St. Ann’s announces

concert series

St. Ann’s Episcopal Church of Kennebunkport announced last week that it will host a series of live baroque and classical music concerts on July 21, Aug. 4 and Aug. 18. According to a June 6 news release, “the concerts will each feature world-class musicians performing timeless favorites using period instruments like those used at the time these masterworks were written.”

The church is welcoming both members and the general public to attend the concerts with proceeds going toward restoration of the recent storm damage of St. Ann’s historic buildings and property.

“St. Ann’s 2024 Summer Concerts will offer familiar classics that we hope will attract music lovers from all over the region,” said Ian Watson, artistic director of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, in an email. “These works will be performed by the finest musicians from around the country using period-instruments, scholarship and virtuoso technique to recreate the sound and intentions of these great composers.”

Watson, St. Ann’s organist and music director and associate conductor of Boston’s Handel & Haydn Society, will direct the three concerts with varied programs for strings, keyboards, wind instruments and vocalists. Watson, who played on the original soundtrack of the Mozart movie, Amadeus, among many other recordings, will perform on harpsichord and 51/2-Octave Viennese Fortepiano, similar to one owned by Mozart. The instruments were crafted in Freeport, Maine, by the American keyboard maker, R. J. Regier.

The series will comprise three events held at St. Ann’s oceanfront Stone Chapel at 167 Ocean Ave. in Kennebunkport. Each concert is on a Sunday from 5 to 6:15 p.m. General admission tickets are $40 and are available online at https://stannskennebunkport.org/church-events/2024-concerts/tickets/ or at the door on concert day. Free parking is available on site.

The schedule

July 21 – Vivaldi and Bach Concertos

• Bach Brandenburg Concerto 3

• Vivaldi Concerto for two cellos

• Vivaldi Concerto for four violins

• Bach Brandenburg Concerto 5

Aug 4 – Viennese Masterworks

• Schubert Sonatina no 1 in D major Op 137

• Beethoven Sonata for Fortepiano no 12 in A flat major

• Mozart Violin Sonata in B flat K.454

Aug 18 — Vivaldi Gloria!

• Vivaldi Sinfonia in G

• Vivaldi Violin Concerto “la Tempesta di Mare”

• Vivaldi Cantata “Ostro picta armata spina”

• Vivaldi Gloria in D for chorus and orchestra

 

Author event on

tap at Graves Library

Graves Memorial Library will welcome author Paul Hendrickson to its 13th annual Author Event on June 20 at 5 p.m. at the Kennebunk River Club Casino, 116 Ocean Ave. in Kennebunkport. The ticket price of $75 includes an autographed copy of “Fighting the Night.”

Hendrickson is an American author and journalist. His eighth book, “Fighting the Night,” was published on May 7. It is an account of his father flying Black Widow night fighters on Iwo Jima in the last part of World War II. The book will come out on the 21st anniversary of his father’s death.

He is the author of the 2011 New York Times bestseller and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, “Hemingway’s Boat: Everything He Loved in Life, and Lost.” For the 2004 book, “Bound for Glory: America in Color 1939-43,” Hendrickson wrote the introduction and accompanying text. In 2003, he won the National Book Critics Circle Award for “Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and Its Legacy.” His 1996 work about Vietnam, “The Living and the Dead: Robert McNamara and Five Lives of a Lost War,” was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Tickets can be purchased at Graves Library and online through Eventbrite. For more information, call 207-967-2778 or visit our www.graveslibrary.org. Seating is limited.

 

Brick Store to host

Pride history lecture

On Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. join the Brick Store Museum will host a session on the history of the Pride social movement. The Pride movement, according to a news release, stems from a singular event, the Stonewall uprising, where LGBTQ+ people fought back against prejudice, discrimination, and violence.

The short presentation, followed by a discussion, will delve into the very human elements of pride and prejudice, as it presents in social interactions; showcase LGBTQ+ contributors; and highlight long-held biases toward LGBTQ+ people from the view of human advancement.

The presenter, Christine Caulfield, has been a volunteer at Maine Transgender Network for over eight years, facilitating support groups for transgender individuals over 35, running workshops and training in a variety of public and professional settings, and acting as board treasurer. She is a retired high school teacher, parent and grandparent, world traveler, and ardent fan of history.

Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated and will support continued programming. Patrons are invited to to add the names of loved ones to the museum’s Pride Garland, throughout the month of June.

For more information or to RSVP, visit www.brickstoremuseum.org/calendar or call 207-985-4802.

 

Summer concert

in Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport Recreation announced the start of its Summer Concert Series on June 20. This year’s first concert will feature the Joan Kennedy Band. The concert will be held at 20 Recreation Way, located next to Consolidated School in Kennebunkport. Festivities will kick off at 6-8 p.m. Families, friends, and community members are invited.

Event sponsors are Kennebunk Savings and Pack Maynard and Associates, Real Estate.

In addition the music, the event will feature a variety of local food trucks, Mainely Burgers, Iron Clad East, Cargo Pizza, and KPort Bagels, who will also serve Italian ice. Local breweries Batson River and Banded Brewing will be on-site, offering a selection of brews.

Children’s activities will also be available.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, enjoy great music, and make lasting memories,” said Stephanie Simpson, director of Kennebunkport Parks & Recreation, in an email. “We are grateful to our sponsors and all the local vendors who are helping make this night special.”

For more information, visit kennebunkportrec.com or call 207-967-4304.

 

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.

 

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.

 

The New School hosts

Pride Pizza Party

The New School announced its first-ever Pride Pizza Party, a community event celebrating inclusivity and community spirit, will take place on Saturday, June 29, from noon to 3 p.m. The New School is located at 38 York St. in Kennebunk.

The Pride Pizza Party will feature food, activities, and live entertainment for all ages. The event will include wood-fired pizza, lemonade stand, sweet treats, music and board games for teens.

This event is open to the entire community. A clothing drive is being organized during the event to collect gently used clothing that will be donated to area nonprofits.

“The New School is a place where students find their voice and everyone is welcome,” said MaryBeth Luce, business director, in an email. “We are excited to host the Pride Pizza Party and bring the community together to foster a sense of belonging and joy within our community.”

Admission to the event is free, with food and beverages available for purchase. All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting The New School education programs and initiatives.

For more information, visit www.thenewschoolmaine.org/pride, call 207-985-3845 or email thenewschool@tnsk.org.

 

Local residents named

to St. Anselm dean’s list

The following students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire:

Jared Hirshfield, Kennebunk, politics, 2024.

Quinn MacDonald, Kennebunkport, economics, 2027.

 

Maynes earns scholarship

for civic engagement

Kennebunk High School senior Ambrose W. Maynes received the 2024 Edmund Muskie Democracy in Action Award in the amount of $1,000. Maynes is the fifth recipient of the award, given annually by the Democrats of the Kennebunks and Arundel to a high school senior residing in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, or Arundel who best exemplifies the spirit of civic engagement by making a difference in their school and community through political and non-political actions.

Maynes plans to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the fall where he is interested in pursuing a career in the film industry with the ultimate goal of writing and directing his own films.

Since his sophomore year at KHS, Maynes has been a member of the Tri-M Music Honors Society. As a member, he consistently volunteered to help with events and to participate in activities to engage with the community. In his senior year, he was elected president of the organization. He identifies the most rewarding experiences he has had being part of Tri-M Music Honors Society as helping tutor young musicians in elementary and middle school and, as he writes, “being able to see first-hand the effect one can have on another. Seeing the growth in the skill and musicality of the students is incredibly rewarding.”

Along with Tri-M, Maynes served as the assistant director of the Kennebunk High School concert and jazz bands, rehearsing and conducting both bands and leading class. Since his sophomore year, he also supported the theatre department by assisting in the pit orchestra.

The DKA Scholarship Committee Chair, Linda DeFelice, in an email, wrote that “the group was impressed by the depth of Maynes’s leadership along with his passion and commitment for his goal of creating meaningful films which will inspire others.”

 

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.

 

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/.

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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: 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 July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

For more information, call 967-2400.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Obituary – Dale Midgley

Next »

Opinion – Purchasing books requires good judgment, discernment