EVENTS: Messalonskee girls soccer plans 9th annual Girls Youth Soccer Mentoring Day

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Local girls participate in last year’s ShineOn Saturday. The 9th annual event connects youth girls with Messalonskee girls soccer players for a fun day of skills, games and positive youth mentoring. ShineOn Saturday is held annually to honor and remember former Eagle midfielder and youth mentor Cassidy Charette. The event is free to all interested girls, Pre-K to Grade 5, on Saturday, September 28, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Messalonskee High School Turf Field, in Oakland. To pre-register, visit shineoncass.org. (contributed photo)

by Monica Charette

(contributed photo)

Cassidy Charette (contributed photo)

Messalonskee High School Girls Soccer and the ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 9th annual girls’ youth mentoring day “ShineOn Saturday”, September 28, from noon to 2 p.m., on the Messalonskee High School Turf Field, in Oakland. The event is held to honor former Messalonskee soccer player and youth mentor Cassidy Charette, who died in a hayride accident October 11, 2014.

Area girls, ages pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, are invited to attend this free event. Soccer skills are not required. In addition to participating in skill building and fun field games, attendees will receive an autographed team poster and a ShineOnCass wristband that earns them Cassidy’s favorite candy, Skittles, at home games and recognition at the Lady Eagles’ Homecoming game. Healthy snacks will be provided at the event.

To assist in planning, please pre-register at shineoncass.org. Walk-ins are welcome.

The ShineOnCass Foundation was created to educate, inspire and empower youth to shine their own light through kindness and volunteer charitable activities. For more information about the ShineOn Saturday event or the Foundation, visit shineoncass.org or email shineoncass@gmail.com.

(contributed photo)

(contributed photo)

EVENTS: Vassalboro Days 2024: Weekend Event Happenings

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Vassalboro Days : Weekend Event Happenings

Friday, September 6

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
10 am – 6 pm – Vassalboro Public Library bake & book sale
10 am – 5 pm – Old Mill Place Gift Shop
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & Caretaker’s Cottage tours
5 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel Art Exhibit. Meet the Artist Jackson Gregory. Snacks & Cider, paintings for sale.
6 pm – 9 pm – The Mill 934 Main St. Outside dance & music by DJ Dustin from Root Notes Production

Saturday, September 7

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
9 am – 2 pm – Freddie’s 9th Annual Cruise-In TOwn Office at 682 Main St (rain date Sunday)
9 am – 3 pm – HIstorical Society Museum & Blacksmith Shop open
9 am – 3 pm – Vassalboro Recreation Field opening day of soccer games & field day
9 am – 5 pm – Old Mill Place Gift Shop
10 am – 11 am – Professor Smarty Pants show at the Vassalboro Grange. Pies for sale on Grange Porch
10 am – 4 pm – VPL Book & Bake Sale
10 am – 4 pm – Vassalboro Masonic Lodge Fried Chicken Baskets & burgers. You may order your baskets that day by calling 208-441-0378 from 9 am – 3:30 pm that day! Proceeds benefit Bikes for Books at The Mill.
1 pm – 3 pm – St. Bridget Center Cribbage
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & tours of the Caretaker’s Cottage. Art Exhibit by Artist Jackson Gregory. Paintings for sale.
3:15 pm – Double Dam Duck Cerby tickets $3 each or $10 for 5 tickets. Purchase at the Mill or by contacting Ray Breton at 207-877-2005

Sunday, September 8

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
9 am – 3 pm – The Mill Indoor Yard Sale
9 am – 3 pm – HIstorical Society Museum & Blacksmith Shop
9 am – 5 pm – The Mill indoor gift shop
10 am – 1 pm – Special Sunday worship service & Brunch at the Vassalboro methodist Church
11:30 am – 2 pm – Childrens activities & prizes with an Ice Cream ‘Sunday’ Sundae Bar
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & tours of the Caretaker’s Cottage. Art Exhibit by Artist Jackson Gregory. Paintings for sale.
3 pm – Oak Grove Chapel Jazz band preformance “All Together Now” trio playing with audience participation on bells & drums. Outdoor venue unless raining, then concert will be held inside the chapel.

Compiled by Gillian Lalime

EVENTS: Vassalboro Days Sunday at the Methodist Church

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Rory and Terra Pillow with their children and Buzz Crandall enjoying some kids’ activities at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC). Supervised children’s activities will be among the offerings at VUMC during Vassalboro Days on Sunday, September 8, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. (contributed photo)

The Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) is holding a special worship service during Vassalboro Days, on Sunday, September 8, at 10 a.m. when the history of their church will be shared.

“We would like to see people attend who were part of the congregation when our church was built in 1988,” said Pastor Karen Merrill. “We want to gather memories from those folks as well as share some of what we know.”

The Sunday service will take place 10 – 11 a.m., followed by food, friendship and fun. The public is welcome to come for the service and any or all of the following. A breakfast brunch will be served in the fellowship hall from 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.; an ice cream sundae bar will be open from 1 – 2 p.m., and supervised childrens’ activities will be set-up from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. There is no charge but donations are gratefully accepted.

VUMC was built in 1988 and serves as a community center for people of Vassalboro and surrounding towns who come to attend Sunday services, special programs, concerts, public suppers and more. VUMC members provide outreach through participation in the local fuel fund, food pantry, senior programs, Scouting, kids’ scholarships to Camp Mechuwana and by delivering welcome baskets to new residents. VUMC also organizes and publishes a community calendar each year, and delivers them door to door throughout town.

All are welcome to VUMC every Sunday for the worship service, at 10 a.m., at 614 Main Street. Public suppers take place in the church fellowship hall May through October, every third Saturday 4:30 – 6 p.m. Senior public luncheons for 55+ year olds are held in collaboration with the Vassalboro Recreation Department every second Wednesday 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

FMI visit Vassalboro United Methodist Church on Facebook, phone Pastor Karen Merrill at (207) 873-5564 or email karenmerrill62@gmail.com. FMI about other activities at other locations during Vassalboro Days on September 7 – 8 contact Samantha Lessard at (207) 314-4940 or samanthalessard@yahoo.com.

EVENTS: Spectacular laser show & concert to benefit Winslow Community Cupboard Food Pantry

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photo from: foodpantries.org

The Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry – which serves thousands of food-insecure children, seniors, and other adults from Winslow, Waterville, Skowhegan, Fairfield, and 20 other surrounding towns – will benefit from a spectacular Drive-in Laser Show & Concert coming to the Clinton Fairgrounds, 1450 Bangor Rd., Clinton, Friday and Saturday, August 23 and 24, with gates opening at 5 p.m. Cost is $39 per vehicle. To assure admission, ordering tickets in advance is strongly suggested.

Order Tickets at: https://www.freshtix.com/events/clintonlasers2, or call (608) 701-6114.

This summer’s event will be a double-feature. The pop laser show, which features top 40 hits from the ’70s through today, will start at 7:30 p.m., on Friday and Saturday. Following a short intermission, the classic rock show will start at 9 p.m. The classic rock show will feature some of the biggest rock hits of the ’70s and ’80s.

Vendors and food will be on the fairgrounds, and there will be an exclusive infield seating area. (Please bring your own chairs and blankets.)

Can’t attend? Those who may not be able to attend a Laser Show & Concert, but who would still like to donate to Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry, are invited to do so by sending a check payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard”, to 12 Lithgow St., Winslow, ME 04901, or by visiting WCCPantry.com and clicking on the yellow “Donate” button.

For more information, please contact Winslow Community Cupboard at WinslowCupboard@Gmail.com.

EVENTS: Erskine Academy to host new student orientation

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All incoming freshmen or new students and their parents are invited to attend the Erskine Academy New Student Orientation, on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming students to attend this event as it is an opportunity to become further acquainted with the faculty, facilities, and programs at Erskine. The first day of school for freshmen only will be Wednesday, August 28.

Please contact the school at 445-2962 with any questions.

EVENTS: China Community Days schedule of events Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4

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2024 China Community Days Schedule (click to open in new window) PDF

EVENTS: Windsor Fair set for Aug. 24 – Sept. 2

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Maine’s second largest agricultural fair will be offering harness racing, Rockwell Amusements Midway, exhibition hall, historical museum, livestock, demo derbies, truck/tractor/livestock pull events, live music, agricultural education and more

General Admission: Children 11 and Under Free, Ages 12 and up: $12, Wednesday, August 28, half Price $6 and half price Ride Bracelet Day

Hours daily are 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, August 24 – Sunday, September 1, 9 a.m.,- 6 p.m., Monday, September 2 (Labor Day).

Season Passes $70 at gates 1 & 4.

Senior Days (60+) $5 on Monday, August 26, andThursday, August 29. Veteran’s Day Thursday, August 29 with valid Military ID.

No pets allowed, no glass, alcohol or weapons.

Parking is always FREE.

Ride bracelets are available Sunday – Friday andLabor Day $30 (half price Wednesday). Rides start at 3 p.m. weekdays, noon on weekends and Labor Day, ride until 10 p.m.; Labor Day, noon – 6 p.m..

Harness racing post times weekends, 1 p.m., weekdays at noon. No harness racing on Wednesday.

See the full program at www.windsorfair.com for schedule of events, entertainment lineup, contact information and premium book for all entry information.

EVENTS: 53rd annual blueberry festival set for Aug. 10

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One of Maine’s all-time most popular, beloved, and downright yummy summer events – Winslow’s annual Blueberry Festival – is coming this year on Saturday, August 10, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., to Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow. Admission to the festival grounds is FREE.

Nearly 700 mouth-watering blueberry pies and “all things blueberry” baked goods will be available for sale. Blueberry pies ($15 each; 2 for $25) may be picked up at the church anytime from 4 to 7 p.m., the previous evening (Friday, August 9) or the day of the festival (Saturday, August 10) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until they are sold out.

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast

Kicking off the 53rd Annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday will be a delicious Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, from 7 to 10 a.m. Cost of the breakfast will be $7 per person and $5 for children ages 12 and under, payable at the door.

Other Great “Festival Festivities”

In addition to the “all things blueberry” pies and other delicious baked goods, festival patrons will enjoy live music outdoors, an inside-the-church organ concert by Josh Bickford, a big Gift Cards Raffle, a Lobster Raffle, and more.

More about the 53rd Annual Blueberry Festival

A beloved community favorite since 1972, the Blueberry Festival raises funds to empower the local humanitarian/Christian-service work of Winslow Congregational Church. Celebrating its 196th birthday this year, the historic church is housed in a building dating from 1796, which has been home to a worshipping congregation since 1828.

Everyone seeking a wonderful opportunity to gather and enjoy a treasure trove of “all things blueberry” is cordially invited to attend this year’s Blueberry Festival!

For more information about the 53rd annual Blueberry Festival, please call (207) 872-2544 or email news.winslowucc@gmail.com.

EVENTS: A Capital Read gets underway in Augusta

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photo: Friends of Lithgow Public Library

The Friends of Lithgow Library are happy to announce that our 2024 A Capital Read selection is Tess Gerritsen’s The Spy Coast. A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller in Gerritsen’s latest book.

What is A Capital Read? It is a “one book” community read project spearheaded by Lithgow Library, in Augusta, and sponsored by the Friends of Lithgow Library. How do you participate in A Capital Read?

– Read the book! The library has a full stock of books which can be borrowed, including copies in large print.
– Attend free programs scheduled in September that explore themes of the book.
– Attend An Evening with Tess Gerritsen on September 25. Join for cocktail hour in the Danforth Art Gallery at UMA’s Jewett Hall, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will also be book sales and signing during that time. Immediately following, Tess will give a talk in the Jewett Hall Auditorium, across the hall. The cost is free, but please RSVP by September 16.

For more details and to register for the talk, visit our calendar at www.lithgowlibrary.org , visit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LithgowPublicLibrary/ or call the library at 207-626-2415.

Lithgow Library is located at 45 Winthrop Street in Augusta. For more information, please call the library at (207) 626-2415 or visit our website at www.lithgowlibrary.org.

EVENTS: Kennebec Land Trust hosts annual celebration of land conservation

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Join the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) to celebrate another successful year of advancing land conservation throughout the Kennebec River and Lakes Region! Founded in 1988, KLT has conserved over 7,700 acres and constructed more than 58 miles of trails on KLT lands. This year’s event will take place over three days, with plenty of opportunities to learn more about KLT’s recent conservation accomplishments, latest trail improvements, and upcoming projects, and to connect with KLT staff, board members, and supporters.

Monday, August 12, 6:30 PM – Mount Pisgah Hike

Take a hike on the recently improved tower and blueberry trails at the Mount Pisgah Conservation Area. Located on Mount Pisgah Road, in Winthrop. Free to attend.

Tuesday, August 13, 4:30 PM – Howard Hill Hike

Explore the route of KLT’s proposed universally accessible trail at the Howard Hill Historical Park, in Augusta. The hike will start at the Ganneston Street trailhead. Free to attend.

Wednesday, August 14, 5:30–7:00 PM — Annual Meeting at Absolem Cider Company with the White Fox Taverna food truck.

Celebrate KLT’s conservation accomplishments, learn about the 2024 summer intern research projects, and visit with KLT friends. Suggested donation is $15 (free for children under 12) and includes a meal from the White Fox Taverna food truck. Beverages will be available for purchase.

At the annual meeting, KLT will honor the following land donors:

Doug DeAngelis – DeAngelis Conservation Area – 86 acres, in Readfield.

Jim and Jane Brogan – Bamford Pond Conservation Area – 53 Acres, in Fayette.

Dian White – Jimmy Stream Conservation Area – 42 Acres, in Litchfield.

All are welcome! Visit www.tklt.org for more details, including driving directions, and to RSVP, or contact our office at 207-377-2848. RSVP by August 5.