Patten Free hosts Halloween stories

BATH — On Wednesday, October 22 from 6-7:30 p.m., Patten Free Library in Bath will host an evening of spooktacular stories! Midcoast authors April Hawks, Linda Styles, Peter N. Dudar, Joline Schnopp, and Katherine Silva will read from their own works in the horror, mystery, and paranormal genres. There will be a raffle for fun prizes and free refreshments. A brief Q&A session will conclude the program.

April Hawks writes from home. Her personal essay “Slippery Love” was published in Bleed in September 2012, and her short story “Organically Grown” is scheduled to appear in Bugs from Great Old Ones Publishing in October. She is co-founder of the Lisbon writing group Tuesday Mayhem Society. April lives with her husband, four boys and her cat, Ayla.

Peter N. Dudar is the Bram Stoker Award® nominated author of A Requiem for Dead Flies, Dolly and Other Stories, and The Angel of Death. He is a founding member of Maine’s Tuesday Mayhem Society, a writers group dedicated to carrying on the tradition of dark fiction in the shadows of Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allan Poe. Aside from his fiction, Peter also writes a film review column for Cinema Knife Fight, and hosts a blog called ” Dead By Friday,” which shines a light into the world of pop culture, writing, and everyday life as a husband and parent. Peter lives in Lisbon Falls with his wife and two daughters.

Joline Schnopp is currently a stay at home mom and part time college student. She has always had a passion and love for reading and writing. Most of her stories are set in the speculative fiction or horror genre.

Recently, she has begun the pursuit of being published.

Lynda Styles is the Young Adult author of edgy, realistic, and spellbinding fiction. Her debut novel, On Gallows Hill, is available in paperback and e-readers. Her stories are based in history’s facts. They inspire, invoke thought, and are both entertaining and scary. Styles hails from Salem, Massachusetts and has a BA in English and Education from the University of Maine. Styles owns Styles Writing Services – a freelance writing, editing, and virtual assistance service. Styles currently lives on the coast of Maine with her husband and children.

Katherine Silva is the Mid-coast Maine author of The Monstrum Chronicles, a connoisseur of coffee, and a victim of crazy cat shenanigans. Her second book in the series, Aequitas, was nominated for a 2013 Maine Literary Award. She is a member of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance and the New England Horror Writer’s Association. Her first comedy, ” Night Time, Dotted Line” released in November. Currently, she resides in Rockland, working on the rest of the books in The Monstrum Chronicles as well as other projects. More information about Katherine and her books can be found at www.voxthebook.com.

TLC premieres “Haunted Patten”

BATH — On Saturday, October 25, the Teen Library Council of Patten Free Library is offering an evening of frightful fun at “Haunted Patten,” a brief but very scary guided tour of the library basement and some of its darkest secrets. The tours, which will be led by Library Director Lesley Dolinger, will begin at 6:30 and end at 9:30 p.m. Tour times (sched- uled a t 10-minute intervals) can be reserved by individuals or groups of up to six people by filling out a reservation request beginning Tuesday, October 7. The reservation request form can be downloaded and printed from the library website at www.patten.lib.me.us, or filled out on-line.

The tour is appropriate for those in seventh grade and up. ( Adults are welcome, too.) There is no admission fee; however, the Council suggests a donation of $3 per person at the door. There will be baked goods available for sale in the waiting area (the Gazebo in Library Park). All proceeds will help underwrite teen programming at the Library.

The Council has enlisted the assistance of many Morse High School students as well as library staff to help stage the event. “We hope that this becomes something that every- one i n the community looks forward to each year,” says Emma

Harrington, a junior at Morse High School, and one the event organizers. “The library basement provides the perfect environment for a short but appropriately terrifying Halloween tour.”

For more information, call Roberta Jordan at the library (443-5141, ext. 25).

Bowdoin Halloween Extravaganza

BOWDOIN — Bowdoin will hold a Halloween Extravaganza at the old Bowdoin Central School, located at 1201 Main Street, Bowdoin, Saturday, October 18, from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be a haunted trail walk, a bonfire, crafts, a costume parade, Halloween games, face painting, and food/bake sale. The cost is $5 per person, or $ 15 for a family of four or more. Proceeds will benefit Bowdoin and Bowdoinham Fire Departments and Bowdoinham EMS.

Halloween card making

DAMARISCOTTA — The Midcoast Printmakers are having a workshop to make Halloween and Fall cards on Saturday, October 18, from 10 to noon. Learn to paint on plexiglass and the printing press. This fun printing event will take place at 648 Main St. Damariscotta and is for adults and children. Call Kay Miller at 644-8849.

Check our website at www midcoastprintmakers.com. for other on-going classes.

All aboard the Ghost Train!

BOOTHBAY — On Friday & Saturday, October 24 & 25 from 5:30 – 8 p. m. the Boothbay Railway Village will once again be cloaked in mystical moonlight and creepy candlelight for the annual Ghost Train. Just once a year the ghouls and goblins come out to haunt the otherwise peaceful village. Passengers will journey through enchanted cemeteries, see zombies and other ghastly things, hear the calls of strange beasts and experience other unimaginable apparitions.

Unsuspecting visitors must enter the haunted station to board the Ghost Train, if they dare. Our train crew for the evening will be none other than the now infamous “ Casey Bones” and our conductor “Frankenstein.” Witches and other monsters will assist the engineer and train crew with departures every 30 minutes, the last leaves the station at

7:30.

A hayride to parts unchartered is up next. Perhaps you’ll encounter a coven of witches brewing up a potion. You never know what’s around the next bend!

New this year is a display of carved, painted and otherwise decorated pumpkins created by volunteers, artists and area businesses for the event.

Your adventure ends with a new Monster Mash party complete with ghoulish games in the Town Hall. A spooky snack and revolting refreshment will be included too.

The experience is designed to be appropriate for children from ages 3 and up. Ghost Train is more silly than scary. Guests are encouraged to dress the Halloween part.

Tickets will be available at the door. The ticket price for children ages 3 – 16 is just $ 5, adult tickets are $ 10. Museum members receive a discounted price of $ 4 for kids and $ 8 for adults. Ticket sales for Ghost Train support the Museum, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Be sure to bring an appetite because the Senior Class from Boothbay Region High School will have hot chocolate, cider, hamburgers and hot dogs for sale. The sale is a fundraiser for Project Graduation.

It’s not too late to volunteer to help with the Ghost Train. If you’d like to dress up and help haunt the woods and train platform or host games and activities inside the town hall (no costumes required!) contact Margaret Hoffman at [email protected] or 207-633-4727.

For more information about the Ghost Train call the Museum at 207-633-4727, or online at www.railwayvillage.org. The Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay, Maine.