Get ready for another fantastic evening at the BICA hall on Wednesday, Nov. 18! This is a night you won’t want to miss! The men are taking charge, and the excitement kicks off at 5:30. Men, let Bill know if you are able to help. Everybody else is asked to bring their favorite main dish, side, salad, or dessert to share, and let’s make it a true feast. Water will be provided, but feel free to bring your beverage of choice to keep the good times rolling!

We’re also thrilled to announce BICA’s annual collection for the Boothbay Region Food Pantry during the potluck. With many in our community facing food insecurity, now is the perfect time to lend a helping hand. Donations may be cash or nonperishable food items. Let’s come together and make a real difference.

Brenda, Wes, Irena and Judy did an outstanding job hosting the Halloween potluck. Brenda, Wes and Irena had the hall and tables looking pretty scary. And there were buckets of candy for folks to take home. Great job.

You can ask Amy if being a judge of Halloween costumes is an easy job, even if you have a willing assistant. It can’t be easy when you have bats, witches, a jockey, and even a party girl asking you to vote for them. They did an excellent job picking the winners: Happiest went to party girl Irena, Brenda was the prettiest and Evelyn was the most original. Joe showed up and won for best hat, Patti was winner in the most clever category as a jockey and Judy took the awards for cutest and most scary with her bat outfit. Thanks to the judges, to the winners and to those that didn’t win but added a lot of frivolity to the evening.

Thanks were extended to Ann and Clark for their contribution to BICA of the proceeds from their grandchildren’s annual cookie and lemonade sale. This has turned into quite a nice event, both for the kids and BICA.

Jayne will be hosting our annual tea on Sunday, Dec. 6. Additional help is always welcome so if you are able to do so get in touch with Judy at judyb1625@gmail.com. More details will be available at the November potluck. Our December potluck will follow on Wednesday, Dec. 16 hosted by the board and trustees. The hall will then be put to rest for the winter months to be back in action in April.

It is nice when BICA can continue to have potlucks during January, February and March when the hall is closed. These get togethers are held in folks homes so if you are able to help with this, let someone on the board know.

You may know that the BICA elves have already started planning for the Christmas gift-giving for the island children. There are 44 children that will be receiving gifts this year. In an effort to reduce extra shopping for gifts to fill gaps in donations received, again this year elf Judy set up a Christmas tree at the hall with hanging wish tags indicating the age and gender of an island child. Please help yourself to one or more tags (many tags were taken at the October potluck). The cost of gifts should be limited to $25 or less and they may be brought unwrapped but with the wish tag attached to the November potluck or delivered to Judy’s home at 75 East Side Road. The gifts will then be wrapped at the holiday tea (Dec. 6). Thank you in advance for helping continue this BICA tradition and thanks to those that have already done their shopping.

Lots of books are available at the hall for your taking. You may want to stock up on your winter reading.

And, of course, it is now that time of the year when we need to take an extra moment to check on neighbors. If you know of someone that might need a little extra help, be sure to let a board member know.

You may contact Bill at wfbutterfield@roadrunner.com with any questions or offers to help with BICA events. There will be plenty of opportunities in 2027.