Rain makes Together Days a sad affair
Westbrook’s annual Together Days at Riverbank Park, scheduled for Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3, was terminated by mid-morning on Saturday. The morning parade on Main Street, always a big affair and with many spectators was cancelled. We learned that news by calling the police station. The Friday evening events took place, and the many booths were ready for business. We had heard on the Saturday morning radio and television news that the heavy rain would probably arrive by noontime. So when our son Ray suggested driving to Westbrook in the morning to see what was going on at Riverbank Park, I agreed with alacrity – I always have to buy a crabmeat roll from the Universalist Church booth.
Actually we found by 10 a.m. many of the booths were already closed up. We did see a group of police and firefighters, sheltered from the rain, in a “disaster management” trailer. They were on hand, when needed.
We talked with friends in the American Journal booth. Ray bought a hot dog at the Hannaford’s booth, and coffee down by the river at a Salvation Army truck parked there. He also had a chat with Bobby Goodale of Buxton, who had a small trailer full of stuffed animals, but he was preparing to pack them up and leave. He guesses people’s ages, weight, what hour they go to bed, the year of the car they drive, etc. He has been doing this for 60 years, he said, and it was fun to see him. We did discover the Universalist Church booth, all closed up, and knew what had been there, for on pieces of paper, pinned up, with typed information we read, “Tug Graffam’s famous Crabmeat Buns, $3.50.” So I must wait until next June.
The men in the disaster management trailer had told us that the weather was possibly going to get better. Ray told that to a man in a dripping booth, and he cracked, “That’s what they said on the Titanic.” We all know the sad ending of that famous ship.
We noticed empty fried dough booths, always popular, the tents of the Boy Scouts near St. Mary’s Church were still set up, but I’m sure the young people were not planning to stay in them another night.
Will Clarke, grandson of the late Bill Clarke, Westbrook’s City Clerk for many years, and whom we all admired, was busy taking down a lemonade stand. He told us that the tractors and equipment on the fields of the old farm on Spring Street belong to his cousin Nathan, who uses them in pulling contests.
An older couple was walking back and forth, looking for the library booth, to no avail.
The park was a sad sight. After all the preparation and all the produce bought and brought to the park, there was very little profit, except for the Friday evening sales. And we were looking forward to the afternoon and early evening concerts on the main stage, with the many bands we enjoy, plus the always popular fireworks after dark. We’ll all pray for pleasant weather next year.
Visiting the Capisic Pond Park lupines
A few of the lovely lupines at Capisic Pond Park were budding out last week, so I suggest if you plan to view them, that you go this week. There is a stretch of them blooming at the Macy Street entrance, on both sides of the path, after the first slight hill. A few of them are pink, but the blues predominate.
Also last week I noticed a patch of yellow flowers near the pond, and another in the meadows on the right. Checking my “Spring Wildflowers of New England,” by Marilyn Dwelley, I found that they are “black mustard” of the mustard family, but the flowers are all yellow. Dwelley says “The flowers on the black mustard open first at the bottom of the spike. Small erect seed pods that closely hug the stem, replace the flowers as new flowers open at the top. The basal leaves are shiny green and have a large end lobe with two pairs of smaller lobes. The top leaves on the stem are not lobed – only toothed.” It is a graceful plant, with the small yellow flowers at the top, and grows one to seven feet tall.
Also, in a field at the right of the path, is a large group of Solomon’s seal growing. Dwelley says, “The stem grows in an arching fashion from the root; the small greenish-white or yellow-white flowers are tubular and hang in pairs where the leaves join the stalk. The young shoots may be eaten, as may the berries.”
Last week, walking the trail, was a couple, both with binoculars, and they were there bird watching. The lady had a large bird book by Silbey, and was studying a page of sparrows (or warblers). They were both knowledgeable about birds, and the lady pointed out a red-winged blackbird to me. I shall take my binoculars on my next visit, as well as my wildflower guide.
Woman’s Literary Union lunch on June 13
The Woman’s Literary Union will hold its annual salad luncheon Buffet at 11:30 a.m. June 13, at the Deering Masonic Hall on Bishop Street, Portland. Members donate salads and desserts, and Standard Baking Co donates freshly-baked bread. The cost is $10.
Proceeds are to benefit the Eunice Frye Clubhouse Fund. The invitation said, “Come and welcome summer with your friends!” Call the WLU office at 774-7200 for reservations.
RECIPE
Today’s recipe is from “The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet,” 1980. A line on the cover says “Phenomenal Bestseller – Lose up to 20 pounds in 14 days.” I’m not trying to lose weight, thank you, but this recipe sounds interesting.
BORSCHT SUZANNE
1/2 cup instant beef broth
1/4 cup finely shredded white cabbage
1/4 cup cooked or canned diced beets
1 tsp. chopped onion
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of oregano
1 tsp. low-fat sour cream
Bring broth to boil, add cabbage. Simmer 15 minutes. Add beets, onion, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes longer. Remove for heat; add oregano. Chill, and float sour cream on top when serving. Serves 1. Of course you can increase it to serve more people.
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