PORTLAND
Nonprofit group to offer Eastern Cemetery walks
The nonprofit group Spirits Alive will offer their popular “Walk Among the Shadows” event at the Eastern Cemetery this month. The walks will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and again Oct. 27-29. Twilight performances also will be offered from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. this Sundays and Oct. 30.
This year’s theme is “Untimely Ends,” and includes the accounts of 18th-century medical treatments, pauper’s graves, and burial of visitors from away. Those stories will be told by eight spirits, who will rise from their graves to recount the tales of their untimely ends at different locations throughout the cemetery.
Audience groups will enter from the 224 Congress St. gate every 20 minutes during the event, on a first-come, first-served basis. Each performance lasts about 40 minutes. The audience is cautioned to dress for outdoor evening weather, and slightly uneven terrain.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com or at the gate on performance nights. Suggested donation for admission is $10 adults, $5 children under 12 years.
KENNEBUNKPORT
UNE professor to speak on end-of-life preparation
Marilyn Gugliucci, professor and director of Geriatric Education and Research at the University of New England, will head the talk “Empowerment for End of Life Preparation” at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Louis T. Graves Memorial Library at 18 Maine St.
This program is being sponsored by the Kennebunkport Public Health Office.
Light refreshments will be served.
Call the library to reserve your seat at 967-2778.
KENNEBUNK
‘Legacy of the ’47 Fire’ to be discussed via Zoom
The Brick Store Museum will present the panel discussion “The Legacy of the ’47 Fire,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday via Zoom.
The Fire of ’47 was a collection of over 200 fires that burned in Maine from Oct. 13-27 in 1947. It consumed a quarter of a million acres of forest, and wiped out nine entire towns, making it one of the worst natural disasters in state history.
The panel includes representatives from the Maine Forest Service, Kennebunk Fire-Rescue, and local historians, who will discuss various perspectives on the fire and its effects on today’s fire control and technology.
Tickets are $3 for museum members and $5 for all others. They are available at eventbrite.com/e/the-legacy-of-the-1947-fire-panel-discussion-tickets-428782579237.
WELLS
Maine’s ‘best’ birds topic of talk by Nick Lund
York County Audubon will present the talk “All the Best Birds in Maine,” with Nick Lund, at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve, at 342 Laudholm Farm Road, with viewing also available via Zoom.
In this program, “All the Best Birds of Maine,” Nick will take us on a whirlwind tour of as many of Maine’s “best” birds as he can squeeze into an hour of entertaining facts and anecdotes.
The in-person program at the Wells Reserve will also feature a “bird book sale.” Pat Moynahan, whom we honored with a memorial concert in June, donated her large collection of birding books to YCA, and we’ll be offering them at this meeting, with the proceeds being used to support YCA programs and projects, and the Maine Young Birders Club.
To watch via Zoom, you need to sign up in advance by going to yorkcountyaudubon.org, where you can find the registration link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
UNION
Author Barbara Ross featured at library’s Soup & Suspense night
Vose Library’s patrons and friends are invited to the library’s Annual Soup & Suspense, featuring author Barbara Ross, starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in-person at 392 Common Road or via Zoom.
Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
This is an in person event, but participants can also pick up their soup to take home and view the presentation via Zoom.
The meal begins at 6:30 p.m. for a suggested donation of $5. The presentation follows at 7 p.m. and will conclude with a Q&A.
Copies of Ross’ books will be available for purchase at the presentation.
Vose encourages all participants to drop off a can of soup to be donated to Come Spring Pantry.
For more details, call 785-4733.
OGUNQUIT
Fun run to raise funds for cancer nonprofit
Rett’s Roost, a Maine-based nonprofit that provides free therapeutic retreats, gatherings, and virtual services for families affected by pediatric cancer and child loss, will host its sixth annual Superhero 5K & Kids Fun Run from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Main Beach and Leavitt Theatre at 259 Main St.
The fundraiser coincides with Ogunquitfest weekend and includes a superhero-themed beach run followed by an afterparty with magic, food, drink, and awards at the downtown Leavitt Theater. Organizers encourage both adults and children to attend the race wearing Halloween costumes, especially superhero-themed ones.
Entertainment for the event will be provided by Sages Entertainment, Leavitt Theatre, and Michael Bernier: Master of Ceremonies & Happiness.
Runners are encouraged to fundraise for the cause and enter in a raffle for stays at local Ogunquit hotels: The Norseman, Dunes on the Waterfront, and StudioEast/Sea Chambers.
The agency’s mission is to offer childhood cancer families a sanctuary to focus on healing of trauma and grief through holistic modalities, mindful activities, and a community of peer-to-peer support.
To register for the Superhero 5K & Kids Fun Run, sign up to volunteer, buy a raffle ticket, or make a donation, visit rettsroost.org/event/superhero-5k-fun-run.
WELLS
Game tourney, talk about Native culture on tap at public library
Wells Public Library will host the following events this week at 1434 Post Road:
• A Game Tournament: Spoon Off will be held at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. This fast-paced card game is for Grade 5 and older players of all experience. Snacks will be provided. For more details, contact Kayla Sawyer at ksawyer@wellstown.org.
• The talk “Shell Middens of Casco Bay” will be offered at 2 p.m. Tuesday, headed by Thomas Bennett. Shell middens are accumulations of shells, bones, and artifacts situated along the Maine coast. They were left behind by Native peoples who harvested shellfish and other marine animals. Bennett will offer insight on what middens tell us about the Native lifestyle, and how private citizens can become involved in protecting this important cultural resource.
Both events are free and sponsored by the Friends of the Wells Public Library.
For more details, contact Stefanie Claydon at sclaydon@wellstown.org or call the library at 646-8181.
OGUNQUIT
Trick-or-treat, other activities at weekend’s OgunquitFest
Celebrate the harvest and Halloween season at Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce’s 19th Annual OgunquitFest celebration this Friday through Sunday at venues throughout the town.
Friday night’s feature event is trick or treating for youth in the downtown area, with participating businesses handing out treats from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday, the OgunquitFest Artisan Craft Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in two adjacent locations, the Dorothea Jacobs Grant Common and the Dunaway Center. A Classic Car Show also will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Main Beach, concluding with a parade of cars down Beach Street out to Route 1.
Traditional programs back in the OgunquitFest line-up for Saturday include:
• Perkins Cove Halloween Festivities, with a costume contest and parade, trick or treating, rock painting and face painting from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• The DogtoberFest Costume Parade & Beach Walk at 11 a.m. at Main Beach.
• A book signing with Maine-based children’s author Chris Van Dusen at Village Toy Funatic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Rett’s Roost’s Superhero 5K Kids Fun Run at Main Beach beginning at noon. Guests can also play Fall for Ogunquit Bingo and participate in the Great Pumpkin Pursuit scavenger hunt.
On Sunday, the main event is the return of the iconic High Heel Dash to benefit the Frannie Peabody Center. Brave souls race around Perkins Cove in high heels, and those heels must be at least two inches high! Registration begins at 2:30 p.m.; the dash begins at 3 p.m.
Area businesses are also celebrating the weekend with live theatre, live music, and more. See the full schedule of events at ogunquit.org/fall-for-ogunquit-ogunquitfest/or pick up one of the chamber’s program guides at the chamber office at 36 Main St.
BRUNSWICK
Free senior health expo at rec center Thursday
The People Plus Senior Health Expo, in partnership with Spectrum Generations, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Brunswick Recreation Center at 220 Neptune Drive.
Admission is free and the first 400 people at the event will get a free swag bag.
Activities include Technology Help Desk, Falls Risk Screenings with Healthy Living for ME, performances by Nor’easters Barbershop Chorus, and you can also try the indoor walking track.
In addition to providing a link between consumers and providers, this gathering also encourages networking within the community. For more information visit peopleplusmaine.org or call 729-0757.
WATERVILLE
Event aims to raise awareness of domestic violence
Finding Our Voices will host a “Waterville Breaks the Silence of Domestic Abuse” event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, beginning at Saleh Tea at 177 Main St., and in celebration of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.
Local survivors and community members/leaders from a variety of sectors are encouraged to wear the color yellow as part of Finding Our Voices domestic violence awareness campaign to spread out and hang posters (featuring 44 Maine survivors including an incarcerated woman and Gov. Janet T. Mills) in downtown businesses for display in windows, bathrooms, changing rooms in an effort to spark conversations about domestic violence.
Finding Our Voices is a grassroots, Maine-based survivor-powered and survivor-led nonprofit breaking the silence and cycle of domestic abuse through bold outreach, and tangible support to get and keep women and children safe.
FREEPORT
Hear about adventures in Panamanian marine park
Join the Freeport Woman’s Club for a look at Panama’s Bastimentos National Marine Park, to be presented by Freeport resident Suanne Williams-Lindgren at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Freeport Public Library Community Room at 10 Library Drive.
Williams-Lindgren will share her adventures in that amazing part of the world – viewing white-faced monkeys and dart frogs on her daily jungle hikes, kayaking through mangroves, learning about the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and the area’s conservation efforts.
Masks and proof of vaccination are required.
For more details, email freeportmainewomansclub@gmail.com.
NEW GLOUCESTER
Shaker Village herb house rehab topic of talk
“Shaker Herb House Rehab Plan” is the title of a program to be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday at the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, at 389 Intervale Road, Route 231.
Built in 1824, the only existing active Shaker Herb House is part of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village and will be restored as an herb house and cultural center. The speaker will be Michael Graham, director of the Shaker Village Museum and Library. Sponsored by the New Gloucester Historical Society, the talk is free and open to the public.
For more details, call Leonard L. Brooks at 926-3188.
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