Kennebunk Town Historian Kathy Ostrander Roberts and Dr. J. Leith Smith, from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, will host a presentation at Kennebunk Free Library on Monday, March 21, where they will discuss artifacts collected during excavations at The Previously Enslaved Persons Community of Kennebunk. The session is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The artifacts, uncovered by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, went on display at the library beginning March 11. The items were discovered during three archaeological surveys in Kennebunk on what is referred to as The Previously Enslaved Persons Community of Kennebunk. The surveys were initiated and funded by the Kennebunk Bicentennial Committee as its 2020 Legacy Project at the urging of its chairman, Ostrander Roberts.

According to a March 10 news release, “The existence of the community had been mentioned in very old, local histories, however, the exact location was lost to time. References to deceased land owners and old roads, whose names had been changed years ago, were carefully researched by Ostrander Roberts to determine the exact location.”

Armed with her research, the committee was able to secure the involvement of the state archaeologists to further investigate the site.

“The members of our Bicentennial Committee felt the need to bring the lives of these marginalized members of our community to light, noting that until now, they have been forgotten and their story left untold,” wrote the committee. “With the full support of the town of Kennebunk, our committee unanimously voted that this project would be a lasting educational legacy to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Kennebunk.”

The archaeological surveys on the site to date have been funded by the Bicentennial Committee, business and private donations and two local churches. The site, and two others uncovered by Ostrander Roberts’s research, will be the focus of future surveys as well.

The March 21 program at Kennebunk Free Library is free and wheelchair accessible. The library is located at 112 Main St. in Kennebunk. For more information, call 207-985-2173 or email kfl@kennebunklibrary.org.

Kennebunkport Healthy Ecosystem survey available

The Kennebunkport Conservation Commission wants to hear current opinion on the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in Kennebunkport.

A survey – primarily multiple choice – will go out in a town-wide mailing in mid-March. An online link to the survey is also available and the commission is asking people to complete the electronic version if at all possible, to save on volunteer hours. The survey takes only about three minutes to complete and will remain open through April 8.

In a 2018 Kennebunkport Community Survey, 82 percent of Kennebunkport respondents agreed that “the town should play a more active role in protecting sensitive environmental areas through measures such as enhanced regulations for …  fertilizer and pesticide application.”

Based on this and other requests from individuals, the Conservation Commission is interested in feedback about the local use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This would contribute to its research on creating a potential ordinance to help control the substances in town. An ordinance would then be submitted to the town for consideration; the final decision would be up to Kennebunkport voters.

Carol Morris, commission chair, said that along with individuals who have been requesting an ordinance, the commission has also heard from commercial applicators who believe adopting organic-only practices would be harmful to their businesses. “That’s one of the reasons this survey is so important,” she said in a March 11 email. “We are hearing both sides and need to understand what the majority of citizens would like to see.” The commission is also doing its own research with such organizations as the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the state’s Board of Pesticides. Morris said that the commission is aware that other communities have gone through a similar process; currently more than 30 Maine municipalities have added a local pesticide ordinance.

Karen Hall, another commission member, wrote, “I recently joined the board because of my love of nature, my community, and a desire to give back to both. I hope that this survey will help us find what is important to each of us regarding responsible stewardship of our environment, and most importantly, how we as a community can find consensus and compromise on how to move forward.”

Although the commission asks people to take the online survey if possible, to reduce volunteer hours inputting data, additional paper copies are also available at Kennebunkport Town Office on Elm Street.

The Kennebunkport Conservation Commission serves as a research, advisory, and advocacy group on environmental and conservation issues.

Kennebunkport Historical Society announces Junior Board

The Kennebunkport Historical Society announced the formation of its newest group of stewards: the Junior Board. The team includes students from RSU 21, as well as local private school students, homeschoolers and summer residents.

According to a March 8 news release, “The only prerequisite for the program was a love of history and of Kennebunkport.”

The group of 7 students, ages 10-17, met on Feb. 22, for the first time, making history for the society.

“The purpose of the Junior Board is to bring a fresh perspective to our educational and operational programs, in hopes that the society moves in a direction that appeals to community families, children and intergenerational groups” said Kristin Haight, executive director, in an email. “Our society serves as a resource for local history, and we wanted to find new ways to include our youth in that dialogue.”

According to the historical society, the Junior Board will use Robert’s Rules of Order as guidance by meeting monthly, electing officers, keeping minutes and creating its own mission statement and basic by-laws. The Junior Board will help to develop and execute its own family-friendly fundraisers and offer insight to developing education initiatives.

“We hope to inspire other young people in the community to get involved with the society, too,” Haight said. “We offer volunteer opportunities and internships for all areas of interest that any age could get excited about. I can’t wait to see how this bright, young group of students will influence our future.”

For more information about the Kennebunkport Historical Society and its programs, visit www.kporths.com.

May Day Festival returns in Kennebunk

The May Day Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7.

According to a March 1 news release from the festival committee, “This year’s festival will feature most of the popular, family-oriented activities enjoyed for years and hopefully some fun new additions.”

For more information, contact Linda Johnson at ljohnson@kennebunkmaine.us or visit www.kennebunkmaine.usmayday.

Library announces featured artist

Kennebunk Free Library announced its next Speers Gallery exhibit, Watercolors, by Bob Lown, opened March 5. The exhibit features watercolor paintings of local architecture, beaches, parks and scenery of the greater Kennebunk area.

Lown has been painting since 1960. In his younger years, when his time was filled with job and family, his painting had to be tucked in between other priorities. Upon retirement in 1995, he was able to paint more regularly.

Though mostly self-taught, Lown has been able to take courses from various artists while on vacation and in retirement. Some memorable teachers were George Shedd, Carlton Plummer, Phoebe Flory, Russell Whitten, Carl Schmaltz and Dewitt Hardy.

Lown is an active member of Art Guild of The Kennebunks and has exhibited several times before at Kennebunk Free Library.

The public is invited to view the exhibit in the library’s Speers Gallery from March 5-31. The exhibit will be available for viewing during regular library hours when the gallery is not in use for library programs. For library hours and gallery access, visit www.kennebunklibrary.org.

Museum looks at perspective of history

The Brick Store Museum is hosting a virtual springtime lecture series called Expanded Perspectives of History, supported by the Maine Humanities Council. The series will be delivered via Zoom every two weeks and began on March 10. On these dedicated Thursdays at 2 p.m., the museum will present a visiting virtual lecturer to speak on different perspectives of history. Registration is free, and spots can be reserved on www.brickstoremuseum.org.

On March 31, certified genealogist Pam Eagleson will present Uncovering the Struggles & Stories of Our Ancestors; April 14 will bring Professor Paul Kelton of Stony Brook University to speak on Germs and Colonialism, and May 5 will see Professor David Jones of Harvard University focus on COVID-19 Through the Lens of Epidemic History.

The series will bring Kennebunk’s own history into focus, with town historian Kathy Ostrander Roberts speaking on the town’s history of Freed Enslaved People and Kennebunk’s Poor Farm on Thursday, May 26.

Participation in the lectures is free and open to the public thanks through the support of the Maine Humanities Council, but participants are asked to register online at www.brickstoremuseum.org or call the museum at 207-985-4802. Lectures will be recorded and made available to registrants and museum members through the member portal after the live presentations.

UMaine-Farmington announces fall dean’s list

The University of Maine at Farmington released its dean’s list for the fall 2021 semester. Students named to the dean’s list include:

Arundel: Meghan LaPlante, High Honors; Calli Leach, High Honors; Patience Rousseau, Honors.

Kennebunk: Mary Everett, High Honors; Sam LaFond, High Honors; Callister Montembeau, High Honors; Eli Mowry, Honors;

Lyman: Marissa Goodwin, High Honors; Ryan Townsend, Honors.

Wells: Covy Dufort, Honors; Abby Hanson, Honors; Connor Hood, Honors; Julia Partridge, High Honors; Michael Patnaude, High Honors; Jade Petrie, High Honors; Paige Tremblay, Honors.

Arundel Conservation Trust schedules annual meeting

Arundel Conservation Trust announced that its fourth annual meeting will take place 6 to 8 p.m. April 6 at Weirs Buick GMC. The meeting program will honor conservation trust volunteer award winners and celebrate the accomplishments achieved in 2021. The public is invited join the trust for the event and learn what it has planned for 2022 and how to be a part of its future.

The annual meeting will be held in-person, at Weirs Buick GMC, 1523 Portland Road in Arundel. Light refreshments will be served.

Former intelligence officers meeting scheduled

The next public meeting of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers will be held at the Brick Store Museum’s Program Center at 4 Dane St. in Kennebunk on Saturday, March 19. The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will feature William Merz, who has an extensive background in naval operations, from being in command of the 7th Fleet, to different warfare preparedness operations focusing on the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Merz, a vice admiral, will address the strengths and vulnerabilities of islands off China’s eastern coast and likely the concerns in Ukraine.

The session is part of a series of discussions relating to the importance of intelligence in current public affairs. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation.

York County Audubon to host session on saw-whet owl

With a size not much larger than a soda can, the Northern saw-whet owl is the smallest raptor in eastern North America. Due to its secretive nature, it is often overlooked. Much of what we know about the species is thanks to extensive banding efforts. While knowledge of the species has grown, many mysteries remain.

On Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon will host an online program presented by Zoe Korpi, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in the environment and natural resources program at Ohio State University, with a focus in wildlife science.

Korpi has banded and studied the birds in Maine and Pennsylvania. She has an interest in understanding how human activities impact and threaten the survival of bird species and how the threats can be mitigated. Her current research focuses on understanding the lake crossing behavior of small migratory songbirds using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to evaluate the potential impact of offshore wind energy on their movements across Lake Erie.

There’s no charge to participate, but advance registration is required. To register, visit www.yorkcountyaudubon.org, and click on the link. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

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