To the Editor of the York County Coast Star,

Reading the news (Middle Eastern refugees, the two-year presidential election, even local ordinance debates), sometimes its hard to remember that, much more often than our world flies apart, it comes together.

A reaffirming example of that phenomenon was this past weekends Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, the largest annual fundraiser for the Wells Reserve. With almost 4,000 attendees over two days, the festival, now in its 28th year, set new attendance and gross receipts records. Proceeds from the event will continue to support and develop the Reserves science, education, conservation, and preservation activities.

We are grateful for our more than 200 local volunteers, aged 12 to 92, who worked together as a friendly, welcoming, and smiling team to make our visitors and our 118 participating artisans feel like there was no better place to be on Maines coast this past weekend. (And thank you, Mother Nature, for a perfect-10 weather day on Saturday.)

Our heartiest thanks go out to our indefatigable volunteers, our lead sponsors Kennebunk Savings, Stonewall Kitchen, Marshalls Tents, Maine magazine, and Duffys Tavern & Grill, and the 30+ other local businesses who generously donated goods and services to help make this years Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival one for the books, and for the soul.

Nik Charov
President
Laudholm Trust, the nonprofit partner of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm