If you only read the column this far, please note: the JPVIS annual meeting is this Saturday, the 27th. Dunkin’ coffee and donuts at 9 a.m., the meeting starts at 9:30. The vibrancy of our community depends on members’ participation; see you at the Community House Saturday morning!   

This just in ... 2024 JPVIS Scavenger Hunt Winners were...Red Team: Katherine, Ella, Lily, Shai, and Sam.They were given 10 clues and needed to find 10 tennis balls around the Point, each with a letter, number, or symbol on them, eventually spelling JPVIS 1913!  

Last Wednesday 14 people gathered at the Community House to hear and tell stories about major storms and their impact on McKown Point. There was mention of the storm of 1635 (!), a “passing hurricane” in 1975 which sent Rick Barton and Kit Luney’s wedding inside the Community House, and the 1991 Hurricane Bob which, after major storm safety prep on the entire Boothbay peninsula, was a complete fizzle. The most dramatic stories were from people who witnessed first hand the devastation (and heroics) on our Point during the 1954 Hurricane Carol and January 2024’s winter storms. You won’t want to miss the next session on Aug. 14, when the topic will be Manley and Mildred Reed. Genie O’Connell will join us.  

Ann Swope sent in the following: “The Swope household was alive with all manner of kid activity. Kate was up for two weekends, visiting with life-long friends Christina Edwards, Vanessa Lipschitz, Charlie Beattie, Toby Robinson, Dave Morrison, Devon and Jenny Crawford, and their spouses and kids. Due to the extreme heat Kate’s wife, Alison Hearn, stayed all week with their boys, Christopher (5 1/2) and Kai (18 months). Christopher and grandma  spent many hours swimming at the beach, walking the dog, exploring the neighborhood,(the troll bridge being a big hit).  Kai loved buckets of water on the deck, flinging water everywhere and feeding his food to Emmet, the very willing dog, whenever the adults’ backs were turned. Kate, Alison and Christopher explored the Aquarium and topped off the weekend with a boat trip with Grandpa Carey. We are all tan, sandy, well fed, exhausted and happy! 

Dave writes: The Triples, Tacos, Tequila tennis evening was a huge success with about 30 people enjoying tennis, salsa music, and food. Many thanks to Noelle and Sally who masterfully prepared a taco bar. Congratulations to Team “Enchanting Enchiladas” - Cliff, Sally, Matt, and Annie; and to Team “Salsa Sizzlers” - Alec, Aaron, and Robert for earning the Champions Trophies! Our Junior tennis match at Ocean Point was a close one and the final score is under review. The sportsmanship and talent of the Juniper Point team was first class and we are proud of everyone. 

Calling all cooks: In 2018 and 2019, we had lively chowder cook-offs at the Community House. This year, we again have our judges Kate Culbert and Terry Paetzold lined up on Saturday, August 17th, to use their culinary skills to judge the 2024 winners in 2 categories: traditional and non-traditional chowders. The winner of the people’s choice award will be decided by the ticket holders.To make this a success, we need a minimum of 10 chefs to compete. Please let José McComiskey josemccomiskey@comcast.net know if you are willing to accept the challenge. (I think I’ve got a good chance with my corn and bacon recipe.) 

Lee Corbin wrote up her recent harrowing experience: “A leisurely cruise from Bermuda to Boothbay Harbor. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We were supposed to be sailing the yacht – Elusive – which had just completed the Newport-Bermuda Race, back home. Imagine being in a washing machine with the agitator going full bore! The ocean was cruel: 250 miles north of Bermuda, I was beaten up and the yacht was disabled. The mainsheet ripped the skin off my left hand, the rocking and rolling tossed me from one side of the cockpit to the other, where I sustained a rather large cut on my right elbow. Blood all over the cockpit! On day two, Dan Zajdel, of Boothbay, and I left the boat by swimming to another racing sailboat which was headed to Newport in a double-handed race. They paused their race to rescue both of us. Dan swam first. I asked a crewperson on Elusive whether there were sharks. “Of course not!“ I jumped into the water and began swimming to my rescue sailboat – Yankee Girl - where I was safely dragged onto the deck. After ooching (like a seal), my way back to the cockpit, thoroughly exhausted, Dan said: “Look, there’s a shark!”  I turned my head toward the stern just in time to catch a glimpse of a shark fin! After another tumultuous night, this time in a bunk (Dan and I are now called the “Stowaways”), the seas calmed, the wind pooped, the gulf stream meandered, the current seemed to push us backward at times, we made it safely to Newport after a week at sea.I could barely walk. I think I’ll wait a year before I go offshore sailing again.”   

Please send your stories and news, harrowing or not, for next week’s edition to annedooley@mindspring.com by Sunday.