ALFRED
Three Rivers Land Trust annual meeting to feature farm walk-through
Join Three Rivers Land Trust for its annual meeting, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring a presentation by Amy Sprague and Tom Harms of Wolf Pine Farm, a 50-acre farm set along the Mousam River at 259 Mouse Lane.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to attend a brief business meeting of the land trust, followed by the presentation about the farm operation and sustainable agriculture. Attendees will will be invited to walk through the farm, where the owners grow about 3 acres of organic mixed vegetables, and to learn about the fall-and-winter vegetable Community Supported Agriculture share model and the meat-share program. Sprague and Harms also will describe their ongoing transition to no-till farming methods, as well as a project in Waldo County where they are working to reclaim farmland and start new farms for beginning farmers. If anyone needs mobility assistance for the walk through the farm, a ride can be arranged.
The meeting is open to the public. Donating members of the land trust will have the opportunity during the business meeting to vote on updated bylaws and renewing directors/officers. After the meeting and the hosts’ presentation, attendees will be welcome to stay for a social hour with potluck refreshments and beverages, while also having the opportunity to give input about the land trust’s mission statement and upcoming priorities.
To RSVP for the event, go to www.3rlt.org, call 358-9695 or email ruth@3rlt.org.
KENNEBUNK
CIA veteran to speak on U.S.-China relations
The Association of Former Intelligence Officers will hold its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kennebunk High School’s Economos Lecture Hall, 88 Fletcher St.
Guest speaker David Hunt served 32 years in the CIA with a solid background in a variety of countries and a special expertise in counterintelligence, including Soviet operations and European affairs. He will concentrate on the U.S. government overlooking China’s secretive approach and stealing American technical knowledge, in some cases while courting or compromising senior political leaders, along with Chinese grants to universities. Lobbyists have also softened attitudes toward China, and Taiwan’s military assistance has been slow-walked.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
BRUNSWICK
An evening of astronomical exploration
The Southern Maine Astronomers’ Monthly Star Party will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 179 Neptune Drive.
Come enjoy an evening spent fraternizing with amateur astronomers, hobbyists and beginners alike, and observe the stars. There is no equipment required, as the club will have several telescopes set up for your viewing pleasure, although please feel free to bring your own equipment if you like.
The event will include a laser pointer tour of the sky, a presentation, and assistance with using and fixing personal telescopes. If inclement, the meeting will occur indoors and include talks, telescope demos and observing tips.
For more details, call 751-4651 or go to southernmaineastronomers.org.
WEST GORHAM
Church baking up a storm of pies, cookies and more for sale
The West Gorham Union Church will host its annual spring bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 190 Ossipee Trail, Route 25, just 3 miles west of Gorham.
The event will feature sales of baked goods, breads, candy, pies, cookies, whoopie pies and much more. Rada knives also will be sold.
FREEPORT
Discover the art of sustainable living with lecture series
Freeport Community Services and Balsam Realty have announced the launch of “Maine Roots: A Journey Through Gardening, Foraging, and Conservation.” This new, free lecture series aims to inspire, educate and empower the local community to embrace a more sustainable and rewarding lifestyle by exploring the fascinating world of growing, preserving and raising food in Maine.
The first lecture of the series, “The Pine Tree Pantry: Growing, Preserving, and Raising Food in Your Maine Backyard,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Room of the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St.
Individuals of all skill levels, from gardening novices to experienced homesteaders, are invited to come and learn.
For more details about the lecture series or to schedule an interview with the organizers, call Jonas Werner at 865-0123 or email jonas@balsamrealty.com.
SOUTH BERWICK
Public invited to provide feedback on research into early New England history
New research, conducted by an international team of archaeologists and historians, is revealing stories of how some of the earliest European settlers came to the New England frontier. The public is invited to learn about those discoveries and help shape the future of this project at the forum “Landscapes of Indenture: How Scottish Prisoners of War Shaped New England,” to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Counting House Museum, 2 Liberty St.
The story of 400 Scottish soldiers taken prisoner at the Battles of Dunbar (1650) and Worcester (1651) and shipped to New England in forced labor is one of the most compelling immigrant stories in early American history. Once freed after serving a five- to seven-year indenture, the Scots were granted land and became permanent settlers, though their language, customs and Presbyterian faith strained relationships in “Puritan” New England.
Landscapes of Indenture is an international investigation of the lives of the Scots and the environmental impact they and other laborers had on the New England frontier. Old Berwick Historical Society is a partner in the project, along with the University of New Hampshire, Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site, Durham University in England and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The team of archaeologists, historians and paleoecologists is now conducting field work on sites associated with the Scots in southern Maine and seacoast New Hampshire. Come learn about the project and share any ideas you may have on the future direction of this work.
For more details, contact Emerson Baker at ebaker@salemstate.edu.
WELLS
Bird project leader to discuss conservation efforts
York County Audubon will present the talk “The 30-Year Bird Project,” with Anna Siegel at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, 342 Laudholm Farm Road, or livestreamed via Zoom.
In 2019, an alarming article from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology reported that 3 billion North American birds have been lost since 1970 – or about 30%. In 2021 and 2022, the 30-Year Bird Project was replicated to study to understand how bird populations have changed as a result of changes in forest practices. The project has involved three generations of scientists. Siegel, the outreach lead of the project, will describe what the team has learned and how forest practices might change to further support bird conservation while also sustaining rural, forest-based communities.
To view via Zoom, register in advance at www.yorkcountyaudubon.org, where you can receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
WELLS
Teen paper airplane competition returns by popular demand
Wells Public Library will host a Teen Random Fandom session, themed “Clash in the Clouds,” at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at the library, 1434 Post Road.
Back by popular demand, the spring edition of this paper airplane competition is back with more awards than ever. The event is open to students in fifth grade and up. All materials and snacks will be provided, and the event is free.
For more details, email Kayla Sawyer at ksawyer@wellstown.org, or call the library at 646-8181.
CAMDEN
Outdoors author to present on Maine’s wonderful wildlife
The Camden Public Library will welcome outdoorsman and author Ed Robinson for his presentation “The Wonder of Maine’s Wildlife” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Picker Room at the library, 55 Main St., as well as on Zoom.
Robinson will share photographs, animal calls, facts and anecdotes about a variety of wildlife species that make Maine a special place.
To find the Zoom registration link, visit the “What’s Happening” adult events calendar at librarycamden.org.
DAMARISCOTTA
Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta kicks off season with Seedling Sunday
The Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta will launch its first event of the season, Seedling Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Pickham’s Plantation, 431 Biscay Road.
This event marks the genesis of the agricultural science and harvest-centric celebration, with the first event leading to the annual fall festival. The distribution of prize giant pumpkin seedlings starts the clock for the growing competition phase for Pumpkinfest. Seedling Sunday is a fun celebration for all, as 750 plantlings are displayed for adoption, care and nurture. A “celebrity” panel of professional giant pumpkin growers will be present to offer best growing advice for raising formidable competitors, sometimes weighing up to 2,000 lbs. For a perfect seedling sendoff, the Pumpkinfest Queen will be present to bless the tiny plants and will be seated on her throne for fun family photo opportunities.
The four-month competition embodies those who wish to try their skills in pursuit of growing the biggest pumpkin to win the distinguished title of the largest giant pumpkin in two categories: volunteer and professional growers. A perfect family project filled with education, fun and wonder, anyone of any age can register to grow a giant pumpkin for the volunteer and professional competition. These pumpkins are said to sometimes grow 25 pounds in one day! Harvested pumpkins are weighed, assessed and selected to be featured as artist-decorated art lining Damariscotta’s Main Street during the festival, Oct, 6-9, as well as having the distinction of being assessed to become pumpkin boats for the beloved Pumpkin Regatta.
Competitive pumpkins will be weighed and awarded on Weigh-Off Weekend, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, at Pinkham’s Plantation.
For more details and updates, go to mainepumpkinfest.com.
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