The Edgecomb Capital Improvements Committee will hold two public informational meetings this month to consider the pros and cons of securing a bond to cover a near-total paving and resurfacing of up to 24 miles of town roads.

The work costs will range from $1.64 million to $2.95 million. The object is to get our town roads (but not the three state-assisted roads) on a 10-year maintenance cycle. This initial project is estimated to take three years; the selectmen hope to get a 15-year bond with payments roughly equal to the established annual paving budget.

The town is considering three options: all the town roads; the five highest priority roads and such lower priority roads as can be covered by remaining funds; or only the five high priority roads.

The hearings will be Monday, April 8 and Monday, April 15, both at 7 p.m., following the selectmen's meetings. Pending the advice and consent of the town (that means all of us) in these meetings, only one of the options will be chosen as a warrant article for consideration at the Edgecomb Town Meeting, Saturday, May 11.

Since the state of our roads has been a topic for robust conversations from the day roads were first laid out in Freetown, prior to 1730, it behooves my esteemed readers to hie thyselves over to the Town Hall on the above Mondays, to impart wisdom and prudence to the worthies on our board of selectmen.

Elsewhere in Edgecomb, the Fire Department is considering tapping into the Lily Pond for a hydrant nearby the station. Meanwhile, work on Edgecomb Eddy School security began as of Monday, March 25. The school asks for your understanding whenever you might come to the school, and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause you.  

On April 14, local law enforcement officials will be using Edgecomb Eddy School as a training site. Should you pass by and see numerous law enforcement or emergency responders' vehicles, do not be alarmed.

Congratulations to the PTC's Book Fair winners, Lydia Currier (K), who came the closest to guessing the number of jelly beans in the jar, and Meghan Clifford (grade four), who won a book signed by local author Tammy Meserve.

Hurrahs to come: Center for Teaching and Learning students, among them Amelia Genus, have been participating in their 14th Mathcounts regional competition, run by the Mathcounts Foundation. Sponsors are the CNA Foundation, National Society of Professional Engineers and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

A new and different kind of huzzah! My River Road neighbor Jim Brown is bragging: “My son Timothy Brown, who resides in Chicago, is one of those dreaded competitive eaters you sometimes see on TV consuming copious amounts of food at an alarming rate. A hobby, not his real job. Certainly not for everyone, I admit. He is presently ranked 10th in the world and at one point was 8th. His Major League Eating handle is 'Gravy Brown.' He has competed in the televised Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating contest for the past five years or so. If you have any questions, you can email me, wino04538@yahoo.com, or Google Tim  ‘Gravy’ Brown and you will find out more than you probably want to know."

This Saturday, April 6, starting at 12:30 p.m., Marcia Welsh of Positively Best Friends Dog Training, is starting an "I'm Certifiable!" Canine Good Citizen training course and evaluation. This is a basic skills class prerequisite for enrollment in a Preparation Course for Therapy Dogs, starting June 1, which will result in certification by Therapy Dogs International.  This nonprofit provides qualified handlers and dogs for visitations to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospice care facilities and anywhere therapy dogs are needed.

Positively Best Friends training center is on Route 27, just across from the Eddy Road turn-off, in the building formerly a Red Men's Hall.  For more information, call 207-882-7297 or email marcia@positivelybestfriends.com/.

Meanwhile chickens are squawking, goats are maahing and a dog is barking, somewhere beyond 234 River Road, 207-633-2978, jocam@tidewater.net/.