It Makes No Never Mind

by James Nalley

According to weather trends on Sperling’s Best Places, the most pleasant months in Washington County are July and August. July is the “hottest” month, with an average high temperature of 76 degrees, ranking it as one of the “coolest” places in Maine. This is a welcome reward considering that the county receives snowfall for six months of the year. Even better, there are few summer days when the humidity is unpleasant. Thus, both visitors and residents should consider the following outdoor options.

First, there is the Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias. Held annually in August, Centre Street Congregational Church “rolls out the blue carpet” and offers blueberry-related crafts, food, entertainment, and contests. Held rain or shine, it has drawn thousands of visitors as well as national attention. Best of all, there is no admission charge. More details can be found at www.machiasblueberry.com

Second, there is the Bold Coast Scenic Byway. As Maine’s newest scenic byway, this 147-mile route passes through coastal fishing villages, such as Milbridge and Eastport, and offers picturesque views of Washington County’s rocky coastline, blueberry barrens, and expansive tidal flats. In other words, it highlights the unique, scenic, historic, and cultural aspects of coastal

Washington County. A downloadable and printable PDF map can be found at www.discoverboldcoast.com

Third, there is the Grand Lake Stream Folk Art Festival. Held annually in July, the quaint village of Grand Lake Stream holds this festival to celebrate its natural beauty and unique cultural heritage. According to its website (www.grandlakestreamfolkartfestival. com), it “brings together artists, artisans, and craftsmen (more than 60) to display and demonstrate their works, musicians to perform (Celtic, Bluegrass, Folk, and Jazz), and families and friends to enjoy all of this in a magical setting just off the beaten path.”

Fourth, for a quieter setting, there is the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. Maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it covers approximately 30,000 acres of land and includes two sections: one in Baring and the other between Dennysville and Whiting. Overall, the refuge’s landscape greatly varies, with rolling hills, large outcroppings, streams, lakes, and marshes. Such diversity provides habitats to more than 225 species of birds, endangered species, wildlife, and rare plants. More information can be found at www.fws.gov/refuge/moosehorn

Finally, there is the International Homecoming Festival in Calais. Established in 1974, this annual festival

(held in early August) celebrates the friendship between the two international communities of Calais, Maine, and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. During the festival, they present a street fair, activities, concerts, and craft shows on both sides of the border. It culminates with a spectacular firework display. More information can be found at www.internationalhomecomingfestival.org.

At this point, let me close with the following festival-inspired jest: Four college freshman partied too hard during a music festival and were unable to make it back for their final exam the next day. As they drove back to the college, they desperately tried to think of an excuse. They finally agreed on the same story: a tire was blown in the middle of nowhere, so they were stuck. They each sent the professor an email asking to retake the exam and gave the same excuse. The professor said that it was fine and asked them to take it the following day. However, for fairness, it would be a different exam. The next day, they received the exam and sat down as the professor watched them. The questions on the first page were easy and only totaled 10 out of 100 points. When they turned to the second page, there was a single question worth 90 points: Which tire was blown?