Dear Readers,

The first major event of Boothbay’s non-snowplow season, the 42nd Fishermen's Festival, is this weekend. In the words of the hyper-annoying furniture salesmen on TV: “Don't Miss It.”

Elsewhere in this newspaper and on our fabulous websites, you can read the full schedule of events that begin on Friday evening with the always entertaining Miss Shrimp Princess Pageant.

Saturday is the day for lots of fun, including the slippery codfish race, the crate running, bait shoveling, the tug of war and, of course, the lobster trap hauling competition.

It is always a fun event with plenty of goodies to eat, adult beverages to drink and lots of laughs all around. Looks like we might just get a break in the weather department, too.

But on Sunday, things get serious.

We know our friends the fishermen work hard and like a good time. But we also know that every time they cast off, they are at the mercy of Mother Nature.

When she smiles on them, the seas are calm and the catch is plentiful. When she frowns, it is not as much fun. When she gets her dander up, we all know her seas can be deadly.

On Sunday after church, a special memorial service will be held at the Fishermen's Memorial on Atlantic Avenue.

There will be prayers and the reading of the names of more than 250 of our fishing friends, past and present, who were lost at sea as they worked to feed their families.

After the service, the area clergy will team up at the shore and bless the fishing fleet as the parade of boats passes by.

More than 2,000 years ago, the good book tells us that the Almighty visited a boatload of fishermen who were having a lousy day. After hearing their gripes, he told them to cast their nets once more. They were rewarded with a banner catch.

May our fishing friends and neighbors be blessed with a safe and successful season. A banner catch would be nice too.

A couple of short notes for the record

Mary Dodge Brewer, the retired managing editor of the Boothbay Register, was honored last week with a lifetime service award by the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club. She is already in the Hall of Fame of both the Maine State Press Association and the New England Press Association. It is nice to see her honored in her own backyard.

On Saturday, East Boothbay's Washburn & Doughty Shipyard launched the latest in string of tugs for the Moran Towing Company.

Moran, one of the largest towing contractors, could build their vessels anywhere in the world. The fact they choose W&D to build more than 30 of them is a tribute to yard's skill and craftsmanship.

Well done to all.