Dover-Foxcroft Homecoming — 2015 and beyond

To the Editor;
    It’s hard to believe that two months have passed since the 2014 Dover-Foxcroft Homecoming Celebration. Homecoming or “Dover Days” as many refer to it is a time when neighbors can get out and say hello to each other and a time when many who have moved away come back to the community to take part in alumni activities at Foxcroft Academy and to meet up with family and friends.
    This time following the celebration is when the Homecoming Committee begins planning for 2015 event. As you know a tremendous amount of volunteer work each year goes into this event and without the support of volunteers and sponsors Homecoming certainly would not be possible. Thank you to everyone who has supported Homecoming this past year and in prior years.
    Each year the committee looks to the following year to decide what is appropriate given the volunteers and resources available, and I’m writing on behalf of the committee as we look ahead to 2015 and beyond.

    The committee agrees that a parade should not be part of the annual Homecoming event but instead the Homecoming event should include a parade on “milestone years.”
    The committee has decided that the next parade done by the Homecoming Committee will be in 2017 to commemorate the Town of Dover-Foxcroft’s 95th birthday.
    Subsequently, the Home-coming Committee intends to do a parade every five years thereafter to coincide with the 100th birthday, 105th birthday etc.
    The Homecoming Committee remains committed to putting on a Homecoming event with activities throughout the day and a beach party and fireworks at the Sebec Lake in the evening. If there is another community group that wishes to organize a parade on Homecoming Day, this is an opportunity for another group to organize this on the years when the Homecoming does not schedule a parade. This is an opportunity for other organizations to become involved in creating this day in our community with new ideas, energy and people.
    The Homecoming Committee will work hard over the coming months to make the 2015 Homecoming Celebration a day to enjoy and remember – as it always has been. This is also a time when your thoughts and ideas are needed so that we can continue to make this a special day in our community. At the same time the committee wants to ensure that the event is sustainable with the resources and volunteers available so we are able to keep this event in our community for many more years to come. If you’d like to become involved please attend a meeting or contact a committee member. Meetings are posted on the Town’s website and they are announced on the Homecoming Facebook page.
    This is an opportunity to bring new ideas and excitement to our annual Homecoming event and we hope that you are interested in being a part of it.
Jack Clukey, co-chair
Homecoming Committee
Dover-Foxcroft

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    ARTISTIC TOUCH — Mary Yennis paints a fire helmet on Elijah Brann’s cheek during the Dexter Fire Department’s open house on Oct. 11.