(October 27, 2022) — The Victorian Ladies Detective Collective is an entertaining murder mystery with a modern female sensibility now playing at The Public Theatre November 4 – 13.   

Is Jack the Ripper at it again? It’s 1893, and there’s a murderer loose in London preying upon single women. Tired of waiting for the men of Scotland Yard to find the murderer, two sisters who run a local boarding home for women, decide to take matters into their own hands. Joining forces with a cheeky American actress, these three determined ladies set off to solve the crime themselves. 

“It’s like watching a female Sherlock Holmes story”, says director Christopher Schario. “Set over 400 years ago, this witty play also cleverly addresses many of the same social issues women today are still facing, creating a tale of murder and mayhem for the modern-day woman.

Leading the investigation to find the murderer is Loveday Fortescue played by ROBYNE PARRISH.  Robyne is returning for her 6th production at the Public, (The Revolutionists, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Book Club Play, Miss Witherspoon and Rough Crossing) and recently appeared Off-Broadway in the world premiere of Strings Attached as well as in the film A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks. Playing her sleuthing sister Valeria Hunter is JOYCE COHEN. Public Theatre audiences may recognize Joyce from last season’s Middletown, and previously in Humble Boy and The Midvale High School Fiftieth Reunion. Joyce has extensive experience performing on Broadway, in films and was most recently seen Off-Broadway in the World Premiere of This Space Between Us. Playing the cheeky American actress Katie Smalls is COURTNEY THOMAS. Courtney has previously appeared at The Public in The Book Club Play as well as Off-Broadway and in regional theatres and is now based in the “other LA”. New to Public Theatre audiences from his career in Arizona is MATHEW ZIMMERER playing all the juicy male characters in the show including PC Crane, theatrical producer Warham-Wynn and the meat butcher Toddy.

 The set for Victorian Ladies is designed by Jennifer B. Madigan, lights by Erin Fauble, costumes by Anne Collins and original music and sound design by Scott O’Brien. 

The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective will be performed at The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn’s Professional Theatre on Fri Nov 4 at 7:30pm, Sat Nov 5 at 7:30pm, Sun Nov 6 at 2pm, Thurs Nov 10 at 7:30pm, Fri Nov 11 at 7:30pm, Sat Nov 12 at 3 & 7:30pm and Sun Nov 13 at 2pm. Tickets are $25. For reservations call 782-3200 or visit thepublictheatre.org. Sponsored by Auburn Manufacturing, Bangor Savings Bank, Warp +Weft and LA Metro Magazine. Season Underwriters: Sun Journal, Platz Associates, Austin Associates, Maine Magazine and Bennett Radio Group.

BELOW: Left to right – Courtney Thomas as Katie Smalls, Robyne Parrish as Loveday Fortescue, and Joyce Cohen as Valeria Hunter 

LEWISTON, ME (October 25, 2022) — The 25th season of the Great Falls Forum continues on Thursday, November 10th, with a panel discussion entitled “Overlooked Stories and Histories: African Americans in Maine,” featuring Rachel Ferrante, Executive Director, Museum L-A; Bob Greene, retired journalist and historian, Trustee, Maine Historical Society; moderated by Leslie Hill, retired Professor of Politics, Bates College. This free, public program will take place from 12 noon to 1 PM in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library and will also be streamed live via Zoom and the Lewiston Public Library Facebook page.

Maine is consistently described as the whitest state in the Union despite its increasingly diverse population. Even so, the state’s population diversity is not new. Multiple waves of migrants from distant shores have added to the long-standing Indigenous populations who lived, worked, celebrated, and worshipped on this land for thousands of years. Among those who came in more recent centuries with a variety of languages, ethnic sagas, religious, and cultural practices were people of African descent—enslaved and free—who contributed to amplifying the region’s economy, politics, social, and cultural life. Yet, Black people (and other people of color) have been invisible to many as the narrative of Maine as a racially unvarying place persists. Now, however, the narrative is changing. The story of the state’s diversity is enlarging as more recent migrants, from across the country and abroad, establish new lives here. What stories have been overlooked in accounts of the state’s historical diversity? How can learning those stories help us fashion the present and future?

This Great Falls Forum panel will share stories to advance our knowledge of African Americans in Maine. Along with building a more honest and inclusive narrative of the community’s racial-ethnic heritage, panelists offer creative ways to preserve and celebrate told and untold stories of work, community-building, and the region’s multifaceted heritage.

Admission is free to all Forum events and reservations are only required if attending via Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted to the Library website and Facebook prior to the event. The onsite program is a bring-your-own, brown-bag lunch event. For more information, please contact the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or LPLReference@lewistonmaine.gov.

The Great Falls Forum speaker series is co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library, and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street.

AUBURN, ME (October 27, 2022) — The Stanton Bird Club is excited to host a talk by well-known local photographer, Dan Marquis as it kicks off it’s 2022-23 lecture series after a two-year hiatus.

Marquis will be sharing photographs and experiences from his visit to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge last year. Described as a ‘birdwatcher’s paradise’, this 57,331-acre refuge was established in 1939 in New Mexico to provide a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl. The refuge welcomes birdwatchers from around the world as it is well known for the tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and over 20 species of ducks and geese which regularly spend part of their winters there. In addition to viewing these species, visitors to the refuge are able to see hawks, eagles, owls, and other birds along with a variety of mammals including mule deer, coyotes, javelina and jackrabbits.

The talk will be held on Monday, November 7 from 4-6pm at the Auburn Public Library. The public is welcome. The lecture series is free of charge. We encourage participants to wear masks.

The Stanton Bird Club, a leader in environmental awareness, manages the Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary 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.

BELOW Dan Marquis

LEWISTON, ME (October 27, 2022) — On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice together with the Woodlands Senior Living, the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Franklin Community Health Network will present a free community education about dementia and the care continuum.

The presentation will take place in the Bass Room at Franklin Memorial Hospital, 11 Franklin Health Commons in Farmington, ME from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.  A panel of medical professionals, the Alzheimer’s Association, and other supportive organizations will be on hand to talk about the impact of a dementia diagnosis and the path that patients and caregivers experience as care needs change.  The presentation will be free and open to the public.  No registration is required. Participants will be asked to adhere to Franklin Memorial Hospital’s masking and COVID-19 protocols. 

For more information about this panel discussion contact Melinda “Mel” Lovering at melinda.lovering@androscoggin.org.

 BRUNSWICK, ME (October 13, 2022) — Who killed Roger Stewart? Maybe it was you! Those two lines capture the intrigue of a new Seance Murder Mystery program hosted by Pejepscot History Center (PHC) October 27-29 in its 19th century mansion, the Skolfield-Whittier House Museum. Running for three sessions each evening, at 4PM, 5:30, and 7PM, the hour-long program begins in the formal dining room with canapes and cocktails. Participants then move throughout the rooms of the house to search for clues to who did the dirty deed.

This event follows PHC’s 2021 sell-out Live CLUE game in the Victorian house. “The clear feedback from that event was ‘Do it again!’” says PHC director, Larissa Vigue Picard. “We thought it would be fun to change it up this year and kill off a real historical character—and a real scoundrel—involving actual Skolfield-Whittier family members as potential culprits. But the story is entirely fictitious.”

Seatings are limited to 13 guests each who assume a character in the mystery. Following the seance, participants look for clues throughout the rooms of the mansion to eliminate fellow suspects and find the murderer of Roger Stewart. One of the participants will be murderer.

An actual business associate of Alfred Skolfield, the home’s patriarch shipbuilder and ship captain, Roger Stewart was indeed a scoundrel: a slave owner from Mobile, Alabama. Pejepscot History Center has focused research over the past couple of years–including a college intern over the summer–to uncover the family’s ties in the first generation to the 19th century slave economy, and how those connections resulted in their wealth and status.

Tickets for the 21+ event are $25 for PHC members and $30 general admission. Participants can also purchase raffle tickets to vie for one of two “Basket of Spirits”–one of top-shelf liquors and one of fancy non-alcoholic mocktail components–donated by the PHC board.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or $20 for five. For more information and online tickets, visit https://pejepscothistorical.org/special-events.

LEWISTON, ME (October 15, 2022) — The Ladies of Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International are bringing back their annual Teddy Bear Fair on November 5th from 9:00 to 2:00 at the Lewiston High School gym.

The Ladies of Mu are all educators, active and retired, from the Lewiston/Auburn area. Money generated by our Fair goes to scholarships, one for a graduating senior from one of the high schools in the Twin Cities and surrounding communities, who plans to go into education; the other goes to a DKG Member who is working on an advanced degree.

The Ladies of Mu will sell baked goods such as cookies, cakes, pies, bread and an assortment of candies and pastries; used books & DVDs; white elephant items; harvest items such as jellies, jams, salsas, pickles; gently loved stuffed animals; crafts including knitted scarves, hats & mittens, baby layettes, as well as kitchen towels and dishcloths; and holiday crafts including Christmas and Thanksgiving decorations.

They will also have a raffle table with hand-made items, gift certificates for lobster and gas, a children’s craft basket, and many other treasures. We hope many will come out to see us and support our efforts to raise scholarship money.

LEWISTON/AUBURN, ME (October 21, 2022) — Is Jack the Ripper at it again? It’s 1893, and there’s a murderer loose in London preying upon single women. Tired of waiting for the men of Scotland Yard to find the murderer, two sisters who run a local boarding home for women, decide to take matters into their own hands. Joining forces with a cheeky American actress, these three determined ladies set off to solve the crime themselves.

“It’s like a female Sherlock Holmes story”, says director Christopher Schario. “Set over 400 years ago, this witty play also cleverly addresses many of the same social issues women today are still facing, making it a tale of murder and mayhem for the modern-day woman.

Leading the investigation to find the murderer is Loveday Fortescu played by ROBYNE PARRISH. Robyne is returning for her 6th production at the Public, (The Revolutionists, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Book Club Play, Miss Witherspoon and Rough Crossing) and recently appeared Off-Broadway in the world premiere of Strings Attached as well as in the film A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks. Playing her sleuthing sister Valeria Hunter is JOYCE COHEN. Public Theatre audiences may recognize Joyce from last season’s Middletown, and previously in Humble Boy and The Midvale High School Fiftieth Reunion. Joyce has extensive experience performing on Broadway, in films and was most recently seen Off-Broadway in the World Premiere of This Space Between Us. Playing the cheeky American actress Katie Smalls is COURTNEY THOMAS. Courtney has previously appeared at The Public in The Book Club Play as well as Off-Broadway and in regional theatres and is now based in the “other LA”. New to Public Theatre audiences from his career in Arizona is MATHEW ZIMMERER playing all the juicy male characters in the show including PC Crane, theatrical producer Warham-Wynn and the meat butcher Toddy.

The set for Victorian Ladies is designed by Jennifer B. Madigan, lights by Erin Fauble, costumes by Anne Collins and original music and sound design by Scott O’Brien.

The Victorian Ladies Detective Collective will be performed at The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn’s Professional Theatre on Fri Nov 4 at 7:30pm, Sat Nov 5 at 7:30, Sun Nov 6 at 2pm, Thurs Nov 10 at 7:30, Fri Nov 11 at 7:30, Sat Nov 12 at 3pm and 7:30 and Sun Nov 13 at 2pm. Tickets are $25. For reservations call 782-3200 or visit thepublictheatre.org. Location: 31 Maple St, Lewiston. Sponsored by Auburn Manufacturing, Bangor Savings Bank, Warp +Weft and LA Metro Magazine. Season Underwriters: Sun Journal, Platz Associates, Austin Associates, Maine Magazine and Bennett Radio Group.

Actresses left to right are: Robyne Parrish, Courtney Thomas, Joyce Cohen

AUBURN, ME (October 18, 2022) — Certified Nursing Assistant students celebrated their graduation from a Lewiston Adult Education and Central Maine Community College collaborative CNA program on Oct. 14 with family members and staff from both institutions.

The graduates were: Amanda Carr, Elizabeth Coyne, Melissa Fortin, Katherine Mills and Hailey Theriault.

Lewiston Adult Education Assistant Director Razell Ward and Dr. Dwayne Conway, Dean of Workforce & Professional Development at CMCC, welcomed guests and family members to the ceremony. CNA instructor Elise Wiley presented the students with their state certification and special recognitions. The Florence Nightingale Award was awarded  to Melissa Fortin, who was selected by her peers as the graduate most would want to care for their loved ones.  

“The students  were outstanding. They worked very hard and their scores on the final certification exam reflected the hard work they had done,” Wiley said of the students. 

Lewiston Adult Education and Central Maine Community College partnered to provide the Certified Nursing Assistant program. Students completed 140 hours of instruction, including classroom theory, labs, and clinical practicum at Clover Health Care in Auburn. 

“Lewiston Adult Education is very proud of all of the students who completed,” said Director Jennifer Tiner. “They had to balance many responsibilities including school, work and family.”     

In addition to  Healthcare pathways,  Lewiston Adult Education is offering  Applied Technology in the Workplace, Medical Assisting, Today’s Teller, and other workforce certifications for more information call 207-784-2829.

BELOW: Hailey Theriault, Melissa Fortin and Katherine Mills cut up slices of cake following their graduation ceremony at Central Maine Community College in Auburn on Oct. 14.

MONMOUTH, ME (October 13, 2022) — The Monmouth Community Players (MCP) are very pleased to announce our third annual socially distanced Fall production, titled Tales From Monmouth, Maine. The script for the show is adapted from “Beneath This Ground”  by Dr. Larry Buggie, with original monologues written by MCP board member Jane Mitchell. In his book, Buggie brings to life the stories of those buried within the Monmouth Cemetery. MCP’s adaptation of Buggie’s book pieces together some of these tales from beyond in an intriguing stroll through the very cemetery where they are buried.

The show is directed by Ray Fletcher, and publicity is being handled by Josie French. This years cast of specters includes: Jane Mitchell as Susan Gray; Jeanne Fletcher as Lizzie Frost; Charlotte Morin as Carrie Dodd; Karen Lipovsky as Marguerite Marston; Jocelyn Curtis as Nettie Porter; Steve Miller as Benjamin Ellis; Andy Tolman as Joseph Allen; Tony Morin as Lot Sturtevent; Jake Junkins as Asa Clough; and Ray Fletcher as Harry Cochrane.

Performances will be October 21-23 in the Monmouth Cemetery, starting at Cumston Hall,  from 6:30-8:30pm on Friday and Saturday,  and 5:30-7:30pm on Sunday. Tickets are $10.00 and will be sold at the door. The show, despite its ghostly nature, is appropriate for all ages, though some content is a bit dark. For more information on this show and other upcoming auditions and performances, please visit our website at www.monmouthcommunityplayers.org. FMI, please contact our box office by email at mcpboxoffice@gmail.com or leave a message at 207-370-9566. We hope that you will join us for this unique experience!

BELOW: Photo of the Monmouth Cemetery.

AUBURN, ME (October 14, 2022) — The “frothy, fun, and naughty” rock ‘n roll musical The Rocky Horror Show LIVE! will run for four performances October 27-29 at the Community Little Theatre (CLT) in Auburn. 

Since its first appearance at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O’Brien has become a worldwide favorite. It has been performed in more than 30 countries and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Often described as a non-stop party, the show follows sweethearts Brad and Janet on an unforgettable adventure, where they encounter Frank’n’furter, a mad transvestite scientist, and his bizarre followers. 

Widely considered a campy classic and a tribute to the age of B-horror movies, the musical features rock n’ roll classics such as “Sweet Transvestite,” “Hot Patootie,” and the world famous “Time Warp.” The Rocky Horror Show LIVE! features significant audience participation. The show is for mature audiences only, and all audience members must be at last 18 years of age.

 Local theater company Rocky for Equality is heading up this production in partnership with CLT. The show is directed by Becca Tinkham with Joe Tinkham serving as musical director, Paul G. Caron as vocal director, as producer, and Brandon Chaloux is the stage manager. 

The show will be performed starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 27-29. An additional performance will start at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday the 29th. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to purchase general admission tickets in advance at http://www.rockyforequality.com/tickets. This production is not part of CLT’s season and tickets are not available through the CLT box office.

BELOW: The Rocky Horror Show LIVE! will be performed at Community Little Theatre October 27-29. Pictured here left to right at a recent rehearsal are cast members Josh Caron as Rocky; Danielle Eaton, Columbia; Tony Roy, Dr. Scott; Justin Morin, Frank’n’Furter; Bryce Smith, Janet; and Cody Watson as Brad.