A rainout of a weekend didn’t deter folks this past weekend. While your correspondent stayed comfortably inside assuming the clean-up Saturday morning was cancelled due to the pouring rain, around 20 members, led by Gordon and Dave, bravely carried on, clearing paths of brambles, raking, clipping, and planting a zillion plugs of thyme between the upper and lower tennis courts. 

The sacrifice was evident a couple hours later when the same members showed up for the Aquarium Sneak Peek with wet shoes and sodden hats. Thank you and apologies for not getting the names of everyone who helped.  

We will give a thank you to Terry Paetzold and Kit Luney for selecting and planting the flower boxes, for which the House Committee is thankful. If the wooden flower boxes look a bit sturdier, that’s thanks to the repair guru, Ray Paetzold.  

Several people commented that the Aquarium opening could have subbed for the Welcome Back Reception if we had only thought to bring drinks. (Someone quipped that there was even a raw bar). Tout le Point was present, many of us more involved in catching up than interacting with the fascinating lobster and fish displays in the completely renovated room. Definitely worth another visit. To correct any misinformation from yours truly, admission fees range from $7.50 to $10. Over sixty is discounted so you can walk in with one grandchild for $15 total. The annual membership is a bit pricier than before with one member at $65 and for $150 you can take 4 guests. The aquarium is open Wednesday through Sunday 10-4. A big thank you to DMR for hosting us.  

Sunday’s Welcome Back party, under threat of thunderstorms, was full and buzzing. As always, the array of food guaranteed a no cook evening. Sarah Barton printed out calendars of summer events, some of which may still be available if you stop by the Community House. 

Now that those events are in the rear view mirror, buckle up for the 4th of July week. Apparently there are no empty beds available next week; everyone it seems has company, mostly family. There will be at least one reunion: that inseparable band of boys of the late 90s – Aaron Bloom, Patrick Wilkinson, Will (AKA Billy) Barton, Carl Dooley and Denny Whitten - will all be here.  

Last Thursday night the Firefly household went to the very-much-talked-about Alna Country Store. Thinking we were ahead of the culinary curve, imagine our mixture of pleasure and a bit of dismay when we were greeted by Rick Barton (along with Kit, Kacy and partner Ashley) who immediately claimed “we discovered it first”. (Note they were still on their appetizers.) Despite a bolt of lightening taking out the electricity all the way to Wiscasset, we all agreed the meal, prepared and served under generator power, was excellent. Come to find out Cole at the post office lives close by in Alna and remembers when the “country store” really was one.  

This Saturday, the 29th, the Barnes family invites everyone to join them at 4:30 in the Community House for a memorial service for Art. There was a wonderful obituary in the Register, which you can see online.  

Next up: Yoga starts this Saturday (29th) at the Community House from 8:45 to 10. Thursday morning Pick Me Up class meets at 10, there’s lots of tennis (Dave emails a comprehensive schedule each week), and next Saturday, the 6th, is the lobster bake. Don’t make the chairs guess how much corn to order; please buy your tickets now on JPVIS.org. Next week the column has an early deadline; please send your restaurant reviews, brag notes or announcements ASAP to annedooley@mindspring.com