Written by Bill Millar | 15 July 2010

In this mobile age, it is often hard for communities to hold onto their traditions, but here in Harpswell one oldie will again be taking place this month.
The upcoming Chicken Barbecue at the Elijah Kellogg Church has been a standard community event for about 40 years now. The whole church from children to seniors works hard to ensure that a fun time is had by all who attend.
Six hundred half-chickens are cooked, 60 dozen cupcakes are baked, tables are set, servers are lined up and the chatter of happy customers fills the air. Live music adds to the celebration.
Reading through old reports, the names of community stalwarts like Mary Hackett, Willis Allen, Lee Chipman, Tim Rowe, the Collinses, Ned Pierce and the Fletchers (just to name a few!) appear again and again, offering their time and talents to make the day a success. Over the years, the Frost sisters and the Wilson sisters have taken time to lovingly put together hundreds of packets with cutlery, napkins, and salt and pepper packets. Sometimes 100 people would be involved in preparing for and working at the barbecue.
Today, the names of some of the workers are different, but the tradition continues. The church will host its Chicken Barbecue Saturday, July 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickers for the barbecue dinner are $9 if bought through July 10, and $10 after July 10. DInner for children 12 and younger is $5.
All monies made will be used to help fund such programs as SummerDays@Kellogg, a free week-long event for community children and vacationers scheduled for August 2 to 6 from 9 am to noon.
So come and enjoy a fun-filled evening and help keep this wonderful tradition alive.
For advance tickets, call Sandra at 833-5271. The Elijah Kellogg Church, Congregational, is located at 917 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell. For more information, call 833-6026.