Looks like a week of wet and kinda gray. We’ll take it, though I liked the bright red maple buds falling on last week’s snow.

The town office should be busy this week, with shellfish licenses now on sale. The 2016-2017 season started last Sunday. The town will be issuing two Resident Commercial and two Non-Resident Commercial Shellfish licenses for the season. Licensing will follow the process in Section 5 of the town’s Shellfish Conservation Ordinance. There are also 31 Resident Recreational Licenses and four Non-Resident Recreational Licenses available.

Applications for all licenses are available at the town office (hours: Tuesdays, noon – 7 pm, and Thursdays, 9 am to 2 pm). Each applicant must produce two pieces of acceptable identification showing current residence address. A Commercial Harvester License Credit program has been created to establish priority in issuing commercial licenses, and stop in to the town office to learn more about this.   

The popular Wiscasset Garden Club Plant Sale is this Saturday, May 7, from 8:30 am til noon at the Wiscasset Municipal Building (corner of Routes 1 and 27). Club members will be selling perennial plants including peonies, bleeding hearts, hostas, day lilies and phlox and shrubs such as forsythia, climbing hydrangea and lilacs. The plants and shrubs come from the gardens of more than 90 members as well as local gardens willing to share their plants. I picked up some perennials a few years ago, and they’re still thriving!

The Garden Club is a great group of energetic, neighborly people. This plant sale is their major fundraiser which supports a scholarship and community projects. Every year, the Club donates a scholarship to a high school senior from surrounding towns pursuing a higher education in horticultural or related studies. Club members maintain or help to maintain the Coastal Cancer Treatment Center Serenity Garden in Bath, the Wiscasset Library Gardens, the Sunken Garden and the Nickels-Sortwell Garden in Wiscasset, and the Pownalborough Courthouse Garden in Dresden.

The event will be held rain or shine. Stop by also for baked goods and garden-related White Elephant items.

Next Saturday, May 14, the Community Association will be presenting the Westport Antiques Appraisal Event, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the town hall. Lots of people have asked WCA to hold this appraisal event again, since so many of us live in old houses whose earlier owners often left items in the house that were associated with the house. Then there’s the variety of things we’ve inherited or accumulated from our families! Are you curious about how old something is, how it was made and used, its possible value, and maybe even – what is it?! Attendees are welcome to bring two items each. John Bottero from Thomaston Place Auction Gallery will review the pieces and share his knowledge and resources—he was a big hit last time, and you’ll enjoy meeting him. Bring items you can easily carry (nothing too big).

Please bring your items by 2:30 – the WCA would like to set up all the items for display for all to see. 

I bet there’ll be lots of stories to share – come by and enjoy, even if you don’t bring an item. Refreshments will be served, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bottled water, as well as cookies and bars.  The Community Association also encourages everyone to bring a non perishable food item or cleaning materials for Helping Hands, the island’s food pantry.  

A couple more events coming up: Thursday, May 19, is the Regional Budget Meeting for RSU 12’s 2016-2017 budget – a good time to learn more before voting in June.  The hearing is at 6:30 pm at the Chelsea Elementary School, 566 Togus Road in Chelsea.  

The Feed our Scholars program in the Wiscasset Schools is partnering again with the New England Half Marathon Tour to hold the Fort Edgecomb Half Marathon and 5K on Sunday, May 22. The course shows off the beautiful Sheepscot Bay and of course, the Fort. To benefit the backpack and school pantry programs, 20 percent of all entry fees will go to Feed the Scholars. Check out this website for much more info: www.fortedgecombhm.com

Westport Artists and Crafters: Don’t miss a chance to show off and sell your wonderful work at the Community Association’s Meet and Greet on June 18. To reserve a table at no charge, just contact Carol Blake at 882-4267 or cjblake6@gmail.com.