisherman, guide, and instructor Ken Sassi for a hands-on 1.5 hr casting lesson. Ken will work with students during each session to teach them the official casting practices of the International Federation of Fly Fishers. The IFFF has a clear, well-established method for teaching beginners and seasoned fishermen alike the foundations of proper casting. Ken is certified instructor with the IFFF, and past owner of the acclaimed Weatherby’s Camp in Grand Lake Stream.

Most of the class will be spent practicing the basic casting technique, but some time will be given to alterations of technique in the face of wind, obstacles on shore, obstacles in the stream, and other realistic scenarios. Some time will also be spent on stream-side entomology, choosing the right fly, and selecting the right equipment for you.

There will be two sessions on Saturday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Sept. 7. Each 1.5 hour session is limited to two students. Students are welcome to sign up for one or more sessions. The cost is $35 for HVNC members and $45 for non-members. Students are encouraged to bring their own rod and reel. If you need help arranging for the use of equipment, please contact Andy McEvoy at andy@hvnc.org.

Keep in mind that HVNC has five canoes available for rent, and access to Little Dyer Pond — one of the best kept secrets in the area. Think about planning more practice time on the water. More information about canoe rentals, Little Dyer Pond, and fishing at HVNC is available at www.hvnc.org.

For more information or to register, visit www.hvnc.org, or contact Codey at codey@hvnc.org or 207-200-8840.

Earlier this summer when the sign at the former Tuxedo Junction announced Twisted Iron Customs was coming, it might have sounded like a metal sculpture studio.

But then came the motorcycles.

The business that opened July 22 on Route 1 across from Ames Supply does it all: repair, custom-painting, building whole bikes, roadside assistance and consignment.

“And you would not see a more dedicated bunch,” said Greg Williams of Auburn, one of the mechanics.

According to Williams and fellow mechanic Darron Pierce of New Gloucester, the first thing to understand about owning and riding motorcycles is that it's not a hobby, it's a lifestyle.

Both men have been riding since they were teenagers. Pierce used to ride with his father, an antique motorcycle salesman who died in a motorcycle accident in 2009.

Until Pierce joined Twisted Iron Customs, he was running his own shop. He's seeing a much higher work volume at the Wiscasset business, he said.

In just weeks since the opening, the business has already had more work than his shop would have seen in an entire season, Pierce said.

“It's been great,” owner Michael Benner of Friendship said. Locating in Wiscasset can draw business from the Brunswick and Damariscotta areas, and from traveling bikers using Route 1, he said.

An open house featuring rock band No Guts, No Glory is planned for Sunday, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m., Benner said.

Twisted Iron Customs' seven employees are all longtime motorcycle owners and riders.

The business is allowing them to work with and meet others who share their enthusiasm for bikes, and for working on them.

“I like to take a bucketful of stuff and turn it into something useful,” Pierce said.

Twisted Iron Customs is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 207-687-8023.

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

The Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association is working with area community groups to put on a day of fun and education to celebrate the Sheepscot River and the communities of the Sheepscot watershed. In addition to the 5K Salmon Run, and the kids Smolt and Fry runs, there will be a variety of activities for kids and adults.

The Darling Marine Center will be there with its touch tank to share many interesting facts about the creatures that depend on the saltwater ecosystems of the Sheepscot River. A watershed model from the Maine Cooperative Extension will be available, as well as a freshwater tank with invertebrates and amphibians, to help make the connections between the headwaters of the Sheepscot River and its estuaries to the south.

The Chewonki Foundation will be presenting a live Birds of Prey Program with their non-releasable raptors making up their “non-human” teaching team. Chewonki’s birds of prey have injuries which make them unable to fly and hunt in the wild, providing participants with close up views of their many unique adaptations. An abundance of natural history information about common raptors found in Maine, and hands on opportunities with wings, skulls and feet, will allow visitors to learn about these important predators and their roles as “mother nature’s living mousetraps.”

Great Horned owls, Barred Owls and Red-tailed hawks are just a few of the raptors that use forest and field habitats throughout the Sheepscot watershed. The SVCA stewards a number of preserves that support habitat for raptors including Trout Brook Preserve in Alna where hikers can often hear Barred owls calling in the bottom lands along the Brook. Undeveloped forests and fields provide important cover, hunting habitat and space for raptors to raise their young. 

Mid-Coast Audubon will also have a table with information on birding, binoculars, and activities for kids to learn about birds. The shrubby habitat around the Harriet ball field will be a good spot to practice birding skills as fall migration has already begun. A Migration Game will be set up for families to explore the risks of bird migration and the importance of habitat along winter and spring migration routes. Come give it a try and see if you survive the 1,000-5,000 mile migration route.

Hidden Valley Nature Center will have its post and beam set up, and information about the 1,000 acre property in Jefferson. Visitors can learn about tree identification and forestry practices. In addition to the recreational opportunities at HVNC, they work hard to maintain a working sustainable forest, providing timber resources as well as educational opportunities.

The day of fun and educational opportunities begins with the Salmon Run at 9 a.m and wraps up at 3 p.m. with the drawing of the winners of the SVCA’s fundraising raffle. Lunch, beverages and baked goods offered by the Alna Volunteer Fire Department, Jefferson Boy Scout Troop 216, Big Barn Coffee, Lincoln County Historical Society, Sheepscott Community Church and the Wiscasset Yacht Club, will be available for purchase throughout the day. Visit the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association website www.sheepscot.org for schedule and activity updates, and to register for the Salmon Run, or call the office at 207-586-5616.