PORT CLYDE— Port Clyde, a tight-knit fishing community, hasn’t held a Rock the Dock community event since 2010. This fall, there had been a plan in place on Oct. 19 to come together after the season to commemorate the renovation of the Monhegan Boat Line mailboat, Laura B, and to remember the commercial fishermen and lobstermen lost at sea, as well as to build a fisherman's memorial at Marshall Point.

“We were excited to put on a Rock the Dock event this year, but when the accident happened in August, we weren’t sure if it was still appropriate to have a community celebration,” said Amy Barstow, co-owner of the Monhegan Boat Line with her husband, Andy.  

This past summer, 9-year-old Dylan Gold, of Cohasset, Mass., was fatally injured in a motor vehicle crash on the Monhegan Dock Aug. 11.  In addition to Dylan, his mother, Allison, brother Wyatt, and Port Clyde's Joss Coggeshall were critically injured by the runaway vehicle.

Barstow, like so many others in the community, were devastated by this event and wanted to find a way to honor Dylan’s memory. She contacted the Gold family and asked for their blessing to have the celebration in Dylan’s honor.

“They were very supportive of the idea and wanted the community to have it, so that’s how it has come to be,” said Barstow. 

This event is donation-only and Barstow added that the Gold family declined any percentage of the proceeds. Instead, they wanted it to go to the events’ recipients, LifeFlight of Maine, an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit air medical and critical care transport organization and the St. George Volunteer Ambulance and Firefighter's Association.

However, anyone who wishes to donate something in remembrance of Dylan (who had a previous flight by LifeFlight from Monhegan) can do so, by making a donation to the Dylan Gold fund at LifeFlight of Maine.

“Everybody has been so happy to do something, whether it’s cooking or donating something in the raffle or cleaning up,” said Barstow. “We’re going to have it right on the dock and do a moment of silence for Dylan, along with a moment of silence for the blessing of the fleet.”

In a traditional fishing community, the blessing of the fleet is a ritual where lobster boats and fishing vessels line up in the harbor to receive a blessing. It is a tribute to those who have lost their lives on the water while making their living.

The Rock the Dock for Dylan begins Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. and includes lobster and a pig roast, along with other homemade dishes, raffles, remembrances at 3:30 p.m. and the annual blessing of the fleet at 4 p.m., followed by music into the evening featuring The Country Choir and The Maine Rockets.

For more information and how to help, contact the Monhegan Boat Line at 207-372-8848, abarstow@monheganboat.me.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com