The Waldoboro Fire Department’s fundraising efforts suffered a minor setback, May 12, when a nighttime vandal made off with approximately one dozen pink flamingos from the Nobleboro lawn of Hatch Well Drillers.
The incident was discovered the following morning, when department personnel were collecting the birds for delivery to an unsuspecting Mother’s Day recipient.
The department will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2013 and the flamboyant plastic birds have been planted on area lawns as part of a year-long project called flocking, to encourage local business owners and others to support the event.
The flamingos’ bodies were removed from their wire legs and later found at the corner of East Pond Road and Eugley Hill Road. According to Deputy Fire Chief Dale Smith, “About twelve birds have bent, broken or even missing legs.”
“It looks like someone just wanted to vandalize,” Fire Chief Paul Smeltzer said. “The department will not be discouraged by this and with some fast repairs the Assistant Chief was able to get the flamingos delivered to the Mother’s Day recipient.”
Staley & Sons Gun Repair, of Waldoboro has donated a new Marlin X-7, 270-caliber rifle with a black synthetic stock and a Bushnell 3x9x40 scope. Tickets cost $5 and will be available to those 18 years old or older, until the raffle ends on Fri., Oct. 12. The rifle can be seen at Staley & Sons at 58 Staley Lane in Waldoboro.
To purchase tickets contact any member of the department.
Asst. Fire Chief Bill Maxwell asked that anyone with information about the vandalism call the Waldoboro Fire Department 832-2161. Donors can arrange a flocking by calling 832-5369.
