Sun and fun at Summerfest
Josh Berkowitz of Westport Island holds up the trophy his and wife Sheryl Berkowitz’ Newfoundland, Nora, won as top dog in the “Most Unusual” category of a dog parade on the Wiscasset town common July 26. The parade and other canine events were part of First Congregational Church’s Summerfest, an annual fundraiser for several area causes. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset’s Jeff Grosser of Jazz Razcals makes music on the keys during First Congregational Church’s Summerfest in Wiscasset on July 26. Grosser and band mates John Ruis of Camden, Andy (Eric) Anderson of Cumberland and Pat Jordan of Portland donated the group’s appearance at the event. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Aura Jones, left, of Alna and fellow 4-year-old Maya Dreyfus of Boston run under a tarp of many colors at Summerfest on the Wiscasset town common on July 26. Jones was at the event with mom Ruth Jones; Dreyfus, with parents Annika and Marc Dreyfus and other family members. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Penny Daniels and her lab-mix Piper take part in the dog parade at First Congregational Church’s Summerfest on the Wiscasset common July 26. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Stan Lane of Westport Island attends Summerfest in Wiscasset with his German shepherd, Gracie. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Josh Berkowitz of Westport Island holds up the trophy his and wife Sheryl Berkowitz’ Newfoundland, Nora, won as top dog in the “Most Unusual” category of a dog parade on the Wiscasset town common July 26. The parade and other canine events were part of First Congregational Church’s Summerfest, an annual fundraiser for several area causes. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset’s Jeff Grosser of Jazz Razcals makes music on the keys during First Congregational Church’s Summerfest in Wiscasset on July 26. Grosser and band mates John Ruis of Camden, Andy (Eric) Anderson of Cumberland and Pat Jordan of Portland donated the group’s appearance at the event. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Aura Jones, left, of Alna and fellow 4-year-old Maya Dreyfus of Boston run under a tarp of many colors at Summerfest on the Wiscasset town common on July 26. Jones was at the event with mom Ruth Jones; Dreyfus, with parents Annika and Marc Dreyfus and other family members. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Penny Daniels and her lab-mix Piper take part in the dog parade at First Congregational Church’s Summerfest on the Wiscasset common July 26. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Stan Lane of Westport Island attends Summerfest in Wiscasset with his German shepherd, Gracie. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Penny Daniels likes to crochet, but when it came to making an outfit for her rescue lab-mix Piper to wear to First Congregational Church’s Summerfest on July 26, the Wiscasset woman knew she would need to keep it cool.
She was right. Saturday was already hot when Summerfest’s dog parade got under way, mid-morning. And Piper, part of what the church’s minister John Potter believes was the biggest turnout of entrants yet, was stylishly cool in strings with stars and matching crocheted collar with fringes.
The black dog Daniels adopted from Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick took second in the “Most Unusual” category.
Gracie the German shepherd, on paw for Saturday’s parade with owners Stan Lane and Norma Dreyfus of Westport Island, took second in a hot dog race that followed the parade. Owners and dogs ran with hot dogs in the dogs’ mouths. The object was to cross the finish line with as much of the hot dog left as possible.
Gracie, 9, had an advantage.
“She doesn’t like hot dogs,” Norma Dreyfus said.
The canine contests concluded with tricks before a supportive crowd of onlookers, part of the scene at a jazz-infused, sunny 31st annual installment of Summerfest.
Lane attends each year.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “It’s a Maine happening, and it represents the best of Maine.”
He was there Saturday with a large contingent of family members, including Dreyfus; their son Marc Dreyfus of Boston and his wife Annika Dreyfus; and the Dreyfuses’ daughters Maya, 4, and Nina, 18 months.
While there were plenty of dogs on the common Saturday, one cat remained notably absent: Wiscasset’s Dan Bigley said there was still no sign of the Pink Panther he and wife Zoe Bigley put up on the Summerfest sign near Route 1 on July 18. The large decoration, a costume the couple stuffed after it turned up in storage at the church, was gone by the morning of July 19. Dan Bigley said Saturday he was still hoping it will eventually turn up.
The church gives the money it raises at Summerfest to several area causes. This year’s event cleared about $6,000, with more money still coming in, Summerfest Chairman Nancy Roby said.
Attendees shopped sales tables, took part in a silent auction and played games with their children. Jazz Razcals donated its performance of jazz and swing music.
Trustees from Two Bridges Regional Jail helped with the event’s setup and take-down. As with other help the community gives the church for Summerfest, Roby said, “We couldn’t do it without them.”
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