What’s your family’s Memorial Day tradition? Here’s hoping it’s a nice mix of honoring men and women who have died while serving our country, planting flowers at family gravestones, heading to Damariscotta for the parade, and, weather cooperating, a cookout.

Plenty of good family activities to choose from: history at the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden on Monday; and energetic alewives all weekend at the Fish Ladder in Damariscotta Mills.

No need for Broadway tickets or a ride to Brunswick for top-notch performances, our primary and middle grade students and their teachers are showing off their creativity and hard work these next few weeks.

This Thursday, May 23, the Kindergartners and first graders present “Animal Extravaganza” at 6 p.m. in the Wiscasset Primary School gym (with sets designed in art classes by K-fourthgrade students).

Next Thursday, May 30, you’ll be treated to performances by two bands and two choruses of Middle School students at 6:30 p.m. in the Wiscasset Middle School (WMS)  gym.

And on Wednesday, June 5,our fifth graders celebrate American History with singing and acting in an adventurous musical, “The Incredible Westward Movement.” This will be at 6 p.m., in the WMS gym. Let’s pack the gyms and treat ourselves to all this amazing entertainment.

Noticed our Edgecomb neighbor and fellow columnist Jo Cameron will be honored with the Lincoln Academy Alumni Service Award on June 1. Jo is a fantastic writer and definitely a “doer.” Congrats, Jo!

Most of us like to know something about issues before voting, but I haven’t been able to attend any of the RSU budget meetings. There’s one final public Budget Meeting on Saturday, June 8 at the Whitefield Elementary School (Route 126) where as RSU 12 district residents, we can vote on several “cost centers” within the overall budget, holding items in line with the draft budget, or possibly increasing or decreasing costs.

When we cast official votes in referendum voting on June 28 in the Town Hall, it will be a plain yes or no on the 2013-2014 budget.

Will all your veggies and flowers be planted this weekend? Made any adventurous choices? Azaleas have finally blossomed in my yard, beautiful, pink petals and happy bees. Listening for more sounds of the season at mewbarnes2@yahoo.com or 207-882 -6055.