Wild Pirates, farmed salmon overrun city

The weather was cooperative and the crowds were large at the 21st annual Maine Salmon Festival in Eastport on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9. Seafood, music, arts, crafts, races and a motorcycle show were enjoyed, and Al Salleroli, president of the sponsoring organization, the Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce, says, "I thought it went very well. It went even better than last year, and last year went well."

The Saturday of Maine Salmon Festival weekend is always Paint Eastport Day. Forty-eight artists registered at the Eastport Gallery and then painted their favorite scenes of the city. The works of all but two of those artists were then entered in a silent auction at the Eastport Arts Center, and 83 people bid on 55 pieces of work, spending a total of $4,599.95.

The monthly breakfast at Christ Church Institute on Key Street attracted so many diners it was deemed the most successful breakfast yet. At lunchtime, the women of Christ Church had a successful sale of crab meat rolls and other filled rolls, treats and drinks on the breakwater.

The chamber's Seafood Chowder and Chili Sale was held at lunchtime on the breakwater, and Salleroli says that "the chowders sold out."

On Sunday morning, September 9, the children's one-mile road race and adult 5K run and walk were held. The 5K run results are: (1) Austin Townsend Jr., 17:50; (2) Mike Gardner, 19:19; (3) Derek Howard, 21:51: (4) Craig Hanna, 21:52; (5) Taylor Landry, 23:24; (6) Ozzie Townsend III, 24:16; (7) John Churchill, 24:20; (8) Stephen Day, 25:02; (9) Brian Schuth, 25:39; (10) Andrew Carson, 27:48: (11) Brian Duffy, 28:00; (12) Lindy Weston, 29:05; (13) Jake Deschaine, 29:14; (14) Lynn Hanna, 30:14; (15) Penny Guisinger, 32:23; (16) Inez Pastore, 33:15; (17) Bondo Berg, 33:52; (18) Peter Greenhalgh, 38:13; (19) Alice Schuth, 39:46; (20) Jill Nichols, 39:47; (21) Lydia Goodwin, 43:33; (22) Sam Schuth, 45:00; (23) Jill Higgins, 47:30; (24) Terry Greenhalgh, 47:39; and Jackie Higgins, 47:50. The one-mile run results are: (1) Forrest Carle, 7:01; (2) Lucia Aretakis, 7:14; (3) Michael Lursen, 7:16; (4) Kyle Johnson, 7:19; (5) Brandy Carle, 7:20; (6) Catherine Jamieson, 7:38; (7) Henry Schuth, 7:51; (8) Frank Schuth, 7:54; (9) Addison Coty, 7:;56; (10) Drew Greenlaw, 8:11; (11) Ian Gordon, 9:31; (12) Madison Greenlaw, 10:21; (13) Mackenzie Hanna, 10:56; (14) Nia Aretakis, 11:25; (15) Riley Fraser, 11:52; and (16) Wren Fraser, 19:14.

Approximately 450 people purchased a Salmon Festival dinner, which was served on the breakwater. "We had a lot of help, so it went a lot smoother," says the EACC president. "That was excellent."

Musicians that played on the breakwater on Saturday and Sunday included Lee Suta and Millie Mulno, Woodsmoke Jazz Quartet, Country Tradition, Pieces of String, the Wallpaper Quartet, Balkanistas, UMM Ukelele Club, Keltic Schmeltic and Duane Ingalls.

Those eating at noontime had an excellent view of the Salmon Festival Sail By and Race sponsored by the Passamaquoddy Yacht Club. Nine sailboats from the Passamaquoddy Bay area took part, and the race was won by Doug MacKenzie of St. Andrews in the Elusive. The winning vessel was followed closely by First Light, skippered by John Foster of the PYC. Listed in order of finish are the other participants: Phil Desmond in Buster; Philippe Gautier in Vasilisa; Scott Fraser in an O'Day 17; Paul Weston in Chance; Gary Guisinger in Sally Rose. Also racing were Jim Buehner in Jo-Jo and Doug Gaither in Boreal who ran afoul at the second mark. The Salmon Festival gave each skipper a free salmon dinner.

Salleroli reports that the turnout for the second annual Downeast Motorcycle Rally and Toy Run held on Sunday "was a lot better than last year." Prizes were given out in the modern and antique categories, and all toys collected will be donated to the Eastport Silent Santa program.

This year's architectural walking tour was led by Lora Whelan and attracted a crowd of over 30 people who listened to facts about structures on Washington Street, Elm Street, Boynton Street and over to Shackford Street. "The tour was mainly about sea captains' houses, and I read some first person narratives about the homes," says Whelan. "The group was made up of visitors, people from Pembroke and Perry, and others who were guests of Eastporters. I really loved doing it."

The American Legion Auxiliary held a very successful coffee house, ice cream social and Chinese raffle at Shead High School on Sunday, and the members of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association were pleased that the group sold 225 strawberry and blueberry shortcakes over the Salmon Festival weekend.

"I didn't hear of any negative comments," points out Salleroli. "And someone overheard a lady talking on her cell phone on the breakwater, and she was telling someone what an amazing time they were having at the Salmon Festival in Eastport."