It would have been 10 years since my friend Darrel Mays told me that his brother Andy, who was a lobsterman up in Maine, was really struggling because of the collapse of the stock market of 2008. Andy who grew up in Moretown, moved to Maine as he was in the Coast Guard and became a lobsterman there. The 2008 Market crash took a heavy toll on folks going out to eat, and Lobsterman had it really rough as no one wanted to spend money on such a luxury item. I decided that there was something that I could do and called up Andy and asked him if he could sell me 200- 300 lobsters and that I wanted them for Columbus Day. That phone call started the tradition at the Village Grocery of our Annual Lobster-day, thanks in part to our friend Andy. In 2011 tropical storm Irene visited the Mad River Valley, and Andy being from Moretown came home that August with enough lobster to lift the spirits of those folks in town that were struggling with the aftermath. That October, we turned our Lobster event into a fundraiser to help raise money for those effected. The Friday before Columbus Day was becoming a fun event for us in our annual trip to Southwest Harbor in Maine and each trip had it special challenges that we would overcome to make the event happen. A over 3 years ago I heard thru Andy's brother that he had be diagnosed with cancer. Andy's Cancer was an aggressive cancer and he was given just 6 months to live. Each fall however I would call up Andy and ask him if he wanted to put together another Lobster run and he was excited about it. As stressful as it was, it became an event for all of us to focus on and look forward to. This last October, I brought Dick Kingsbury who was Andy's little league coach, and someone that Andy really looked up to. Andy was excited to see his old friend and took us on a tour of his boat, showed us some fresh scallops he just collected and talked a bit about life in general. As we sat on the dock after the lobsters were loaded with Andy, Dick and his three boys , there was a really good sense of happiness that settled over all of us - that this was the best trip yet. Just a few short months later, Andy Mays 53 died peacefully in his home .

This year on October 4th, I will be driving to Maine to pick up 700 lobsters in memory of our good friend Andy. We hope that you would consider buying one on October 5th as it will be one of the sweetest, freshest tasting lobsters that you will ever eat. The money that we make from the lobster sales we will be donating to Andy's wife Michelle and her 3 boys. This is the 1st annual Andy Mays Day that we will be celebrating here at the Village Grocery the first Friday of each October in memory of him. Please consider buying a one of our Lobster this coming friday to support his family.

Dec 27, 2024, 1 to 3 PM

Dec 31, 2024, 8 PM

Jan 1, 2025, 5 to 9 PM