April is the cruelest month, the poet sings, thinking perhaps of the Ides of April when our taxes must be turned in. On the other hand, April brings Easter, with its preludes and antecedents, Palm Sunday on April 13, the start of Passover on April 14, and Good Friday on April 18. That day, of course, was when Paul Revere was bucketing around warning us all of the British.

Let me remind you about the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association citizen scientist program, rescheduled from March 8 to Wednesday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m., Hildy Ellis of the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, showing us how to turn our yards into backyard bird habitats. I will refer you to the SVCA website for more information.

The Edgecomb Historical Society will be meeting at Jo Cameron's house, 234 River Road, on Thursday, April 24, at 2 p.m. A visit to Salt Marsh Schoolhouse is planned.

The North Edgecomb Cemetery Association will meet at the Town Hall on April 12 at 10 a.m. All are welcome. On the agenda will be a decision as to whether two meetings a year are necessary. For more information, call Ruth Bryant at 207-882-5510.

Flowers of the Forest: Let us salute the passing of Cynthia Orne, mother of two of our neighbors in Edgecomb, and other children near and far. Our deepest condolences go out to them all. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb 04556, or the Bible Baptist Church, 143 Beechnut Hill Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

Along the Hooray Highway: The kids from Wiscasset Primary School observed "Hearts of Love" week last week by bringing in all kinds of pet supplies and food to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Each classroom was challenged to collect 500 pennies, which, of course, converts to $5, times however many classrooms at WPS, a tidy sum for LCAS.

On Tuesday, April 15, the school will celebrate Animal Shelter Spirit Day. I don't know why the students are expected to wear their favorite hats (I hate hats), but I should think they could develop some relevant cheers, like "Rah rah, Weimaraner!" "You go, Angora!" “Give me an M, give me a U, give me a T, give me another T, what have I got?”

But the shelter's needs for blankets, grain-free dog and cat foods, pet toys, towels, and cleaning supplies are ongoing. Call the shelter, 207-882-9677, to be sure what brands or types of supplies they need, as they are very exacting.

More hoorays! The Leones’ Teens To Trails has received national kudos, nominated by the National Park Service, which may use the group as a model for national-level efforts to bring youth and nature together. At a White House ceremony, TTT was named as one of 13 conservation "Champions of Change." The Leones' goal is to initiate an outing club in every high school in Maine. Carol says they still have more than 100 schools to go. For more information, go to www.wiscassetnewspaper.com or visit www.teenstotrails.org.

And hooray to Chris Groneng, who is one of four BRHS 11th graders chosen for Dirigo Boys and Girls State in June. These programs, made possible by the American Legion, teach young people how government works: running for public office, developing bills and seeing them into law. I sure hope they learn how to compromise, how to break legislative logjams and other critical skills we never knew would need to be taught.

Wading through mud and over stubborn snow heaps to encourage the snowdrops, timidly blooming at 234 River Road, 207-633-2978, and jocam@tidewater.net.