STORY:
Uniquely Maine Millennium in Lubec

While big cities plan extravagant New Year's Eve parties, the little town on the easterly-most point of the continental US is planning a quaint and colorful celebration. In fact, you can actually park your car at the most easterly point to watch the earliest sunrise of Year 2000 for the continental US.

Lubec Maine shares its easternmost point status with St. John for Canada, Gisborne for New Zealand, the Chatham Islands and other analogous sites around the world. Not many people can find Lubec, a cul-de-sac for a town, 12 miles off Highway 1. The taciturn Maine fishing people, lobster-people and the packers like it that way, even for the Millennium New Year.

The fireworks show, modest by big city standards won't take place at midnight but at dawn, preceded by an ecumenical prayer and meditation. At first light, there will be a reveille at the Easternmost Point's candy-cane striped lighthouse.

The Postal Service will set up at West Quoddy Head Station - the actual easternmost point despite its paradoxical name - and offer a pair of special cancellations. The lighthouse protects the ancient volcanic crags that ominously monitor the seafarers entrance to Lubec harbor.

There will be a public breakfast and an international run for peace between the US and Canada. The boarder is only 270 yards across a bridge from Lubec. There is an obligatory time capsule and the town is planning a polar bear style dip at the breakwater.

A young person's choir from Lubec School - just 320 kids K through 12 - will sing "Children of Peace" along with other choruses around the world as part of the Planetary Peace Broadcast.

Forgot about finding a local room. All 50 are already booked, mostly for locals and by the locals. Latecomers are finding rooms in the neighboring towns of Machias and Calais.

Ron Pesha contributed to this report.

DATE: 07/23/99

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