The tables were turned recently when the Community Center received a helping hand from five Boothbay Region High School students.

As part of their community service work for the year, the students volunteered to refinish two tables for the Community Center. Working during study hall at the end of the school day, the five young men were guided by Chip Schwehm, the school’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, teacher.

The project began when Community Center board of directors president Shawn Lewin and Boothbay resident Steve Cook met with Schwehm to talk about starting an informal woodworking group for the Center. Lewin had a few more conversations with Schwehm and they discussed possible projects.

Lewin recalled, “I told them we had two tables that were pretty rough. Is there any interest in refinishing them as a project?” Schwehm thought there might be and Lewin delivered the tables to the high school at the end of September. “It was a combination of commitment, the right project at the right time and manageable,” Schwehm said.

To graduate, BRHS students need to complete five hours of community service each year. By working on the tables, the young men got between a half hour and three to four hours each toward that goal, learning about refinishing and helping the Community Center at the same time.

The students disassembled the tables and stripped the finish to bare wood, then applied three to four coats of clear finish. In the process, they learned about the mechanics of the tables.

The young men worked on the project as their schoolwork permitted. Schwehm singled out Jake Kelley, who made a point of working on them every day.

The tables were finished recently and Lewin picked them up Nov. 18. Projects to be tackled in the future include picnic tables for Boothbay Region Elementary School and a countertop for the school library.