EAST MIDDLEBURY — On a blazing hot day in East Middlebury, 75 residents turned out for the annual Fire District No. 1 community picnic on Sunday, July 14.  Set-up on Saturday evening was accomplished quickly by Eric and Erika Murray, Toby Welch, Jason Larocque, Bob Wells, Peggy Peabody and Dana Flanders.  
 
The next day Pat Chaffee, Jason Larocque and Eric Murray grilled hot dogs and hamburgers donated by The Beef Supply, The Waybury Inn, and E&E Murray with condiments from the Downhome Deli. Melissa Dragon baked and decorated the cake. Jason Larocque, from Otter Creek Engineering, went to great lengths to obtain Ben and Jerry’s ice cream when a communication lapse prevented Middlebury Sweets from providing ice cream for dessert. Jason sold the leftover ice cream during the townwide yard sale on July 20 and donated the proceeds to the Sarah Partridge Library. The leftover meat and buns were donated to the Valley Bible Church Vacation Bible School, which was held the week of July 15.
 
This year Linda and Howard Kelton were honored for their work in our community. Their major contributions include serving on the East Middlebury Citizens Group that addressed concerns regarding the expansion of the Carrara gravel pit on Schoolhouse Hill Road. Linda has put in hours working on the project to record the information from the gravestones in Prospect Cemetery. She has also photographed each house and business in East Middlebury and has them displayed, with owner information, in house books which are available for library checkout.
 
Other helpers who made the event run smoothly were Sarah and Dayton Wakefield, who obtained the plaques; Kathleen Ramsay, who provided vases of flowers for the tables; Aileen Pettit, who solicited door prizes; and Erika Murray, the overall chairperson.
 
Local businesses who underwrote the picnic expenses were ABC Storage; Addison County Commission Sales; Canopy Timber; Earth Waste Systems; Goodro Lumber; Middlebury Antiques; Murphy Metals; R&M Repair; and Tom Bodette Landscaping. The Lodge at Otter Creek provided paper supplies.
 
Door prizes included donations from Goodro Lumber, Mike Mayone, Ann Christie, Maureen Williams, Katharine Windham, Toby and Renita Welch and Craig Bingham.
 
Thanks to everyone for showing why East Middlebury is a great community in which to live.