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Roman Mank, of Waldoboro, camped out at the Bremen Town Center for just shy of a week to secure a non-resident commercial clamming license. (D. Lobkowicz photo) |
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By Dominik Lobkowicz
A Waldoboro man camped out for a week at the Bremen Town Center in advance of a non-resident commercial clamming license coming up for grabs.
Roman Mank, 32, said in an interview June 2 he grew up on Nobleboro Road in Bremen but moved to Waldoboro about five years ago.
A year-round clammer and part-time lobsterman, Mank said he started digging clams in Bremen when he was just 7 years old.
“I could dig clams here with my eyes closed,” he said.
Mank said he wants to have a license in Bremen because he knows the area so well, the digging is easier, and there is less competition than in Waldoboro. He’s been waiting for one of the non-resident licenses to become available since he moved out of town.
“Bremen’s better than Waldoboro,” he said. “I know I can support my family without even worrying about it.”
He plans to keep his Waldoboro license for the time being, but expects there to be enough work in Bremen that he won’t need both.
With only one non-resident commercial license available, Mank set up camp in his pickup the evening of May 27 to be first in line.
“I wouldn’t have come that early if I’d known they [the town office] weren’t open on Mondays,” Mank said.
Describing himself as an active person, Mank said he walked a lot of laps around the parking lot, but with his wife and friends bringing him food, he expects he put on some weight during his stay.
“I’ve probably gained 10 pounds since I’ve been here,” he said.
After the town office opened June 3, Deputy Town Clerk Martha Varsano confirmed Mank got the license he was after. Mank was not the first to camp out for a clamming license in Bremen, she said.
“We’ve had it in the past, but it’s been a few years because there haven’t been any extra ones for a long time,” she said.
