Among the greatest things about the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, aside from the delectable blueberries themselves, are the many organizations and individuals who participate in this special celebration.

The festival itself is a project of the Centre Street Congregational Church and the community, but it actually began with the judging of banners hanging on Main Street last Saturday, Aug. 10.

Activities really get into full swing from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, all day Saturday, Aug. 17, and conclude with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, all in downtown Machias.

Events include everything from Machias Community Band concerts to the hometown musical “My Blue Hero,” a Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, a Blueberry Run; crafts, fish fry, children’s parade, a truck show, raffles, and even a U.S. Postal Service Blueberry Festival substation and special cancellation.

It was fun to hear from some of the folks involved, such as Lyman Holmes of Machias and Lefty McIntyre of Jonesport.

Holmes wrote because he wants people to remember that the annual Porter Memorial Library Used Book Sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, “at the library on Court Street in Machias during the 27th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.”

If you have a book to donate, you can do that, too, and donations may be left at the library “during regular library hours,” he wrote.

Organizers request no textbooks or magazines, however.

McIntyre, a member of the Machias Rotary Club, wrote to urge the 20,000 people who are expected to attend the festival on Saturday, Aug. 17, to make a donation to any Rotarian offering you a bottle of water.

To help with a Rotary fund-raiser, the water was graciously donated by Coffin’s True Value Hardware, Tom’s Minimart, Machias Shop ‘n Save, R.H. Foster’s One-Stop, The Good Earth Organic Market, Bush’s Columbia Supermarket, Irving’s Mainway in Machias and the Calais Wal-Mart.

Machias Rotary Club president Ian Emery of Cutler and other club members will be working hard that day to help raise $2,500, which is the Machias Rotary’s portion of $80 million Rotary International is raising for its PolioPlus Campaign, McIntyre wrote.

PolioPlus was launched in 1985 with a mission of eradicating polio throughout the world by 2005.

“Not only must our club continue to fund our traditional projects,” McIntyre wrote, but it also must meet its obligation to Rotary International.

If the weather continues to be as hot and humid as it has been lately, that water will be welcome to all who receive it.

So, if a Rotarian passes you and offers you a refreshing bottle of water, be generous and help rid the world of polio.

If you have not visited the Maine Forest and Logging Museum on Route 178 in Bradley, you should do so, and this is a good time to plan that trip.

“Lumbering in the Maine Woods: Men and their Machines” is a theme on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the museum.

The museum is located at the Leonard’s Mills site between Brewer and Milford, where you also can enjoy a covered bridge, re-created logging settlement buildings and a nature trail.

“Lumbering in the Maine Woods” features chronological demonstrations of lumbering in Maine from the 1700s to today.

In addition to a Lombard log hauler, you also can view a collection of old chain saws.

Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children and free to museum members. For more information, call 581-2871.

While the Harbor House Quietside Weekend in Southwest Harbor and Tremont has come and gone and Don Featherstone and his pink flamingos have taken flight, what remains is the heartfelt gratitude for the caring and generosity of everyone, every organization and every business that helped make this a truly successful fund-raiser for Harbor House.

Proceeds from the weekend benefit the many activities of Harbor House, which provides recreational programs for more than 2,000 children and adults in these communities.

On behalf of Harbor House, executive director Marty Lyons extends thanks to all who took part in the event, either by helping with its organization, or by participating in its activities.

Eleanor Maxim of Troy wants her fellow alumni to know that the Freedom Academy Alumni Reunion begins at noon Sunday, Aug. 18, in the Mount View High School cafeteria.

Mount View High School is located on Route 220, also known as the Knox Ridge Road, in Thorndike.

If you have questions about the event, you can call 948-2182.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.