LEWISTON, ME – Theatergoers in the Lewiston-Auburn area have something special to look forward to this June, as the Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theatre (LACLT) presents “Keep Singing!”, a showcase of three original short musicals written by local talents Linda Hildonen and Colby Michaud. Running from June 6th through 15th, the production doubles as a fundraiser for LACLT, Maine’s oldest continuously-operating community theater.

Both Hildonen and Michaud were raised in Androscoggin County and still call it home. Their work debuted to sold-out audiences in August 2023 at The Playhouse in Yarmouth, and now returns to the region for a heartfelt homecoming. The pair are not only the creative minds behind the music and lyrics but also serve as the producers and directors of the show. Music direction is being led by Michaud and fellow local musician John Neal.

Keep Singing! is made up of three one-act musicals, each with its own distinct voice and emotional tone. The first, “It’s Complicated!”, centers on a couple’s therapy session that takes an unexpected turn when a therapist introduces a strange and “very special guitar.” The second piece, “Chasing James,” follows Brody, a coffee shop owner determined to help his best friend stop falling into the same patterns in his search for love. In this story, Michaud himself plays the role of “James,” alongside Greg Judd and Micaiah Wert. The final musical, “Home Again,” explores a young woman’s struggle with a life-altering decision involving her estranged father. The role of Sarah will be played by Amber Kachmar, with Linda Hildonen appearing as Erin and Alan McLucas as Jack.

Performances are scheduled over two weekends: Friday and Saturday evenings on June 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees on June 8th and 15th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $25 for the general public and $22 for students and seniors. They can be purchased online in advance or at the door, while supplies last. Due to some adult themes and humor, the production is not recommended for audience members under the age of 16.

Linda Hildonen, who also serves on LACLT’s board of directors, emphasized the importance of community support in keeping local theater alive. “Now, more than ever, it is important for us to support our community theaters,” she said. “These are important community centers where people are respected, included, and lifted up despite their racial or financial background, gender, and sexual identity. In a time when so many things feel beyond our control, supporting LACLT is one simple act to help stand up for the humanity of our friends and neighbors.”

This unique event is made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from Andwell Health Partners, Dubois Realty Group, and Praxis Motion Pictures. With original music, heartfelt performances, and a meaningful cause, Keep Singing! promises to be a moving and memorable experience for all who attend. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.laclt.com.

LEWISTON, ME – The Lewiston Public Library will be hosting Bumps & Babies on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday every month starting June 4th from 10:30am to 11:30am in the Children’s Department. The Bumps & Babies program is in partnership with Community Concepts, WIC Maine, Western Maine Community Action, Maine Families and Public Health Nursing.

Bumps & Babies is a support group that provides a safe, compassionate space for individuals navigating the emotional and physical challenges of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Members can share experiences, receive encouragement, and connect with others facing similar struggles, such as anxiety, depression, or the joys and adjustment to parenthood. The group is often facilitated by a trained professional and may include resources on mental health, self-care, and infant care. It’s a place to feel seen, supported, and less alone during a deeply transformative time.

This program will take place in the program room in the Children’s Department on the third floor of the library. This program is free and no registration required. Siblings are welcome.

The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at (207) 513-3503 or LPLKids@lewistonmaine.gov.

AUBURN, ME – The Auburn Public Library is hosting a live show of the “Mainely History” podcast on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 4 to 5:30 PM.

Cohosts Ian Saxine and Tiffany Link will discuss the Wabanaki history of the Pejepscot Portage, extending back thousands of years and into the present day, with Historian Joseph Hall (Bates College). They’ll examine what different sources can tell us about the Wabanaki past, and what a history of the Androscoggin River region that takes the role of Indigenous people seriously looks like.

Mainely History is a podcast featuring unscripted conversations with writers, curators, and other knowledgeable guests that connects colorful local stories to big ideas.

Tiffany Link is the Collections Curator at the Maine Historical Society in Portland. Ian Saxine is Assistant Professor of History at Bridgewater State University. Their guest, Joseph Hall, is Associate Professor of History at Bates College specializing in colonial and Native American history, and currently a historian for the Pejepscot Portage Mapping Project.

This program is paid for by proceeds from the Lisa Giguere & Ralph Tuttle Endowment Fund. This program will take place in the Androscoggin Community Room at the Auburn Public Library.

For more information about this and other programs offered at the Auburn Public Library, visit their website at www.auburnpubliclibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at 207-333-6640, ext. 4.

 LEWISTON, ME – From Lewiston, in early March 2017, like the flip of a switch, something was horribly wrong with Amy Stacey Curtis’ brain. Her brain would be deluged with horrific, repetitive, vivid, moving images that would play nonstop, 24 hours a day, for 22 months. Six months into this psychosis Amy lost all control of the muscles in her body including the muscles in her face. Limbs and head in constant motion, she lost her ability to speak, stricken with a severe palsy and sometimes complete non-verbalism.

 After 15 months of schizophrenia-diagnosing doctors, two psychiatric wards, and eight antipsychotic drugs, it was finally determined by a naturopath that Amy had had Lyme disease some time in her past and that it had attacked and severely injured my brain. By then it was too late to treat the Lyme disease; it was all about restrengthening Amy’s brain and trying to reclaim her abilities.

 After 22 months, Amy’s psychosis was slowed with 16 treatments of electroconvulsive therapy. But it would take two more years for the images to completely stop. Meanwhile, Amy met a local occupational therapist with whom she figured out muscle control fixes through trial and error. After six years of progressing from psychosis and wheelchair, to walker, to cane, back to her feet, Amy was still struggling with her speech when she intuited that playing an instrument could help, doing multiple things at the same time as a regular practice.

 Within a week of playing the ukulele Amy was capable again of normal speech except in environments where her brain is over-stimulated. For the past two and a half years, Amy has been learning five cover songs a week, a self-prescribed occupational therapy that has steadily improved her speech even when palsied. Amy has played over 500 songs, singing in Lewiston most Mondays at Fast Breaks’ open mic and many Tuesday open mics at the The Cage. She also shares her story and singing on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok (all @Amy Stacey Curtis), where one of her ukulele videos has over 600K views.

 Amy recently won Maine’s Got Talent, one of eight finalists performing at the Franco Center May 3rd, an event which raised $60,000 for Andwell Partners’ Pediatric Services including speech therapy for kids. She is looking forward to more opportunities to share her story and play her ukulele, to raise awareness about the bigger effects of Lyme disease. She is also actively looking for an agent for her memoir Hero In My Head: How My Brain Saved My Life (Twice).

LEWISTON, ME – On Sunday, May 18 at 2pm, The Public Theatre will present The Tanglewood Marionettes in their production of The Dragon King, perfect for children ages 4 and up and their families.

When a terrible drought overtakes the land, a courageous grandmother journeys to the bottom of the sea in search of the elusive Dragon King (the ruler of all things water) to discover the answer to why he has not brought rain to their land in a very long time.

Get ready for colorful sea creatures, an exciting adventure, and a Dragon King that will knock your socks off in this award-winning production and underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore.

Run time is approximately 50 minutes and all tickets are $15.

The Dragon King will be performed on Sunday May 18th at 2pm at The Public Theatre located at 31 Maple St in Lewiston.  For tickets visit thepublictheatre.org or call 782-3200.

LEWISTON, ME – The Force will be strong over Lewiston this summer as the Lewiston Auburn Balloon Festival (LABF) blasts off with a Star Wars theme from Fri., Aug. 15 to Sun., Aug. 17 at Lewiston’s Simard-Payne Memorial Park, 46 Beech St.

This year’s theme, “The Rise of the Balloons,” is an out-of-this-world experience for hot-air balloon lovers, cosplay enthusiasts, and families seeking an unforgettable weekend of fun, flight, and fandom. The LABF committee, a collaboration of staff and residents from the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, brings the intergalactic theme to life with 16 hot air balloons, including four special shapes that are sure to turn heads.

Festival planners are excited to announce the return of tethered balloon rides, a perfect opportunity for guests to experience the thrill of ballooning without leaving the park. During a tethered ride, a hot air balloon rises 30 to 60 feet off the ground while remaining securely anchored, offering sweeping views of the park and city.

“The festival isn’t just about watching balloons fly across the sky,” said Mell Hamlin, LABF Committee member. “It’s about stepping into the magic and thrill while supporting our community. For decades this festival showcases the best of Lewiston Auburn during the peak of Maine summer. As always, our goal is to make it an immersive ballooning experience where you don’t just spectate, you participate while supporting local non-profits.”

LABF remains a signature summer event in Maine, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across the world each year. It began as a creative way to spotlight the region’s vibrant small businesses and nonprofits. Today, the event spans both banks of the Androscoggin River, offering live music, car shows, a parade, and a makers’ market.

The festival is free and open to the public with something for everyone from sci-fi fans in full Storm Trooper mode to families in awe of the glow of balloons airlifting into the sky, to dancing the night away with Saturday night’s headliner band, Motor Booty Affair.

Organizers invite local businesses, organizations, and individuals to consider sponsorship opportunities. For more information, email at labf@lewistonmaine.gov. To check the event schedule, book a ride, and get the latest updates, visit www.laballoonfest.org or like/tag/follow LABF social media pages at facebook.com/laballoonfest.

AUBURN, ME – We would like to welcome you to the Maine Iris Society’s 44th Median Iris Spring Flower Show! Join us at the Auburn Middle School, 38 Falcom Drive, Auburn, Maine on Saturday, May 24, 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Get ready to feast your eyes on a stunning display of colorful iris flowers and spring blooms. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just love flowers, this event is perfect. Admission is FREE and open to the public!  Don’t miss out on the chance to admire these beautiful flowers up close. Mark your calendars and come celebrate the beauty of spring with us! Potted plant sale, too!  Come and vote for your favorite iris stalk or spring flower!

LEWISTON, ME – The L/A Veterans Council and the City of Lewiston are asking the community to volunteer for an important annual effort to honor local veterans: placing American flags at their gravestones ahead of Memorial Day.

In accordance with a state law enacted in 2001, municipalities across Maine are required to place individual American flags at the grave of every veteran buried in their cemeteries. In Lewiston, this means placing approximately 7,500 flags across 13 cemeteries.

While smaller cemeteries are often supported by nearby residents, the city’s two largest cemeteries, Riverside and St. Peter’s, require additional volunteer support. Service organizations have adopted these sites over the years and coordinate the effort, but due to the scale of the project, more community help is needed.

Flag placement details:

Riverside Cemetery, 192 Summer Street, Lewiston

Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 8:30 AM

Rain date: Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 8:30 AM

Approximately 1,800 flags to be placed

Coordinated by the Knights of Columbus

Contact: Leo Baillargeon, 207-577-7424

St. Peter’s Cemetery, 217 Switzerland Road, Lewiston (meet at the Mausoleum)

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10 AM

Rain or shine

Approximately 4,500 flags to be placed

Coordinated by the L/A Veterans Council

Contact: Jerry Dewitt, 207-576-0376

Volunteers will be assigned to small teams and given a section of the cemetery to cover. Because no master list of veterans exists, participants will walk row by row, reading gravestone inscriptions. If military service is noted, a flag will be placed.

No pre-registration is necessary. Volunteers may arrive directly at the cemetery at the scheduled time and will receive instructions on-site.

Recommended items to bring include:

Screwdriver (to help insert flagpoles into the ground)

Work gloves

Sneakers or boots (in case of wet grass)

Water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and hat

Hand sanitizer

Children and youth are welcome to participate if accompanied by an adult

Company or organization T-shirts may be worn to show community support

“This is a hands-on and heartfelt way to pay tribute to those who served, especially veterans who no longer have family to remember them,” said Jerry Dewitt of the L/A Veterans Council. “Thank you for your support of our veterans this Memorial Day.”

Questions may be directed to the Lewiston City Clerk’s Office or to the individual cemetery coordinators listed above.

LEWISTON, ME — St. Mary’s Health System has officially opened its new Day Hospital Program, offering intensive outpatient mental health treatment for adults in need of short-term, structured support. Located on the St. Mary’s campus in Lewiston, the program is already serving patients and helping fill a critical gap in Maine’s behavioral health system.

The Day Hospital Program delivers a high level of care while allowing patients to remain at home and stay connected to family, friends and community supports. It is especially well-suited for adults transitioning from inpatient psychiatric care or those who need more support than traditional outpatient services provide.

“This level of care is essential for helping people find stability without requiring hospitalization,” said Aaron Landry, LCSW, director of social work. “It’s about meeting people where they are and giving them the tools and structure to heal while staying connected to their lives.”

Patients attend five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and receive five hours of therapeutic programming each day. The care team includes a psychiatrist, nurse and licensed social workers who provide group therapy, medication management, clinical check-ins and discharge planning. Snacks and transportation support are also available.

The program currently serves up to 10 patients, with plans to grow to 30.

To learn more, visit stmarysmaine.com.

AUBURN, ME – The L/A Community Little Theatre in Auburn will present “The Little Prince,” opening this Friday, May 9.

Based on the timeless fable first published in 1943, “The Little Prince” tells the story of a young man and an aviator who visit various planets, learning about loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. The two have a whirlwind adventure together, and by the end, both the “little man” and the aviator must go home—each with a new understanding of how to laugh, cry, and love again.

Performance dates for “The Little Prince” are May 9,10,15,16, and 17 at 7:30 pm, and May 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available online at laclt.com or by calling 783-0958. Ticket prices (including all fees) are $25.00 for adults, $22.00 for seniors and students, and $17.00 for children ages 13 and under. Tickets will also be available at the door.

From left are cast members Evelyn Lenhert, Nicole Emery, Elliot J. Manfrim, and Hazel Flynn in a scene from CLT’s “The Little Prince.” The show opens Friday, May 9.