Friends of Wiscasset Village on June 14 floated the possibility of an “Orange Barrel Festival” to celebrate the construction process. They discussed holding it later this summer when most of the striped barrels will be gone.

There was discussion of connecting the festival with an already planned August event that will include Morris dancers, although the date for that event has not yet been finalized. More discussion will take place at the next meeting, July 12.

Ernie Martin of Maine Department of Transportation discussed how the downtown project is going, and what merchants and visitors can expect as the sidewalks are constructed. For a time, he said, there would be gravel sidewalks as the grading goes forward. This will cause temporary problems for people with mobility issues, he said, although the crosswalks will be fully compliant quickly, and eventually  the entire project will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Friends members are joining in Fourth of July festivities, including Morris Farm  with a community breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. Plans for the parade are moving forward, and a grand marshal – William Cossette Jr. – has been selected. There are cash prizes. The theme is Yankee Doodle Dandy. The parade goes from Federal to Middle streets to the waterfront, and some of the sidewalks may still be gravel at that point, Martin said.

The group is looking to raise some funds, and during the meeting auctioned off two Friends T-shirts for a total of $50. Other members chipped in small amounts to help with small expenses.