On Saturday, June 23, while you are enjoying snacks, entertainment and visiting at the Windham Summerfest 2007, I will be numbering, examining and measuring items donated to the historical society over the winter and spring, before we were open.

When my “time is up” around 2 p.m., I will motor over to the festival grounds. From all I have heard, this event will be terrific and we hope to see you there. Come visit at the Historical Society booth and pick up your calendar, featuring historic sites, which third graders visit – and the comments by the kids themselves! It’s fascinating to read what a third grader has to say about the covered bridge, for example!

Among the assortment of food vendors and games and fireworks and entertainment at Summerfest, another opportunity may be of interest to those of you who like to get something for almost nothing.

Madeleine Roberts and the Windham Food Pantry volunteers will have a booth at Summerfest and will be offering a variety of gift certificates for everything from restaurants to tickets to the Sea Dogs.

For a $1 donation you’ll get one chance and for a $5 donation, you’ll get six chances. As of this writing, the following gift certificates have been received: Gutter’s Meat Market, $25 worth of barbecue meats; Bob’s Seafood, a $10 gift certificate; Curves, one month of visits; Sammy’s Lube Express, free oil change; Precious Pets, $35 for shampoo/nails and pet care; Lee’s Trailer Sales, $35 for accessories and four Sea Dog tickets; Windham Paint & Framing, $25; Casa Novello, $35; Headlines Family Salon, $25; Seacoast Fun Park, two tickets for the Skycoaster; McCracken’s Motorcycles, $50 gift certificate and there are more promised. All proceeds will benefit the Windham Food Pantry. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Here’s a change to note: The food pantry has been open on Thursday mornings just for senior citizens, but now that summer is here, it will be open on the first Thursday only, each month. For those seniors who have a calendar and write down appointments, this is another one to add to it. If you go to the food pantry on Thursday, make it the first Thursday!

Madeleine Roberts is doing a great job at the pantry and associated Clothes Closet. When I was there a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a long rack of jeans and found a pair which fit perfectly! Saved myself about $25, which is better spent on the electric bill! Madeleine tells me she could use more little girls’ clothes, so if you’re cleaning out a closet and have a pile of out-grown girls clothing (small sizes) consider giving them to the Clothes Closet, located right across from Friends Church on Route 202.

July 4 comes right in the middle of the week this year – does this mean we’ll have a long, long weekend before or after, or not at all? Fireworks the night before or the Saturday or Sunday before? Decisions, decisions! Something to think about! We’ve changed Memorial Day and presidents’ birthdays but I guess we’ve left Independence Day alone – so far.

Thanks for reading the Good Word and we’ll see you next week.