Bruce and I went to the first of the two informational meetings about the town of Edgecomb's proposed road paving project. Selectmen presented three plans: all town roads (not including the three state aid roads); a prioritized list, targeting those town roads most in need of repair, with work done on others as the funds from a 15-year bond from the Maine Municipal Bond Bank will permit; or sticking only to the roads most direly in need.  

The second plan seemed the most sensible; a request for the bond will be an article in the town warrant for May 11. Nort Fowler, chair of the Capital Improvements Committee, said the work will include resurfacing the dirt road sections, but will not cover paving them. The ultimate aim of this project is to put our roads on a firm 10-year maintenance schedule.

Students from Edgecomb Eddy School and the Center for Teaching and Learning strutted their stuff at the Odyssey of the Mind Maine State Tournament on Saturday, April 6, in Sanford. Sixth-grader Emily Harris, fifth-grader Adam Sirois, and fourth graders Amelia Carlson, Hope McSherry and Owen Barter competed in the junior high division, among 120 teams from across the state.  They earned high marks from the judges in creativity, humor, and teamwork for their skit, “It's How You Look at It.”

Odyssey of the Mind is an international organization that promotes creative and critical thinking. As Stephanie McSherry, one of the team's coaches, explains it, “According to Odyssey, ‘the problem is to create and present an original humorous performance that includes two main characters with different odd behaviors.’ Each character must act in a scene where those around him interpret the behavior as normal. The same character must appear in another scene where her behavior is considered odd.   

“Our students have been meeting weekly since October to tackle this in-depth problem, doing everything from writing the script, designing and building the set, and creating costumes and props. They chose a school theme. In the classroom, the teacher, Miss Squiggly Wiggly, erases the whiteboard by licking it. Her students also lick their slates to erase mistakes. The behavior is only seen as odd by another teacher, who is disgusted when she witnesses Miss Squiggly Wiggly in the act of licking the board. The second main character is a student named Samson who enjoys smelling napkins in the cafeteria. His classmates think this is very odd behavior; but when the teacher begins smelling napkins, the behavior doesn't seem so strange. As I write, it all sounds very odd, but the judges did find the skit very creative and laughed a lot.”

Bravo to Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson, who is chair of the Wiscasset Feed Our Scholars Committee. After a successful spaghetti supper to raise funds for their Weekend Food Backpack Initiative, she is now rallying us all for the Feed Our Scholars 5k Fun Run/Walk, scheduled for Saturday, May 4, sign-in time 8 a.m., race starts at 9 a.m.  For more information, go to www.feedourscholars.wordpress.com or call St. Philip's Church, 207-882-7184.

And bravo to Parker Elkins, one of two Center for Teaching and Learning students to receive the national Gold Key award from the Scholastic Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. He had submitted a memoir and a trilogy of poem.  The ceremony will be at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 31, which will be available to us by webcast at 6 p.m. that evening.      

Celebrate Earth Day Eve! On Sunday, April 21, the Boothbay Region Land Trust is holding an Orienteering Challenge at the Penny Lake Preserve in Boothbay Harbor, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.  Bring a compass; follow BRLT's coordinates, collecting ideas for a poem as you move along. Poem to be presented at the end of the trail. You will need to register for this event, although it is free.  Call Environmental Educator Tracey Hall at thall@bbrlt.org or 207-633-4818.

Getting lost in the burgeoning plantation at 234 River Road, 207-633-2978, and jocam@tidewater.net/.