Community Events Calendar

FUSE: Maine encaustic artists to show at the Harlow Gallery. In August FUSE will bring 19 Maine encaustic artists together in an exhibition at the Harlow Gallery. FUSE will be on view August 3-25, 2012 with an opening reception on Friday, August 3 from 5-8pm. The Harlow Gallery is located at 160 Water Street in Hallowell. FUSE will introduce the public to the diverse methods and techniques currently employed by contemporary encaustic artists. Encaustic is a beeswax-based painting medium made of beeswax, pigment and damar resin, has a unique and long history that dates as far back as the 5th century B.C. Ancient Greeks used wax to seal and decorate their warships due to its resistance to water and cold temperatures. A resurgence of encaustic as an art form in the past two decades can be partly attributed new techniques and invention used with the versatile medium. The 19 Maine artists participating in FUSE are: Debra Arter, Damariscotta ~ Libby Barrett, Cape Elizabeth ~ Jean Bookman, Lubec ~ Aleana Chaplin, Gardiner ~ Betsy Cook, Hallowell ~ Marjorie Cormier, Chesterville ~ Helene Farrar, Manchester ~ Deborah Anne Hall, New Gloucester ~ Penelope Hall, Kingfield ~ LeeAnne Mallonee, Bangor ~ Jason Morgan, Readfield ~ Petrea Noyes, Lincolnville ~ Jane Page-Conway, Bowdoinham ~ Victoria Pittman, Tenants Harbor ~ Ann E. Rhinehardt , Vassalboro ~ Jamie Ribisi-Braley, Manchester ~ Mary Becker Weiss, Augusta ~ Lynda Wilson, Windham ~ Diane Bowie Zaitlin, Saco. Exhibition will be on View: August 3-25, 2012. Opening date: Friday, August 3, 2102, 5-8pm. Cost: FREE and open to the public.

Music by HARRY WARREN Lyrics by AL DUBIN Book by MICHAEL STEWART & MARK BRAMBLE Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes. 42ND STREET is the story of hard work, being in the right place at the right time, talent and love. It s a celebration of Broadway and the people involved in shows. It focuses on aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer, and takes us along her journey. Musical hits include You re Getting to Be a Habit with Me, Dames, I Know Now, We re In the Money, Lullaby of Broadway, Shuffle Off to Buffalo and Forty-Second Street. Every audience enjoys watching the underdog succeed! SHOW DATES: Aug. 8-12, 14-19, 21-25.

Hansel and Gretel, August 13-18, Sponsored by Fred's Coffee. Poor Hank and Gretchen! All of their friends, off to summer camp, have left them behind. And their Mom, struggling alone to make ends meet, seems to have time for nothing but work. While waiting for dinner, prepared by eccentric but lovable Uncle Wally, Hank and Gretchen fall asleep and dream their way to times gone by. They wake with a start! Their clothes are so strange -- and so are their names. Lost in the deep dark woods, Hansel and Gretel search for the path which will lead them to better times at home. But as evening approaches and the moon rises above the trees, Hansel and Gretel are not alone! Nasty Nasties dart from tree to tree as sweet little Wallybirds innocently munch on the cookie crumbs left as a map on the forest floor. Crafty cooks and Gingerbread Men lead our heroes to a colorful cottage concocted completely of candy and cakes, where Hansel and Gretel unravel the secret of the Wildwood Witch. There s music and laughter and thrills and chills. So join the fun as Hansel and Gretel s dream is mysteriously blended with real life, and the lessons of one apply to the other. You ll learn the secret of the Wildwood -- but, shhh -- don t tell! Hansel & Gretel (issoula Children's Theatre) Main Stage, August 18 at 2:00pm. The cost is $200 per session, or $500 for all three sessions. A sibling discount is available. (All scholarships have been awarded for this summer.) A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required at time of registration. If you have any questions, please call (207) 873-7000.

Downtown Augusta has been transformed into an outdoor museum with the installation of 31 signs in "The Museum in the Streets" Program. The signs, years in the planning and making, are written in both French and English, and tell the history of the building of Augusta, the city from 1625 to the present. All 29 signs and two large maps are within walking distance of each other on both sides of the Kennebec river. Another 9 Museum in the Streets signs have been installed along Canal Street in Mill Park. They tell the story of Edwards Mill, Edwards dam and industrial Augusta. The tour begins at City Center, proceeds behind Old Fort Western, moves down to Willow Street's W.H.Gannett's Comfort magazine printing house. On to a 10th sign at the east end of Calumet Bridge, then cross to the west side of the river, the 11th panel as at the corner of Bridge and Water Street. It's called "Seeing the Elephants" and shows a parade of elephants marching down Water Street. Proceed south on Water Street to Panel 13 that recounts the Great Augusta Bank robbery of New Year's weekend in 1850. On to the Great Augusta Fire of 1865 that destroyed 81 buildings on both sides of Water Street. Continue on and follow the tour to the end at Canal Street in Mill Park! The signs will be removed each November and replaced each spring. Maps of Augusta's Musuem in the Streets will be availalbe at Augusta City Center. Patrick Cardon, originally of France and now of Cushing, originated the idea in France.

Tourists, history buffs or those looking for something to do can now enjoy the newest version of The Museum in the Streets. City Historian and others have put together 19 signs that are part of the tour. The tour, which takes about an hour, begins at the waterfront, heads up Winthrop Street. The bulk of the signs are in the heart of downtown along Water Street. The panels (signs) reveal stories, events and traditions that helped shape the area. Hall-Dale French students were part of the translation team that made French subtitles so the panels could be bilingual. Visitors to Hallowell can find maps of the city's Museum in the Streets at City Hall, KV Chamber of Commerce or the Hubbard Free Library. Other Maine communities with a Museum in the Streets include Augusta, Waterville, Thomaston, Biddeford, Belfast and Searsport.

What began in 1869 as a harvest festival for three days, has grown in to a week long fair the third week of August. Union Fair continues to be a family tradition - preserving its original agriculture flavor. Opening ceremonies will be at Sherman Park, preceded by a concert by the Midcoast Community Band 10:30 a.m. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be joined by the Knox County Sheriff's Honor Guard for the raising of the flag of the United States and brief remarks thanking veterans by a representative of the U.S. Military. "Thank You Veterans!" is the theme for the Union Fair parade, which will pass by the reviewing stand at the Racetrack Grandstand led by the Knox County Sheriff's Honor Guard. The grand marshal of the parade will be veteran Walter Rich who served as a trustee and secreatry of the fair. Walking from one area of the fair to another fairgoers can travel from present day highlights of midway excitement to bygone days when farming was the predominant way of life. Wild Blueberry Queen Coronation August 19th. Musical Entertainment * 4-H Exhibits * Harness Racing * Livestock Exhibits * Pulling Events * Demolition Derby * Don't miss Moxie Day!

Auditions for 17th Annual Johnson Hall / Riverfront Festival Talent Show.Got talent? Want to compete for a $200 prize? The 17th Annual Johnson Hall / Riverfront Talent Show is looking for you! Hosted this year by Johnson Hall s new Executive Artistic Director Mike Miclon, this tradition of providing an outdoor showcase for area talent continues. Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and again on Saturday, May 4, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, 280 Water Street in Gardiner. All ages and all talents are welcome to try out. Please arrive by 5:45 pm on Thursday and 1:45 pm on Saturday to get your audition number. Please contact Johnson Hall to advise which day you will be auditioning. A limited number of acts will be chosen to perform at the Talent Show, to be held on June 22 at 6:30 pm on the Gardiner Waterfront (rain date June 23 at 3:00 pm). Four prizes will be awarded at the Talent Show: Best Overall Prize is $200; Adult is $100, Teen (13-17) is $100 and Junior (12 & under) is $100. Audition applicants should bring their accompanying music, if required. Karaoke will not be allowed, so any CDs or MP3s should have the music only. Audition pieces should be presented complete with costumes and/or props, exactly as you would appear at the Talent Show itself. All acts are welcome bands, poets, storytellers, variety acts, dancers, magicians the sky s the limit. No one will be accepted into the talent show without an audition, however. This is an amateur event. We are looking to identify the area s next star. Performance slots will be open to anyone, but prizes are limited to those who do not primarily support themselves as a performer. Audition applications are available at Johnson Hall walk in, email info@johnsonhall.org or download from their website at www.johnsonhall.org. Applications can be brought to the audition or filled out at the audition. Please call 582-7144 for more information, assistance, or to sign up for an audition day.