567-2029

jeffdavis55@hotmail.com

Town news

If you missed the senior luncheon and celebration of the town's 156th birthday, do not despair. I video-recorded the talk given by the Stockton Springs Historical Society's Diane Coose-Littlefield. She spoke of the town's history and shared her reminisces of the days of her youth growing up in town before all the roads were put in place. She had displayed the items available for sale at the Colcord House, the home of the Stockton Springs Historical Society and the Stockton Springs Community Library. These items include maps of the town throughout history, plot maps and books of the town's four cemeteries, the two written histories of the town, the novel "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and more. A price list is available at the library.

Although I am but a mere 57 years of age, I was invited to the senior luncheon by Town Manager Rich Couch, who asked that I bring my “press hat.” It was a wonderful celebration and all involved should be congratulated. If you would like pictures of the event, email me and I will be glad to forward them to you.

The Select Board will convene at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Town Hall. There is no easy time to be a select person. In today's economic environment, it is very difficult and at times heart-breaking. Our thoughts go with them as they try to guide our town to a more prosperous future.

The town has posted vacancies on the Planning Board of Appeals and the Board of Assessment Review. If you would like to volunteer for these positions, contact the town officials at 567-3404.

The next scheduled senior luncheon is March 27. The doors of the Community Room below the Town Hall will open at 11:30 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon. Please RSVP to the town at 567-3404, so that enough food will be prepared. Suggested donation is $7.

Resident news

From time to time, Tink Smith will ask me who I will be picking on this week in the paper. Well, Tink, this week's honor goes to your beloved wife, Jerry Smith. Sister-in-law Cheryl Ashey emailed me to announce that on March 9, 82 guests gathered together to celebrate Jerry's 80th birthday at the Searsport home of the Smith's daughter, Rainey Jackson. Cheryl advised me that Jerry was born on March 8 and has attended thousands of parties for others in her life, and all concerned felt it was time her years of kindness were reciprocated. Jerry is a lifelong Stockton resident and a lifelong member of the Sandy Point Congregational Church. If they ever should build a statue representing family values, hard work and community dedication, it should bear the likeness of Tink and Jerry Smith. However, expecting her to get Tink cleaned up and to sit still long enough to pose for it is too much too ask of an octogenarian. Happy birthday, Jerry.

Spring is here

Spring is here and, although we suffered some disappointment and loss in town, it has been a good winter for us. I spent a lot of the winter snowshoeing through the silent woods and around the Mill Pond. I walked the town's coastal property and collected shore finds: worthless bits of broken glass, pieces of rusted metal and shards of pottery that seem priceless lying in the sand among the rocks. I rode the back roads of town, Harris Road, Green Valley Road and Pout Town Road. I love doing that. I even love saying “The Pout Town Road.” I would pass The Main Street Market or Perry's Store and throw on my turn signal to turn in if I saw enough trucks and cars in the parking lot to strike up a decent conversation. I love doing that. As much as I love our natural environment and our lighthouse, it is the people of this town that shine the brightest. It is you that I love. It is you who make this the beautiful town of Stockton Springs.