On a recent trip to Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park, my family went on a “dive-in theatre cruise” with Diver Eddie. They sold a book called “The Song of the Seal” written by local author Francesca Robinson about Diver Eddie and we purchased a copy for my 5-year-old as a souvenir. The book was absolutely delightful, incorporating history, geography and science in an adventure described in animated detail and told in rhyme.

A current trend is locavorism, and this book reminds me that purchasing local products is not limited to food and beverage. Buying local often leads to discovering all kinds of treasures by lesser known residents of your community. Now when I’m out and about, I make a habit of looking for these contributions by my neighbors and make an effort to acknowledge and support the impact they are making on my community.