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.

EVENTS: Sidney Masons to hold annual pig roast

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The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons invite the public to their third annual “Pig Roast”. Last year’s event was met with such enthusiasm; they decided to repeat this year. Rural Lodge #53, of Sidney, was established in 1827 and has always maintained a strong community presence.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Masons, they are a Service to Mankind Organization, located at 3000 Middle Road, Sidney. They do such projects as Bikes for Books, giving away as many as 18 bikes per year. They also raise funds for Project Graduation for a local high school, mandating no alcohol or drugs. They are also very active in a food drive for the Sidney Food Pantry. They also do what is caledl the Handy Brigade which gives assistance to the elderly and our veterans in need. They try to be a beacon of charity and good will in the community.

They are inviting one and all on Sunday, August 4, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., to enjoy a wonderful time and meal with them and perhaps some of your friends. It’s a great opportunity to get out and perhaps make new friends. The fare is all homemade and delicious. The course includes Rotisserie Pig, potato and macaroni salads, dinner rolls, Cole slaw and various drinks, cake.

The fee for this humanitarian fare is $12 for adults and $6 for children. So bring a smile and an empty stomach and enjoy the experience. This cause is great as mentioned above and you will leave with a full belly and a full heart. If you are on the run they can do TO-GO plates for your convenience. Thank you to sponsors Fanado Pelotte Construction, O’Connor Auto Park, Gary Allen, Dogg House Restaurant, Cony Hannaford, of Augusta, and the The Town Line newspaper.

This event will be in honor of recently deceased great Worshipful Wayne Ireland.

EVENTS: Save the date for Taste of Waterville

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Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s 32nd Annual Taste of Waterville is planned for Wednesday, July 31, from noon to 10 p.m., at the Head of Falls off Front Street, in downtown Waterville.

Taste of Waterville is an adult-focused, day-long event with a variety of food options from area food trucks and bite booths, vendors, live music, brew sampling and beer/wine gardens. There is no admission fee for this event, and complimentary golf cart transports will offer pickups from area parking lots.

Gather your team and sign up to win multiple cash prizes in the return of our popular cornhole tournament. Pre-registration for cornhole and the brew tasting is available at TasteofWaterville.com.

New this year is a celebrity dunk tank and several performances by aerialist Emily Green – sure to please.

This year’s evening concert opener is the popular band, The Fossils, with our headliner Stolen Mojo continuing to rock the night away. Downeast Brass will be a featured band, with additional entertainment and timelines currently under development.

Applications are still being accepted for food-related vendor participants. Taste of Waterville encourages participation from both Mid-Maine Chamber members and non-members throughout the region. To reserve a spot for this year’s event, please contact Cindy@midmainechamber.com.

For more information as it is determined, visit www.tasteofwaterville.com.

R. B. Hall Memorial Band to honor Selma Pulcifur at concert

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The late Selma Pulcifur

by Jane Brogan

The R.B. Hall Memorial Band will present an outdoor concert at Waterfront Park, in Oakland, on Tuesday, August 13, at 6 p.m., to honor Selma Pulcifur, who passed away in December.

Selma was an institution, both in her community and among the countless musicians who were privileged to have known her over the years. She was the last surviving charter member of the R. B. Hall Memorial Band, where she played trombone for 55 years and served in various offices, including president.

In 2019, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the band, Sel­ma recounted in an interview that she began playing in 1944 when a friend told her the school band director needed a trombone. Selma laughed, “And I said, “What’s a trombone?” Selma fondly recalled, “I tried this old trombone, and, oh, it had the most beautiful tone, and I just fell in love with it.”

Selma played trombone for over 75 years, last performing with the R.B. Hall Band in the summer of 2022 at the Clinton Fair, a long-standing tradition and her favorite.

“I have to admit I’m getting older, but get me in a chair and I can play. I still have lots of wind. It’s natural.”

Sadly, the hot weather prevented her from performing at the fair in 2023, as she had hoped to do.

Selma’s final words in the interview were “I just hope I never have to give up the band. It’s been a very important part of my life.”

In gratitude for her contribution to keeping the community band tradition alive in Maine, the annual R.B. Hall Day festival, held in Bridgton this year, was dedicated to Selma.

The August 13 concert is free of charge. Audience members are asked to bring a lawn chair.

(The 2019 interview by Central Maine Newspapers is available on YouTube: “Selma Pulsifer plays on…”)