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A list of local events from Sept. 20 to Sept. 27.
— Free Afternoon Tours of Aldermere Farm, in Rockport. Maine Coast Heritage Trust offers fall tour hours on Wednesdays, September 21 and 28, starting at 3:30 p.m. Tours begin at the farmhouse, 20 Russell Avenue, and are led by volunteer docents who share the history of the 200-year-old saltwater farm. Meet Aldermere’s iconic belted Galloway herd. Admission is free. Donations accepted. Registration required. Learn more at aldermere.org or by calling 236-2739.
— Amateur Astronomy with Jacob Gerritsen, 6:30 p.m. at Rockport Public Library. Gerritsen is a longtime Camden resident with an interest in all things astronomical and optical. His talk will chart the course of amateur astronomy over the years, with his own experience as an example. He will show his work and bring in some telescopes for examination. As Saturn is expected to be visible this evening, he will set up one of his scopes to allow everyone to see the rings of Saturn. This event is free and open to all. Call the library at 236-3642 with any questions.
— Celebrating Tony Bennett at Camden Public Library, 6 p.m. The library welcomes back Michael Paul Lund of Serendipity Recordings for a presentation about the life and career of Bennett, known for his performances of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Lund’s program will discuss Bennett’s life from his earliest beginnings to the present. He will share both recognizable and very rare recordings from Bennett’s prolific recorded legacy – interspersed with little-known details about Bennett’s life. Email jpierce@librarycamden.org to reserve your seat.
— Maine’s White Sharks, 6:30 p.m. Rockland Public Library hosts Sue Perkins for the talk, which is free and open to all. You may have seen some stories in the news lately about the increased presence of white sharks off the Maine coast, but how much do you know about these creatures? Researcher and conservationist Perkins will offer a presentation about her work with these recent visitors to the Gulf of Maine.
— Andrew Vietze on Being a Park Ranger in the Maine North Woods, 6:30 p.m. at Cushing Public Library. Vietze has spent 18 years as a park ranger after a career as editor and writer, including a term as managing editor of Down East: The Magazine of Maine. His latest of many books is This Wild Land: Two Decades of Adventure as a Park Ranger in the Shadow of Katahdin, called “endlessly entertaining” by Paul Doiron, author of the Mike Bowditch mysteries. The program is free and open to the public. For more info, contact Wendy Roberts: 691-0833 or wrobertsmaine63@gmail.com.
— Dedication of Memorial Sculpture by Jay Sawyer, 1 p.m. The public is invited to the formal dedication of the memorial display, titled “El Faro Salute!,” at 44 Atlantic Avenue in Rockland. It will take place rain or shine. The steel sculpture is a memorial to the 33 souls lost at sea when their ship, the SS El Faro, went down during Hurricane Joaquin on October 1, 2015. The crew included five Maine Maritime Academy graduates; four lived in Maine and two were Rockland residents. The ceremony will open with a brief musical performance by Bay Winds North Wind Ensemble, followed by a Color Guard procession. Additional information regarding the ceremony and parking will be posted at ElFaroSalute.com as it becomes available.
— “A Day in the Life: A Beatles Experience,” at Camden Opera House at 7:30 p.m. The multimedia celebration takes audiences on a sensory journey, with The Beatles’ entire groundbreaking career, from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, recreated through live performance and five costume changes while a video backdrop depicts the highs and lows of the era. Camden native Morgan Cates wrote and premiered the show when he was a senior at Camden Hills Regional High School. Tickets are $35 downstairs/$28 in the balcony for adults; and $20 younger than 18 anywhere, via camdenoperahouse.com.
— Photographing Belfast’s Waterfront – Then and Now, 7 p.m. at Belfast Free Library. Liv Kristin Robinson, lead curator of the photography show at Waterfall Arts in the summer of 2021, will lead the discussion, hosted by Belfast Historical Society. Co-curators, Kevin Johnson, photo archivist at the Penobscot Marine Museum, and Megan Pinette, curator at the Belfast Museum, will add commentary. The exhibit featured historic maritime history as well as photographs from over a dozen contemporary photographers. This program will be recorded and made available for viewing on Belfast Community Television and BelfastMuseum.org.
— Rowing Tale in Vose Wednesday Series, Wednesday, September 28, at 7 p.m. This past June, six adventurers set out to row a replica 17th-century shallop, the Jane Stevens, from Georgetown to Fort William Henry in Pemaquid. Join historian Matt Blazek as he shares the story of his recent rowing trip on the Atlantic in partnership with Maine’s First Ship. Learn about the early history of European exploration along the coast of Maine, hear stories from the trip, and see the reenactment gear used on the journey. Attend at the library, 392 Common Road in Union, or via Zoom. Call 785-4733 or email librarian@voselibrary.org for the Zoom link.
— Gala Evening at Watts Hall Community Arts, in Thomason, on Thursday, September 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. To kick off its fall/winter slate of events, WHCA offers an evening of live music, dancing and more. Mondaynite Jazz Orchestra will provide the music, including traditional big band, Latin, funk and blues. With hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The gala also will include an art show and silent auction in the Watts Hall Gallery, as well as the announcement of upcoming events at Watts Hall. Tickets are $35, available in advance at WattsHallGala.eventbrite.com.
— Jenner Fox Concert at Waldo Theatre, 916 Main Street, Waldoboro, at 7 p.m. Fox is accompanied by Jeremy Elliott. The Seattle folk duo will travel from show to show on Xtracycle cargo-bicycles. Their 10-day loop will take them to small theaters starting in Boston, then north through New Hampshire, east across Maine, and then back south along the coast. Adult tickets are $10, youth tickets are $5: waldotheatre.org/pages/music.
— Belfast Open Mic, 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Belfast Maskers Playhouse, 17 Court Street, Belfast. Performers – singers, instrumentalists, and storytellers, seasoned and new – and listeners and onlookers are invited. Performers can practice new or old material before a live audience with piano accompanist Lincoln Blake and guitarist Dave Clarke. Bring music charts or lead sheets in your key or browse their resources. Blake will be available for practice at 6:30 p.m. All attendees pay $10 at the door. Refreshments will be served. Any questions, contact Kathleen at BelfastCabaret@gmail.com. Next date: Tuesday, October 4.
— Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, 7:30 p.m. at downtown Rockland’s Strand Theatre. The Grammy-winning Cajun band brings their One Last Time – Au Revoir! Tour to the Strand stage. Tickets are $28 in advance, $32 day of show: 594-0070, RocklandStrand.com.
— Friends of Music Concert Series Welcomes Brass Roots Trio, at the First Congregational Church of Camden, at 4 p.m. Equally at home with classical, jazz and gospel music, the Brass Roots Trio is Travis Heath (trumpet and flugelhorn), Douglas Lundeen (French horn and vocalist) and Rosetta Senkus Bacon (piano). Each Friends of Music concert is free and open to the public, although donations to sustain the program are taken at the door, or electronically via the church website.
— Camden International Film Festival 2022, the 18th edition, continues online through Sunday, September 25, for audiences across North America. This year’s edition is the most international and adventurous to date and includes 34 features and 37 short films from over 41 countries. Learn more at pointsnorthinstitute.org.
— Inaugural Festival Champlain, a free French language film festival in Portland, open to all, this Friday and Saturday. All films will be screened at Talbot Hall at the University of Southern Maine. The lineup includes movies from a variety of French-speaking countries. The festival opens on Friday afternoon with Delicieux, followed by a reception at Portland’s Custom House. The festival continues on Saturday with a children’s screening of Minga et la cuillere magique at 10 a.m., followed by more films throughout the day. All films will be screened in the original French with English subtitles. Full program: afdume.org/festivalchamplain.
— Finnish Silent Movie and Live Soundtrack, 7 p.m., at Thomaston Federated Church, 8 Hyler Street. The Finn-Am Society of Mid-Coast Maine and the Finnish Heritage House feature Finlandia Foundation National Performer of the Year Kent Washburn on the organ. He will perform his original soundtrack to the 1929 Finnish silent movie Mastalaishurmaaja (The Gypsy Charmer). He created the soundtrack from Finnish folk songs and classical music. The star of this movie was Finland’s answer to Rudolph Valentino. A donation of $5 is requested. Coffee and pulla/nisu (Finnish coffee bread) will be served after the performance. FMI: 975-1476.
— Reflection: A Walk with Water, 6 p.m., shown at Belfast Free Library in collaboration with the Peace and Social Justice Forum/Waldo County (formerly Peace and Justice Group of Waldo County). Filmmaker Emmett Brennan embarks on a journey to find stories of hope and healing as he walks 200 miles along the iconic Los Angeles aqueduct encountering cultural leaders, ecological activists, and Indigenous wisdom keepers who are re-envisioning our relationship to water. All are welcome to the free screening.
— Tour of Rockland Public Library, 3 p.m., led by Librarians Jessie Blanchard and Patty King. What Rockland resident experienced an epiphany in the Rockland Public Library that may have contributed to an amazing career and world fame? Why does the library have a safe and what’s in it? What president spoke on the library lawn? Find out about these things and more in the tour that will feature the history, art, and architecture of the library. Meet at the circulation desk for the all-ages event.
— “Louise Nevelson: Dawn to Dusk” Opens, at Rockland’s Farnsworth Art Museum, for an exhibition tracing the artist’s formative years to her emergence as a sculptor of international renown. The exhibition includes more than 40 works of Nevelson’s art, from early paintings, drawings and figurative sculptures to abstract painted wood constructions, collages, and examples of her unique handcrafted jewelry. Nevelson (1899-1988) donated 87 pieces of art to the museum, including 56 of her own works. Her brother, Nathan Berliawsky, and sister, Anita Berliawsky Weinstein, also made significant gifts, making the Farnsworth’s Nevelson collection the second largest holding of the artist’s work after the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. The show runs to December 31. Tickets are at farnsworthmuseum.org.
— Belfast Fourth Friday Art Walk, the final one this season, with downtown galleries and businesses open from 4 to 7 p.m.
— Reception for Winslow Myers Solo Show, 2 to 4 p.m. at River Arts, in Damariscotta. Myers grew up in Walpole, left Maine to pursue a career teaching art history and studio art in Massachusetts, and returned to the area in 2012. He lives in Nobleboro with his partner Patti Bradley, who is also a painter. His show runs September 22 to October 12.
— Laura Bonazzoli Launches Consecration Pond, at 3 p.m. in the outdoor bandstand at Norton Pond, Route 52, Lincolnville. The Rockport writer will read from her new collection of linked short stories (published by Toad Hall Editions) that take place in and around Norton Pond. Free; open to everyone. No reservation necessary. Refreshments will be served.
— An Evening of Poetry with Paul McFarland at Camden Public Library, at 6:30 p.m. McFarland will be reading and discussing poetry from his book Father’s Shoes, which compiles 68 of his best poems written over the past 50 years. McFarland is a native of Maine, and his book is filled with poetry reflecting the exploits of deer hunters, brook trout fishermen, and other characters who roam the backwoods. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
— Virtual Class: Eating Healthier on a Budget, Tuesdays, September 20 and 27, from 5 to 6 p.m. Want to learn how to prepare nutrient-dense foods on a limited budget? Join SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators from Knox and Waldo counties for this free two-week class that will give you the skills to shop, cook and eat healthy foods while stretching your dollars and staying within your grocery budget. There will be recipe demonstrations at each interactive virtual session. All participants will receive a colorful cookbook with 24 healthy, low-cost recipes and nutrition tips. This class is free but registration is required to obtain virtual access. Visit journeytohealth.coursestorm.com or call 301-3950 to register.
— Efficiency Maine Talk at Belfast Free Library, 6:30 p.m. Bridget Gifford gives the program on how to create an energy-efficient home and stay warm this winter. Efficiency Maine, a public benefits fund for energy-efficiency programs, provides rebates designed to save you money on weatherization, efficiency heating, and the purchase of electric vehicles.
— Natural Dyes: Conjuring Color from Cultivated and Wild Harvested Plants, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, 91 Pearl Street in Camden. Camden Garden Club hosts the talk by Amanda Affleck. She will talk about methods for extracting dye color from plants and how to achieve a range of colors on yarn and cloth. For more information, visit camdengardenclub.org.
— MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 23, 24 and 25, in Unity. Hundreds of exhibitors and activities centered around sustainable living, from fiber arts to green building, live music, children’s activities, food, and more. Advance ticket pricing is available through September 21. For a complete guide to the fair, including sample itineraries with suggestions for families, home gardeners, activists and more to help navigate the fair’s 66 different areas and multitude of talks, workshops and demonstrations, head to mofga.org.
— Public Dinner at Washington Fire Department, 42 Old Union Road in Washington, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Adults $10, children $5. Turkey, baked beans, casseroles, pies, vegetarian dishes and more.
— The Fruits and Roots of Fall, at Merryspring Nature Center, Camden, at noon. Gardener and herbalist Denise DeSpirito will lead the outdoor presentation on what herbs can be used to support the body during this time of year. This program will focus on medicinal properties of fruits and roots of some commonly found plants. Following the lecture, she will lead the group into the Merryspring herb garden to demonstrate how to dig up, store, and prepare herb roots for use throughout winter. $5 for the general public, with free admission for Merryspring members. No registration is necessary.
— Communitea at Rockland Public Library, in the Community Room, at 2 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate the shifting of the seasons at the event, hosted by Deputy Library Director Patty King. It will include time to ask questions and to learn about library (and local) services and resources and will provide an opportunity to relax over tea (or coffee) and be in community with one another. Light refreshments will be served. Part of the Kindness Counts Initiative at the library. For more information, call 594-0310 or email pking@rocklandmaine.gov.
— Teens Create: Origami Pencil Cup + Marbled Pencils, 3 p.m. third Tuesdays at Carver Memorial Library, Searsport. Gear up for the school year in style by making an origami pencil holder and marbled pencils using nail polish. For teens and preteens ages 11 to 19.
— New Middle School Book Club Hosted by Rockland Public Library, meets for the first time, from 1 to 2 p.m. Fourth- to eighth-graders are invited to join Miss Katie for popcorn and book chats. The club will be meeting monthly to discuss great (and terrible) books members are reading. This club will be centered around the Maine Student Book Award list: sites.google.com/view/mainestudentbookaward/home. RSVP with Miss Katie at kdrago@rocklandmaine.gov if you are interested in attending this meeting or one in the future. The second meeting will be Wednesday, October 19, from 1 to 2 p.m.
— Merryspring Family Nature Walk, 10 a.m. at Merryspring Nature Preserve, with entry on the Camden-Rockport line on Route 1. Join Rockport Public Library’s children’s librarian, Stephanie, for a guided walk through the nature preserve, where families will learn about plants, animals, and the changing of the seasons. This is a free event and open to all families.
— Stuffy Sleepover at Rockport Public Library, 4 p.m. Rockport Public Library’s children’s librarian, Stephanie, invites children and their favorite stuffy to a special story time. Once stories are finished the stuffy is welcome to sleep over at the library. Stuffies can be picked up on the following morning, Saturday, September 24, where they will have a book children can bring home. This is a free event and open to all families.
— Nature Art Workshop for Kids on Sears Island, hosted by Friends of Sears Island after school on Wednesday, September 28, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Participants will go on a short walk to collect natural items to be used in artmaking. These materials will then be incorporated into projects at several stations where kids will make prints of leaves and assemble a fall banner to hang at home, paint and decorate a walking stick, and make nature mandala sculptures on the beach for other island visitors to find. This program is for kids ages 6 to 12 with an accompanying adult. Participants must register; email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org. Registration is complete upon receiving a confirmation email.
— Spring Trip Information Night, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn about the Five Town CSD Adult Ed trip to Pennsylvania Dutch Country May 2–6. Visit fivetowns.maineadulted.org for details.
— Drive-Thru Flu Clinics in Belfast, at Waldo County General Hospital, on Tuesdays, September 20 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to adults and children 3 and older. Most insurances accepted; bring your insurance cards. Self-pay will be billed an amount to be determined after the final cost of the vaccine is known. Standard and high-dose flu shots will be offered. No appointment necessary.
— Virtual Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group, 3 p.m. The Alzheimer’s Support Group provides information and support to area residents who have loved ones coping with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Currently the group is meeting via Zoom. Those interested in participating should contact Cheri R. Blouin at 301-6237 or cblouin@pbmc.org. Free.
— Rockport Comprehensive Plan, Tour of Rockport, 6 to 7 p.m. at the Samoset Resort, in Rockport. Open to all residents. Join the Comprehensive Plan Committee for a facilitated conversation on the topics of land use issues and business community. There will also be a meeting Tuesday, September 27, at 6 p.m. on the topic of public facilities and services and education. FMI: 236.0989 x2.
— Drive-Thru Flu Clinics in Rockport, at Pen Bay Medical Center, on Wednesdays, September 21 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to adults and children 3 and older. Most insurances accepted; bring your insurance cards. Self-pay will be billed an amount to be determined after the final cost of the vaccine is known. Standard and high-dose flu shots will be offered. No appointment necessary.
— Virtual Class: Take a Break with Guided Meditation, Wednesdays, September 21 and 28, noon to 12:30 p.m. Find a quiet spot and sign in for as much of this short meditation break as you can. The class will begin with a 15- to 20-minute guided meditation, followed by five minutes of silent meditation and a brief time for reflections/questions. This class is free but registration is required in order to obtain virtual access. Visit journeytohealth.coursestorm.com or call 301-3950 to register.
— Rockland High School Class of 1962 Reunion, 5 p.m. at Rockland Golf Club. Buffet dinner for $40 per person. Make payment to: Jeanne Estes Karl, 245 Long Cove Road, Tenants Harbor, ME 04860.
— Mushroom Walk at Erickson Fields Preserve, 9 a.m. to noon. Maine Coast Heritage Trust steward and naturalist Kirk Gentalen will lead attendees on a guided hunt for the natural treasures of the forest and fields at MCHT’s Erickson Fields Preserve, 164 West Street, Rockport. The walk will focus on non-edible mushrooms, and Gentalen will also share his knowledge of birds, tracking, and the animal and plant life of Erickson Fields. Space is limited. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and all attendees must wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Registration is required and available online at aldermere.org/mushroom. For more information, email aldermere@mcht.org or call 236-2739.
— Midcoast Conservancy’s 11th Annual Race Through the Woods, at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. Racers will have two course options: a 13.1-mile half-marathon or a 5.5-mile race. This single-loop course brings runners over steep hills, through the woods, and past ponds and has about 1,000 feet of elevation with lots of technical single-track. All proceeds from the race are directly donated to Midcoast Conservancy to support its mission of “protecting vital lands and waters on a scale that matters and to inspire wonder and action on behalf of all species and the earth.” Race fees are $35 for the half-marathon, and $25 for the 5.5-miler. This race is currently capped at 125 entrants, with a waitlist. There will be no day-of registration. To learn more and to register, go to midcoastconservancy.org.
— Outdoor Forest Therapy Workshop at Merryspring Nature Center, Camden, from 9 to 11 a.m. Lora Laffan will encourage attendees to slow down and experience a series of guided, gentle prompts to open the senses, explore presence, and invite interactions with the natural world. The walk will conclude with tea made from locally foraged plants. This program is part of the Weekend Workshop series at Merryspring. All guests should wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain for up to two hours.
— Fall Craft Fair in Owls Head, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ash Point Community School. Sponsored by Rockland Rotary.
— Tree Identification Walk on Belfast Rail Trail, 10 a.m. Cloe Chunn leads the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition walk. The walk starts at the Center Parking Lot on High Street (Upper Bridge parking lot). Bring water, rain gear, pencil, and an old phone book or notebook for collecting leaves to review afterward. The walk will last two hours, after which anyone who wishes can drive or walk the Rail Trail into town and have lunch together on the deck at Nautilus. FMI: Cloe Chunn at 338-1147.
— Free Vision Screening Clinic at Camden Public Library, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Camden Lions Club holds the free clinic, open to all between the ages of 6 months and 50 years. Last year the Lions screened 70 children and adults and referred eight individuals for further professional evaluation. The SPOT vision scanning camera can detect six different issues that impact vision. While scanning, there is no physical contact or eye drops needed. The procedure is quick and easy and is usually done in less than one minute. Contact Lion John McKay (975-0242) for more information about having the Lions hold a free vision scanning clinic.
— Friends of Republicans Support the Red Wave Fundraiser, 2 to 6 p.m. at Searsmont Community Center. Candidates, live music, food, live auction. Alcohol free. $25 tickets: 570-6155.
— Relationships with Ourselves as We Age, will be the focus of Inn Along the Way’s third 2022 summer Challenging Conversation Circle taking place at the Chapman Farm, 741 Main Street in Damariscotta at 3 p.m. In the interactive discussion facilitated by Stephen Ward, panelists will share stories about what it means to simply consider oneself, every day. Panelists are Margaret “Maggie” Atwood, who will reflect upon the power of curiosity to change one’s life; Ben Cooke, who will describe the creation of stories through going places, the communal recalling of stories, and the necessity for the telling of our own stories; and Bernard “Bernie” De Lisle, who will discuss reframing oneself by turning ideas into action.
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