AUGUSTA, ME — The Augusta Symphony Orchestra presents its final regular season concert on Sunday, May 19 at 6 pm at the South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St, in Augusta, ME.

Under the direction of conductor Jinwook Park, the ASO will begin with Mozart’s high energy Overture from the Marriage of Figaro. The concert then spotlights ASO’s cellist Jonathan Moody as soloist performing the beautiful Cello Concerto in C Major by Joseph Haydn.

After growing up in the Pineland Suzuki program, Jon received his B.M. in performance at Susquehanna University in 2015, studying cello with Andrew Rammon, and his M.M. in performance at Bowling Green State University in 2017, studying with Alan Smith and Brian Snow. Jon works full time drafting CAD and has been teaching, playing in ASO, and playing as a mentor in Colby Symphony and Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony. 

Following intermission, the audience will be treated to the best of Beethoven – three of the most famous movements from his symphonies. The orchestra will conclude the concert with a special add-on performance of Bizet’s famous opera Carmen Suite No 1.

As always, ASO concerts are free, with donations gratefully accepted. For more information, please visit www.augustasymphonymaine.org . Please join us for an evening of fine music!

Jon Moody

LEWISTON, ME — The Maine Music Society Chorale will showcase a variety of musical genres from 1972, the year the Chorale was born, on Saturday May 11 at 7 pm and on Sunday May 12 at 2 pm at the Franco Center in Lewiston. 

Under the direction of our Artistic Director, Dr. Richard Nickerson, the 70+ member chorale will regale you with time honored favorites such as “Listen to the Music”  and medleys from Broadway shows like “Jesus Christ Superstar” to name just a couple. The singers will also lead you in an exploration of some of the unusual and exciting musical styles and pop rhythms of the era that are sure to leave you surprised and breathless.  

Join us as we take you back fifty years to a time that evoked an age of free spirit and creative musical expression. You definitely will want to be present as we celebrate our Golden Jubilee – 50 Years of Song! 

Tickets are available online at www.mainemusicsociety.org or by calling our business office at 207-333-3386. 

MMS encourages you to purchase your tickets early. 

Tickets: Adult – $27*; Senior – $25*; Student – $15*

Children under 12: free when accompanied by an adult. Group rates available for 10 or more tickets to the same performance purchased at the same time. Call our business office: 207-333-3386.

* Price includes all handling fees 

The Maine Music Society thanks its season underwriters Hardy, Wolf & Downing and the Sun Journal,  Foundation sponsor The Ladd Foundation, and  the Event Sponsor Rowe Auburn for making this concert possible

The Maine Music Society Chorale is an auditioned, mixed-voice community chorus based in Lewiston-Auburn. Led by Maine Music Society Artistic Director Dr. Richard Nickerson, the 75+ voice chorale has distinguished itself with an ever-evolving level of excellence and professionalism. Founded as the Androscoggin Chorale in 1972, the group’s diverse repertoire reflects its desire to advance the cultural heritage of Central Maine, to explore a broad range of musical genres — contemporary, musical theatre, classical, opera, oratorio — and to provide its members with opportunities to experience their love of singing.

MMS Chorale, March 2024, photo by Jared Morneau

LEWISTON, ME — Welcome to the 4th Annual Lewiston/Auburn Community Read with the Lewiston and Auburn Public Libraries. This year’s book pick is Where Are You From? by author Yamile Saied Méndez. The Community Read initiative is in partnership with the Lewiston and Auburn Public Schools and the City of Lewiston. This initiative would not be possible this year without the support and sponsorship from The Friends of the Lewiston Public Library.

A community read event is a shared reading experience where members of the community all read one book. By having access to and reading the same book, it further builds our depth of community in our cities by a shared act. Parents, business owners, students and community members can discuss the book and the thoughts it brings forward while building a culture of literacy.

We are celebrating art since this year’s community read is a picture book. We are inviting all ages to come to the Lewiston Public Library and create your own artwork inspired by Where Are You From? All artwork will then be displayed at the Community Art Exhibition in Callahan Hall on Saturday, May 11th at 11am. Come and see your artwork among many others from both cities along with art displays from each of the Lewiston Public Elementary schools. To participate, visit Callahan Hall during the open hours listed below to create your own watercolor painting or clay sculpture.

Monday, May 6th and Tuesday, May 7th 3:00PM – 6:30PM

Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9^th 9:30AM – 1:30PM

Along with your artwork submission, indicate where you are from on the world map and add your chosen piece of yarn to the loom where we will be creating our very own Lewiston/Auburn woven tapestry.

Join us for the grand Community Art Exhibition Day with author Yamile Saied Méndez. In addition to the elaborately displayed community and school artwork, participants will enjoy an author talk, food, book giveaways and signing, and activities for kids. This event is for all ages and no registration is required.

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is the author of many books for young readers and adults, including Furia, a Reese’s YA Book Club selection. Her books have received many accolades such as the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard, Whitney Award, Cybils Award, Américas Award, Bank Street Spanish Language Book Awards, among others. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, but has lived most of her life in Utah. An inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she’s also a graduate of Voices of Our Nations (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children’s and Young Adult program. Yamile is also a founding member of Las Musas, the first collective of women and nonbinary Latine authors.

The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street and Lisbon Street. More information on this initiative is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3133 or LPLKids@lewistonmaine.gov.

LEWISTON/AUBURN, ME – The Lewiston/Auburn Memorial Day Ceremony will be held the Saturday before Memorial Day, May 25 at Veterans Park at 10am. All are invited to attend.

Flags will be installed at St. Peters Cemetery on the18th of May at 10am. Volunteers are needed as there are over 3000 flags to install.

Volunteers are also needed to install vases on veterans’ graves at Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta at 10am on the 19^th of May.

There will also be a Memorial Day program at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta at 10am. The public is invited to attend. 

For more information, contact Jerry DeWitt at 576-0376.

LEWISTON, ME — The Public Theatre presents the anticipated U.S. premiere of Lunenburg, a delightful mix of mystery, comedy, and romance, playing at Lewiston/Auburn’s professional theatre, May 3 – 12.

When Iris’ husband is unexpectedly killed in a plane crash, her lawyer reveals she has inherited a beautiful home in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia – that she never knew existed! With her best friend by her side, she sets out from her home in Brunswick, Maine and begins a laugh-filled and poignant road trip North to unravel the mystery of her husband’s secret life. What follows is a series of surprises, funny romantic adventures, and heart-warming personal transformations.

Director Janet Mitchko says, “This play really checks all the boxes for a satisfying experience because it’s the perfect combination of surprises, comedy and romance. Playwright Norm Foster, (Canada’s most produced playwright), is often called the Canadian Neil Simon as he has the most wonderful way of using humor not only to entertain audiences, but to leave them with something to think about. There’s also something magical about spending a summer weekend at a beautiful home overlooking the water that I think people from Maine will understand. And to top it off, two of the three characters live in Brunswick!”

Norm Foster’s previous play, The Ladies Foursome, broke box-office records at The Public Theatre, and Lunenburg is predicted to be an equal hit.

The cast of fully professional Equity actors includes Beth Hylton, Heather Dilly and Torsten Hillhouse. The Lunenburg home the play takes place at is designed by Kit Mayer, lights by Florence Cooley, and costumes by Frederica Jepson Johnson.

Also happening during this production will be The Public Theatre’s beloved fundraising event, The Silent Auction. Over 200 items and gift certificates from local vendors and supporters will be available in the lobby and on-line during the run of the show at thepublictheatre.org

Lunenburg will be performed at The Public Theatre, Lewiston’s Professional Theatre May 3 – 12. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 3pm, Sunday at 2pm with a  Saturday  May 11 at 3pm & 7:30pm.  Tickets are $30 Adults, $25 Groups 10+, $20 Student 19+ with ID. For tickets call 782-3200 or visit thepublictheatre.org.  The Public Theatre is located at 31 Maple St., Lewiston.

Sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank, Austin Associates and Auburn Manufacturing

Season Underwriters: Sun Journal, Platz Associates, and Bennett Radio Group

LEWISTON, ME — Scientist, Gail Wippelhauser will be the featured speaker at the May 6th meeting of the Stanton Bird Club. Entitled “The Secret Life of Sturgeon”, her remarks will focus on the two species of sturgeon found in Maine. Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon are often called living fossils as they are among the oldest bony fish with fossils going back 65 million years. 

After receiving a Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Maine, Wippelhauser taught for several years at the University and the College of the Atlantic. She worked for the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) from 1996 until her retirement in January 2022. During her tenure at DMR she represented the department during the relicensing of hydropower facilities; served on the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission technical committees for American Eel, Striped Bass, and Atlantic Sturgeon; and conducted research on American Eel, Striped Bass, Alewife, Blueback Herring, Shortnose Sturgeon, and Atlantic Sturgeon. 

The talk will be held on Monday, May 6th from 4-6pm at the Auburn Public Library. The public is welcome. This lecture is free of charge. The Stanton Bird Club, a leader in environmental awareness, owns and manages the Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary in Lewiston as well as the Woodbury Nature Sanctuary in Monmouth and Litchfield. 

More information about other activities of the Club can be found at www.StantonBirdClub.org and on its Facebook page. 

Gail Wippelhauser with Shortnose Sturgeon – photograph provider by speaker

LEWISTON, ME — Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) has been awarded $2.1 million in federal funding to upgrade some of its surgical equipment. The majority of the funding will be used to replace surgical video towers. 

“These towers contain cameras, video screens and other equipment critical to performing minimally invasive surgery,” said Timothy Counihan, MD, chief of surgery at CMMC. “This equipment allows surgeons to perform procedures through small incisions, reducing the patient’s recovery time, and realize better outcomes. 

CMMC provides multispecialty surgical care to patients throughout Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin Counties. The hospital, which is part of Central Maine Healthcare, uses the towers in orthopedics, general surgery, colorectal surgery, surgical oncology, gynecological surgery, urology, otolaryngology and thoracic surgery.

 “I would like to thank Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) for helping secure this critical funding,” said Steve Littleson, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “By investing in these new video towers and the associated equipment, surgeons at CMMC will be able to provide the most reliable and timely care to patients, as well as provide precise localization of the anatomy to minimize patient risk.  The new, state of the art equipment will ensure CMMC continues to serve as a referral specialty center for the more than 400,000 residents of central Maine.” 

The funding for the equipment upgrades at CMMC are part of the congressionally directed spending which is part of the recently passed federal budget.

AUBURN, ME – In recent months, Androscoggin County has been impacted by several extreme weather events. These declared state & federal emergencies have led to significant tree damage. In Auburn, city leaders have decided to implement a one-time Curbside Brush Collection event to help residents properly dispose of broken tree limbs, branches, and brush. 

“If you drive through the city, the damage is still quite evident,” said City Manager Phil Crowell. “There are trees and limbs down everywhere. This is bigger than your usual spring yard work, and we feel it’s important to help residents clean up.” 

“Our crews will begin the curbside collection on Monday, April 29, so residents should know that brush must be curbside no later than Sunday, April 28,” said Scott Holland, Director of Auburn Public Works. “We will not collect brush placed curbside after that date.” 

Auburn’s curbside collection is for residential properties only and is strictly limited to tree waste and brush – no stumps, and no bags or piles of leaves. It’s important to note that no household bulky waste will be collected. All brush & limbs must be in neat piles, “butt-ends” toward the roadway. The piles must be easily reachable from the road, and due to the equipment that will be used to collect it, brush must NOT be placed near, under, or beside power lines or poles. 

“If they prefer not to wait for our crews to arrive, residents can use the brush pile on Gracelawn Road, near Auburn Public Works,” added Holland. Residents are also welcome to deliver their brush directly to Jolly Gardener at 481 Spring Water Road (Route 122) in Poland (free). 

Visit auburnmaine.gov for details on Auburn’s Curbside Brush Collection event.

AUBURN, ME — Container Gardening Workshop

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Join the St. Mary’s Nutrition Center garden team on Earth Day to plant mini-greenhouse containers from recycled materials. Containers, soil, and seeds will be provided.

This is a free session for all ages, preceding the 5:00 p.m. program, “Creating Climate Resilient Gardens and Backyards,” presentation by Androscoggin Valley Water & Soil Conservation District.

Paper applications for 2024 community garden plots will also be available at both programs, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Visit http://linktr.ee/communitygardens for more information.

Reservations are requested but not required.

Climate Resilient Gardens and Backyards

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Learn how to make your backyard more resilient to a changing climate! There’s been a lot of scary conversations as we recognize stronger storms, warmer winters, and changing ecosystems; but we want to equip you with solutions you can implement TODAY! We’ll talk about ways to reduce your lawn (and associated maintenance) by swapping it for pollinator gardens, edible landscapes, rain gardens, vegetative buffers, groundcovers, wildflower meadows, and more. We’ll also highlight specific species to plant to support pollinators and other wildlife, prepare for a warming climate, and help with soil erosion. Create wildlife habitat, grow food for your family, and protect your local waterways while improving the appearance and functionality of your yard!

Presented by the Androscoggin Valley Water & Soil Conservation District, they will also highlight their new program – the Conservation Landscape Certification program– a free checklist available to help landowners improve their properties for wildlife habitat, water and soil quality, and overall ecosystem support.

After the workshop, stick around to ask questions, talk with staff, peruse helpful resources, and grab some free garden goodies! We’ll have seeds, gardening books, seed kits, garden tools, and an opportunity to win a free rain barrel! Snacks and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Reservations are requested but not required. This event is funded by the Androscoggin Valley Stormwater Working Group and the Davis Foundation

For more information on other upcoming programs offered at the Auburn Public Library, visit our website at auburnpubliclibrary.org.

LEWISTON, ME — The Woman’s Hospital Association (WHA) Rotating Art Gallery at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is proud to display the paintings of Jennifer Gammon during the month of April.

Raised on a small family farm in Sumner, Maine, Gammon found her passion for art while a student at Buckfield High School. She attended the University of Southern Maine receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Painting and Ceramics studio concentrations. For the past twenty years she has made Lewiston her home with studio space where she creates her paintings and drawings. She also owns a small pottery business featuring handmade functional vessels, Liane Pottery. Nature, life, and death all are themes that consistently appear in all of her work

The “Fauna and Flora” series of drawings on display came from her intense love of local animals and her garden. “Even in the middle of a small city there is so much nature and wildlife possible. I wanted the viewer to see the fauna (animals) first then once you get in close observe the flora (plants). I used abstracted green backgrounds to help blend the plants in and make the animals stand out. I prefer to draw on an acrylic surface, which seems strange as most drawings are directly on paper. I set up the backgrounds as abstract paintings, I use a very thick paper called bristol and the acrylic paint is applied with a pallet knife. Once these are dry I draw on them using conté which is like a very densely compressed dry pastel”.

The works on display may be purchased through the WHA Gift Shop located adjacent to the main lobby at Central Maine Medical Center. A percentage of sale proceeds benefits patients of CMMC.

Painting by Jennifer Gammon – photo provided by Gammon.