(Click on above picture to enlarge. Scroll down for directions.)

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2007
STARTING AT 3 P.M. AT WILLARD BEACH

CEREMONY:
There will be an informal group ceremony on the beach (rain or shine). Come prepared to speak, recite poetry, silently reflect, perform magic tricks, bark, etc. - whatever you feel is appropriate.

DIRECTIONS:

To get to the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) campus, where the May 5th celebration will begin:

From I-95: See directions on college web site at:
http://www.smccme.edu/docs.php?section=1&navid=2&docid=80

From 295 (recommended):

Exit 6 off 295. Turn right off the ramp. Almost immediately, bear right again, following signs for Route 77 south. Continue straight up the hill & down the hill (crossing Congress Street). At bottom of hill, bear right onto the Casco Bay Bridge. On the other side of the bridge, stay straight on Broadway (Broadway also goes to the right but you go straight.) Follow Broadway until it ends at Benjamin Pickett St. Turn right on Pickett, Turn left on Fort Street, (One block.) which is SMCC’s main drag.

PARKING:

For parking, turn right off Fort St. on Arboretum Drive. Follow Arboretum Drive to Lots CC and DD and park. Continue on foot toward the water, bearing to your right past a building made of red corrugated steel. There is a small parking lot (Lot EE) next to the Old Settlers Cemetery (stone wall & sign.) Just past the Cemetery on the right are wooden stairs leading to the main section of the beach.

WHERE TO GATHER ON THE BEACH:

Meet at the tree that juts horizontally out over the sand a short distance to the right of the Cemetery steps. Wind and rain permitting, we'll attach balloons to this. If it's windy and/or raining, the show will go on! John loved the outdoors...and hated contingency plans (or plans in general).

DISCLAIMER FROM OUR BELOVED LEGAL ADVISOR KATHY:

The cemetery stairs are currently missing the bottom step, courtesy of a recent storm, and are tough to navigate. The steps will be fine for the young and/or limber but are not suited for eveyone. We'll put up a warning sign - but if we forget, please walk carefully - we don’t need any twisted or broken ankles or celebratory lawsuits.

The beach can also be accessed by walking past the stairs to where the fence ends. A short footpath leads to the beach at that point. You are still close to the tree area, which is now to the left as you face the water. (From stairs to end of fence is maybe forty yards.)

FOR THOSE STAYING AT THE MCKERNAN HOSPITALITY CENTER:

To find the McKernan House, turn left on to Fort St. from Pickett as described above and continue past Arboretum Drive to McKernan Drive, also on the right. Turn here and follow the roadway a short distance to the Hospitality Center, a big brick building with white trim and a veranda. There is some parking by the building and more spaces just down the hill toward the water.

To reach the Cemetery from McKernan House, pick up the walkway where the additional parking is and follow it to the right.

POST-CEREMONY FOOD AND DRINK
http://www.saltwatergrille.com/index.html