Shrine parade, cruise-in and pig scramble in Dexter on Saturday

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — It isn’t an organized community-wide event, but things will be hopping – and squealing – in Dexter on Saturday, Aug. 10.
    There will be an Anah Temple Shrine parade starting at 10 a.m., led by classic cars from the Dusters’ Antique Car Club; a Cruise-In to End Hunger at Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring Elvis Presley tribute artist E.P. Rock from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.; and a pig scramble at P & L Market at 1 p.m.

    Diane Parola, vice president of marketing for the Maine Highlands FCU Dexter branch, said that while the events technically aren’t related, it should draw plenty of people to the community. “After the parade, the Dusters will bring their cars to our parking lot,” Parola said. “We’ll have music, food available by donation, and all the funds we collect go to the Campaign for Ending Hunger in Maine.”
      This will be the first time that the cruise-in will feature E.P. Rock, said Parola, “so we anticipate a good crowd for a great cause.”
    The Shriner’s parade is expected to feature around 20 units, according to Lee Kaufman, the Illustrious Potentate of Anah Temple Shrine, and will start near Skowhegan Savings Bank on Church Street. The tentative route will take the procession through downtown to Lincoln Street where they will disband in the old Dexter Shoe factory parking lot.
    Shrine units range from clowns to miniature tractor-trailers, four-wheelers, lobster boats and marchers in colorful Middle Eastern costumes.
    Kaufman said that the parade is part of a field day for the fraternal order which he was able to organize as one of the “perks” of his office. “I’m originally from Dexter, so I wanted to hold an event in my hometown this year,” Kaufman said. “I’m really looking forward to it. Anah Temple has really had an excellent year. “
    The Anah Temple Shrine had a ceremonial or initiation of new members in Newport last month, which was also preceded by a parade. “We should have the same number of units as Newport,” he said.
    At 1 p.m., P&L Market on Route 7 will host its 10th annual pig scramble, and over 400 people are expected to show up, said store owner Phil Chabot. “Every kid who signs up will get a T-shirt and a chance to catch a pig,” Chabot said. “We’ll probably have 70 to 80 pigs available.”
    If the youngster catches the animal, but decides they don’t want it, P&L Market will auction it off at the scramble, Chabot added. “The kid gets the money, not us,” he said. “We expect another big crowd, but we’ve got plenty of room  and we’ve got plenty of pigs.”
    For more information on the day’s events, visit www.mainehighlandscreditunion.com, www.plcountrymarket.com and www.anahshriners.com.