The annual Legion fundraiser Yard Sale and Craft Fair is now here this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Our Legion storage sheds and garage are full, so there will lots of great treasures to be had. Crafters and yard sellers don’t need to sign up in advance, just come and our event organizer, Tom Moroney, will tell you where to set up, but crafters will be at the north end (Bet’ Fish Fry end) of the common and yard sellers, will be on the Town Hall side. The Legion will be starting to set up after 2 p.m. on Friday. Yard sellers and crafters can start setting up after 4 p.m. or earlier if you contact Tom (504-638-6987). For volunteers, Tom is asking for help as follows:

Friday, 2 p.m., meet at the Railway Village Museum to load tables

Friday, 4 p.m., meet at the Hall to load yard sale items for transfer to Common.

Friday, 6 p.m., meet at the Common to unload and set up yard sale items.

Saturday, 6 a.m., meet at the Common to prepare for the Yard Sale.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m., all hands prepare for the arrival of our buyers!

Again, any questions, contact Tom at 504-638-6987.

This event is a major fundraiser for the Post! Two years ago, we established the Rowe Educational Scholarship Fund which is awarded to our area’s students for continued education. The Fund needs to continue to grow so we can help kids achieve their academic goals. The proceeds from this sale will help us do that.

On Sunday, Aug. 18, the VA is holding another Resource Expo and Engagement Session, this time at the Maine Military Museum in South Portland. All the VA offices will be there and veterans will be able to enroll in VA healthcare and file benefit claims on the spot. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a Female Veteran Roundtable from 11 to 11:30. You will also see our V.E.T.S. trailers on display as well as an Maine Veterans in Need display. If you have never been to the Maine Military Museum, it is a must see! The Museum/Expo is located at 50 Peary Terrace in Sout Portland.

This past week, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the Defense Appropriations Act. This is a major hurdle in the process of actually getting this Act approved and signed by the President. This bill includes a 4.5 percent pay raise for service members and a 5.5 percent raise for the most junior enlisted personnel. This typically means military retirees will also see a 4.5 percent raise in their retirement compensation. BIW will add three more DDG 51 class destroyers, keeping our BIW workforce employed for the foreseeable future. Hopefully partisan politics won’t get in the way and this Bill will finish the congressional process and get signed by the President. I know our congressional delegation will do all they can to make that happen.

Hope to see all of you at the Yard Sale & Craft Fair on Saturday!