Graves Library hosts

Maine authors

Genealogy expert Frederick Boyle will be at the Graves Library on Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. to talk about his new book, “Early Families of Kennebunkport, Maine.” In recent years, he returned to teaching classes at York Senior College, both in the classroom and on Zoom. In 1985, he took what had been a hobby to a professional level, becoming a genealogist with a wide spectrum of clients.

Mystery writer Bruce Robert Coffin will visit the library on Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. and read from “The Cardinal’s Curse,” his latest novel. Coffin is the award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. A former detective sergeant with more than 27 years in law enforcement, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine’s largest city.

Copies of the books will also be available for sale and signing after the events. Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is located at 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport. For more information, call 207-967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

 

The Center offers

Bridge lessons

Bob Howard will present Session I of Introduction to Bridge, every Thursday starting June 20, from 1-3 p.m., at the Center, in Kennebunk.

During Session I, participants will delve into the fundamentals of bridge under the guidance of Howard. With decades of experience and a passion for the game, Howard will demystify the rules, tactics, and etiquette of the game.

“Bridge is more than just a game; it’s an experience that enriches the mind and spirit,” wrote Howard in a press release. “I’m excited to share my knowledge and love for bridge with eager learners, guiding them through the intricacies of the game and fostering a vibrant community of players.”

Session I of Introductory Bridge Lessons will run from June 20 to Aug. 29, at the Center, 175 Port Road, Kennebunk. Session II is scheduled from Sept. 5 to Nov. 7. Attendance in Session I is a prerequisite for participation in Session II.

The cost of Session I is $50 for Center members and $100 for non-members, with payment due at the time of registration. Limited slots are available.

To register or for more information, call the Center at 207-967-85141 or email Rayanne@seniorcenterkennebunk.org.

 

Fiddle festival closes

Concerts in West K! season

A pair of shows featuring fiddlers from Downeast Maine and the Maritimes will close out the spring season of the Concerts in West K! series.

Part 1 of the Downeast Fiddle Festival will take place on Wednesday evening, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. at West Kennebunk United Methodist Church. The concert will feature Maine fiddler Frank Ferrel and Nova Scotia pianist Kimberley Holmes.

Ferrel has contributed to more than two dozen albums, toured Scotland as a featured performer with the Celtic group The Boys of the Lough, and appeared as a regular featured guest on the NPR radio program “A Prairie Home Companion.”

According to a press release, Holmes, a native of Carrolls Corner, Nova Scotia, is one of Canada’s premier piano accompanists for traditional fiddling. She is also an award-winning fiddler. She has toured and recorded with artists such as Graham Townsend, Calvin Vollrath and Richard Wood, and is a member of the groups the Bb Sisters and Tipsy 3.

There is open seating for the concert on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is by $20 per person donation at the door.

Part 2 of the festival will take place Friday evening, June 21, also at 7:30 p.m. at West Kennebunk Methodist Church. Featured performers in the second concert will be fiddlers Troy MacGillivray and Mari Black, and guitarist Matt Heaton.

For more information, call Paul Wells at 207-985-2831.

 

Ham radio demonstration

at Sea Road Church

The New England Radio Discussion Society will demonstrate emergency communications during a national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise scheduled for June 22-23 behind Sea Road Church in Kennebunk. The church is located at 140 Sea Road.

Visitors are invited after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Since 1933, amateur radio operators have established temporary amateur radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science of amateur radio. Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event in the US and Canada. Over 40,000 radio amateurs gather outdoors to simulate emergency conditions using a variety of antennas, transceivers and power sources.

Visitors will have a chance to meet and talk with local ham radio operators and see what the Amateur Radio Service is all about.

For more information about the Field Day, club meetings or amateur radio, contact Alex Mendelsohn at 207-967-8812.

 

Friends group hosts

Hope Woods walks

The Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods invite participants to its monthly walks through Hope Woods in downtown Kennebunk with its Maine Master Naturalist. The next two dates are Sunday, June 16 at 1 p.m. and Saturday, July 20 at 10 a.m.

To register, email friendsofhcw@gmail.com or call 207-387-9100.

The Friends and Kennebunkport Parks and Recreation also host weekly Nordic Pole Walks through Hope Woods. Participants learn the benefits of walking with Nordic poles, which will be provided. The walks take place each Monday in June at 9 a.m., starting at the trailhead to Hope Woods.

Admission is free. Registration is requested at kennebunkport.myrec.com.

 

Grief, healing and

hope at St. David’s 

St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunk will host a series on grief, healing and hope. In the series, participants will learn to use various art forms to find love and strength in the face of grief.

The series began May 29 with a five-week session through June 26, focusing on writing.

Types of writing to be explored include letters, prayers, journaling, poetry/haiku and devotionals/essays. No experience needed. Supplies will be provided.

For more information or to register, contact the Rev. Kris Conley at 207-229-8656, or Roy Smoot, 740-412-1382.

 

Arts camp at

South Congregational

South Congregational Church’s arts camp, Oceans of Wonder, is open for registration. The camp will be held June 24-27; 9:30 a.m. to noon. For children ages 5 years through fifth grade, the camp will use art, music and activities to explore gifts of the ocean.

The cost is $60 per child and there is a multi-child discount. For more information, contact the Rev. Renee Kaufman at rev.renee.kaufman@mail.com.

 

Concert at

First Parish

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk will host a concert by flutist Emi Ferguson and pianist Chris Staknys on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. They will perform the music of Bach, Burleigh, Poulenc, and Gershwin, as well as original works by both performers. A $25 donation is requested at the door.

A 2023 recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Ferguson can be heard live in concerts and festivals with groups including the Handel and Haydn Society, and as the music director of Camerata Pacifica Baroque.

Staknys graduated from The Juilliard School with a degree in solo piano performance. He currently serves as music director of First Parish Church in Kennebunk. He has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall and has appeared on NPR’s From The Top radio show.

 

Conservation trust

plant sale

The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust annual plant sale is scheduled for Sunday, July 7, rain or shine. The sale will be held at trust headquarters, 57 Gravelly Brook Road, Kennebunkport, from 8:30 to noon, or until plants are sold out.

A wide variety of perennials will be available, all priced between $5 and $25. For more information, visit  www.kporttrust.org/.

 

Republican committee

meeting is June 12

The York County Republican Committee will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, June 12, at Alfred Town Hall. Doors open 6 p.m. with a business meeting at 6:30-8 p.m.

The meeting will focus on upcoming events and the results of the June 11 municipal and state primary elections. Alfred Town Hall is located at 16 Saco Road, Alfred.

For more information, email communications@yorkgop.org or call 207-468-2395.

 

The Center

seeks nominations

The Center is seeking nominations for its 10th annual Model of Positive Living Award. The award is given to a community member who is 50 or older who makes a difference in the lives of others through kind gestures, volunteerism, and a can-do attitude.

In a May 21 press release, the Center wrote, “we are looking for individuals who live their lives with vitality and compassion for others. If you know someone who has demonstrated these inspiring traits, help us recognize their impact and influence.”

To nominate someone, contact the Center, 207-967-8514, or visit seniorcenterkennebunk.org to download the nomination form.

The deadline to nominate is Aug. 1, 2024. The award will be announced by the Center in September.

 

Pickleball Classic

set for June 22-23

The Kennebunkport Heritage Housing Trust invites all pickleball players to step up to the net and challenge themselves, have fun, and support a good cause. On June 22-23, the trust will sponsor its second Pickleball Classic at Rotary Park in Kennebunkport.

Saturday, June 22, features men’s and women’s doubles followed by mixed doubles on Sunday, June 23. Each format offers competition at different experience levels. All competitor’s get a T-shirt and chance to receive a medal. Every registration helps raise money so that the trust can keep moving forward with its work to build homes for working families and seniors.

For registration information, visit khht.org/2nd-annual-pickleball-classic. For more information, contact Larissa Crockett, 207-432-2541.

 

Tom Petty covered

in Kennebunkport

Mid-Week Music presents Acoustic Petty on Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. at the Kennebunkport Historical Society’s Town House School at 135 North St.

Dana Pearson (guitar), Jim O’Neil (guitar, percussion), and Nick Georges (keyboard) will play selections from Tom Petty’s extensive catalogue, including “Free Fallin’,” “Refugee,” and
“Wildflowers.” Spoiler: electric guitars may be employed in some places.

For advance tickets, kporths.com/buy-tickets, info@kporths.com, or 207-967-2751.

 

Mid-Week Music will present Acoustic Petty on Wednesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Kennebunkport Historical Society’s Town House School at 135 North

Street. Dana Pearson (guitar), Jim O’Neil (guitar, percussion), and Nick Georges (keyboard) will play selections from Tom Petty’s catalogue, including “Free Fallin’,” “Refugee,” and “Wildflowers.” Spoiler: electric guitars may be employed in some places.

For advance tickets visit kporths.com/buy-tickets, email info@kporths.com, or call 207-967-2751.

The next entry in the monthly concert series will be ’50s Rock & Roll Redux on Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. with Pearson joined by pianist Mark Gunter, drummer Ron Breton, and saxophonist Alan Shepard to play hits by the likes of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard.

 

Death education

series continues

Kennebunk Free Library will host Leona Oceania for the second session in the Die Well Death Education Series on Monday, June 24, from 6-7:30 p.m. The session was postponed from last month. Patrons are welcome to attend one or all of the sessions and no registration is required.

According to a press release, the session will feature a film by Barbara Karnes. “This is How People Die – Part One: Natural Process of Dying from Disease & Old Age” addresses the normal dying process, from months before death through the actual moment of death. The film provides the knowledge and tools for working with the end of life, presented with non-medical terminology. Open discussion will follow.

Die Well Death Education is the passion project of Oceania. Always fascinated with death and baffled by the fact that we don’t talk about the one thing that is going to happen to all of us, she decided to do what she could to encourage that conversation. She has trained to become an end-of-life Doula, a home funeral guide, a life legacy facilitator, and a death educator. She also serves on the board of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine, is the facilitator of a number of Death Cafés in southern Maine, and is a volunteer with a local hospice organization. She has built a bookcase coffin with the prodigious Chuck Lakin, which is currently in use as a bookcase in her living room until it is needed as a coffin.

For more information, call 207-985-2173 or email kfl@kennebunklibrary.org.

 

St. David’s hosts

Tobacco Awareness Group

The Tobacco Awareness Group, an in-person support group, is free and confidential. Whether thinking about stopping or ready to stop, according to a press release, the group can provide information, encouragement, and resources to assist in becoming tobacco free.

The only requirement for membership in the Tobacco Awareness Group is the desire to stop using tobacco or vape products and live a nicotine-free life. The group is open to the community and members can join or leave at any time.

Tobacco Awareness Group meets on Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m., at St. David’s Church on Route 1 south in Kennebunk. For more information, email Ed Perka at edward.perka@yahoo.com.

Edward J. Perka, Jr. is an addictions therapist with over 30 years of experience in the field.

 

Astro society schedules

June 7 meeting

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England’s next Meeting will be on Friday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. at The New School in Kennebunk.  A business meeting, also open to the public, commences at 7 p.m. The New School is located at 38 York St., Kennebunk.

The society will host a presentation by Dr. Fabian Kislat. Kislat is an experimental astrophysicist, who develops new instruments to examine the polarization of X- and gamma rays. Kislat will explain that stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars are objects to observe for astronomers, since the extreme environments in their immediate vicinity are the laboratories for astrophysicists to test the fundamental understanding of how the universe works.

Kislat is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a member of the Space Science Center at the University of New Hampshire. He has more than 12 years of experience in X-ray polarimetry and the development of instrumentation for high-energy astrophysics. He joined UNH in 2018 after six years at Washington University in St. Louis, first as postdoctoral researcher and since 2015 as research assistant professor. He received his Ph.D. from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, in 2011.

For more information, visit www.ASNNE.org.

 

Registration open

for KFL 5K

Registration for the Kennebunk Free Library 27th Edition 5K is open. The USATF-certified course begins and ends in the library parking lot, winding through local neighborhoods and the Hope Cemetery and Woods trails.

Following the race, patrons and the community are invited to a party on the library lawn, with live music, food, and a beer tent.

Preregistration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. Same-day registration begins at 4 p.m. on race day, Friday, July 12. Prizes will go to the top male and female finisher in each of nine age categories.

Those unable to participate in person are encouraged to run their own course and send the library photos. One winner, determined by KFL staff vote, will receive a prize.

For more information, email email kfl@kennebunklibrary.org or call 207-985-2173. For race fees or more information, visit www.kennebunklibrary.org.

 

Fishermen’s group

offers youth memberships

At the April 2024 New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association  board meeting, the group voted to offer free NEFSA youth memberships to all interested persons under the age of 18. The initiative was unanimously approved.

According to a press release, “New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association works to protect “sustainable American commercial fisheries for the future generations of harvesters to come is a top priority. As mentors to the next generation, we are enthusiastic about working with our youth on the water and off and serving as a resource, while building relationships across generations. One-hundred percent of the NEFSA staff and board members have years of experience in the commercial fishing industry, and we are excited to share our collective knowledge and work together for the next generation of U.S. wild harvesters.”

For more information, visit www.nefishermen.org/membership.

 

Church on the Cape

offers camp scholarships

Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise is offering five paid Camp Mechuwana scholarships for interested students in grades 4-12. Scholarships for family camp programs and special needs campers are also available. Applicants do not need to be church members to apply and there are no income requirements.

Camp Mechuwana, according to a press release, is a United Methodist Church camp in Winthrop, Maine, that has hosted campers of all socio-economic and religious backgrounds for the past 75 years. Located on more than 200 acres of forest land bordering Lower Narrows Pond and Lake Annabessacook, the camp consists of nature trails, a boat dock, swimming area, cabins, a theatre, chapel, dining commons, basketball court, and a sports field.

For more information on the camp, visit www.mechuwana.org. For camp scholarship application information, email Diane Hutchins at dianeanderik@yahoo.com.

 

Amateur Radio Society
meets at The New School

The New England Radio Discussion Society meets biweekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. throughout the year at The New School in Kennebunk. The club informally gathers to support and promote amateur (ham) radio. Wide-ranging discussion topics include: early and contemporary equipment, digital technology, internet integration, and striving for international contacts. Most meetings include a “tech talk” by a society member.

Upcoming meetings will be held June 11 and June 25. Those interested in amateur radio are invited to join. The New School is located at 38 York St. in Kennebunk.

For more information, contact Alex at 207-967-8812.

 

Friends group

plans nature walks

Friends of Hope Cemetery and Woods announced the schedule for walks with a Maine naturalist in Hope Woods. Those interested are asked to meet at the trailhead Sunday, June 16, at 1 p.m. for a an informative walk on the accessible trail.

For more information or to register, email friendsofhcw@gmail.com or call 207-387-9100. More walks will be scheduled through November.

 

Wildlife refuge
photo contest

The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is accepting photo submissions through June 15 for the Fourth annual Sense of Wonder Photo Contest.

The contest is an event popular for those who visit the refuge trails and roadside marsh views, encounter wildlife, and show recreational activities of their families and friends. Jurors will look for imagery that represents all seasons so photos taken in previous years are welcome. This contest is open to all ages. Only images taken on refuge property are eligible for entry.

The Friends will accept up to three images from any camera type including cell phones and any photographic style including black and white, high dynamic range alterations, and any artistic changes by the artist. Since the 12 winning images will be reproduced in a calendar format, submit only horizontal or landscape-oriented images. Only high resolutions at 300-600 dpi and 2550 x 3300 pixels minimum are accepted.

Twelve winning images will be selected for the 2025 Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge calendar available for sale by the Friends late summer.

Visit friendsofrachelcarsonnwr.org/photo-contest to submit up to three items until June 15.

The Friends support the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife . The refuge is located in York and Cumberland counties and consists of 11 divisions totaling more than 5,600 acres scattered throughout the towns of Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, and Cape Elizabeth.

 

Astro Society
hosts star parties

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England has set its schedule for public Star Parties through August and invites the public to attend. The society operates its own observatory, the Talmage Observatory at Starfield, on Route 35, in West Kennebunk.

At the Star Parties, the public, as well as society members, are most invited to observe the heavens through club telescopes, as well as member telescopes. Stars, visible planets, and deep-sky objects can all be viewed. Experienced society members are on hand to guide the observing, explain what is being seen, and answer questions. There is no fee.

The Talmage Observatory at Starfield opens at 7:30 p.m. for the events. For directions, visit http://asnne.org/where-to-find-us.php.

Dates for upcoming Star Parties: June 8; July 5 (rain date, July 6); and Aug. 9 (rain date, Aug. 10).

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England is a local association of amateur astronomers that meets monthly at the New School in Kennebunk. Meetings are on the first Friday of each month. For more information, visit ASNNE.org.

 

Legion Post 74
schedules meetings

American Legion Webber Lefebvre Post 74 in Kennebunk holds meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Legion Post 74 is located at 15 Water St.

Legion Post 74 is looking for new members. The Post participates in the May Day and Memorial Day parades, flag
retirement ceremonies with the Boy Scouts, furnishes a scholarship to the high school and participates in many other local activities and charities.

 

Land trust announces
nature walk schedule

Kennebunk Land Trust released the dates for its Nature Walk series. The first Saturday of each month, the land trust hosts a nature walk on a different preserve following a different theme. Participants are invited to explore a new local preserve and enjoy nature in all seasons.

The walks are led by local Maine Guides and master naturalists, who take participants through the nature preserve and share knowledge and ask questions about the flora, fauna, and nature.

The walks are free of charge for all ages and held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Donations are accepted and well-behaved dogs are welcome. The schedule:

• July 6 – For All Forever Preserve

• Aug. 3 – Hope Woods

• Sept. 7 – Wonderbrook Park

• Oct. 5 – Mousam River Wildlife Sanctuary

• Nov. 2 – Butler Preserve

• Dec. 7 – For All Forever Preserve

The 2024 walk schedule is subject to change with notice. For more information and to register, visit kennebunklandtrust.org.

Kennebunk Savings and Southern Maine Health Care are sponsors of the events.

 

Legion Post 159
meeting schedule

The monthly meeting of American Legion Post 159 in Kennebunkport is held on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. All veterans and Sons of the American Legion are welcome to attend. Legion Post 159 is located at 102 Main St. (across from the police station) in Kennebunkport.

Future meeting dates are June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

For more information, call 967-2400.

 

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