No Memorial Day Parade, no Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races, and no Windjammer Days. Three of the Boothbay region’s major events scheduled before the July 4 holiday have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most likely, we will also all have to provide our own fireworks displays on July 4 — be ready, area fire departments.

Wiscasset will not be holding its 68th annual Strawberry Festival in late June (but perhaps the organizers will sell the strawberries curbside?) and, though it hasn’t been announced, its annual July 4 parade (and fireworks display) is most likely to be canceled.

And music won’t be bouncing off the walls at the Opera House (unless resident pianist Kevin Kiley plays a concert or two for those few people standing safely distanced outside), and the train whistles heard along Route 27 in Boothbay and Cross Road in Alna might be heard as we move into summer but there won’t be anyone aboard to enjoy the ride on the rails.

Pretty depressing, isn’t it?

One good thing as we move closer to summer is that the weather has improved (hopefully no more snow!) and we can all get outside to get our properties looking good – cleaning up the storm debris, getting the mowers ready (saw some people mowing this past weekend), planting gardens, washing windows, washing our cars and more. Perhaps more drive-by birthday, baby and bridal shower parades can be scheduled and held. Perhaps the neighborhoods will be filled with music (live or otherwise).

Yes, we are worried about our economy and what this pandemic and the governor’s four-part plan is going to do to it. We can only hope and pray that our summer season can be salvaged somewhat by a quicker flattening of the coronavirus incidence curve, the governor easing her restrictions on gatherings and self-isolation, planning and promoting for late summer and early fall, and being smart about trying to return to “normal.”

To our readers – despite these canceled events, we will still be working, but if you can continue to help us by letting us know of any news or fun events that are happening, please send us an email so we can get them covered as well as possible.