FRIENDSHIP — Phil Pratt representing the Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund accepts two checks totaling $1100 from Heidi Thibodeau on behalf of the Friendship's Lobster Boat Race Committee on August 12 for the Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund will benefit Friendship graduating seniors and college students to continue their studies. The Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2017 and are working on a matching grant.

Friendship Lobster Boat Races were started as a way to bring the community together to raise funds for the ambulance service. This had been a very successful fundraising event over 13 years. With the unexpected death of Wesley A Lash Sr., owner of Lash Brothers Boatyard, and race director in 2013, the last races were held in his honor. The Friendship Lobster Boat Races were restarted this year and came together at the right time with a new committee, many volunteers and the support from many individuals and businesses.

The 2015 Friendship Lobster Boat Races Committee is an all-volunteer committee made up of local residents and lobstermen, Friendship businesses, businesses in the greater area, and many interested people from all over. The benefit this year was to provide funds for the Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund. The greater community has been a great help in the past and continues to support this amazing event.

The races held Sunday, July 19 provided the boat racers and spectators with the best harbor race course, with 35 participating lobster boats from all along the coast of Maine and we promoted our sponsors who donated money and prizes to these 27 races. We appreciate and thank everybody that supported the races this year. We hope to improve gradually each year and to encourage more racing participants and fans.

For more information about the Friendship lobster boat races or sponsorship please call Wes at Lash Boatyard 207-832-7807 or mail Friendship Lobster Boat Race Committee, PO Box 273, Friendship. Lobster boat race results are available on the MaineCoast.com . Please contact Phil Pratt 207-832-4335 for more information or if you are interested in making a donation to the scholarship fund.