Our Interact youth group did it again – their annual Spaghetti Dinner held last week at the Clubhouse proved to be a sold-out event and raised $1,085 for Education Boothbay. Way to go! 

Interact club president Abigail Clarke listed the service projects the group has accomplished this year. In addition to Education Boothbay, the group has helped out at the Veterans Appreciation Dinner, and also provided holiday cards for the residents, raised money for Los Angeles fire victims by partnering with a California Interact club, and in just a few days: playing bingo with St. Andrews residents and organizing  an Earth Day cleanup.  What terrific youth and how fortunate we are that Interact advisors Bruce Harris and Sarah Clarke share their leadership and their acumen to work with the kids. 

Also last week, members of the club gathered at Ports Pizzeria for conversation and adult beverages. This correspondent was impressed by the number of Rotarians who showed up – clearly too many of us are suffering from too much winter for too long – and also by the number of partners/spouses who participated. Always happy to spend quality time with Rotarians’ better – err, other – halves.   

Word is that the opening of the Rotary Barn last weekend was a real barn-burner, with lots and lots of happy customers finding lots and lots of bargains galore.  Did you miss out?  Come on out to support our neighbors at the Rotary barn, 66 Montgomery Road from 8:30 to 11 a.m. every Saturday. And if you’ve got furniture, tools, bric-a-brac, housewares you’d like to donate, please call Greg Thornton via phone or text at 207-619-1417 or via email at rotarybarnpickup@gmail.com to schedule a pickup or drop off.  Then Rotary will magically turn trash into treasure. Please note:  No white goods, bed frames or mattresses, pianos or organs, athletic bikes, books or clothing.  Thank you.   

Next week, Thursday, April 17, we’ll hear about the programs and goals of Midcoast Literacy, a Bath-based non-profit that provides everything from reading programs for preschoolers to adult literacy classes.  Be there! 

Two days later, on Saturday, April 19, Irene Fowle is organizing a road trip and volunteer morning at Partners for World Health, the organization in Westbrook that recycles medical equipment and materials and sends them to developing nations. Talk to Irene and come along.  You’ll be glad to know more about PWH, which our club has supported for many years. 

And the following week, Thursday, April 24, this correspondent will talk to the club about Rotary’s Peace programs – sorely needed in these troubled times – and what took me, Chip and Denise Griffin, and other local residents, to Istanbul in February. 

Do you get the idea that there’s a lot going on at Rotary? You’d be right! Come join us (almost) any Thursday evening at our meetings at the Rotary clubhouse. The place is rocking and rolling by 6 p.m.; the meeting starts and dinner is served at 6:30, and we are outta there by 8. Join us! You’ll be glad you did.