Fact is, though, it’s been hot here, too.  At the end of last week we had temps in the ‘90s.  Very unusual. My sister and brother-in-law squatted at our place when their rental became too hot.

I was at Ames True Value - the BEST hardware store in America :) They’re so good that when visitors come to town Ames is one of the sights we show them.  Friendly, reasonable prices, and HUGE inventories of tools, pet food, garden supplies and so on.  I was in the store yesterday, asking one of the owners, Jeff, if he knew of a handyman for a few tasks.  He like to fell over - everybody is working, booked and backed up.

Everybody wants help. Folks like Danny Grover.  His right-hand man retired from the auto repair business, so he’s working many more hours than he’d like.  Same story across the road at Wiscasset Glass.  Shop foreman  passed away and there’s been no one trained to step in.    And it was the same story for Little Village Bistro. You can’t find good, or any, help. “They haven’t been born,” Grover said, citing Maine’s lackluster population growth.

The heat did affect Summerfest, an annual yard sale whose proceeds go to more than a dozen charities in town.  The First Congregational Church, which organizes the event, distributes the proceeds.  The effort has netted about $6,000 a year…. But I don’t know about this year.  The hot weather and forecast of 90-degrees appeared to me to have dampened the number of people browsing through ‘Treasures”, books, tools and other stuff.  The popular Dog Parade attracted fewer than a dozen entrants, a drop from previous, too.

The heat did not affect a lawn party at the home of Ernie Gallerani and Bob Bond.  The guys moved to Wiscasset from Boston a few years ago.  They do patent and trademark illustration, photography, and graphic design and live in the historic district. Bob and Ernie have been contributors to the village’s energetic cultural and arts activities. 

While they were in Boston, Bond said they worked for many entertainers doing, their publicity photos, CD designs, all types of promo pieces, as well as photographing their shows and theatrical events around New England. And last Saturday, like Judy Garland, Bob and Ernie’s friends put on a show, to say “Thanks”. There was an open bar courtesy of Ernie’s sister, and wood-fired pizza. (The Uproot Pie). Nearly a dozen performers put on a two-hour song-fest, a show featuring oldies, goodies, and a few ‘naughties’. 

It was nothing like I’ve ever seen, and truth be told, in college I was no stranger to places like Mr.Kelly’s, Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive club or Basin Street East in Manhattan.  This party was  quite untraditional for Maine. This was a gift from friends to Bob and Ernie. And also Wiscasset.   “

I’ve written it before, this village is moving forward, considering new ideas and responsibilities.  The Town Manager is juggling dozens of projects, trying to stabilize Wiscasset’s expenses and budgets.  I’ll bet the average age of the Selectmen has dropped b y 20 years. Old ideas are being seen through new eyes. The pandemic, Air-b-and-b have brought turnover - and profit - to the real estate and travel markets.

One more thing ... The Wiscasset Art Walk returns  downtown Thursday, 5-8pm