Homecoming Maple Breakfast set for March 22 at Foxcroft Academy

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Hundreds of people are expected to converge on Dover-Foxcroft this weekend for the annual Shiretown Homecoming Maple Breakfast on Sunday, March 22 from 7-10 a.m.
    Proceeds from the breakfast will go toward the Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecom-ing Committee.
    But for the first time ever, the location will be at the Foxcroft Academy gymnasium instead of the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department.

Observer file photo

    GOOD TURNOUT — The Shiretown Homecoming Maple Breakfast has been held at the Dover-Foxcroft fire station for the past 18 years. Now that it’s been moved to the Foxcroft Academy gymnasium, an even bigger crowd is expected this year.

    It’s not uncommon for the breakfast to draw crowds of 700-800 people, so the event has clearly “outgrown” the cozy-but-cramped confines of the fire station.
    At Foxcroft Academy this Sunday, patrons will have more elbow room and be able to sit around and relax after the meal, since they won’t feel rushed to leave so someone else can have their seat.
    Bob’s Sugarhouse owner Bob Moore said that he originally came up with the idea of a Maine Maple Sunday breakfast and shared the idea with his wife, Barbara, who worked at the Dover-Foxcroft town office. “She mentioned it to  (former Town Manager) Owen Pratt, and he jumped right on it,” said Moore. “He thought it was a great idea.”
    The late Howard Keselli, a Kiwanis member for nearly 50 years and a former lieutenant governor of the New England District, chaired the breakfast for several years until he passed away in 2005. Moore then chaired it from 2006-14 until Will Wedge volunteered to run the event. “I was neglecting my business during the busiest time of the year, so I had to give it up,” said Moore. “But I’m really happy that they’ve moved it to the academy.”
    “I think we served around 300 at our first breakfast,” Moore recalled. “Out biggest one was just under 1,000 and I’d like to hit that mark (1,000) sometime.”
    The local Kiwanis Club and Foxcroft Academy Key Club as well as firefighters and other residents volunteer as cooks, servers, greeters and clean-up crew after the massive meal is finished.
    The menu consists of pancakes and French toast, maple syrup — donated by Bob’s Sugarhouse — scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade home fries, juice, coffee, tea and milk.
    Prices are $6 for adults; $5 for seniors age 65 and older; $5 for children age 10 and under; and $25 for an immediate family of up to six members.
    While the location is new, many traditions will continue. Q-106.5 radio personality J.R. Mitchell will be flipping pancakes and there will be a 50-50 drawing with all proceeds going toward the Shiretown Homecoming Committee. It’s anticipated that some other “celebrity chefs” will also be helping out.
    Participating sponsors include Plum Creek, AMB Signs, the Eastern Gazette, Windy Knolls Farm, Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Charities Fund, Will’s Shop ‘N Save, French Construction, Cleaves Farm, Steve Pratt “The Music Maker,” Kevin Chasse and the D-F Chiropractic Center, Center Theatre and the Piscataquis Observer.
    Bob’s Sugarhouse is one of several participants in Maine Maple Sunday this weekend and will host an open house on March 22 with sugaring demonstrations, door prizes and free samples.