Most Important Town Business Alert: This coming Saturday at the Town Hall, starting at 10 a.m., in a Public Information Meeting, the Planning Board will present its draft amendments to the Land Use Ordinance for your improvements, corrections, questions and commentary. The changes you recommend will be integrated into the amendments, for a final lock-in Public Hearing on Thursday, March 13, at 6 p.m. I hope you will all attend these vitally important meetings! Remember, the Town of Edgecomb is the Town's government, and you are the Town of Edgecomb.

Furthermore, nomination papers are available in the Town Clerk's office for the following Town positions: one Selectman for three years, one Planning Board member for three years; one School Board member for three years; one Town Treasurer for one year; one Town Clerk for one year; one Tax Collector for one year; one Road Commissioner for one year. The petitions require at least 25 valid Edgecomb resident signatures. The deadline for turning in these papers is April 3.

We still need Appeals Board members. These are appointed positions, so the Selectmen need to know of your interest. Otherwise, they will blindfold themselves and throw darts into the milling throng.

Are you ready to slam-dunk some poetry around at the Edgecomb Congregational Church Friday evening? March 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the church hall promises to be an evening for all ages - kids to grandparents -- reading original or favorite poems (3-4 minutes worth per person, please), refreshments and a good time. Any donations received will benefit the Edgecomb Eddy School Library.

Louise Hardina reminds us all that the Thrift Shop's winter hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Tuesday noons, y'all come for lunch, here? Oh, and those who have ordered the Soup Group's chili, remember, pick-up time is 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9.

Does anyone have any lighthouse history to share? Tim Harrison, editor of Lighthouse Digest in East Machias, is collecting that kind of lore. He can be reached at the magazine, P.O. Box 250, East Machias ME 04630 or call 259-2121 or via e-mail at editor@Light houseDigest.com.

A 'Stop the War' vigil will be observed from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Newcastle-Damariscotta Bridge on Saturday, March 15. Grace Goldberg tells me, 'This is part of a State-wide effort, the continuation of a group that coalesed last year to mark the 4th year of the war. The group is called `From Every Village Green' and has a Web site www.everyvillage-me.us .'

On Friday morning, March 7, Paul Kando will be conducting an energy audit at the Edgecomb Town Hall.

Good News, this in from neighbor Barry Hathorne: 'Yes! It is looking good for the approach of Spring! Day before yesterday had a small hawk visit the bird feeder and today I saw a Redtail flying over the ridge between the house and the river. Actually he was hunting. I know I am ready!'

Bad News, a bulletin from next door: A rascally weasel has killed Susie Stephenson's big rooster! I offered her a Have-A-Hart trap, but she said she had no heart for the critter.

Nature, on the whole, is seldom courteous, and spring's coming is never straight-forward.

Deep thoughts from 234 River Road, 633-2978, jocam@midcoast. com .

This column appears in the Boothbay Register, The Lincoln County News, the Wiscasset News-paper, and at www.Edgecomb.org .