Labor Day has passed. School has begun. TV is bringing out its bright new fall line-up. What else is new?

Your intrepid Edgecomb reporter is not at her post. Bruce and I are relaxing in Connecticut, away from the madding crowds, having brought grandson Ben home to his family.

We had a good August. How to entertain a nine-year-old boy from away? Let me recap: We enrolled him at Camp Knickerbocker, granted, for the camp's last week, but with one lifesaver bubble to go, I'd say he has a good leg up on learning to swim. What no one had expected, Ben has fallen in love with canoeing!

Besides the Old Jail Museum in Wiscasset, we climbed the newly refurbished Pemaquid Point Lighthouse! There we encountered niece Chelsea Cameron manning the admissions table at the Fishermen's Museum. She was on her next to last day at work, and by now will be ensconced in her new dorm at U. Maine - Orono, a junior, majoring in Journalism. Good choice!

The next day, as luck would have it, the three Ocean Classroom schooners arrived in Boothbay Harbor, and we were down on the wharf to greet them. Ben was lukewarm about this event before the fact, but who can resist the sight of high sails looming grey and indistinct on the horizon? Then rising around the earth's curve (Columbus was right!), and becoming more clear as they followed the complex lane through a myriad bustling small craft and lean, mean motor and sail yachts, to berth two at Wotton's, and one, the Harvey Gamage, at the Boothbay Harbor Boatyard where we were watching.

At time of writing, Ben will have embarked on fourth grade, while Kate moves from daycare to Kindergarten. I am sure, all parents and grandparents everywhere are beaming as your kids move along in school, go through growth spurts, mature in unexpected ways while remaining vexingly childish in others (and the ways change without warning) and parental love becomes that much deeper and wiser as the children themselves become more complex.

Big news from the Edgecomb Congregational Church! Their new Settled Pastor, The Reverend Dr. Thomas Clough, will lead worship and preach for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 9. A reception for Rev. Clough and his wife Ava will be held following the service. Everyone is invited!

Reverend Clough was called to be the ECC's Settled Pastor on May 27, 2007. He comes with enthusiasm and an incredible record of experience and accomplishment. He and Mrs. Clough will make their home in Woolwich.

Which I offer as the Big Story from Edgecomb ME, Northford Conn. and anywhere else on earth this week, far from the ancient orchard, the big ash tree, and the shadow of Mt. Hunger Ridge which looms over 234 River Road, 633-2978, jocam@midcoast.com.