JPVIS rockers just about owned the top floor at Mine Oyster last Friday night. Christie Gillies and the band, Ruckus, did not disappoint. Seen on the dance floor were three generations of Gillies, tapping their toes at a high top table were Debbie and Don Snyder, Peter Edwards was socializing on crutches while Tracy cleared the way for him through the crowd. Horst Wittmann, his son Michael and daughter-in-law Laura stopped by for a drink and a listen, along with your correspondent. Thanks for getting us out, Christie! 

Just as much fun will be the Chowder Cook Off at the Community House this Saturday evening at 5. There will be 10 chowders to sample, and yes you can vote on your favorite. Tickets are $17 for adults and $7 for children 10 and under. BYOB. You can sign up on the website or pay at the door. Come see if Becky will hold onto her title for best traditional chowder! 

You can start the day Saturday at the Community House with either yoga at 8:45 and/or Improvement Day starting at 9:30. You can check in with Gordon Scowcroft for what tools might be needed for the latter. Work or gardening gloves are always a good idea.  

Elaine Jones was the guest at the Community House last week. Susan Schadler wrote the following: On Tuesday evening Elaine Jones took us through a fascinating history of lighthouses (or “lights” as she calls them) starting with the first known lighthouse (in ancient Egypt), zooming in to prominent light houses along the coast of Maine, and then to three lighthouses that historically marked out Boothbay Harbor—Cuckolds (originally a fog station), Ram and Burnt. Their history is filled with the lore of storms, personal stories of the keepers, and impact of technological change. Elaine treated us to a lively recounting of the high points of this history. Elaine, herself the keeper at Burnt for many years, was the major figure behind the restoration of Burnt and its transformation into an educational facility, could not be a more spirited and knowledgeable aficionado of lighthouses. The presentation was a treat. 

The IT department at Firefly was on vacation last week so this is all the news for this column. Next column will list the tennis winners, not to mention the chowder champs!  annedooley@mindspring.com