I hope all Moms out there had a happy and joyful Mother’s Day. As most of you know, my Mom has been in and out of the hospital most of this year, but continues to make me look like a wimp.

I am in awe of her every day and just hope that someday that I can live up to her standards. I am about to become a grandmother for the first time. Our youngest son, Jeremy, shared the news with us at Thanksgiving and it is unbelievable that the time is so close. Just think, March is as close to May as May is to July. Oi Gavee.

Banner ideas

Things have been hopping in Naples this week. About three weeks ago I asked Jane Croteau, owner of Phoenix Studios in Portland, member of the 302 Gallery in Bridgton, a Naples resident and friend, to design four renditions of what made Naples special for her.

I must say, I was blown away by what she presented to the Naples Main Street board in an incredibly short period of time. The designs were unanimously approved by the Main Street board and the Select Board as banners to exhibit across the Naples Causeway.

At the Blues Fest, you will be able to purchase original prints of Croteau’s designs on note cards, posters and T-shirts. Croteau gave the rights for her drawings to Naples Main Street, so when you see her on the street, please thank her as I believe she has given an incredible gift to Naples.

All profits go directly to Naples Main Street for the benefit of our town. Please stop by the Naples Main Street booth on the Village Green during the festival and support out town’s efforts to make this a viable place to stop, put down roots or just vacation.

This effort is part of why Naples Main Street was organized. We want to beautify the Causeway, make tourists stop and stay, increase understanding of the importance of our waterways, develop a base of businesses that will ultimately evolve into businesses that will stay and participate in the community and continue to make this a wonderful place to live and work.

The Naples Main Street group is very supportive of everything that happens in this town and you should be as well. If you have an interest in being part of this committee, please contact Barbara Clark at the Sebago Lakes Chamber at 892-8265 or e-mail director@sebagolakeschamber.com.

Go on a spree

David Allenson, owner of Tony’s Foodland (The Umbrella Factory), is doing something unbelievable. Do you remember the old “Supermarket Sweeps” program? Well, Allenson is doing it in Naples.

Imagine rushing your cart directly to the meat case and just staying there. Yes, it is two minutes of sublime decadence and you do not have to pay. On Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m., you could be the lucky winner of a two-minute shopping spree, which supports the Western Maine Pet Project Inc.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or three for $12. Just ask any cashier for tickets, or Allenson, he is almost always at the store. But make sure you have already purchased an extra freezer. You must be present for the supermarket “rush,” but there are raffles and pre-drawing festivities. Come on out and support one of our local businesses.

Craffey steps forward

This week is all about town and family and how we all support each other. Dan Craffey, owner of Moose Landing on Brandy Pond has been instrumental in a successful negotiation with Kawasaki Motors to provide jet skis to the Maine Warden Service for its summer vigil on our lakes and ponds.

We must face it, it is not like some of us remember from the 1950s, we do need supervision on the water. I think that all of us would agree that we do not want to relive the tragedies of last summer. We certainly do not want to lose any more friends. Thank you to Craffey for his concern and assistance in making this an appropriate addition to our boating community.

Get Centered

My goodness, there is more great news for our town. The Community Development Block Grant was approved. Work on the Singer Community Center (the Grange building) can now move forward. As most of you will remember, the town bought the Grange Building several years ago thanks to funding by Karen Wright, daughter of Edward I. and Myrtle Singer.

A small committee has been working on making this marvelous building not only a tribute to Wright’s parents, but a landmark for our town. We are about to have a Community Center that will make as much of a difference as the Bridgton Community Center has if we care enough.

We now have $50,000 to bring the building up to code and now define what we want for a Community Center. It is Wright’s wish that decisions are made thoughtfully, practically and with foresight. What would you like to see in our town? We expect to put construction bids out soon and have every hope of being operational by August.

We envision this center being used by every citizen. If you have a home-spun business such as weaving, yoga, dance, knitting or painting, you could have classes here and it would be much less that renting a studio. There will be a stipend attached for profit organizations, but so much less than renting a studio, as it would only be by the hour and would only be to defray utilities and maintenance. Sign up now and by next spring with all the money you would save, you could be an independent entrepreneur.

Sorry I took up so much space with so little, but these are all important issues for “Our Town.” As always, if you have information to share or comments, please let me know. Have a great week.

From left, Naples Main Street board Kathy Sweet, Barbara Clark, Nancy Hanson and artist Jane Croteau with artwork created by Croteau exhibiting what she enjoys about living in Naples. Croteau’s work will be displayed on banners and for sale on cards and other items at the Naples Blues Fest in June.