Fine Weather Fine weather for penguins. Organizers Allen Johnson, Chip Griffin, Andy Hamblett, Larry Brown and Walt Kreppien are making plans for the sixth annual Penguin Plunge fund-raiser to be held on New Year's Day at Grimes Cove in East Boothbay. (Photo Sue Mello)

This week's winter storm brought perfect weather for penguins. Larry Brown hopes that the wintry weather will encourage some hearty souls to act like penguins and take an ocean dip on New Year's Day for a good cause. Brown and his three co-directors, Chip Griffin, Allen Johnson and Walt Kreppien, have begun planning for this annual event, where human penguins plunge into the icy waters of Grimes Cove to raise money to support the YMCA aquatics program.

This year's Penguin Plunge will be held on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 11 a.m. The plunge is the brainchild of former YMCA Assistant Aquatics Director Dawn Murphy, who wanted to create a fun, water-related event to raise money for the YMCA aquatics program and provide youth scholarships for swim lessons. Thirteen vigorous souls braved the cold waters of Grimes Cove in 2003 for the first plunge. Since then, five individuals, Elise Cundy, Becca Hitt, Brown, Johnson, and Hamblett, have done it each year.

All participants are asked to get pledges for this worthy cause. Brown says that co-workers and relatives should be more than willing to sponsor anyone crazy enough to run into the ocean on New Year's Day. He also notes that over the years, the plunge has turned into a New Year's Day social event for the Boothbay region and usually draws 50-75 spectators.

"It's a fun way to start out the New Year and see your friends and neighbors," says Brown.

Everyone who registers and plunges will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt with a penguin on the front and will have his or her name placed permanently on the penguin mascot. According to Brown, he purchased the penguin mascot especially for this event at a closeout of tacky Christmas lawn ornaments. Brown says that while champions in the National Hockey League get to have their names permanently listed on the Stanley Cup, here in the Boothbay region, plungers have the penguin.

Interested plungers can pick up an application and pledge sheet at the YMCA. Marti Booth and Larry Brown of Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast will be providing coffee and muffins for all participants in the plunge. The Boothbay Fire Department will be on hand with its portable heated tent, so that participants can change and then warm up after their plunge. Boothbay Region Ambulance Service will also be standing by. The plunge will be videotaped and aired on Boothbay Region Community TV's Channel 7. Brown says to stay tuned to channel 7 to view a promotional video about the plunge.

For more information, contact Brown at 633-0711, YMCA Wellness Director Mary Baudo 633-2855, or any of the co-directors, Chip Griffin, Allen Johnson, or Walt Kreppien.