There's a little bistro in Damariscotta facing the waterfront, just a ways down from the back entrance of Reny's. It has been there for a little over a year, and though enough people are aware of it to have made business good, and sometimes booming, it's still something of a well-kept secret around these parts.

The small bistro-style restaurant is owned by the father and son team of Bernie and August DeLisle, and August's new wife and partner, Torie Van Horne, soon to be DeLisle (she thinks).

Bernie DeLisle has been in the restaurant business for 35 years as an owner and as a manager. He managed the Waterfront in Camden for several years.

In the April 2015 edition of Down East magazine, Van Lloyd's Bistro was listed as one of Maine's best new restaurants. It is described as an “operation (that) embraces a from-scratch philosophy and global influence ... A cozy, unexpected find on the Damariscotta waterfront.”

The trio found the space for their restaurant in what had been a print shop for 20 years. They tore down walls and drop-down ceilings, and pulled up old carpet.

“We gutted the place,” Van Horne said.

August DeLisle and Torie Van Horne sat down recently to talk about their restaurant, the food they serve, and their philosophy about food and cooking.

The interior has been transformed into a delightful space complete with a bar area that could double as a movie set, due to Van Horne's and DeLisle's backgrounds in set design. The four ceiling lights in the dining room are old Victrola horns that have been transformed into hanging art by the couple.

“Restaurant and theater tend to go hand-in-hand,” DeLisle said.

The arches framing the bar area came from a house in Portland that had been dismantled. The arches, along with the marble surface of the bar, and many of the chairs, came from an architectural salvage business in Portland.

Originally opened as a coffee house, the restaurant has been through a few phases. A week and a half in, someone asked about a dinner menu. The trio started serving lunch, or brunch, and dinner.

As quality is of utmost importance to them, they decided there wasn't enough time in the day to do both top-notch lunches and dinners. “If we can take the entire afternoon to prep an incredible meal for dinner, with really high quality, beautiful food, it's better to focus on doing that as best as we possibly can,” DeLisle said.

“It's kind of a personal problem,” Van Horne said. “We can't just do something. We have to do it to the absolute best of our abilities.”

The owners get most of their supplies and ingredients from local sources, including a grist mill in Scarborough for organic flours, Mill Cove in Boothbay Harbor for most of the restaurant's seafood, and vegetables from local farms. “Our philosophy is we try to be local and organic whenever possible, but if we can't get what we need locally, we expand to the New England area.

“If a farm has garlic scapes (described as a cross between garlic and asparagus) which are available right now, we'll get 10 pounds, and they'll show up on the menu,” DeLisle said. “It's one of those fleeting spring flavors. They're only around for a week or a week and a half.”

They also recently bought 10 or 15 pounds of ramps, described by DeLisle as a “pungent, oniony, wild leek.”

Pretty much everything on the menu is made in-house. When a corned beef sandwich was added to the menu, DeLisle said he brined the corned beef for 10 days, then braised it for five hours. He made the aioli and the sauerkraut, and asked their baker to make the rye bread. “Every single element in the sandwich was made in our kitchen, and it took us forever,” DeLisle said.

“We can't help ourselves,” Van Horne said. “All of the elements of the meal you get here are the best we can make.”

Their house-made, air-dried sausage, flavored butters (a lavender butter is being applied to a salad), breads, kimchi and sauerkraut all appear on their menu, in some form, at different times.

The couple reluctantly admitted that they don't make their own cheeses, but get them from local cheese makers — one from Rockland, and one from a creamery in Bristol.

“He has bred his own cheese cultures, using organic local milk, and aged the cheese for two months,” DeLisle said.

Don't expect to find any ordinary old white salt on the table. DeLisle said he recently read a book about salts.

“The majority of them are either evaporated or produced through a chemical process. Iodized table salt has nothing to do with salt in nature.”

Most of the salt at Van Lloyd's comes from the Maine Sea Salt Company in Machias. “He does an all evaporated Maine sea salt, completely solar-powered,” DeLisle said.

They also use black Hawaiian sea salts, a lime-infused salt and a French Maldon salt that has “super big flaky crystals.”

The menu at Van Lloyd's changes weekly.

“We choose a breakfast spot on Sunday mornings and we all sit down and have a meal, and then we go through the menu item by item,” DeLisle said.

Van Horne said they're always looking for ways to do something differently. “If we've done something completely expected, we've failed. We want everything to be delightful and different. Sometimes I think we tend to freak people out a little.”

The father, son and daughter-in-law all work together in the kitchen, and there are always two servers, a host and a bartender on duty, but all the employees pitch in wherever help is needed.

“I think you get better service if everybody is involved,” Van Horne said. “From the beginning we wanted it to be a real team effort. And we try to keep it a fun place to work.”

DeLisle said the menu is always changing and always growing. A disclaimer at the bottom states: “If we haven't smoked it, cured it, brined it, pickled it, cooked it or baked it ourselves, we don't serve it. Demand REAL food.”

The restaurant seats around 35 people, including the outside deck area. Kitchen hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Reservations are strongly recommended. Call 207-563-5005.

No man had to wait for either time or tide on Saturday as the 11th annual Rubber Ducky Race benefitting the Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA) was a success.

Executive Director Donna Minnis had to announce a short five-minute delay Saturday afternoon to make sure the current of the Damariscotta River was flowing out of Great Salt Bay under the town bridge before giving the countdown to release the 614 numbered rubber ducks that were purchased to benefit the association. The duck race is one of four fundraisers run annually by the PWA.

“We like to emphasize fun,” said Minnis.

The top ten finishers received prizes Saturday. The top prize was a $100 gift certificate from the Yellowfront Grocery. The last place, or Pokey Duck, was also to receive a prize. The Pokey Duck had not left the starting gate a half hour after every other duck had finished.

Singer-songwriter Jan Marie Bacon sang original ducky songs to entertain the 50 or more spectators. Phil Averill greeted passersby wearing a ducky mask. Several volunteer spotters assisted from kayaks. The top ten winners in order of finish were: 385 Chris Nelson, 281 Debby Kane,18 Pat Gabriel, 70 Toni Crouch, 205 Tucker Kelley, 296 Emily Nelson, 348 Mike Hagen, 223 Mark Lazzari , 512 Kristen Elizabeth Widmaier, 535 Meredith Harris, and Pokey 608 Atticus Donaghy.

Minnis said the Pokey Ducky award went to the second slowest duck because the true winning duck was allegedly picked up by unknown persons in a boat which was last seen paddling north toward Great Salt Bay.

Asked whether they were considering posting an all-points bulletin  she said, “We are considering it.”

The track at Wiscasset Middle High School, formerly Wiscasset High School, will be closed to all activity from Monday, July 13, to at least Friday, July 24, for maintenance, the Wiscasset School Department’s maintenance and transportation director John Merry said.

Healthy Kids’ 11th annual Strawberry Shortcake Shuffle is on Saturday, July 11, at the Great Salt Bay School in Damariscotta.

The Strawberry Shortcake Shuffle includes a 5k run and a 3k walk, followed by a Fun Run for kids. All participants are encouraged to wear their favorite superhero costume. The overall male and female winners will each receive a $50 gift card to Fleet Feet Sports. First and second place in all other age categories will be awarded a medal and gift certificate respectively.

During the award ceremony, homemade strawberry shortcake, baked by Hootenanny bread, with organic strawberries from Rising Tide will be provided to all. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. To preregister and for more information, visit http://healthykidsmaine.com or call 207-563-1818.

This year's event is sponsored by Kieve/Wavus and Renys.

All proceeds benefit Healthy Kids, the Child Abuse and Prevention Council for Lincoln County. Healthy Kids' mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect in order to enhance the quality of life of children and their families in Lincoln County. Resources provided are supervised visits, playgroups, parent education and the dissemination of information on issues relating to child abuse and neglect.

There's a water sport that turns exercise into a Zen experience: paddleboarding. Paddleboards resemble surfboards, but come with paddles. They are wider, and have surfaces that help folks get a grip.

Not being a swimmer, paddleboards have never been on my radar. From what I gathered doing a bit of research, although the use of a surfboard with a paddle originated in Hawaii, ancient cultures of Africa and Peru, also used a paddleboard-like means for traversing water.

The Zen water sport reached my radar on June 27. I'd gone down to Tidal Transit to cover the paddleboard race that final day of the Windjammer Days festival. Unfortunately, no one signed up for the event, although several had expressed interest to Travis Journagan, owner and president of the kayak and paddleboard company.

I took it as a sign, an opportunity to find out more about it. Unfamiliarity with the sport being one of the reasons the event lacked participants, according to Journagan.

Journagan said paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport in the United States. He first came across one of the fiberglass variety in 2002 or 2003.

In 2009, he bought a VERSA epoxy board for the business and another five soon after. The VERSA board is a wide board, great for newbies, yoga (we'll get to that later), and for carrying passengers — like children or seafaring canines.

Boards vary in weight; the Michael Dolsey Design “Bam Bam” board Journagan offers is a light 23 pounds while others are as heavy as 45 pounds. They also come with a bungee cord storage for water.

“Over the past few years, boards have become wider for beginners and kids,” Journagan said.

Journagan and his partner Maria Jenness have been taking their now 2-year-old son, Roy, out on the water since the lad was six months old. In fact, that very morning, Roy and his mother had been out paddleboarding, but he was ready to go back out with her to show the newspaper lady how it was done.

Gwynne Jones, a Registered Maine Guide, work/plays at Tidal Transit and also agreed to go out on a paddleboard on that picture perfect morning.

Sunshine, temps in the high 70s, seabirds calling out as they fly overhead, and the water — cool and glistening — beckoned me to come and play.

Paddleboarders can lie down or kneel and use their arms to glide across the water, or go for the SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) method. The gang at Tidal Transit will instruct newbies about the sport. How to: find your center; stand up (keeping your feet parallel, shoulder width apart); use the paddle and basic strokes; and so forth before you take it to the water.

Paddleboards can also be used like docks to swim off of. You'll be wet anyway, so who cares.

“It's fun to get out on the water,” Journagan said. “But, yeah, you get pretty wet; that's why we will include a wet suit with each rental.”

Ralph Reeve, a Master Maine Sea Kayak Guide has begun his 10th summer at Tidal Transit. Reeve is a paddleboard enthusiast.

“Paddleboards give you a fantastic core workout,” Reeve said. Yes, that and incredible arm and leg strengthening!

And, if you really want to get Zen with it, try paddleboard yoga. Journagan said last summer a gal was teaching classes on boards latched to a float for stability.

As Gwynne and Maria demonstrated paddle strokes (with Roy smiling and enjoying the ride) it was clear they were having a good time, fully in the moment, experiencing Zen on the water.

For more information about paddleboarding, just ask Travis, Gwynne, Ralph, Maria or Wyatt at Tidal Transit, 18 Granary Way in Boothbay Harbor and at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is hosting five public meetings concerning proposed fishing regulation changes for the 2016 open water and ice fishing seasons.

Each year, IFW updates the fishing law book. Regulation changes are needed in order to enhance fishing opportunities throughout the state, as well as to protect fish from overfishing. This year, there are over 150 proposed regulation changes for Maine’s 6,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams.

A list of the proposed regulation changes is available online at www.mefishwildlife.com. The southern Maine public hearing is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, at Brunswick High School (Multi-Purpose Room), 116 Maquoit Road, Brunswick.

Any proposed regulation can be discussed at any of the public hearing locations. If you cannot attend any of these public hearings but still wish to provide input, there is a public comment period that runs from now until Aug. 3. You can provide written comment by emailing becky.orff@maine.gov or mailing Becky Orff at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, #41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

Last Saturday was fan appreciation night at Wiscasset Speedway. Drivers gathered on the track and fans were able to go down onto the track and meet them, get autographs, and view the race cars up close. The weather was warm and sunny, perfect for fan appreciation day. There were kids bicycle races on the track. The bike races were divided into three divisions. The first division was five and under, with training wheels and tricycles. A little girl named Taylor won the race. The second division was five through seven year olds, and Paris from Jefferson won. The third division was eight through twelve years old. Logan from Farmingdale won the event. All three took home trophies for their accomplishment.

Saturday was the group one division of racers. The feature events included a spotlighted division of Prostock. Also on the schedule were the Thunder 4 Mini’s, NAPA Super Street, and the New England Four Cylinder Prostock.

First on the track was a 50-lap main event Prostock race.

An action packed NAPA Super Street twenty-five lap event was next on the agenda.

Finishing up the evening’s action under the bright lights of Wiscasset were the New England Four Cylinder Prostocks. The race was nearly caution free, and the twenty-five laps sped by quickly with action through the finish. 

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, Saturday, July 18, with its group two lineup of divisions: Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, Outlaw Mini, and Modfieds. Next week the flex race of the week is a 100 lap Enduro. For Enduro rules please visit the website. If you missed the racing action, or simply want to see it again, track videographer, Brandon Simmons, posts race footage on YouTube. It can be found by searching “Wiscasset Speedway.” For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

Official finishes

Prostock (50 Laps)

1. #15X Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin

2. #19 John Ride3out, Washington

3. #1 Jeff Burgess, East Madison

4. #29 Kevin Morse, Woolwich

5. #51 John Peters, Westbrook

6. #01 Andy Saunders, Ellsworth

7. #56 Even Beaulieu, Durham

8. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset

9. #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth

10. #14 Nathan Tribbet, Richmond

11. #99 Ajay Picard, Palmyra

12. #32 Mike Orr, Wiscasset

13. #77 Maggie Ferland, Auburn

DNS #1M Mike Moody, Topsham

NAPA Super Street (25 Laps)

1. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset

2. #5 Mark Lucas, Harpswell

3. #38 Dan Trask, Chelsea

4. #02 Jason Curtis, Hollis

5. #13 David Doherty, Palmyra

6. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich

7. #23 Brandon Sprague, Edgecomb

8. #12 Dave Patten, Westbrook

9. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich

10. #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale

11. #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic

New England Four Cylinder Prostock (25 Laps)

1. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner

2. #27 Jacob Hendsbee, Whitefield

3. #0 Alex Waltz, Walpole

4. #15 Tyler Bailey, Wiscasset

5. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon

6. #38 Ryan Hayes, Jefferson

7. #42 Mike Kibbin, South China

8. #54 Cam Corbin, Hallowell

9. #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner

10. #55 John Shorey, Alna

11. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook

12. #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta

13. #5 Cody Billings, Hartford

14. #4 Connor Wenners, Edgecomb

Thunder Four Mini (20 Laps)

1. #31 Leandra Martin, Richmond

2. #54 Noah Haggett, Wiscasset

3. #04 Curtis Anderson, Richmond

4. #48 Michael Harrison, Durham

5. #26 Michael Golding, Pownal

6. #58 David Greenleaf, Brunswick

7. #68 Jeff Minchin Jr, Pittston

8. #11 Kyle Dorey, Bowdoinham

9. #4J Joe Katula, NA

DQ #113 Cody Tribbet, Richmond

Joe Lane is a multi-generation lobsterman. He said his lobstering ancestors probably date back to when fishermen started fishing for lobsters.

Lane said his father’s family came from England on the Angel Gabriel, a 240-ton passenger galleon that sank in a storm off Pemaquid Point in 1635.

“One side of my family is from Damariscotta and one side is from Bristol,” he said. “I saw a postcard with a picture of my grandfather when he was 13, with his dad, at the same co-op in Pemaquid that I fish out of.”

Lane, who is from Bristol, does what one might expect from a lobsterman in his spare time: He runs a lobster roll stand.

Lane gets the lobsters for his Damariscotta business by catching them himself. He usually goes out hauling in the morning and runs the stand when he gets back on dry land.

He has been lobstering since he was in the sixth grade, when he hauled his traps by hand, as opposed to the hydraulic haulers most commercial fishermen are using now.

This summer, he’s lamenting that he hasn’t been able to put as much time out on the ocean as he’d like, because he’s in the throes of opening a restaurant, along with his lobster roll stand.

“With all I have going now I haven't been able to go out hauling as much as I'd like to. Last year I was heading out at 3 a.m. and getting back by 2 p.m. to make sure we had enough lobsters to get through the day.”

Lane has been running his lobster stand for a little over a year, selling fresh live and cooked lobsters, and lobster rolls, lobster tacos, lobster BLTs, lobster grilled cheese sandwiches and lobster Newburg (on Sundays). He also offers a “lobster cone.”

Jim Morris, from San Fransisco, comes to visit his in-laws each summer. He was at the stand getting an order of “lobster in a cone,” on July 15. It is simply lobster meat served in a paper cone, sans roll.

Now Lane said he is in the process of moving in to a “sit-down dining place.”

He's hoping to be in the former Paco's Tacos location in downtown Damariscotta within a couple weeks.

“I have the plumbing people coming tomorrow, and then I just have to get it inspected. It's up to one woman, who does all the local inspections. It will all depend on her schedule.”

Lane is planning to get a beer and wine license, which he said will require a board meeting and then a public hearing.

The restaurant will serve all the lobster items that are available at the stand, plus baked stuffed lobster, lobster mac ’n‘ cheese, lobster pasta dishes, and the traditional twin lobster dinner with corn on the cob. Lane said he's also thinking about coming up with some Mexican lobster dishes to stay with the Mexican theme that Paco's Tacos provided for many years.

Lane, who plays piano, said he'll be featuring live music in the restaurant, too.

He’ll be running the restaurant with help from his girlfriend, Brittany Barton.

The lobster stand, called Joe Lane Lobsterman, will remain at its present location at 93 Elm Street, near the back entrance to Skidompha Public Library, after the restaurant opens in the former Paco's Tacos location.

“I'll keep them both running, because I live right here (in the house whose land the stand sits on).”

Call 207-563-LOBS (5627) or 207-208-9418 to order fresh or cooked lobsters, lobster rolls or other lobster sandwiches, or a “cone.”

Maine native Don Barter of Jefferson spends the offseason driving a school bus for Lincoln Academy in Damariscotta. During the summer, Barter continues to drive, but instead of a school bus he drives the new Newcastle-Damariscotta-Boothbay Harbor trolley.

The trolley runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 5 from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. It travels through the twin villages of Newcastle and Damariscotta every half hour, stopping at the train depot, Newcastle Publick House, Colby & Gale, Rising Tide, Hannaford, CLC YMCA, Great Salt Bay School, Round Top Ice Cream, Yellowfront, and Theater Street Downtown. In-town trips are free.

On all three days, the trolley also makes trips into Boothbay Harbor twice a day. It leaves the Newcastle Publick House at 9 a.m., where people traveling can leave their cars in the upper lot. It takes visitors into Boothbay Harbor, dropping them off near the downtown Whale Park, and picks up passengers at the same location before heading back up to Newcastle. It makes a second trip at 4 p.m., arriving in Boothbay Harbor around 4:30 and returning to Newcastle around 5 p.m.

“I love Boothbay,” Barter said. “Especially the Boothbay Railway Village; my wife and I come down at least once a summer. And I used to play the trumpet on the library lawn concerts.”

Barter alternates routes to Boothbay Harbor, taking either River Road or Route 1. He often asks his passengers which way they'd like to go.

On Sundays, the trolley also goes the other direction to Pemaquid Point Light. It leaves at 11 a.m. and returns at 2 p.m. Round-trip tickets to both Pemaquid and Boothbay Harbor cost $5.

“I think the trips to other areas are great, especially because you don't have to fight parking,” Barter said. “In Boothbay, parking can be a nightmare; this way you can leave your car in Newcastle and don't have to worry at all, and you can even ride the Rocktide Trolley in Boothbay.”

Barter also talked about the convenience of the in-town trolley rides. One of the trolley's stops, the Great Salt Bay School, was added solely to allow patrons a convenient spot to park.

“You can leave your car and not have to worry about finding a spot downtown. Spend a couple hours shopping and hop back on when you’re ready to head home.”

Barter was born in Camden and has lived his whole life in Maine. He and his wife Ruth will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on Sept. 3.

“I was a senior in high school and my wife was a junior when we married,” Barter said. “Seems like just yesterday. Time moves awful fast.”

Before he worked as a driver, Barter was an independent welder and fabricator. He was part of the team that built the Donald E. Davey bridge between Wiscasset and Edgecomb, and every time he and his wife go over it, he jokes: “I hope my welding holds up.”

Last year, the trolley serviced a total of 783 riders throughout the season, according to Mary Ellen Barnes of the trolley and train committee.

“The trolley encourages visitors and area residents to spend more time in our communities and gives them an option for affordable travel, including those summer residents that come here to work and may not have a car,” Barnes said. “These residents have an opportunity to see more of Maine and visit areas they otherwise couldn't get to.”

“I love driving this trolley,” Barter said. “I think it's a blast and I hope more people learn about and use it.”

Join us Saturday, July 25, for our sixth annual Lobster Roll 5k and kids fun run. The event is held on Emery Lane beside Boothbay Region High School in Boothbay Harbor. The race begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by the kid’s fun run. Sign up as an individual or join the team challenge with a group of three or more runners. Awards for overall winners (male and female), the first two finishers in each age group and the team challenge. Go to lobsterroll5k.weebly.com for more information.

All proceeds support the Community on Track program and their quest to build an athletic facility that includes a track and turf field for the Boothbay region.

After more than a year of careful analysis and planning, five Midcoast Maine conservation organizations are proposing to unite as one; and they are taking their case to their memberships. If approved, the newly combined organization — yet to be named — would become one of the largest regional land conservation organizations in Maine with over 7,000 acres of land conserved, a professional staff of 10, a combined membership of 2,500, a combined annual operating budget of approximately $750,000, and 175 years of a collective conservation experience.

If approved, Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Pemaquid Watershed Association and the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance would merge into the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, assume a new name and become accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The new organization would encompass conservation lands stretching from Palermo to Pemaquid Point to Westport Island and include the Damariscotta Lake watershed, Pemaquid River watershed, the Sheepscot River watershed and their many tributaries (see map). The mission of the newly formed trust will be to support and promote healthy lands, waters, wildlife, and people in Midcoast Maine through conservation, education, and recreation.

“Maine Coast Heritage Trust is very supportive of this effort, as mergers can lead to long-term sustainability and greater impact than was possible before,” said Tim Glidden, president of the Brunswick-based Maine Coast Heritage Trust, one of Maine’s leading conservation organizations. “We applaud these organizations for their forward thinking, and hope that their success can become a model for land trusts across the state of Maine and beyond that might be considering a similar move.”  Glidden continued, “Local land trust collaborations such as this represent a tangible, intelligent way for small conservation organizations to reduce administrative overload, enhance focus on their missions, and magnify their collective impact.”

The idea to unite was born several years ago from informal discussions among the executive directors of the five Midcoast nonprofit organizations. In January 2014, they agreed formally to explore a shared future by hiring an independent organizational change consultant.

“The responsibilities of conserving land and protecting water quality in perpetuity are complex and deeply consequential,” said Jody Jones, executive director of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association. “Together, as a regional entity accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, we can enhance organizational efficiency to better conserve and protect the lands and waters that we love.” Jones emphasized that Land Trust Accreditation will provide access to greater financial and human resources and give existing and potential donors increased confidence in the organization’s longevity, structure, and long-term impact.

Jones noted that the five organizations recognize the need to combine forces and reduce redundancy if they are to serve the Midcoast geography and communities effectively. “This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity proposes to combine five local conservation efforts into one powerful regional entity,” she said. The newly formed regional organization would include board representation from all five land trusts as well as councils with staff liaisons assigned to caring for the needs of local members and stewardship obligations.

Jones explained that the goal is to honor the individual legacies of the five founding member organizations –three of which are nearly five decades old – and to build upon their collective accomplishments. The new regional organization would maintain a grassroots spirit, giving volunteers the opportunity to work on projects that most excite them, she added.

To date, all five Boards have voted, and four unanimously approved the motion to merge. The Board of Directors of Pemaquid Watershed Association voted closely not to pass the motion; however, a subsequent member petition is bringing the question to that association’s membership. Between now and the end of September, the organizations will hold membership votes on the proposed merger (except for HVNC which does not have a voting membership).

By casting their votes, members of four of the five organizations have the opportunity to shape the future of land and water conservation in the region and to provide a statewide collaborative model. Board Presidents and executive staff from all of the five organizations are in support of the merger.

“We believe that our members will see the strength in this idea, which will create a team of experts specializing in water quality, land conservation, stewardship, education, and program development,” said Jones. “Our vision is to increase recreational and volunteer opportunities, offer affordable programming for adults and children; and offer peace of mind that the land and water in Midcoast Maine will conserved and protected in perpetuity.”

For more information and to read a FAQ about the proposed merger, please visit http://dlwa.org/merger

About the organizations

The Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association (DLWA) is a volunteer-based organization of nearly 500 member families, is committed to enhancing the quality of life in and around Damariscotta Lake

Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) is a community-based and supported nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Lincoln County that encompasses 1,000 acres land, with over a mile of shore frontage and nearly 30 miles of multi-use trails.

Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA) is  a nonprofit, membership-supported organization dedicated to conserving the natural resources of the Pemaquid Peninsula.

Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA) is an accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Sheepscot Watershed.

Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance (SWLA) is a land trust that conserves over 1500 acres of land, maintains 20 miles of public trails, and hosts educational talks and hikes in the upper Sheepscot River watershed region. 

Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association is seeking volunteers to help care for our numerous public properties. Stewardship projects include invasive plant control, wildlife habitat improvement projects, trail clearing and maintenance, bridge building, boundary marking and annual monitoring. There is a job for everyone, with opportunities to learn new skills, spend time outdoors getting fresh air and exercise, and to see a variety of habitats in the area!

Last week a group of volunteers helped with removal of Morrow’s honeysuckle on the Whitefield Salmon Preserve in Whitefield, a property that protects Atlantic salmon habitat on the Sheepscot River and West Branch, in addition to important upland wildlife habitats. Targeting invasive species prevents them from competing with native shrubs that provide more valuable wildlife foods and cover. Oriental bittersweet, Morrow’s honeysuckle and Japanese barberry are all found in limited amounts on the Preserve, and our stewardship crew helped keep the invasives at bay while tackling the task with humor and hard work!

Later in August and September we will be working on wildlife habitat projects and erosion control at Trout Brook. Volunteers will work on cutting back trees and shrubs as we work towards keeping small openings in the forest for song birds and woodcock. The site was historically a field and we are working to maintain the early successional forest stage currently present. In addition to getting work done, volunteers will learn about wildlife habitat improvement techniques for their own properties, and resources for more information. As we tackle erosion control, volunteers will learn about the importance of creating and maintaining riparian buffers.

The fall is SVCA’s monitoring season when staff and volunteers spread out on the landscape and check properties we own or hold easements on looking for changes or disturbances. This is a once a year task but a wonderful opportunity to get out on the landscape and explore while helping SVCA staff. Annual monitoring is an important responsibility in the stewardship of lands that were often given with the expectation that they be protected in perpetuity.

If you are interested in hearing more about upcoming projects please contact SVCA’s Programs Manager Lynne Flaccus at lynne@sheepscot.org or call the office 207-586-5616. Watch for upcoming activities and projects on our website www.sheepscot.org or like us on Facebook.

Hope to see you out on the trails and in the woods soon!

The Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association will sponsor its 11th annual Saltwater Fishing Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9.

A $200 cash prize will be awarded for the largest striped bass and largest bluefish respectively, with $100 and $50 going for second and third place in both categories. Kids (12 and under) can go for mackerel and harbor pollock, and compete for cash prizes of $50 and $25 for first and second place, and $10 for third through 5th place. All Maine saltwater sport fishing regulations apply, and there will be a 12-inch minimum for bluefish entered.

Weigh-ins will be held at the Boothbay Lobster Wharf at 97 Atlantic Ave. (on the east side of Boothbay Harbor) from 5 to 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with food and beverages available for purchase. Fish will be judged by overall length, and in the case of a tie, the first fish entered will be declared the winner.

Local businesses are responding enthusiastically in support of this popular, family-oriented summer event. There will be a number of great additional prizes for fish winners as well as door prize drawings for all who enter the tournament, including a brand-new kid’s 20-inch bicycle.

Entry fee is $20 for adults, and kids can enter free of charge but must be accompanied by an adult holding a valid entry ticket. Adults may sponsor more than one child on a single ticket.

Tournament registration, tackle, bait, and up-to-the-minute fishing information are all available at Oak Street Outdoors (next to Oak Street Provisions) at 43 Oak St. in Boothbay Harbor, 207-633-1290.

Boothbay area businesses and individuals who would like to contribute prizes for the tournament are invited to contact John Splaine at 207-751-9065; email: velonut1@myfairpoint.net; or send them directly to the BRF&GA, P.O. Box 408, Boothbay, ME 04537.

Proceeds of the tournament will benefit the Clayton Dodge Scholarship and other community programs.

Drive down the Pemaquid peninsula and step back into the history of 17th century Maine.  Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site will be the location of a two-day 17th century encampment on both Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and Sunday, Aug. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are invited to visit and engage with living history interpreters in this outdoor program, which showcases maritime, civilian, military and native American aspects of the 17th century at Pemaquid. Native Americans will be present, as well as English artisans, who will demonstrate their skills and crafts. There is no charge for this event. Donations are welcome.

Visitors are encouraged to return to Colonial Pemaquid on Wednesday evening Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. for the final evening Lantern Walk of the season. Participants will step into the past as they tour a 17th century village, meet some of the inhabitants and be challenged by an 18th century soldier on guard duty. Rain date is Aug. 6.

Directions: Colonial Pemaquid is located off Route 130, approximately 12 miles south of Route 1 and 3 miles north of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. From Route 130 South, in New Harbor, turn right onto Huddle Road and follow signs to Colonial Pemaquid. From Route 32 South, turn left onto Route 130 and then immediately right onto Snowball Hill Road, following signs to Colonial Pemaquid. The Contented Sole Restaurant is adjacent to the museum.

For more information, visit our website at www.friendsofcolonialpemaquid.org, or you may contact the park manager at 207-677-2423.

The 11th annual Westport Island Shore Run Road Race (Maine’s Best Little 10k Road Race) takes place on Sunday, Aug. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. The 10k road race on bridge-accessible Westport Island takes place on a USATF-certified course through scenic pine and fir tree forests and over two bridges spanning inlets to Heal Cove and Montsweag Bay.

The race is to benefit the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department, whose members direct traffic and provide logistical support at the race. Over the last 10 years, the race has generated over $15,000 in proceeds for the fire department. Last year, $1,400 was raised for the firefighters.

For more information and to register online for this year's race, go to www.westportisland.org. Race-day registration and bib pick-up will take place beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Old Town Hall on the Main Road, Westport Island.

In last year's race, Megan Hempstead of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, won first place female overall; Chase Huges of Westport Island won first place male overall.

This year's race coincides with the 60th anniversary celebration of the Westport Island Community Association, which takes place after the race beginning at 2 p.m. at the Old Town Hall and Community Church on the Main Road. There will be an exhibit of community arts and crafts in the Old Town Hall and a musical and audio revue of local talent in the Community Church followed by a champagne and appetizer reception at the Town Hall.

Community members and visitors to the area came out in force on Saturday to benefit efforts to construct a community track and field facility in Boothbay.

In its sixth year, the Lobster Roll 5k road race had a special feature. Caroline Jones, an original member of the Community on Track committee, brought family and friends to compete. The 30 or more runners invited by Jones were scheduled to attend her wedding later that afternoon.

Jones said that the event was special for her because during her track career at Boothbay Regional High School she had never been able to run on a home track. She continues to run half marathons at her current home in Sarasota, Florida.

The groom, Glenn Trinder, ran alongside his bride-to-be while conceding that he had never been a competitive runner.

"I played sports but never ran,” said Trinder. 

After the race Jones said that she may have been able to run 3 to 4 minutes faster but had made the decision to run alongside her hubby-to-be.

Also competing were 11 Lewis family members of “Pa’s Crew” who were visiting their father in East Boothbay.

“This is our third year,” said Alan Lewis, who pushed his two-year-old daughter, Hadley, in her baby carriage.

"It was a little hard on the uphills,” said Lewis.

Proceeds from the Lobster Roll 5k Race benefit the Community on Track committee, which is hoping to create a community based track at one of two locations, according to committee member Dana Paolillo.

The two locations identified so far are either behind the elementary school or at the Clifford Field, she said.

Winner of the men’s division was BRHS track coach Nick Scott with a time of 16:40. Krystal Douglas came in first in the women’s division with a time of 19:12. A total of 214 runners participated.

Wiscasset Speedway celebrated its 46th birthday last Saturday night. The evening was presented by Maine State Bureau of Highway Safety. Drivers from past and present had gathered to help celebrate the day and participated in a driver recognition ceremony during intermission. Champions’ Night drivers included Ed Pierpont, Steve Pierpont, Vern Hodgkins, Dale Chadbourne, Adam Chadbourne, Dan Trask, Scott Chubbuck, Mike Delaney, Nick Hinkley, Brett Mank, Gave Gabrey, Mike Moody, Alan Moeller Sr., Jeff Burgess, Steve Reny, Kamren Knowles, Maurice Young, Daryl Cook, Scott Delano, Jeff Jackson, Eddie Bellows, Casey Nash, Neil Reny, and Chester Rice. 

The Four Season Synthetic Driver for the month for June was also announced as driver Michael Harrison of Durham. The Maine Vintage Racing Association Mobile Museum was on hand for fans to visit. Cupcakes were passed out to a multitude of fans who had filled the grandstands for the event.

Starting out the racing action was a spotlighted 35-lap NAPA Super Street event. The event was filled with action and began with the #88 of Jamie Norton at the pole. To his right was Brandon Sprague of the #23. Behind the pair was the #06 of Zac Poland. The opening lap saw the #02 of Jason Curtis advance to second. Poland moved to first. The #38 of Dan Trask moved from seventh to third. Norton, who had fallen off the pace, went to the back of the pack.

During lap four Curtis took the lead, and the #1 of Adam Chadbourne passed both Trask and Poland for second. Mark Lucas, of the #5 followed Chadbourne up the track and moved into third. There was a caution during lap six. When green flag racing began once again, Lucas passed Chadbourne on the inside of turn two and took second. Trask passed Chadbourne for third on the inside track during lap seven, for third.

Lucas headed to the outside during lap eleven and began to race door to door with Curtis for the lead. The duo raced for four laps, with each briefly taking the lead. It was not until lap fifteen that Lucas was able to complete a pass to become new race leader. The #2 of Josh Bailey, who started in ninth position, had been moving up through the ranks. During lap twenty-four Bailey passed Trask for third on the outside of turn four.  Despite a race caution for debris on the track, race leaders remained constant until the finish.

Lucas, who was current Modified point leader, claimed his first NAPA Super Street win. Curtis finished in second. Placing third was Bailey. Bailey entered Saturday’s race as point leader, with 358 points. Second in points was Adam Chadbourne, 32 points below Bailey. Curtis was third in points with 236.

A New England Four Cylinder Prostock was action packed through the finish. The caution free 20-lap Thunder Four Mini feature was quick, but filled with plenty of action.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action, Saturday, Aug. 1, with its group two lineup of divisions: Late Model Sportsman, Strictly Street, Outlaw Mini, and Modfieds.  Next week the flex race of the week is the Amsoil Nelcar Legends. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset.  For more information, head to the Wiscasset Speedway website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

Jane Fawcett at Star Cottage used to invite me over for tea.

We'd bump into each other in the harbor or at the Shop 'n Save and promise to be in touch. It seemed like an annual event. For me, it was fun to visit, then walk around the island.

Over the years I have gotten to know a few summer visitors on the island: Spaeth, Marinell, Kerr, Duvall, Mitchell (Sadie, no relation), Rob Hopkins and others. An interesting mix.

Jane liked Squirrel a lot. She was from Ohio I think — shared the cottage with another family or two, as is often the case. The island is a dedicated summer community enjoyed by many generations.

Recently, I got a call from Yvonne Duvall from Virginia. She said that she and her family would be on Squirrel and that she would really like to to get some photos of everyone. She'd been wanting to do it for years. I had photographed her daughter's wedding some 15 years ago. It was nice to be remembered and a great opportunity to see everyone after such a long time. We had fun in a wonderful setting at the very same house where Ashley got ready for her wedding.

Squirrel Island seems to me to be a lot like the carts that one often sees rolling along the streets of Boothbay Harbor. Like the one in the photo this week. Created from interwoven material — simple, yet strong and durable. A carrier that's held together over years of moving across the bay, unaltered — bound by a sense of coming home.

I know that things change with time and that Squirrel Island does not escape this. But for those who visit and those who stay, it is returning that matters most.

The Lincoln County Rifle Club will be holding an open house on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. All are invited to come see our facilities including the indoor and outdoor ranges. We will have instructors on hand and firearms available to shoot including shotguns, hunting rifles, 22LR rifles, black powder rifles and 22LR pistols. Children under 18 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Registration will start at 9 a.m. The grill will be fired up and cold drinks will be available. Safety gear will be provided.

The range is located at 431 Main Street in Damariscotta (next to Damariscotta Hardware).

Please visit www.lincolncountyrifleclub.com for more information or call Ted Derivan at 207-790-0171.

Despite a few rain showers, dozens of people showed up to enjoy the second annual Family Fun Carnival at Hodgdon Green in Damariscotta.

The festivities included games, food and vendor booths, and an enormous bounce house and slide for kids to play on, (though many adults couldn't resist getting in on the fun).

The entire carnival was put together by Hodgdon Green Activities Coordinator and CRMA Amylynn Balsdon of Boothbay, with help on the day of from many volunteers.

“Set up started around 7:30 a.m.,” Balsdon said. “I'd been working on the games for the last month or so, and am really happy with how they turned out.”

The games Balsdon was referring to were crafted by her out of cardboard and a lot of ingenuity. They included a bean bag toss, key guessing game, and “fat cats” to name just a few. In “fat cats,” pictures are taped to small bottles of water which the player attempts to knock over with a ball.

Players could play as many games as they wanted for free with admittance, and earned tickets which they could exchange for prizes.

Volunteers included Gayle Webber, Andrea Handel, Dan and Claire Mocarsky, Elijah Curtis, Kerry Genthner, Amy Harrington, Laurie and Dennis Robbins, Janet Smeltzer, Trish Sproul, Linda Brewer, Barbara Waldo, Chester Brewer, Angela Eastman, Chelsea Copeland, Donna Gregory and Kristie Gregory. A local singer and guitarist, Kathy Nordone, donated an hour of her time to play for the carnival.

Business sponsors for the carnival included Midcoast Energy, Damariscotta Bank and Trust, Bath Savings, The First National bank, Strong-Hancock Funeral Home and First Federal Savings.

“I'm lucky I have any hair left after this month,” Balsdon said. “I was pulling it out trying to make everything work, but it all came together in the end thanks to hard work, lots of help and a bit of luck.”

The Coastal Humane Society will be holding its 10th anniversary Paws for a Cause 5k and 1-mile walk/parade on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Join Coastal Humane Society and animal lovers from all over for this fun and exciting event that supports and celebrates shelter animals.

Now in its 10th year, Paws for a Cause raises money and awareness for homeless and neglected animals along Maine's Midcoast. Four-legged family members are encouraged to participate, so bring along friends, family and your pooch in this event for everyone at any level.

The 5k kicks off at 8 a.m. in scenic Freeport at Memorial Park (the corner of Bow and Park), and is followed by a one-mile walk at Discovery Park, L.L. Bean (10 a.m.) for those interested in a shorter route with their canine companions. Teams are highly encouraged, and the team with the greatest show of team spirit will take home the prestigious Silver Dog Bowl.

Shelter animals depend on help from our community for their medicine, shelter, food and care. They need you and your friends to make the difference in their lives. Coastal cares for 2,500 dogs, cats, rabbits and small animals per year.

Every registrant gets a free T-shirt and if you raise $100 or more for Coastal animals, you will receive a free gift card to L.L. Bean, up to $100 in value, courtesy L.L. Bean.

Stick around for Dog Contests, including Best Barker, Best Tail-Wagger, Best Dressed, Best Kisser, and Best Pet/Owner Look Alike (for those that registered for the 5k or 1-Mile), and for L.L. Bean's annual summer festival, The Dog Days of August, featuring demonstrations, vendors, and plenty of other canine fun.

Register online at: www.coastalhumanesociety.org/paws.

Damariscotta had a look at its potential future Wednesday, July 29.

Although nothing has yet been decided, the board of selectmen, along with business owners and town officials, met with Brett Ruhmann, regional sales manager for Cale America on Wednesday, July 29 to discuss some of the possibilities for pay-for-parking.

Town Manager Matt Lutkus said the Wednesday meeting, which featured Ruhmann showing an example of a pay-for-parking meter, did not mean the town was getting ready to implement seasonal pay-for-parking.

“This isn't a policy meeting — we're not here today to discuss if we want pay-for-parking or not,” Lutkus said. “In Mid-September we will have a meeting with the Twin Villages Alliance to discuss policy. Today we are just here to discuss the technologies that are available.”

The town has recently started discussing the potential revenue that could be generated if it were to add pay-for-parking in the large municipal parking lot that looks out over the harbor.

During its May 20 meeting, the board brought up the possibility of considering pay-for-parking in the municipal lot. The money that would be raised from the paid parking would then be used to rebuild the lot.

Damariscotta has been considering paid parking since May 2013, when it used an ASK grant to fund a study by the University of Southern Maine.

That report found that despite business push-back, the paid-for parking plan would increase the town's revenues.

One of the issues raised by the USM report was that a paid lot would likely increase the number of cars on Main Street, as drivers would likely seek free parking.

One of the upsides, as related in the USM report and by Ruhmann, was that the paid parking could increase the amount of turnover in the lot, as people would be less likely to stay for the full three hours if they were being charged for it.

“You can even adjust it so (the allowable hours) are shorter during the day to increase turnover then make it longer at 5, 6 p.m. when people are coming to the restaurants,” he said. “There's a lot of flexibility.”

After the initial plan was floated the town hosted an open house in 2013. During that meeting several business owners and residents voiced their displeasure with the idea of adding a paid lot. One of the complaints at that meeting was that motorists and tourists would decide to drive to other coastal towns instead of paying for parking.

Shortly afterward, the pay-for-parking plan was shelved and the waterfront committee was formed to come up with ideas. One of the ideas was to raise funds like the town was able to do for Skidompha Library.

Since the open house, the price tag for the project has increased. Just restructuring the lot to fix drainage and pipe deficiencies and to enhance its flood resiliency is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $1 million. From there, other proposals have included making the boardwalk resemble the Herald, which is one of the town's famous ships from its boat building days, complete with public bathrooms and pedestrian walkways.

The lot will need to be rebuilt, however, as sink holes and large puddles have started forming in recent years. Like most of downtown Damariscotta, the lot is also in a high-risk flooding zone, which will eventually affect the downtown business owners' insurance rates.

Ruhmann said the Cale system is found along the Maine coast in places like Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Portland, and potentially Wells Beach. It is also currently used in Hampton Beach, Portsmouth and Durham, New Hampshire.

One of the issues Ruhmann stressed was safety; if the parking is tracked via license plate, the town will know who is coming into the town. But, Damariscotta Police Chief Ron Young said the parking enforcement officers already know, as they record the license plate of every car in violation.

Young said he was against getting rid of human eyes in the parking lot.

“If you're looking to replace parking (enforcement officers), you can't,” he said.

Ruhmann said other towns have used “parking ambassadors” to greet people when they come into the lot.

“Parking should be friendly, not free,” he said.

Ruhmann said the parking meters would cost between $7,000 to $7,200 without cash capability and $9,000 to $9,200 with the ability to take paper money.

“(Paper money) is the number one service issue we get called for,” he said. “Nowadays, 70 to 80 percent of transactions are done with a debit or credit card.”

Another issue raised was what to do with the locals. Since the first open house meeting about the parking lots, it was agreed that if the town was going to implement a pay-for-parking structure, then Damariscotta residents and potentially taxpayers should be allowed free or reduced-price parking.

One suggestion floated Wednesday was to give people a card they could swipe at the machines or a sticker to put on their windshield when they register their cars. One issue raised at the Wednesday meeting was what to do when a Damariscotta resident exceeds the three-hour limit.

Mike McDermott and Brady-Anne Campbell, both from Bath, were this year’s winners in the Bob Meade 10k road race held in Woolwich Saturday.

McDermott crossed the finish line with a time of 46:50. Close on his heels was Adam Snell of Brunswick finishing second, 49:07 and Duane Hinds of Bath was third, 49:57.

Other results in the men’s completion included Darius Doak of Woolwich fourth, 51:22; Tim Sickel, Bowdoin fifth, 51:43; Dominic Maccio of Woolwich seventh, 52:12; and Philip Ingle of Harpswell ninth, 1:06:52.

In the women’s competition, Campbell’s winning time was 51:55. Sandy Carleton of Woolwich finished second and eighth overall among all competitors. Her time was 1:00:03.

Sabra Lorrimer, age 7 of Woolwich, repeated as this year’s winner of the 1 Mile Fun Run. She crossed the finish line in 12:03 beating her own winning time from last year by nearly 3 minutes.

Race director Hans van Willigen expressed his thanks on behalf of all the participants to the Woolwich EMS and fire department for their assistance. He also thanked volunteers Rika van Willigan, Jon Biehler and Karin Sadtler.

Both races started and finished at the Woolwich Municipal Building. The annual race kicks off Woolwich Day and benefits the town’s recreation committee. 

Less than a mile down Gardiner Road off Route 1 in Wiscasset, you will find the Morris Farm. Started in 1994, the Morris Farm is one of the last operational farms in the area that acts as both a working farm and a valuable educational resource.

During the summer months, kids ages 4 to 11 can attend Farm Camp there. It takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with two-day, three-day, and week-long options for families. Farm Camp was first started in 2005 at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth, and came to the Morris Farm in 2009.

Morris Farm's Farm Camp is about more than petting cute animals and playing tag in the fields, though campers do a lot of that. It's about teaching the next generation about the importance of farming and gardening, respect for nature, and “hands-in-the-dirt-fun,” according to camp counselor Sam Chandler.

“We do chores every day, that's really getting into the vibe of a farm,” he said. “We do whatever we can do to teach them about gardening. The animals are usually more interesting, they're more into that, so we do as much as we can help with the animals. Occasionally we might clean a pen.”

The campers who attended the last week in July learned about sprouting alfalfa sprouts before planting, tended the camp garden, and collected eggs from the chickens. They took walks in the trails behind the farm, which extend over 10 acres and connect to the Wiscasset Town Trails. They learned about music from Chandler, who plays both the piano and guitar, and created a puppet show of “Charlotte's Web.” They also spent a lot of time just running around outside and having fun climbing on the wrapped hay bales, known as marshmallows.

“I like everything about camp,” said 6-year-old camper Micaela Royal. “I like taking trips in the woods and learning about the trees and edible stuff.”

“I really like the pigs,” said 7-year-old camper Caleb Longbottom. “I like them cause they're cute and not scary at all.”

“I like going to the Yurt,” Caleb's older brother, 9-year-old Micah Longbottom, said. The Yurt is a semi-permanent structure located on the back trails. “I like the chickens too, and making tie dye.”

“The woods are fun,” said 13-year-old junior counselor helper Will Rankin. “It's a great place to make forts.”

“The pigs are great,” said 9-year-old camper Mason Mowry.

“He started going to camp when he was 4,” said Mason's mother, Brae Mowry. “He's loved it every single year.”

“Whatever kind of farming, growing, back to nature thing we can do with the kids, that's what we'll do,” Chandler said. “We go out in the woods and have outdoor adventures.

“We focus on having nature be the playground as opposed to the iPad and all that stuff,” Chandler said.

There is also a Junior Counselor Volunteer Program, which is free for ages 13 to 16. Junior Counselors aged 15 and 16 get paid for their time, at a rate of $100 per week.

Farm Camp goes until Aug. 21. Contact Jeanine Bischoff at 207-518-3427 for more information.

The popular Tour de Farms bike ride, which begins at Morris Farm in Wiscasset and continues through the scenic farmland of Midcoast Maine, is back for its 16th year on Sunday, Aug. 16. Pedal 20, 50, or 100 miles through beautiful farmlands, stopping to visit local organic farms. Purchase local produce and your goods will be couriered back to the Morris Farm for your pickup.

Ride with yourself, friends, or family and conclude your ride with the best ride food in Maine at our local foods barbecue.

Registration fee is $50 plus a minimum pledge of $25 for 50-mile and 100-mile ride and is $25 plus minimum $25 pledge for 20-mile ride. It includes breakfast, maps and cue sheets, snacks and drinks at rest stops, courier service for farmstand purchases, and our local foods barbecue.

Support the Morris Farm for another 20 years by joining our 20th Anniversary Challenge and collecting as many $20 pledges as you can. For more information and registration, visit www.morrisfarm.org. 

Now is the time to start practicing your best rowing and paddling skills for the 22nd annual Southport Rowgatta on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8:30 a.m.

Propelling any person-powered craft that is both seaworthy and safe (rowboat, kayak, shell, SUP, canoe, etc.), participants start the 12 nautical-mile course at the Newagen Town Landing — traveling to checkpoints at Cozy Harbor and Robinson’s Wharf before heading back to Newagen.

Sponsored by the Boothbay Region YMCA and co-chaired by Abby Jones and Andy Hamblett, the event is a Southport tradition launched by third-generation Southporter Susan Quinby in 1994. Bringing paddlers young and old together from near and far — and with an exciting and fun array of prizes awarded — the Rowgatta guarantees a good time for spectators and participants alike.

Paddlers may enter as either individuals or in teams of up to six members — with registration forms available at the YMCA front desk ($40/person prior to Aug. 15; $45/person on event day).

For further information or to serve as an event volunteer, please call Abby Jones at 207-633-2855 — and we look forward to seeing you on Southport on Aug. 15.

There's a place over the harbor in Wiscasset to get a good lobster roll, a lobster dinner, or other seafood delicacies, that sometimes gets passed by because of a popular spot across the road.

But the owner of Sprague’s Lobster, Frank Sprague, said he harbors no hard feelings. “There's plenty of business for both of us, and Sarah's (Cafe).”

Sprague said he and his wife and partner in the business, Linda, often walk across the road and eat at Red's Eats themselves. The two met in 1962 while both were working at Dodge Inn (where the Sheepscot Harbour Resort is now).

There are several picnic tables with umbrellas on the wharf at Sprague’s, and because of its proximity to the Sheepscot River, there is usually a cool breeze. Business is somewhat dependent on good weather, and at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, the sun had just come out after a brief downpour. There was a rainbow over the harbor and B.B. King music was flowing out over the wharf where several people were enjoying clam chowder and lobster rolls.

“We usually have blues, jazz or zydeco playing,” Sprague said. “People love the music.”

The stand opens at 11 a.m., but Sprague said he and Judy are usually there by 7 a.m. to start heating up the huge lobster pot full of water. If someone shows up early looking for some food, he doesn’t turn them away, he said.

“Sometimes someone will come at 10 a.m. wanting a lobster roll,” he said. “So we’ll fire up the grill for the roll. A grilled roll is a big part of the equation.”

The gigantic lobster pot can accommodate around 40 lobsters at a time. “We have people who order 60 or 70 to take home,” he said.

Sprague's Lobster has been on the wharf in Wiscasset for 27 years. The business has been at the present location for 17 years, and was on another dock a little further out for another 10, but Sprague said he has been in the business of cooking seafood for much longer.

“We started out doing catering and clambakes in 1975,” he said. “We've done some bakes where we've cooked a thousand lobsters at a time.”

There are two stands at Sprague’s. One is for cooking the lobsters, crabs and mussels, and the other is where the rolls are grilled, and where all the sandwiches, fries and all other items are prepared. There is also an ice cream take-out window, featuring Gifford's ice cream.

One of the menu items that Sprague said is unique to the stand is the complete “lobster bake” dinner: ­ lobster, steamed clams, corn on the cob, cole slaw and a roll with butter.

“We also have steamed rock crabs, something you can't find at other places,” he said.

Other menu items include fresh cut french fries, baked or fried haddock sandwiches, fish & chips (haddock), and crab and clam cakes. And for anyone wishing to forgo the seafood route, the hamburger is substantial, and the beef is fresh ground from a local market.

Sprague laments the lack of Maine shrimp, which has not been fished in the last two years. “We would normally have a shrimp and haddock chowder, which has been one of our biggest sellers over the years.”

Atlantic Edge in Boothbay Harbor supplies most of Sprague's lobster meat.

“We'd have to cook a lot of lobsters a day to pick our own,” Sprague said. “To get 100 pounds of meat you'd have to cook 600 lobsters.”

Sprague's son, Nate, daughter Alicia, and two granddaughters help out at the business.

Sprague said it’s been a good summer for eating establishments in Wiscasset.

“There is a lot of food consumed in this little triangle, Red's, Sarah's and here.”

Sprague's opens mid-May and closes around the third week in October. You'd think that after a busy summer, the Spragues might want to head south for a little rest and relaxation.

But Sprague said he has a few other things that need doing in the area.

“We do some catering, and I go elver fishing in Newcastle. I've had a license since 1970. I'm one of the oldest elver fishermen holding a license. We held six licenses within my immediate family.”

Sprague’s Lobster is located at  22 Main Street, Wiscasset. Call 207-882-1236.

Bristol’s storied past will come alive during the 63rd annual Olde Bristol Days, when the town will celebrate its sestercentennial.

Bristol became a town on June 21, 1765. As early as 1625, the English established at Pemaquid Point a year-round trading post for fur trading. In 1631, the area was granted as the Pemaquid Patent by the Plymouth Council to Robert Aldsworth and Gyles Elbridge, merchants from Bristol, England.

Music will run the gamut from jazz to country to rock, swing and R&B, blues and funk at Colonial Pemaquid by the Best of Times Jazz Quintet, Pete Collins Band, Dyer Neck Gang, The Delta Knights Band, Southbound Outlaws, and Az Iz Band (Pemaquid Beach).

A chicken BBQ, craft show/fair, vintage car show, Colonial Pemaquid Artifacts Road Show; spinning and carding demos by Ruit Farms North and Maine Fiber Arts; a model lobster boat race, Wind Over Wings shows (Aug. 15 at 1 and 2:30 p.m.); rock ‘n’ roll racing, fireworks, lobster boat races (the life-sized models!); and silhouette and caricature artist.

For the kids, there will be games at Colonial Pemaquid, face painting, a petting zoo with pony rides, and a bouncy house at Pemaquid Beach Park.

Visit www.oldebristoldays.org for a complete listing of events, dates and times.

The fall sports parent meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, in the Wiscasset Middle High School Cafeteria.

All parents who have a child or children participating in a high school fall sport are encouraged to attend.

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Nate Stubbert will be on hand to meet with parents.

When the alarm went off at 3 a.m. I thought it was a fire call and jumped out of bed and into my Husqvarna, not-up-to-code, pseudo-fireboots and headed for the door, forgetting to put on my pants.

Mostly, the only time I get up at that hour is to go to the bathroom. But in this case, the alarm was set for 3 a.m. to “go lobsterin.”

Sunrise is quite early this time of year, and I wanted to be on the water for it, photographically.

I made it, but 3 a.m. is not for sissies! Little traffic though, that was nice.

We left the dock on the east side before 4 a.m. Got bait from Rob Begin and crew and headed out to traps fairly close by. Not many “bugs” coming up on the first hauls, but the captain said that would change. It did.

The sun was beginning to show.

“Kind of punky sunrise,” our captain said. There was glob of scud (college meteorology speak!) on the horizon with a fairly solid bank of clouds just above.

It didn't look promising, but hey, at 4 in the morning, if the sky had been chartreuse with electric butterflies, I may not have noticed. My eyes were slowly adjusting — thank goodness for auto-focus cameras (did I say that?!).

As the day brightened, I noticed many local boats working along the shore. Since I'm not usually up at that hour, let alone on the water, it was nice to see. In many cases these boats were tied up at docks when I'd see them during the day. They are a hard working bunch.

When the sun finally began to show up through the clouds, we were out around Mouse Island and traps were becoming more productive. I tried to stay out of the way and watch as the boat worked — perfectly synchronized and very efficient.

Made me think differently about our occasional lobster feasts.

I got dropped back at the dock just in time to head home for a nap.

For anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary to do while visiting Boothbay Harbor, Cabbage Island Clambakes is a destination that defies the mundane.

On Aug. 6, the Bennie Alice, named for the matriarch of the Moore family, owners of Cabbage Island and the clambake business, was filled to capacity with 175 passengers as it left the dock in Boothbay Harbor.

The boat transports customers to Cabbage Island for an authentic Maine clambake. The boat's captain, Philip Jermain, gave a brief talk about Coast Guard safety regulations, then headed out of the harbor, pointing out things and places of interest, including islands, lighthouses, seals and porpoises.

The day was perfect, weather-wise, with a sunny bluebird sky and a cool, dry breeze. Around 35 passengers chose to be on the foredeck to get the full experience of being out on the water. There is a bar on the boat, and several people were sipping beers or mixed drinks and chatting amicably.

After a relaxing cruise around the outer harbor, the Bennie Alice headed up into Linekin Bay toward Cabbage Island.

Upon arrival at the island, Wayne and Bob Moore, sons of Bennie Alice, were waiting at the dock to tie the boat up and greet each and every passenger as they alighted.

Patrons were then free to wander around the 5 ½ acre island and claim their favorite picnic tables for their feast. They could also opt to enjoy their meal inside the island lodge or on the wraparound deck. There is enough space in the lodge to accommodate all 175 possible daily patrons, and a large fireplace for heat and ambiance on cooler or wet days.

Two men were chopping wood and stoking the fire that was already cooking the main attraction: a feast of lobsters, steamed clams, corn on the cob, onions and potatoes and, of course, an egg. Steam was rising from tarpaulin covered food as it cooked over hot rocks and seaweed. Anthony Brewer, an eight year veteran, was doing the cooking, and Greg Miller, a Moore family member, was chopping wood.

Once patrons were settled, servers brought steaming hot bowls of fish chowder with bags of oyster crackers. It had a 'thin’ base of milk, as opposed to the thick chowder served in many restaurants, and tiny pieces of fried salt pork — a requirement of any real Maine chowder.

Then the hungry crowd formed a line and headed down to the open air “kitchen” to receive their trays of hot, steaming lobsters (two each) and the accompaniments. Time seemed to slow down as people savored the hot food. There's something about a clambake on an island, on a perfect, sunny Maine August day that makes for a feeling of restful contentment.

Among the clambake revelers on Aug. 6 were attendees of a “merged family” reunion of 15, from all over the country; a group of around 27 Penobscot Indians from the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation near Old Town, who make an annual trek to Cabbage island; and a group of 11 Pine State customers brought along by Pine State executive, Bob Morin, who had already made the trip four times in the past week.

“We bring a lot of our customers out as a thank you,” Morin said.

A family from Chicago, originally from Ukraine, was there experiencing Maine for the first time; and there were over 100 others from all over Maine and the country.

Nancy and Chris Sprute had come to Maine for the first time from Anaheim, California, for a two-week vacation. Nancy had surprised Chris with a planned itinerary, including a Cabbage Island Clambake.

It has been a busy summer at Cabbage Island. The Moore brothers said most of their trips are sold out, from the third week in June to the weekend after Labor Day.

Wayne Moore said that a lot of their customers come from nearby. “The core of our business is from Maine, but it's beginning to change a little. TripAdvisor (a website that posts reviews of businesses) has been huge for us. People from away are seeing us on TripAdvisor, and that's been a great help to us.”

“We're getting people from all over now,” Bob Moore said. “We used to get 90 percent from Maine, now it's more like 75 percent.”

The Moore family has been running the business since 1989. Bennie Alice mans the gift shop on the island, while Wayne and Bob act as very accommodating hosts, answering questions and doing all in their power to keep customers happy.

Call 207-633-7200 for reservations.

Fans thronged the grandstands at Wiscasset Speedway to see the annual Boss Hogg 100 Prostock race. The day was warm and sunny, and turned into a balmy evening under the bright lights of Wiscasset.  There were 21 Prostocks that competed for a purse that was nearly $8,000. The group one division of racing action was also on the schedule, including New England Four Cylinder Prostock, Napa Super Street, and Thunder Four Mini’s.

The Boss Hogg 100 lap Prostock race was the highlight of the evening. Starting on the pole was the #01 of Andy Saunders. To his right was the #47 of Kelly Moore. Behind in third was the #96 of Wyatt Alexander. When green flag racing began, the cars roared across the start line to the cheering of the gathered fans. 

There was an early caution during lap four when the #14 of Josh St. Clair spun on the track and collected the #13 of Nathan Tribbet. Tribbet was towed off the track, but Josh St. Clair was able to return to racing action. On the restart, Alexander was able to pass Moore for second. During lap six, the #15X of Scott Chubbuck passed Moore for third. 

A red flag caution was called during lap eight when the #5 of Joe Morrey lost fuel. Alexander swerved up the track to avoid it on turn two, causing cars behind him to check up. The #1 of Jeff Burgess and the #19 of John Rideout went into the wall and the #05R of Phillip Richardson got tire damage. The #15 of Nick Hinkley also got some damage. Burgess never made it back onto the track, but after a trip to the pits, Hinkley, Rideout, and Richardson were back on the track. 

On the lap of the restart, the #29 of Kevin Morse and the #14X of Dave St. Clair got together on turn two, bringing out the yellow. When action resumed on the track, Alexander did not have a good start and Chubbuck passed him for second. The #51 of John Peters also passed Alexander and took third. The three early cautions behind them, the cars had a long period of green flag racing. Despite the cautions, Saunders was able to keep ahead and not lose position. 

There was a lot of action in the pack, but there was no top three leader change until lap 30, when Moore passed Peters for third. Peters fell back over the next few laps, and headed to the pit during lap fifty-one. Chubbuck attempted to pass Saunders for the lead, but couldn’t complete a pass, and once again fell in behind him. 

Everything changed during lap 70. There were only seven cars on the lead lap at this point of the race. The race for sixth place became heated, the #56 of Evan Beaulieu and the #16 of Vinnie Miller got into a tangle on turn one bringing out a caution. On the restart, Chubbuck shot ahead, but a determined Saunders didn’t give up easily. Door to door racing ensued, and contact was made between the pair coming out of turn three. Chubbuck went into a spin, causing Saunders to spin out of the way to avoid him. That was the final caution of the race. Chubbuck headed to the pits, but was soon back on the track. 

There was a new running order because Moore and the #05 of James Osmond, both in the top five, headed to the pits during the caution. Alexander took the lead. Miller advanced to second. Saunders moved to third. Chubbuck moved to fourth. Beaulieu, who had come back onto the track, was in fifth. The green flag saw a lot of action, with all cars vying to get ahead. Chubbuck pulled to the side of Saunders on lap 90, and was able to complete the pass during lap 92 for third. The battle for second and third, and the position of lapped traffic allowed Alexander to gain a commanding lead. Alexander made his first career Prostock win at the age of 15, taking the checkered. Miller placed second. Rounding out the top three was Chubbuck. 

The Hard Charger award, given to the driver who advanced the most positions during the race went to Vinnie Miller, who advanced 12 positions from his 14th place start. He won an A&R Bodies gift certificate valued at $500. The half-way leader, Andy Saunders, won a $300 gift certificate from Kennebec Equipment Rentals, and a graphics package from Code 99 Designs. Cash was awarded to all who competed in the race. There was an additional $25 given to the race leader for each lap led during the race. The first place winner also received an additional $500.

“It was pretty spectacular to win, one of those hard to describe moments,” Alexander said. “When I was riding in fifth, I didn’t think I had it for Saunders or any of the other guys. But, I knew if I kept my head on straight and was patient, something might come my way.”

In other racing action were the New England Four Cylinder Prostock division, competing in a 25 lap feature; a 25-lap NAPA Super Street feature that was action packed; and a 20-lap Thunder Four Mini feature was the next crowd-pleaser.

Wiscasset Speedway resumes racing action Sunday, June 20. 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. Pit admission is $20. Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. For more information, go to www.wiscassetspeedway.com. 

Official results

NEW ENGLAND FOUR CYLINDER PROSTOCK (25 LAPS)

*Finish Unofficial, pending engine inspection

1. #0 Alex Waltz, Walpole
2. #98 Kamren Knowles, West Gardiner
3. #27 Jacob Hendsbee, Whitefield
4. #24 Jeff Prindall, Lisbon Falls
5. #8 Craig Dunn, Strong
6. #5 Cody Billings, Hartford
7. #9X Brooke Knowles, West Gardiner
8. #14 Bob Patten, Westbrook
9. #55 John Shorey, Alna
10. #99 Cameron Folsom, Augusta
11. #54 Cam Corbine, Farmingdale
12. #4 Conner Wenners, Edgecomb
13. #15 Tyler Bailey, Wiscasset
14. #42 Mike Kibbin, South China

NAPA SUPER STREET (25 LAPS)

1. #38 Dan Trask, Chelsea
2. #5 Mark Lucas, Harpswell
3. #1 Adam Chadbourne, Woolwich
4. #85 Kenny Harrison, Durham
5. #25 Brad Bellows, China
6. #2 Josh Bailey, Wiscasset
7. #13 David Doherty, Green
8. #06 Zac Poland, Woolwich
9. #88 Jamie Norton, Farmingdale
10. #23 Brandon Sprague, Edgecomb
11. #02 Jason Curtis, Hollis
12. #32 Tasha Dyer, Arrowsic
13. #12 David Patten, Westbrook

THUNDER FOUR MINI’S (20 LAPS)

1. #19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan
2. #54 Noah Haggett, Wiscasset
3. #4J Joe Katula, Lisbon
4. #31 Leandra Martin, Richmond
5. #04 Curtis Anderson, Richmond
6. #44 David Cook, Livermore
7. #48 Michael Harrison, Durham
8. #1X Derek McKeen, Windham
9. #74 Aaron Sevigny, Windsor
10. #68 Jeff Minchin Jr, Pittston
11. #26 Michael Golding, Pownal
12. #55 Craig Pyy, Gorham
13. #58 David Greenleaf, Brunswick
14. #11 Kyle Dorey, Bowdoinham
15. #113 Cody Tribbet, Richmond
16. #4 Nate McWilliams, Lisbon

BOSS HOGG 100 (PROSTOCK 100 LAP RACE)

1. #96 Wyatt Alexander, Ellsworth
2. #16 Vinnie Miller, Moorseville, NC
3. #15X Scott Chubbuck, Bowdoin
4. #01 Andy Saunders, Ellsworth
5. #56 Evan Beaulieu, Durham
6. #14X Dave St Clair, Liberty
7. #14 Josh St Clair, Liberty
8. #19 John Rideout, Washington
9. #47 Kelly Moore, Scarborough
10. #72 Charlie Colby, Edgecomb
11. #88X Westley Turner, Freedom
12. #05 James Osmond, Wiscasset
13. #05R Phillip Richardson, Hermon
14. #51 John Peters, Westbrook
15. #15 Nick Hinkley, Wiscasset
16. #99 Ajay Picard, Palmyra
17. #1 Jeff Burgess, Fairfield
18. #29 Kevin Morse, Woolwich
19. #5 Joe Morrey, Lisbon
20. #13 Nathan Tribbet, Richmond

DNS #32 Mike Orr

Come out and celebrate the first anniversary of the new Marr’s Ridge Trail on the Hunt’s Meadow Road in North Whitefield on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

The trail was the first project of a group of Whitefield citizens, helped by Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, which holds a conservation easement on the property belonging to landowner Sandy Benne.

The Whitefield Trails Committee will offer two hikes. One is a short nature walk (1.6 miles round-trip) on the pathway up to the overlook with its impressive granite tower. Expect to see many ferns, lichens, fall wildflowers and evidence of critters. The other walk is a four-mile loop walked at a brisk pace into the back of the property where walkers will see cellar holes, old stone walls and even a porcupine “hotel.” Part of the back loop has been recently rerouted to enjoy more of the diversity of the woods.

The trailhead is on the center section of the Hunt’s Meadow Road in North Whitefield. From the West, follow Route 126 east from the Gardiner bridge for six miles to the intersection with Hunt’s Meadow Road. Turn left and continue one-and-a-half miles on Hunt’s Meadow Road to the trailhead and parking on your left. From the east, take Route 126 west from Damariscotta Lake for 7.3 miles to the Cooper Road which bears right opposite St. Denis Church. Go north on the Cooper Road for 1.8 miles and turn left onto Hunt’s Meadow Road. Go .7 miles to the trailhead and parking lot on your right.

For more information contact Kit Pfeiffer at 207-549-7572 or kit_pfeiffer@yahoo.com.

The art of plein air painting has beckoned artists outdoors with paints, palettes, and canvas to capture a scene or a place as they see, and experience it, for centuries.

And it is a form of painting that has carried on into the 21st century, including artists in the Boothbay region, some of whom paint no other way.

This year's annual Harbor Fest, a celebration of the scenic beauty “that enhances the lifestyle, livelihood and spirit” of the Boothbay region, will include a new multi-day event, A Stroke of Art.

Mary Phelps, gallery owner at COCO VIVO in Boothbay Harbor and plein air painter and member of the Oil Painters of America, Corinne McIntyre (Ocean Point Studio/Visions of Maine in East Boothbay), collaborated with Harbor Fest organizer Lori Reynolds to bring the Plein Air Painters of the South East and the Plein Air Painters of Maine together for a major art happening Sept. 7-14.

Local artists, unaffiliated with either group, who are interested in painting at any of the locations are welcome to do so. Just check in at COCO VIVO between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. to find out what's going on and where. COCO VIVO is located at 129 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor. Stop by or call 207-633-0671.

A Stroke of Art painting locations begin at Harborfields Waterfront Vacation Cottages, on McKown Point Road in West Boothbay Harbor, on Monday, Sept. 7. Harborfields' barn is the event gallery.

“We liked the idea of a barn for a gallery,” Phelps said. “It's an organic venue for the art produced during this even. And the location is absolutely beautiful. One artist who is attending said all of the painting could have been done just from Harborfields.”

The locations

Plein air painters will gather at the historic 1,000 foot footbridge on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Paintings created this day, between noon and 4 p.m. (a quick draw!), will be displayed on a wet wall at Andrews' Harborside restaurant. The works will be included in a silent auction, and there will be a reception with hors d'oeuvres. The public is invited to attend.

Phelps noted that all merchants can display paintings from a day's creative work on a wet wall in their business.

“We are calling it merchant pairing,” Phelps said. “If a painting is sold, 30 percent of the sale goes to the business owner, 10 percent to Harbor Fest, and 60 percent to the artist.”

Great Paint Out

An added bonus: the Oil Painters of America (OPA) national event, the Great Paint Out, is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Grimes Cove at Ocean Point. The rain date for this event is Sept. 23. Since 2005, OPA has held national plein air paint outs for members and nonmembers. This event has typically drawn 30-50 plein air painters from PAPME and PAPSE, and other artists across the U.S. to this dazzling East Boothbay destination.

Because this is an OPA event, there is no charge to participate. Painting will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. An art show and sale, featuring one framed painting per artist, will be held at the Spruce Point Inn in Boothbay Harbor from 5-7 p.m.

The addition of the Great Paint Out, usually held at this time of year in the Boothbay region, to be included in Harbor Fest, is a win-win for painters and art lovers alike!

Locations, locations, locations

The Farmers Market is the venue on Thursday, Sept. 10. The market, held at the Boothbay Common in Boothbay should be a feast for the artistic senses. This is a quick draw event: artists will work from 10 a.m. to noon.

From 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, an optional event for artists is participation in the Rocktide Inn's Paint & Pour, at which artists work with art enthusiasts trying their hands (and imaginations) at creating a work of art. This is a ticketed event followed by a happy hour on the sea deck — with music.

Friday, Sept. 11 will find the artists at Fishermen's Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue, across from Our Lady Queen of Peace church, and/or locations of each artist's choice for the day. An art show and sale follows at Harborfield's where Boothbay Craft Brewery will hold a Harbor Fest Ale tasting to compliment local eats. The public is invited to attend this event.

A Stroke of Art Quick Draw, an optional event, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the Rocktide Inn during Harbor Fest's Fishin' For Fashion. Artists will draw the models, human canvases if you will, of the fine local threads to be found in the region.

The First Annual Stroke of Art Grand Finale/Meet the Artists Collector's Brunch on Sunday, Sept. 13 will be held at Harborfields from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event will be catered by Ralph Smith of Mine Oyster and the Boathouse Bistro. Over 100 paintings completed during the week (not already sold!) will be for sale. Tickets are $50 per person and include brunch (with music by jazz/blues band the Downeast Soul Coalition) and a $50 credit toward the purchase of any piece of art on display.

Sounds like quite a week —  and this is just the latest event added to the Harbor Fest calendar! For a complete list of Harbor Fest events, including A Stroke of Art, visit www.boothbayharborfest.com.

The weather looks like it will be great for the 11th annual Westport Island Shore Run Road Race, “Maine’s Best Little 10K Road Race,” taking place on Sunday, Aug. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. on bridge-accessible Westport Island.

Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s await the runners and walkers for the 11th running of this event. The race benefits the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department, whose members directed traffic and provided logistical support at the race. For more information on the race, and to register online, go to www.westportisland.org. Race day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 16.

Thanks to our 2015 sponsors: Maine Yankee; Hodgdon Yacht Services; Ames True Value Supply on Route 1; Sheepscot River Marine Service; Abbott, Incorporated; Wiscasset Ford; Newcastle Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Bath Savings Bank; Norm's Used Cars and Trucks; Sharon Drake Real Estate of Bath; the Hampton Inn of Bath; Road ID; Westport Island Community Association; and First Federal Savings Bank.

This year, the 11th annual Westport Island Shore Run 10k Road Race coincides with the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Westport Island Community Association, which takes place after the race on Sunday, Aug. 16, in the afternoon beginning at 2 p.m., at the Old Town Hall and Community Church on the Main Road.

Kefauver Studio & Gallery is the venue for the 2_^nd annual Guests on the Lawn Friday, Aug. 14, through Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Featured artists are Kim Traina of Edgecomb and Polly Steadman of Damariscotta. An artist's reception will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 4-7 p.m.

See the work of Traina and Steadman, as well as new works by the artists represented at Kefauver, located at 144 Bristol Road in Damariscotta.

Art will be under the tent while the painting of new work is happening on the lawn.

For more information, call the gallery at 207-226-0974.

The weather was beautiful for the 11th annual Westport Island Shore Run Road Race, “Maine’s Best Little 10K Road Race,” that took place on Sunday, Aug. 16, on bridge-accessible Westport Island. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s greeted the large contingent of runners and walkers for the 11th running of this event. The race benefited the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department.

Joe Molvar of Newburyport, Massachusetts, was the overall first place male; Chase Hughes of Westport Island, who was last year's overall male top finisher, was the second place male; Lisandro Berry-Gavi, also of Westport Island, was the overall third place male.

Sarah Beazley of Harpswell was the overall first place female; Julia Merton of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, was the overall second place female; and Isabelle Dunning of Dedham, Massachusetts, was the overall third place female.

Molvar set a new course record for a male runner, covering the course in the blazing time of 37:25, beating the previous course record set in 2011 by 18 seconds! He will receive a Target gift card for his achievement.

Special thanks to our 2015 sponsors: Maine Yankee; Hodgdon Yacht Services; Sheepscot River Marine Service; Ames True Value Supply on Route 1; Abbott, Incorporated; Wiscasset Ford; Newcastle Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Bath Savings Bank; Norm's Used Cars and Trucks; Sharon Drake Real Estate of Bath; the Hampton Inn of Bath; Road ID; Westport Community Association; and First Federal Savings Bank.

Thanks also to our race volunteers Mike Kraynak and Robin Axelrad, to Jim McCorkle of 5K Sports Race Management, our timer, and to the Westport Island Volunteer Fire Department members, who provided traffic control.

Walter Gorneau of Wiscasset was awarded the second annual Bob White Award at the first of the season meeting of the Mid-Coast Board of Approved Soccer Officials (MCBASO) on Monday, Aug. 17.

Gorneau has been officiating high school games for 48 years and college games for 44. He was a teacher of health, physical education and drivers education for 12 years in Boothbay and 19 years In Wiscasset. He also continues to officiate basketball and baseball games.

“Bob White, Rod Spearin, and I started MASO (Maine Association of Soccer Officials),” said Gorneau on Tuesday. The statewide organization was able to group officials into seven self-administrated boards throughout the state that continue to be overseen by MASO.

In presenting the award, MASO representative Sheldon Tozier said that soccer had not been recognizing top officials on a statewide basis as in other sports until last year. Bob White of Caribou received the first award in 2014. White had been the original and only state rules interpreter until a few years ago.

“He always came down here with two bags of Maine potatoes. One for the referees and one for the coaches,” said Tozier.

“I am totally surprised,” said Gorneau in accepting the recognition plaque.

Gorneau is turning over the reigns this season as the state evaluator of class one officials; and he is concerned that more young people are not joining the ranks of the veteran officials many of whom are in their 60s and older. MCBASO ranks have hovered around 45 for the last few years, which makes it difficult to assign two officials to all games.

“The kids are still 17 and 18 and we are all a year older. It is getting harder to keep up with them,” said Gorneau at the meeting in the Wiscasset High School cafeteria on Monday.

Like many people dealing with the recent heat, we elected on a recent weekend afternoon to cool ourselves in one of the lakes that we in Maine are blessed with. We stopped at Lake St. George State Park in Liberty, on our way to Camden. The water was just as we expected — clear and refreshing — and as we always do, we also kept an ear and eye out for birds. It wasn’t long before we spotted a loon swimming in across the lake toward the roped-off swimming area, with another half-sized loon following closely behind. This was good news for bird lovers — and loon lovers — as it was a mother loon with a chick!

But our joy turned quickly to anxiety as a speeding boat with a water skier in tow zoomed past her and the chick. You can see a video clip posted with this article at www.boothbayregister.com.

After the boat passed by, she resumed her foraging. After several short dives, she came up with small minnows to feed her little one. But again, a speeding boat passed her. Then an overloaded canoe came in on one side of her while a kayaker prevented her escape on the other. She reared up, flapping her wings and calling, obviously distressed but unwilling to leave her chick, still flightless and apparently still too young to dive.

We hollered to the paddlers and waved them off, and they moved on, but boat after boat passed by as she tried to feed her chick and keep it from being mowed over by an unsuspecting, unknowing (hopefully not uncaring!) pleasure boater. We held our breath and watched helplessly as the poor mother loon struggled for the survival of her one and only offspring.

Eventually she was able to thread a path through the boat traffic to the other side of the lake, which was quieter, which gave us some hope. But imagining her trying to shepherd her chick through that kind of human onslaught for the weeks required to bring the baby bird to independence seemed almost unimaginable.

There is little doubt that the more human development around the shores of a lake — and the accompanying human recreational use — the more likely it is that loons will eventually disappear as nesting species on the lake. This is not only because of the kind of on-the-water activity we saw on Lake St. George, but also the lack of undisturbed shoreline nesting sites.

What often follows is a change in water quality, which leads to changes in species and abundance of various fish and invertebrates. Sadly, there are a lot of things that can go wrong when a pair of loons is trying to bring a new loon into the world.

Because loons are long-lived once they reach adulthood, even if the population is ultimately doomed due to unsuccessful reproduction, a particular lake or group of lakes may have adult loons on them for many years.

The presence of these adult loons may hide the fact that the lake is no longer healthy enough to support a loon population that is replacing itself. When loons no longer breed there and there are more non-native and stocked fish than naturally occurring and self-sustaining ones, then we’ve effectively turned the lake into a glorified swimming pool for humans to use to play in their leisure time.

If the world wants to continue to have loons, then we must protect lakes in their breeding range, keeping pristine ones undeveloped and lightly used. On more developed lakes, we must find ways to leave areas on shore for them to nest and on the water to feed undisturbed.

And we need to do more to make recreational boaters and others who use lakes understand and care when they are disturbing loons by approaching too close, driving too fast and recklessly, and polluting and changing the aquatic ecosystems in the lakes that we all love — sometimes literally loving them to death.

However hard it may be to think fall with temperatures hovering in the 80s, at least one autumn rite has come: The Wiscasset Middle High School fall sports season has started.

The Wolverines returned to the field and course on Monday, Aug. 17, for the first week of preseason practices.

The teams will have to train fast, as competition comes quickly to Wiscasset: A week after practice starts, the teams will begin hosting scrimmages.

The boys varsity soccer team will go against Medomak at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at home, then welcome Morse High School to Wiscasset on Monday, Aug. 31, for a 7 p.m. tilt. The boys squad won't have long before the next opponent stops by for a scrimmage, as Richmond is expected to visit Wiscasset Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. for a scrimmage.

The team will have its first official game the following week when the Wolverines travel to Carrabec to face the Cobras at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. The team will have its first home game Monday, Sept. 14 against Hall-Dale at 6 p.m.

The girls varsity soccer team only has one scrimmage on the schedule so far: a Monday, Aug. 24, date with Medomak at 5 p.m.

The Wolverines will play at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Carrabec for the first official game of the season, and won't return home until Thursday, Sept. 17, to face the Lisbon Greyhounds at 6 p.m.

The cross country team will forgo scrimmages and instead will run competitively for the first time Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Winthrop at 4:15 p.m. then come a little closer to home for a Wednesday, Sept. 16, meet in Boothbay Harbor at 4:15 p.m.

Boys

Saturday, Sept. 12: At Dirigo, 2 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 14: Home vs. Hall-Dale, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16: At Monmouth Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18: Home vs. Lisbon, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 22: At St. Dom's, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26: Home vs. Mt. Valley, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: At Mt. Abram, 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 2: At Oak Hill, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Home vs. St. Dom's, 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9: Home vs. Telstar, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 14: At Winthrop, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16: At Hall-Dale, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 19: Home vs. Oak Hill, 4 p.m.

Girls

Friday, Sept. 11: At Monmouth, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12: At Dirigo, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: At Hall-Dale, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 17: Home vs. Lisbon, 6 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 21: At Madison, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26: Home vs. Mt. Valley, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: At Mt. Abram, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 1: At Oak Hill, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Home vs. St. Dom's, 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9: Home vs. Telstar, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13: At Winthrop, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16: Home vs. Hall-Dale, 6 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 19: Home vs. Boothbay Region, 6 p.m.

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival, Damariscotta’s annual celebration of the working waterfront, marine conservation, and the Pemaquid oyster, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, from noon to dusk. The popular event is an important fundraiser for the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund.

"This fund is intended to continue Edward Myers’ vision of having a sustainable working waterfront as well as protecting our marine environment; implemented through education and research projects with a focus on marine conservation," said Chris Davis of the Pemaquid Oyster Company.

Since the first Pemaquid Oyster Festival in 2001, the event has been hosted by the Pemaquid Oyster Co. and Schooner Landing. Both of these hosts contribute all of their profits from the day to the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund. The fundraising efforts of these hosts are supported by sponsors that help cover expenses including entertainment, tents, and fuel for the boat rides.

The generous sponsors last year were The First, Damariscotta Bank & Trust, Renys, Narragansett Leathers, Mexicali Blues, Ames Supply, Colby & Gale, The Cheney Companies, Newcastle Square Realty, Sartrex Corporation, Waldo Stone Farm and The Lincoln County News. Additional sponsors are sought to help with the 2015 festival.

When it comes to the 2015 Wiscasset Middle High School boys soccer team, the only thing that has seemingly changed is the name of the school.

Head coach Chris Cossette is back for his second year at the helm, and the team remains largely unchanged from a year ago.

Well, maybe some things have changed, Cossette said. For one, the massive incoming junior class (10 players) and large sophomore class come into the year with an extra year of experience. Also new for this year are four seniors (Brycson Grover, Chayse Reed, Sam Storer and Alex Webber) and what could be eight freshmen filling out the ranks.

Also new is that because the team is expected to have 27 players, there will be several junior varsity games on the schedule to allow some of the younger players some time on the pitch, Cossette said.

Those new and familiar faces will be tasked with coming together and gelling as a team if the Wolverines want to return to the Western Class C playoffs, Cossette said.

“We’re bringing a lot of kids back from last year's team,” he said. “We lost only two seniors last year, so this is basically the same group.”

Last year, a young Wolverines team went 3-11 in a loaded Class C West division. This year, the Wolverines also move to the newly-minted Class C South.

But, holdover powerhouses such as Hall-Dale (13-1 in 2014), St. Dominic’s (10-2-2), along with familiar foes Carrabec (7-7) and Lisbon (7-6-1) should make the South division a competitive race to the playoffs.

This year's team is again expected to be buoyed by a strong defense with solid midfield play and an improved attack. Leading the way again for Wiscasset upfront is junior Russell Marr, who scored seven goals a year ago to lead the team.

The back-end of the defense could sport some different looks when compared to the team a year ago, Cossette said. Goalie Conlon Ranta returns, but so does backup Sam Strozier, who has impressed enough to be in talks to start a few games for the Wolverines.

Along with mainstays on defense like Storer, junior Kevin Lynch and Alex Strozier the team will be able to throw different looks at its opponents, Cossette said.

“We'll be able to mold our team to what we see on the field,” he said. “We should be able to exploit what other teams are trying to do, and we'll be able to change our approach at anytime. That's something we couldn't do last year.”

But with a more experienced team, Cossette said he will be able to trust his players to switch up schemes to throw Western Class C teams for a loop.

That chemistry is likely to be the team's secret weapon, Cossette said.

“They've built on what they learned last year,” he said. “When you watch the juniors, seniors and even some of the sophomore who played last year, they are really helping to bring along (the freshmen). The seniors have especially helped everyone get on the same page. The sophomores played a lot last year and they've been telling the freshmen what to do.”

On the field, the team will again be stout defensively, Cossette said, and should be able to find the back of the net more this year, too.

“We're really focusing on our touches and controlling the tempo of the game,” he said. “We want to get as many players as we can involved. The defense should be stronger this year, too.”

Add in an offense that returns one of the league's more prolific scorers in Marr, plus Ethan James, Brandon Goud, Nate Woodman, Max Sampson and Reed on rotation and the Wolverines should offer some punch, Cossette said.

“Brycson will play some up front, too — we'll move him all around,” he said. “We should have really good speed on the outside.”

Cossette said with remaining preseason games against Morse and Richmond High Schools the Wolverines will get a look at two tough area teams before the season starts.

“It will be good to see how we play against them,” he said. “Richmond is a really strong team — they could compete in any class. Morse is also very solid. Both are finesse teams, so it will be good to see how it all plays out.”

After the preseason wraps up the Wolverines will travel to Carrabec for their first game.

Wiscasset Middle High School

boys varsity soccer schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 9: At Carrabec, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12: At Dirigo, 2 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 14: Home vs. Hall-Dale, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16: At Monmouth Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18: Home vs. Lisbon, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 22: At St. Dom's, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26: Home vs. Mt. Valley, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: At Mt. Abram, 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 2: At Oak Hill, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Home vs. St. Dom's, 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9: Home vs. Telstar, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 14: At Winthrop, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16: At Hall-Dale, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 19: Home vs. Oak Hill

A sailboat motored its way through pea soup fog into Boothbay Harbor at around 4 p.m. on Aug. 20. On board were the captain, three crew members, two of them in wheelchairs, and a yellow lab named Winter.

The Impossible Dream is a 60-foot catamaran that is helping make dreams come true for people with disabilities. The universally accessible sailboat was the idea of paraplegic Mike Browne, who had a dream of sailing a boat that was fully operational to someone in a wheelchair.

After taking in the size of the boat and the 85-foot mast, the next thing you notice is the exceptionally wide beam.

The reason for the width is that the deck is wheelchair accessible, all the way around.

Deborah Mellen and Harry Horgan are both wheelchair users, due to spinal cord injuries sustained in separate automobile accidents. Horgan is co-founder and president of Miami-based Shake-A-Leg, an organization that was started to help him and others with mobility disabilities maximize their independence through sailing.

After Mellen's accident, she went to Miami, Florida, for physical rehabilitation and was introduced to Shake-A-Leg, and Horgan. She said that's when she fell in love with sailing.

Mellen said the first time she was on a boat for any length of time, it did the trick.

“I went to Harry and said 'We have to do something.'” They met with a designer, but then heard about a boat that was for sale.

The Impossible Dream was in Plymouth, England. Mellen met up with Horgan and the two went to have a look. When the owner of the boat heard about Shake-A-Leg and what Mellen and Horgan were dreaming up, he offered a deal that Mellen couldn't refuse. She bought the boat, and Shake-A-Leg has become her winter home.

“It was serendipitous,” Horgan said. “We had been talking about designing a boat, and then a good friend of Deborah's told her about this boat that was for sale. Deborah got it for less than half of what he was asking. I think that was partly because he knew it was going to a place that would serve a lot of kids.”

This summer Mellen and Horgan have been partners in a mission: In mid-July, the Impossible Dream set sail from Miami to head up the East Coast in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Their plan was to stop in ports and take people with disabilities sailing, helping them see that they could go above and beyond expectations. Many of them had never been out on the ocean.

“We're on this journey up the coast, providing some hope and trying to help people improve their quality of life,” Horgan said. “We know how design and technology can really make life accessible to people with disabilities. And we want to connect with the innovators who are doing incredible work, and be the people who connect them to the sea. There are magical qualities on the water that we're benefiting from, and we want to share.”

Horgan said that they have taken over 300 people sailing during the voyage, including people from the Christopher Reeve Foundation, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Wheeling Forward, the NY Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the Woody Foundation, the UNH Recreation Dept., Northeast Passage and Camp Jabberwocky.

Mellen said the stop in Boothbay Harbor wasn't part of their plan. “We were pretty exhausted after New Hampshire, so we thought we'd just come here and see what happened.”

On their first night in Boothbay Harbor, the crew from the boat went to the Tugboat Restaurant for dinner. “They knew about us,” Mellen said. “They started asking us questions, and one man stood up and sang, 'The Impossible Dream.'”

On Aug. 21, the boat was tied up at Hodgdon Yacht Services in Boothbay Harbor, and there were several people on-board, obviously having a good time, and sipping champagne.

“Parts of this journey, New York, Newport, Martha's Vineyard and New Hampshire were all very choreographed,” Mellen said. “But the other part doesn't have to be. Look what's happening here. This is spontaneous and it's great. Pulling into ports with Harry and me in chairs on the bow, it's all part of the perception. Just look at us. Just see us.”

Captain Will Rey sailed the boat from Miami, and Horgan and Mellen joined him in New York.

“It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's an amazing project,” Rey said. “This is a 120-foot boat stuffed into 58 feet. It's an incredibly challenging boat to keep running, with all the technology. But now that we're in Maine we're starting to chill out, because we've accomplished our mission.”

After leaving Boothbay Harbor on Aug. 23, the boat headed south and pulled into another port: Kennebunkport. On Aug. 25, the Impossible Dream served as host to the man who had signed the ADA into law 25 years ago: President George H. W. Bush.

The sailors had received word that the former president and first lady Barbara Bush had accepted their invitation to go for a sail. Lunch aboard was supplied by Ports of Italy owner Sante Calandri. Horgan said it was a great way to thank the president for signing the ADA.

The 2015 summer journey of the Impossible Dream may have ended, but the campaign continues.

“Deborah and I teamed up to make all this possible, but we're not done yet,” Horgan said. “We still need other work done. Being docked at Hodgdon’s Marina, a leader in the boat building industry, and being able to introduce them to the Impossible Dream has been great. We want to talk to designers and innovators about the things we still need to make the boat even more accessible.”

There’s a quote from Deborah Mellen on The Raw Beauty website: “Boundaries and limits do not define me. The strength I learned from my parents has carried me on and I wish to spread their message to the world: Never Give Up.”

“It's about the possible,” Horgan said. “They're out there and it's possible, and we're encouraging them to seek the impossible.”

Dean Snell was an active golfer, family man and 34-year employee at Bath Iron Works when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He fought it courageously, then it came back like a beast, his widow Sharon Snell said Aug. 28 in the Wiscasset kitchen of niece Julie Jones.

Hours after her husband’s death in 2009, Sharon Snell asked his doctor at New England Cancer Specialists in Brunswick about starting a memorial fund. The next day, she and the couple’s children talked further. The family  decided to start a foundation in Dean Snell’s name, to help cancer patients afford treatment and weather other financial hardships the disease can create.

To date, the all-volunteer Dean Snell Cancer Foundation has given out more than $240,000 to meet expenses that have included taxi rides to treatment sessions; insurance premiums and co-payments; and household costs such as heating oil or a supermarket gift card so that a patient doesn’t have to choose between meeting their family’s needs and their own medical ones.

“It can be all those things that you wouldn’t ordinarily think of,” that become needs due to medical bills and lost work, board member Mary Nickerson said. Nickerson is Jones’ mother and the Snells’ sister-in-law.

“Unfortunately, we can’t do anything about the disease, but we can be that vehicle that provides that relief when you need it,” Snell said. “We just hope that we can be lightening the burden to help them with the treatment.”

The foundation doesn’t get the patients’ names; it works with a patient advocate at the center in Brunswick to help patients based on need. Last year, patients from 29 communities including Wiscasset, Boothbay, Edgecomb, Damariscotta, South Bristol and Waldoboro received help, Snell said.

For the last four years, grants the foundation has received from the Maine Cancer Foundation have been a huge help with patients’ transportation needs, Snell said.

Recalling the loss of her husband, Snell at times spoke with difficulty.

“My husband Dean was a fighter. He fought with courage and determination. We just want to honor that courage and positive thinking,” she said.

He would be proud, but very humbled by the foundation and the help it has given patients, she added later.

“He never would have ever imagined it.”

The foundation’s annual fundraisers include a formal gala and silent auction planned for Nov. 7 this year at The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern and a golf event Oct. 3 at Brunswick Golf Course. Dean Snell played golf with his sons on weekends and would walk the course when he played golf during the time he was having chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she said.

A new annual volleyball fundraiser for the foundation is set for 8 a.m. Sept. 19 on the Olympic-sized beach volleyball court in the Jones family’s yard. The round-robin, double-elimination format is expected to take until early evening to complete, Jones said.

A four-person team costs $40. A donation gets admission to be a spectator and a chance at a door prize, Jones said. 

Aleeya Jones, daughter of Jones and husband and Hodgdon Yachts (East Boothbay) employee Chad Jones, is an accomplished youth volleyball player. She plans to play in the tournament, her mother said. The teen has experience in fundraising. In Phippsburg last April, she and other volunteers took part in the first Pink Pajama Polar Plunge, an event she started to raise money for Hallmark Health in Stoneham, Massachusetts, where a cousin of Jones is receiving breast cancer treatment. 

Other players planning to take part in this month’s tournament are coming from Boothbay, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Dresden and Gardiner, Julie Jones said.

Julie Jones is hoping that, in addition to serving as an annual fundraiser, the new event in Wiscasset will help spread word about the foundation north of the Bath-Brunswick area. As more people and businesses in the Midcoast hear about the foundation, the result could be more donations, volunteers and fundraisers in other towns, she said. “It could really turn into something.”

For more on the volleyball event, call Julie Jones at 207-522-8240; for more on the foundation, its fundraisers or information on how to donate, visit www.deansnell.org. The Dean Snell Cancer Foundation is also on Facebook.

It was our last day of summer vacation, and a day of surprises and mysteries. It started with a fishing excursion to Clary Lake with our son, for whom fishing became a major interest over the summer. Out on the lake, in our favorite spot, our son felt a strong tug on his line. As he pulled it into the canoe, we saw a huge, blue-yellow-and-red fish that, after checking our field guide, we discovered was a pumpkinseed sunfish — so big that as he reeled it in, we thought it must be a bass. After a few photos, we released the fish and chatted about our surprise fish. Who knew they could get that large!

Later that evening, we toasted marshmallows around a campfire in Winthrop, listening to crickets, frogs, and other sounds of the night. At one point, we heard a mysterious sound floating out from the nearby woods — a sort of descending series of hoots. It reminded us vaguely of the sound of a common potoo, a peculiar relative of the whip-poor-will that lives in Central and South America. Clearly the sound could not be a potoo. But what was it?

We are fortunate in knowing most of the sounds of the birds of northeastern North America, even those that are heard mainly at night. And we know a great many of the variety of sounds of our native mammals and insects as well. So when we hear a sound that we can’t identify, it’s a fun challenge and interesting mystery for us. It also reminds us of what people who are not well versed in the sounds of nature are missing. Far fewer know the sounds of the night. Dare we say that many, perhaps even most, people walk through life without an awareness of the full range of sounds that fill our ears each day, some natural, some not.

When we take a group of beginning birders out for a bird walk, one of the things we like to do is to take a minute or two to engage in something we call “deep listening.” We ask the group to be silent for a short period of time and invite them to try to pick up on every sound that reaches their ears, even if they have no idea what the sound is. Afterwards, we ask people how many different bird sounds or natural sounds that they heard and to describe some of them. Even for an experienced naturalist, this can really sharpen the senses!

Along with natural sounds, such concentrated attention to the acoustic environment that surrounds us often makes us aware of some of the far-off sounds of things like trucks on highways, cars on bridges, or motorized boats on the water. These sounds, along with distant barking dogs, can occasionally fool the ears into thinking one is hearing a very distant owl, or something else. We wondered if our mystery sound could have been a distant modern sound, fooling us, but then again.

Today’s handy technology allows just about anyone to quickly pull out a digital camera, mobile phone, tablet, or laptop computer and make a pretty good recording of a mystery sound. Later, that recording can be compared to the wealth of sound recordings available online, or the recording can be shared with experts. We often have people who send us sound recordings for identification via email or Facebook. Most we can identify; occasionally, one remains a mystery.

So far, the sound from our last campfire of summer remains a mystery ... but we do have a faint recording and you can bet we will keep trying to figure it out!

Wiscasset Speedway kicked off the final month of racing Saturday with a full card of action in its Group 1 divisions. Near perfect weather greeted a large and enthusiastic crowd at Maine's fastest oval for the program presented by NAPA Auto Parts. As the 2015 season heads into the home stretch, championship point chases continue to tighten up in some divisions while one title would be wrapped up by night's end.

Just a week after his son Chuck Colby notched his first Late Model victory of the season, Charlie Colby covered the field and took his first checkered flag as well. Other winners on the night included Mark Lucas in the Napa Super Streets, Cody Tribbet in the Thunder 4 Minis, and Kamren Knowles in the N.E.4-cyl Pros. Also on the program were the Senior Tour Auto Racers (S.T.A.R. Tour). #0 Richard Eastman of Merrimac, Massachusetts, took home the victory in the Sportsman class while #2x Charlie Lima of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was the victor in the Modified class. Not to be outdone, Leandra Martin of Richmond would top the night with a history making runner-up finish in the Thunder 4 Minis.

Wiscasset Speedway returns to action Saturday, Sept. 12, with Group 2 Fan Appreciation Night. The program will start with an on-track driver autograph session at 5 p.m. followed by kids bike races in 3 divisions. Green flag flies on the racing action around 6 p.m. Pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and grandstand gate opens at 4 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $5 for adults and children 7 and older. Kids 6 and under are free. Pit admission is $20 for all. For schedule information, points, photos etc, go to the website at www.wiscassetspeedway.com . Wiscasset Speedway is located on the West Alna Road in Wiscasset.

Official finishes

Wiscasset High School’s cross country team will open its season Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Winthrop.

Eva Castor is taking over as the Wolverines coach. Castor is starting her sixth year at WHS. She teaches French. This is her first head coaching position although she helped with the track and field this past spring. She’s replacing veteran coach Warren Cossette who could no longer coach the team due to a scheduling conflict.

Castor has eight runners to work with, six boys and two girls.

Amanda Marcus, a senior, is returning for her fourth year. Joining her is Amanda Johnson, also a senior. Both athletes are looking forward to the first meet and have been training hard under Coach Castor. Because it takes five runners to compete as a team, they will run as individuals.

Brandon Goud, Sam Storer and Angus Putnam, three names you’ll recognize from the Wolverines track team, are giving cross country a go. Goud, a junior, ran the 800 and 3200 meter races. Storer, a senior, was a sprinter. Goud and Storer are also playing varsity soccer having declared it as their primary sport. This means if there’s a scheduling conflict, they’ll go with the Wolverine soccer team, but otherwise they’ll be running for Coach Castor.

Putnam, a sophomore, is returning for his second season on the cross country team. He ran competitively in the 3200 meter race this past spring and could be poised for a possible breakout season this fall for the Wolverines.

Sam Whitney, Kobe Carrier and Adam Treannie round out the team. These guys will need to run well if the Wolverines are to be competitive.

If you’re hoping to see the Wolverines compete, the nearest venue will be at Boothbay Region High School. The meet there begins at 4:15 on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and if the schedule is correct includes Lisbon, Monmouth, Hall-Dale, and St. Dom’s.

WHS has no home meets scheduled because the school no longer has a cross country course.

The standard cross country course is roughly 5k, about 3.1 miles. The winner of the race receives one point, the second place runner gets two points, the third place runner  three points and so on. The points of top five runners on each team are added up and the team with the lowest point total wins the meet. Having one of your team members win a race doesn’t mean your school wins the meet. The outcome usually comes down to the third, fourth and fifth runners and in what place they cross the finish line.

The best possible score in cross country is 15 points, a sweep of the top five finishers. Times are kept in minutes, seconds and tenths of a second.

Other meets will be held at St. Dom’s and Lisbon High School. The Mountain Valley Conference Championship meet is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the University of Maine Augusta.

The Boothbay Region YMCA will hold a golf tournament beginning at noon on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club.

All proceeds from the tournament support Livestrong at the YMCA, a free 12-week program for cancer survivors that provides a supportive environment for each individual's journey to wellbeing.

Registration is $100 per player for country club members and $125 per player for non-members. Register as an individual or as a team at the YMCA front desk.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Lisa Van Dyk at the YMCA: 207-633-2855, ext. 291 or lvandyk@brymca.org.