The Brick Store Museum will once again make spirits come alive for one afternoon for its 20th annual All Souls’ Walk on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Halloween event features continuous tours through Hope Cemetery beginning at noon, with the last tour departing at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person, children under 12 are admitted free.

The narrated historical walks begin at the Brick Store Museum at 117 Main St., Kennebunk, and cover a half-mile loop through Kennebunk’s Hope Cemetery, lasting approximately 75 minutes. Costumed interpreters portray the historical figures, and share their stories of love, loss, and fate. According to a Brick Store Museum news release, the tour is “not too spooky, it’s a perfect activity for the whole family. Participants visit more than a dozen gravesites and learn local history through the fascinating and often tragic tales of residents from bygone eras.”

Tours conclude back at the museum, where guests are invited to view the event’s Fall Arts Fair and view the museum’s new exhibitions. All Souls’ Walk is sponsored by Maine Community Bank, with additional support from the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel Chamber of Commerce and Renewal by Anderson.

“The museum especially thanks Hope Cemetery for once again hosting the All Souls’ Walk this year,” wrote Executive Director Cynthia Walker in an email. “In addition to the in-person tour, the museum is publishing a 20-year commemorative book about the All Souls’ Walk and seeking a one-day $20 donation match challenge on Oct. 28 to support the museum’s year-round programming.”

Advanced reservations are required, with very limited walk in spots possible, but not guaranteed (first-come, first served). Tickets can be reserved in advance at the Brick Store Museum, or online at www.brickstoremuseum.org. In the event of inclement weather, a rain date will be announced.

Kids’ Night at the museum

On Friday, Oct. 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., children ages 7-12 can join the Brick Store Museum’s education staff to explore the traditions of Dia de Los Muertos to celebrate families and loved ones (not spooky). Kids will learn about the Day of the Dead and make their own sugar skulls. After the craft, they will settle in for pizza, popcorn and a movie, “Coco,” which explores the Dia de Los Muertos traditions in Mexico.

Kids will also have the opportunity to explore the museum and the new MemoryLights installation. The event is for children age 7—12. The cost is $40 per child with $5 off for siblings. Price includes craft, pizza, and movie. To register, visit www.brickstoremuseum.org.

Wells Chamber hosts 10th annual Vets Day 5K

The Wells Chamber of Commerce will host its 10th annual Veterans Day 5K on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. The 5K run/walk will start and end at the Wells Elks Lodge, 356 Bald Hill Road, Wells. Proceeds from the event will benefit Honor Flight Maine.

The cost for adults is $20 in advance and $25 after Nov. 9 and students (age 11 to 17) $15 in advance and $20 after Nov. 9, There is no entry fee for children 10 and younger. The first 100 registrants receive a free long-sleeve T-shirt.

The Wells Elks will have food and beverage for sale after the race (bring an ID). Prizes will be awarded to male and female in the following categories: Overall (male/female), younger than 20 (male/female), 20-29 (male/female), 30-39 (male/female), 40-49 (male/female), 50-59 (male/female), 60-69 (male/female) and 70 and older (male/female).

Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency is the Primary Event Sponsor and M&T Bank and Holmes Legal Group are the Gold Sponsors.

For registration information, visit wellschamber.org, call  207-646-2451 or register at RunSignUp.com/Race/ME/Wells/VD5k.

The New School presents dinner theater fundraiser

The New School announced that it will host an evening of entertainment and community engagement with “Homecoming Homicide: A Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.” The fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 and aims to support the school’s Spring 3-Week Intensive Program, an immersive academic experience for students.

Education Director Christine Knowles shared her enthusiasm for the event in a news release: “We’re always looking for creative ways to engage with our community and to raise funds for special programs,” she wrote. “This Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is the perfect blend of both. It not only offers an intriguing evening but also supports an essential part of our educational model.”

The evening will unfold at The New School, 38 York St., Kennebunk, where attendees will receive a five-course dinner planned and prepared by students while participating in a murder mystery. Audience participation will be led by student hosts.

MaryBeth Luce, business director, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the community at large to experience our student-led activities while supporting the future of our school. The 3-Week Intensive Program allows students to explore subjects in depth, and the funds raised from this event will directly contribute to its success.”

Tickets for the event are priced at $45 per person and all proceeds will go toward enhancing the Spring 3-Week Intensive Program, including supplies, travel costs, and field trips. For ticket purchase and more information, visit www.thenewschoolmaine.org/events or contact The New School at thenewschool@tnsk.org.

MemoryLights on display at Brick Store Museum

The Brick Store Museum’s mission is to ignite personal connections to local history, art and cultures. This fall, the museum invites families to take part in the MemoryLights Project, an installation of globe lights in the museum’s courtyard representing the multi-cultural traditions of memorializing and honoring loved ones and ancestors during the fall season, including All Souls’ Day in November. The first 50 MemoryLights have been installed on the museum’s grounds for all to enjoy after sundown.

According to the museum, participants purchased a globe light from the museum (only $15) and shared a story of a family member they wished to honor. With rolling submissions, the installation is now open to the public and as the evenings grow darker, the MemoryLights will come alive to remember the stories of our ancestors and family members. Community members exploring the installation scan a code on each light to read each light’s story. Those unable to visit the museum during the installation can also read the included stories at brickstoremuseum.org/memorylights.

For more information about MemoryLights and the museum’s mission to collect and share the stories of the community, visit Tuesday through Friday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or Sunday (noon to 4 p.m.); or online at www.brickstoremuseum.org.

Arundel Historical Society to host ‘Vintage Grange Songs’

The Arundel Historical Society will host a musical event, Vintage Grange Songs, on Sunday, Oct. 22. It will be held at 1 p.m. in the Arundel Municipal Building and will feature a journey into the Grange movement and the songs they sang.

According to the historical society, Granges were established “as an egalitarian, nonpartisan fraternal organization founded in the wake of the Civil War to advance the interests of farming communities, the Grange (aka, the Order of Patrons of Husbandry) has had a profound influence on rural American life. It has a rich history of song, with a number of song books published starting in 1874. Katherine Rhoda collects and studies this material and will share songs celebrating agriculture, rural life, and the pursuit of the common good. There will be a brief explanation of the Grange movement and its impact on rural communities in America.”

Grange songs will be performed and old Grange songbooks will be displayed. There will be refreshments available and suggested donations are $10 for non-members and $8 for members.

Astro society scheduled Nov. 3 meeting

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England will hold its next monthly meeting on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at The

New School, 38 York St., Kennebunk. A business meeting, also open to the public, commences at 7 p.m.

The November meeting agenda includes: Bernie Reim’s What’s Up for the Month and Astro Shorts, where attendees and members share questions, activities, news and observations. Reim will also share details of his trip to observe the recent annular “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse.

For newcomers, questions about our club, observing, telescopes, and astronomy in general, will be answered by society members.

For more information, visit www.ASNNE.org.

Newcomers and Neighbors Club meets at Motorland

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel announced that it will meet at Motorland in Arundel on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Motorland is located at 2564 Portland Road (Route 1). The club will meet at the Maine Classic Car Museum, where owner Tim Stentiford will share stories about the collection and custom designs. A social time begins at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.kptanewcomers.org.

Kennebunk Free Library announces October exhibit

Speers Gallery at Kennebunk Free Library will present a retrospective, Celebrating the Creative Process, by Kennebunk resident Linda K. Thompson that will run through Oct. 30.

The exhibit’s theme is the exploration of various mediums and techniques, ranging from watercolor, acrylics and collage in the Speers Gallery, and weaving, needlework, and Japanese woodblock printing in a library foyer display case.

According to a Sept. 14 news release, “Thompson believes that making art is not only about technique, but also finding a balance between that, and a passion or relationship with the subject of your creation. In Celebrating the Creative Process, the artist portrays a wide range of subjects, which reflect her curiosity in the world around her. Using a range of mediums, her art is grouped thematically, including flowers, landscapes, the ocean, the Southwest, trees, bears and collage. In the foyer the artist hopes that some of her pieces will encourage others to try different materials or crafts. A fun ‘quiz’ will be provided by the artist for adults and children.”

Thompson’s journey into the arts includes a master’s degree in creative arts and learning from Lesley University, as well as courses and workshops in Massachusetts at the Danforth and DeCordova museums, Concord Art Association and Rowe Conference Center. In Maine, she continued her journey at the Heartwood College of Art, River Tree Arts, local adult ed classes and University of Maine Senior College, where she also taught a beginning watercolor class. Particularly formative were week-long art retreats in New Mexico: Painting from the Source, and Wild Heart Art, as well as Watercolor Mandalas at the former Marie Joseph Spiritual Center in Biddeford Pool. “What helps ignite my creativity is curiosity, intuition, exploration, experimentation, challenge … and playfulness,” Thompson said in an email.

The public is invited to view the exhibit in the library’s Speers Gallery through Oct. 30 at 112 Main St., Kennebunk, during regular library hours when the gallery is not in use for library programs. For current hours and gallery access, visit www.kennebunklibrary.org.

Artisans invited to inaugural Maine Made Fair

The Kennebunkport Historical Society extended an invitation to all Maine Made artisans for the inaugural Maine Made Fair, a celebration of the state’s tradition of craftsmanship and creativity. As advocates of Maine’s artisanal spirit, the society will bring together a group of artists and makers to showcase their creations.
Event details include:
• Location: Overlooking Dock Square in Kennebunkport, 8 Maine St.
• Date: Friday, Dec. 1.
• Date and time: Vendors can set up their 6×6 space starting at 7 a.m.
• Parking: While on-site parking is unavailable, drop-off areas are provided between the church and the house. Public parking is just an eighth of a mile down North Street, adjacent to the fire station.

At the fair, the historical society will curate an array of artisans and makers who share a common bond – everything they offer is made in Maine. Artisans who specialize in photography, handcrafted textiles, jewelry, literature, or any other form of artistic expression are invited to participate.

Space is limited, with room for only 15 artists and makers. Vendor applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cost is $75 for a 6X6 space in a heated tent. Vendors may choose to bring their own 6-foot table or rent one from the society for a nominal fee of $15.
The venue is a highly visible and heated tent on the lawn of White Columns in the heart of Kennebunkport, during Christmas Prelude.

For vendor applications and inquiries, contact Kristin Haight, executive director, at 207-
967-2751 or KHaight@KPortHS.com.

McClelland Music Foundation presents Coastal Winds

The Keith McClelland Community Music Foundation will present the Coastal Winds Clarinet Quartet for its next concert event on Friday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at Church on the Cape.

Coastal Winds Clarinet Quartet was established in 2022 and is based in Rochester, New Hampshire. The group provides musical and educational outreach through concerts and educational discussions in Maine and New Hampshire. The quartet has performed for nursing homes and for at York County Senior College. Their music selections range from classical to jazz, Dixieland to Latin, Broadway to rock. Their library allows the group to custom-design programs for dinners, wine tastings, weddings, funerals, holiday programs, social events, and recitals.

The repertoire for the Oct. 20 concert at Church on the Cape will include selections from Les Miserables, Scarborough Fair as arranged by Pentatonix, Tico-Tico, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and Fly Me to The Moon.

The instrumentalists include Joan DeVittori of Hampton, New Hampshire, Ted Hagarty from Wells, Jack Kupp, of Kennebunk, and Jeff Smith from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. They are award-winning music educators, conductors, and symphony and theater pit orchestra members.

A donation of $15 is suggested.  Church on the Cape is located at 3 Langsford Road in Cape Porpoise. The church is accessible with a ramp. There is parking on Langsford Road and behind Bradbury’s Market on Route 9 where steps lead to the back of the church.

For more information, email billsusie58@hotmail.com.

Library to host holiday wine tasting fundraiser

Kennebunk Free Library will sponsor a Holiday Wine Tasting on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s Parsons Reading Room.

Betsy Ross, owner of Kennebunk’s Wine House on Main, will inform patrons about three wines for the holiday season. Nikki Ranwell, owner of Kennebunkport’s The Port Box, will provide coned charcuterie skewers to go along with the wine. There will be time for discussion and questions, and trivia prizes will be awarded.

Participants can show their ticket at Wine House on Main to receive a 10 percent discount on the three selected wines. Suggested donation for tickets is $10. Purchase tickets to receive descriptions of the three chosen wines along with ticket to the tasting.

The program is wheelchair accessible. Kennebunk Free Library is located at 112 Main St. in Kennebunk. For more information call 207-985-2173 or email kfl@kennebunklibrary.org.

Library seeks artists for 2024

Kennebunk Free Library is accepting applications for artists to exhibit during the 2024 calendar year. Since its inception in 2001, Hank’s Room Gallery – rechristened the Speers Gallery in 2010 – has offered exhibit opportunities to both amateur and professional artists. The gallery has been host to a variety of mediums including photography, textile arts and mixed media assemblages in addition to renditions in oil, pastel, enamel oil, encaustic, pen and ink, and watercolor.

The application process is open to either individual or group shows. Applications must be received by Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

In November 2023 an art committee consisting of members from the library and art communities will convene to review the completed applications and set a monthly exhibit schedule for 2024. Upon completion of the review, applicants will be contacted regarding the committee’s decisions. Application forms are available at the library or on the library’s website www.kennebunklibrary.org.

According to the library, “offering monthly artist exhibits contributes to the Kennebunk Free Library’s mission to inspire and enable our communities to discover, learn, and connect. The library is very proud to have showcased the many talented artists who have previously exhibited and is looking forward to continuing this tradition with the 2024 exhibit schedule.”

Irish trio returns to West Kennebunk

October’s offering in the Concerts in West K series features a return visit by Fόdhla (FO-lah), the trio of Nicole Rabata (flute), Ellery Klein (fiddle), and Bethany Waickman (guitar).

“Based in Portland and Boston, Fόdhla are long-time favorites with Concerts in West K! audiences,” wrote concert organizers. “The trio brings high energy and stellar artistry to the traditional music stage. Their sound is firmly rooted in the traditional Irish melodies and ornamentation that fiddler Ellery Klein and flute player Nicole Rabata honed during years spent abroad in Ireland. Their fiddle and flute melodies are superbly supported by Bethany Waickman’s guitar work. Her inventive, tasteful chords provide driving rhythmic underpinning perfected from years of playing for contradances.”

The Fόdhla concert will take place Sunday, Oct. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. at West Kennebunk United Methodist Church, 160 Alfred Road West Kennebunk (less than a mile off the Maine Turnpike/I-95). Admission to the concert is by donation at the door, suggested at $20 per person.

The concert is part of the re-boot of the Concerts in West K! series, following a pandemic-related suspension. For more information, call Paul Wells at 207-985-2831.

Former intelligence officers meeting features Pearce

The October meeting of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers will have Maine native, Ambassador David Pearce, present different aspects of diplomacy covering extreme warlike confrontations to other factors that could affect a country’s stability due to internal problems.

Pearce has a background in history combined with 10 years in international journalism before joining the U.S. Diplomatic Service for 35 years. He has held a variety of diplomatic positions throughout the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Europe including being the U.S. ambassador to Algeria and then to Greece. He has been involved in diplomacy, and he will discuss old and new fundamentals of strategic engagement.

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 and is open to the public. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. in the Economos Lecture Hall at Kennebunk High School, 89 Fletcher St., in Kennebunk. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation.

York County Audubon presents small mammals session

According to York County Audubon, small mammals play an important, but often unseen role in forest regeneration and the movement of trees and dispersing the seeds of the towering forests in Maine. While this role is known at the species level, unique individuals display varying personalities, with some consistently acting more boldly than others or consistently showing higher activity levels. Personality in the mice and voles of our forests has consequences for where small mammals are living, how they are foraging, and what they are doing with the seeds they find. Small mammals with contrasting personality traits are contributing to ecosystem services such as seed dispersal in different ways. Their behavior is influencing forest regeneration.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon will host Maisie Merz and Ivy Yen, second year doctorate students at the University of Maine. Their presentation will include slides and night video.

The program will be presented in-person in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and will also be viewable via Zoom. To view via Zoom, register in advance at www.yorkcountyaudubon.org via the registration link. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Community Harvest offers curbside pick-up, delivery for Thanksgiving

Community Harvest, a local nonprofit organization, will host its 25th annual Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday, Nov. 23, at St. Martha’s Church on Route 1 in Kennebunk.

In 2022, volunteers prepared more than 560 Thanksgiving meals for individuals and families, including dozens of first responders working on the holiday.

“Because of its success in reaching people all across southern Maine, we will continue to offer curbside pick-up and delivery options only rather than a gathered meal,” said Kerry de Bree, Community Harvest executive director, in an Oct. 9 press release.

“Last year we were able to deliver meals to families in need from Westbrook all the way to Kittery, said Head Chef Mario Barros. “To help so many people and offer a delicious home cooked holiday meal continues to be our number one goal.”

“We’re also looking for more volunteers to sign up and help prep, box up and deliver our Thanksgiving dinners,” said de Bree. “This is an amazing opportunity to give back to your neighbors and get into the holiday spirit.”

People who want to volunteer for the Community Harvest Thanksgiving dinner and help us make this holiday season special for everyone can sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA9AB2AA5FAC25-44821851-community#/.

Meals will be provided cold, with heating instructions. Community members should reserve their complimentary meals by calling 207-967-1911 or visiting communityharvestmaine.org. All meal reservations must be made in advance by Sunday, Nov. 12. Once signed up, community members will be assigned a time for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day.

Community Harvest is a nonprofit organization of the Kennebunks that meets the needs of its neighbors through food sharing, fellowship, and financial assistance.

Applications available for holiday help

Secret Santa of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel has been helping families in need by providing Christmas and holiday gifts to children in the three towns for over 35 years. Applications for parents and/or legal guardians in need of help this year may be picked up at all three town general assistance offices or can be found online at the town websites:

*Kennebunkport: www.kennebunkportme.gov/public-health-department/pages/general-assistance.

*Kennebunk: www.kennebunkmaine.us/269/Social-Services.

*Arundel: https://arundelmaine.org/.

*Or search by town + “General Assistance.”

In order to qualify, applications must be returned to the general assistance office by Friday, Nov. 10.

All requests are strictly confidential. For more information, call the town’s general assistance office:

*Kennebunk, 985-2102, option 3.

*Kennebunkport, 967-4401.

*Arundel, 985-4201.

Hendrix featured at Mid-Week Music

Mid-Week Music continues Wednesday, Oct. 25, with Words & Music by James Marshall Hendrix. The monthly concert series is held at the Kennebunkport Historical Society’s Town House School at 135 North St. The show begins at 7 p.m.

“Obviously he was a force of nature on guitar, but I always felt that his songwriting prowess never got the appreciation it deserved,” said Ed Williamson of Jimi Hendrix. “His songs are so pure and timeless.”

To that end, Mark Gunter (keyboards, vocal), John Kumnick (bass), Dylan Kumnick (drums), and Dana Pearson (guitar, vocal) will perform an evening of solidly written Hendrix tunes, including “Crosstown Traffic,” “Castles Made of Sand,” and “House Burning Down.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kporths.com/events, email info@kporths.com, or call 967-2751.

Legion Post announces 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:

2023 – Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

2024 – Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

For more information, call 967-2400.

First Congregational schedules final supper of the season

First Congregational Church is hosting its monthly baked bean and American chop suey supper on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the church, 141 North St., Kennebunkport. The last First Church bean supper of 2023 will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The supper features two types of home baked beans, American Chop Suey, hot dogs, rolls, and coleslaw, topped off with a slice of homemade pie. Exact change is required: adults and children age 12 and older, $10 per person; children younger than 12, $5 per child.

For more information, call Carol at 207-710-7060.

South Congregational announces art project

South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport is inviting artists of all ages and experience levels to participate in a community art installation, called Remade in Hope.

The installation will be in front of South Church next March and April 2024, and will feature a six-sided structure that visitors may walk around and enter. On the outside, paintings will feature works that have themes of despair, grief, and struggle. On the inside the canvases will feature images of hope, renewal and joy. The public will be able to observe the transformation from the darker shades of sadness to the warmer shades of joy.

Artists will receive two free blank canvases, one for each of these two themes. Artists are encouraged to visit the website to download a Statement of Interest form and read other information: www.southchurchucc.org/about-3. Thirty-four artists of varying ages and abilities and mediums will be selected, and will have until February to finish the two canvases. An event on the themes of gloom and renewal will help provide artists a vocabulary from which to draw; that event will be held on Oct. 22, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Community House, 8 Temple St., Kennebunkport.

South Church intends to create an experience of renewal that engages the community and allows everyone to find their own personal experience of transformation.

The program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. The program will include several events and educational experiences for the general public.

For more information, email hope@southchurchucc.org.

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