Wiscasset Senior Center

The Fourth of July holiday is upon us and there are a lot of things happening in the area and in the Town of Wiscasset. You can pick from a long list of dining and entertainment options but there is really no option for breakfast!

You won't find a better breakfast than that at the Senior Center. The public breakfast will be served from 7 to 9 a.m. with eggs, ham, toast, home fries, juice and coffee all for $6, with children five and under free. So get the day started with a great breakfast. Please invite all your family and friends to join you.

Just a few years ago it was the tremendous increase in health care and health insurance cost that grabbed the headlines. Then it was the increase in the cost of prescription drugs. Then the cost of gasoline and now the cost of just about everything from groceries to taxes. Everyone says that they are being hurt by the high costs but I haven't read about anyone saying they have made a bundle on price increases.

So where does the money go? I don't know but it is generally assumed that the consumer will absorb the increases that are always passed on to him to pay. The consumer may try going to the bank and say that he will have to have more interest on his savings accounts because the costs of running his household must be passed on to the bank. I don't think that will work. The consumer also might be able to get a raise or hold out for a new contract. But more than likely you and I, the consumer, will just cut down on things we buy.

A way to cut down on the things we buy is to cut taxes. In Wiscasset the voters turned down the Parks and Rec budget along with other budgets. I believe that the voters understood the question and just said "No, I don't want to spend this much. What can you do to make it less?"

Over the next couple of weeks you will hear what can be done in this column and from other sources. I will also try to show how interconnected the Parks and Rec budget is with the Senior Center budget. Then another vote will be taken on July 22 on the new reduced Parks and Rec budget. Will the reduction be enough to get the budget passed? I hope so, but I think it is appropriate to discuss all options relative to what value the Community/Senior Center is to the Town of Wiscasset.

I've always thought that the Community Dinners on Wednesday evening were a perfect time and place to get discussions going in an informal setting. We allow people to dispense their opinions during the social hour before dinner as long as they do not use the microphone or stand on a chair and demand attention.

I invite all voters to make a reservation and come out with an open mind to take a look, ask questions and give opinions on what they think should be at the Community/Senior Center or even if it should continue to exist. There will also be a public hearing on the Parks and Rec budget at the Selectmen's meeting July 8.

The cribbage tournament winners on Tuesday, June 24, were Betty Sawyer first, Blanche Johnson second, Hal Thayer got low score and Pauline Davis and Tiger Chubbuck tied for the high hand. On Thursday, June 26, the winners were Patty Bridgham first, Ken Colby second, Sally Sherman had the low score and Jane LaBreck had the high hand.

Congratulations to Patty for winning the Cribbage Tournament last Thursday. Patty says it has been a year since she has won a tournament even though she plays cribbage most every Tuesday and Thursday. That is some time to go without a win but last Thursday she certainly turned it around in style by winning all seven games.

Remember that next Tuesday's Cribbage Tournament will be followed by lunch. Lunch is open to all and is usually just $4 more then the cost of cribbage.

(Reservations please! Call 882-8230 at least two days in advance for meal reservations.)

Monday, July 7 - lunch, Chef Salad with Chicken.

Tuesday, July 8 - 9:30 a.m. to noon Cribbage and Lunch.

Wednesday, July 9 - 4:30 p.m. Social Hour, 5:30 p.m. dinner, Baked Stuffed Haddock.

Thursday, July 10 - lunch, Grilled Reuben. 6 p.m. Cribbage