For the third time in a year, Edgecomb held a giant meet and greet event at the town hall. New and old residents converged there on Aug. 19 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. to share a cup of Joe, snack on a donut hole and talk about whatever.

 

The event is Selectman Dawn Murray’s brainchild. The Arlington, Texas native moved to Edgecomb after retiring from a 35-year military career in the U.S. Marines and Coast Guard. She and her husband Ray Murray both retired and moved their family to Edgecomb from Virginia.

 

Ray Murray is from Boothbay. In 2017, the Murrays moved here to become closer to Ray’s family. Dawn began substitute teaching to stay busy which eventually led her to becoming a school board member. When former Selectman Jack Sarmanian resigned in 2020, Dawn ran unopposed to fill his unexpired term. As a relatively new resident, the rookie selectman wanted to meet more of her neighbors. She persuaded selectmen to host a quarterly event at the town hall. “Edgecomb is a small town, and I realized, even though I was a school committee member and now a selectman, I still didn’t know a lot of people,” she said. 

 

The previous two events drew about two dozen people. And the Aug. 19 event had about the same number. The format is informal. Residents arrive and mix and mingle with anyone who looks interesting. “We have a core of about 10 who show up each time,” Dawn said. “Today, there are some different people who want to meet their neighbor and learn more about the town.”

 

Resident Karen Greene has attended all three events. She moved to town 18 months ago at Dawn’s urging. The two met several years ago while Greene was living in Ohio.  The Greenes were vacationing in Boothbay Harbor when they met the Murrays. “I’m her co-conspirator in this event,” Greene said with a wry smile. “We love Midcoast Maine, and Dawn urged me to move here. This is my third event, and I met Janet (Blevins) who has an interesting story.”

 

This was Blevins’ third meet and greet. She and husband Tom moved to Maine in 1978. The couple lived in Boothbay Harbor until they found more land in Edgecomb. “You can’t care for a horse on an acre and a half and he wanted a barn for his boat shop. So we’ve been here almost 40 years,” she said.

 

Blevins is also involved with community affairs. She is the municipal website coordinator and serves on the website committee. “I’m like the town reporter. I update the website with all kinds of community information,” she said.  “I came here to find information, and hopefully recruit people to the committee.” 

 

The event also drew a couple of first-time attendees. Resident Karen Lacharite moved to Maine 40 years ago from Pennsylvania. In 2012, her family moved to Edgecomb.”This is my first event here. I was told by a couple of friends it was a good way to meet people,” she said. 

 

The event was also a bit of a homecoming for another. Jack Smith was a member of the first graduating class of the new elementary school in 2002. For the past eight years, he has served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman. He attended the event with his father, Selectman Mike Smith. This is the younger Smith’s first trip home in four years.

 

“Dad and I are on our way to the harbor, and stopped in,” he said. “I’m amazed at how so many things have changed, and how others haven't. It’s like a time capsule.” 

 

Selectmen plan on more “Meet and Greets.” At the next one, Dawn Murray wants to invite Edgecomb Historical Society members to promote the town’s Semiquincentennial in 2024. In two years, the town’s 250th anniversary occurs, and selectmen are seeking volunteers in planning the celebration. There are also plans for booths so other organizations can dispense community information.