Annual MLK celebration

features R&B, pop and soul

The band, Higher Ground, will play at First Parish Church in Kennebunk and sing the songs of Stevie Wonder to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day. The 22nd annual MLK Celebration is set for 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.

The program will begin with words of King, chosen and read by several Kennebunk High School students, along with a welcome by the Rev Tori Rosati.

Higher Ground, according to a news release, is made up of 14 singers and musicians plus an American Sign Language interpreter/dancer from the Portland area. They chose Wonder’s music because of the connection between the musician and the civil rights leader. Wonder, one of the most popular singers and composers of our time, has championed civil rights his whole life, and was instrumental in making Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holiday. He released Happy Birthday to celebrate King, in 1980. The song became a hit and a rallying cry for the MLK Holiday, which was established Jan. 20, 1986.

Wonder focused on civil rights in many of his songs, including “Higher Ground,” which the band chose as its name. They will also sing “Uptight,” “Signed Sealed Delivered,” “Living for the City” and “You Haven’t Done Nothing,” all of which highlight social justice. In addition, the will play his love songs.

“We’re excited to bring Stevie Wonder’s music along with King’s words to our celebration this year,” said Vicki Adams, event coordinator, in an email. “It’s a great way to bring the meaning of the holiday to life.”

The concert will benefit “Black Kid Joy,” a Broadway production being brought to 1,000 Portland area middle school students by JoshuaHughesEntertainment. “Together we will celebrate the vibrancy, tradition, and beauty of the culture, elevating black voices and spirit of our ancestry,” said spokesperson Megan Guynes.

While in the past, Kennebunk’s MLK program was held on the Monday holiday, this year’s program takes place the Sunday before, a time that organizers hope is more convenient for many to attend. The celebration, sponsored by First Parish Social Justice Network, will be in the Sanctuary of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main St., in Kennebunk. Patrons are invited to gather in the Parish Hall afterward for a reception.

Tickets are available online at uukennebunk.org/mlk25. Suggested donations are $25 adult, $10 children and teens.

 

Water protection event

scheduled for Jan. 11

The Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Conservation Commissions will host Water! Protecting Our Water in the Kennebunks. The free event, scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Kennebunk Town Hall, will focus on water facts, how it affects lives, and how residents can protect water quality in the region and at home. Admission is free.

At the event, attendees will hear from local and regional organizations about aquaculture, see how regional watershed works, and learn about threats to the water. Local volunteers who have been testing rivers and storm water for contaminants will have results available. Those with private wells can bring home a discounted voucher for a home water test. Children’s activities will also be available.

“Unlike many places in the world,” wrote organizers in a news release, “New England has historically had ample water. As our population grows and climate change adds uncertainty, maintaining the quality of our water becomes more of a challenge. The community event is designed to build awareness on how to support river and ocean health, as well as the health of home water systems.”

Participants include Maine Healthy Beaches, Friends of Casco Bay, Defend Our Health, Wells Reserve, York County Soil and Water Conservation District, Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Wells Water District, Kennebunk Volunteer River Monitoring Project, Kennebunk Climate Action Committee, Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers Alliance, Maine Aquaculture Association.

 

Maple expert to present

at workshops for beginners

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is collaborating with several local organizations in York and Androscoggin counties to present a series of maple sugaring workshops for beginners and small-scale producers in January and February. There is also an online option hosted by the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association.

All of the programs, according to a news release, are designed for backyard and homestead-scale systems that require a limited initial investment in equipment. Discussions will include identifying and tapping trees, collecting and boiling sap, as well as filtering, grading and canning syrup.

On Feb. 1, the Southern Maine Maple Sugarmakers Association will host Backyard Maple Sugaring from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the York County Extension Office, 45 Kennebunk Road in Alfred. The day-long workshop is developed to give participants a more in-depth overview of the sugaring process.

The morning session will include demonstrations and discussions by UMaine Extension Maple Industry Educator Jason Lilley and several established maple syrup producers. The afternoon will include a tour of a local sugarhouse to highlight how they got started and demonstrate the sap processing equipment that they use. The cost of the workshop is $18 and includes a how-to guide. Visit the event webpage to register.

A virtual session hosted by Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, and led by Lilley, is planned for Jan. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Visit the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association’s event page to register.

The remaining workshops, which do not include a sugarhouse tour, are scheduled to last approximately two hours and will be held at the Julia Adams Morse Memorial Library in Greene on Jan. 9, Massabesic Adult Education in Waterboro on Jan. 30 and Lewiston Adult Education in Lewiston on Feb. 4. Registration information for the events will be announced soon.

For more information, contact jason.lilley@maine.edu.

 

Seacoast Garden Club

gives boxwood trees

Members of the Seacoast Garden Club met Dec. 9 to make and decorate miniature boxwood Christmas trees for area homebound residents. The event is an annual service project for the club.

Fifty-eight trees were assembled at the Community House in Kennebunkport. Later that day, the trees were delivered to local organizations, including Home Instead, SMHC Visiting Nurses, Kennebunkport Healthcare and A Place to Start.

For more information about Seacoast Garden Club, an organization that has members from  many communities, email seacoastgardenclub@gmail.com.

 

York County Audubon

hosts old forest expert

York County Audubon will host Dr. Malcolm Hunter for a presentation titled, Old Forests: Jewels in the crown of the Maine Landscape?” The presentation will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.  Hunter will lead participants on an exploration of Maine’s old forests.

According to an Audubon news release, the Maine landscape remains widely covered by forests, but current forests are very young compared to the pre-European landscape, when large, old trees were dominant. The old forests may be treasure troves of hidden biodiversity. Why this matters and what we should do about it will be discussed by Hunter, professor emeritus of wildlife ecology at the University of Maine.

Hunter’s research experience covers a variety of ecosystems and organisms – birds, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, insects, vascular plants, rivers, lakes, wetlands, grasslands, and more – but his major focus is on forest ecosystems and the maintenance of their biological diversity. He is a member of a team that has studied one forest and the evolving interactions among its vascular plants, amphibians, birds, and small mammals through nearly 40 years.

Hunter’s interests are geographically broad; he has worked in 30 countries on every continent except Antarctica. As a researcher and advisor, he interacts with a broad spectrum of organizations such as the Society for Conservation Biology, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service. This year, he received the Honorary Membership Award from The Society of American Foresters, an award that “recognizes individuals whose contributions to forestry are viewed as outstanding by their peers.”

The program will be presented only via Zoom. To register in advance or for more information, visit www.yorkcountyaudubon.org.

 

Graves Library

annual meeting

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library Association invited the community to attend its annual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 5 p.m. The event will take place at the library, located at 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport.

The meeting will include reports from the library’s president, library director, nominating chair and treasurer. Those who attend will hear about library activities and future plans. New board members will be voted on during the meeting.

A reception with light refreshments will follow the meeting. For more information, call 207-967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

 

Seaglass Chorale

rehearsals at St. David’s

Seaglass Chorale invites interested singers to its rehearsals that are scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. every Thursday beginning Jan. 9 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunk. No audition is required.

Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Jean Strazdes, Seaglass Chorale is a non-auditioned adult choral group of 60 voices. The chorale represents about 20 southern Maine communities and regularly performs throughout the area, with concerts in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Sanford, Saco and other regional venues.

St. David’s is located at 138 York St., Kennebunk. For more information on Seaglass Chorale, joining the chorale or making a donation, visit gwww.seaglasschorale.org.

 

Family story time

at Graves Library

Graves Library will host Friday family story time in the Community Room every Friday at 10 a.m. and invites patrons to Stay & Play at 10:45 a.m. The program includes stories, finger plays, and songs.

After story time, participants are invited to stop at the hands-on stations that are always open: Puzzle Cubes, View-Master, Coloring Crafts, Legos, I Spy Terrarium, and more. Participants can also try the themed Counting Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a prize.

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is located at 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport. For more information, call 207-967-2778 and ask for the Junior Room or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

 

Short-term
rental registration

The town of Kennebunk’s clerk’s office is accepting short-term rental registrations for 2025.

According to the town clerk’s office, per the Short-Term Rental Ordinance, effective Jan. 1, 2025, any person seeking to operate a short-term rental unit in the town of Kennebunk shall register the unit with the town clerk’s office.

Short-term rental units will be inspected by Kennebunk Fire Rescue. If the short-term rental unit fails to meet these requirements, no registration shall be issued until identified issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the fire chief or designee.

Applicants can download a short-term rental registration form or visit the town clerk’s office to pick up a form. There is a $250 registration fee. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Kennebunk.

Completed forms must be returned to the town clerk’s office: Town Clerk, Town of Kennebunk, 1 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043.

For more information, visit www.kennebunkmaine.us/str.

 

Legion Post 74
schedules meetings

American Legion Webber Lefebvre Post 74 in Kennebunk holds meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Legion Post 74 is located at 15 Water St.

Legion Post 74 is looking for new members. Legion Post 74 participates in the May Day and Memorial Day parades, flag retirement ceremonies with the Boy Scouts, furnishes a scholarship to the high school and participates in many other local activities and charities.

 

Chess Club Tuesdays

at Graves Library

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library announced that Chess Club meetings are happening every Tuesday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the Dow Room. Whether a seasoned player or just starting out, the club welcomes all levels of players.

Players are invited to bring their own chess board or feel free to use one of library’s. The event provides an opportunity to engage in friendly matches, sharpen skills, and learn more about this timeless game from fellow chess lovers.

Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library is located 18 Maine St., Kennebunkport. For more information, call 207-967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

 

York County Amateur

Radio Club meetings

The York County Amateur Radio Club meets on the first Sunday of each month from September to June. The meetings begin at 2:45 p.m. at the Wells town offices at 208 Sanford Road.

All are welcome and membership is open to all. A ham radio license is not required. The club promotes amateur radio knowledge, offers educational programs, and organizes special events. For more information, visit w1yca.org.

 

Legion Post 159

meeting schedule

Monthly meetings of American Legion Post 159 are held on the first Thursday of the month. Meeting dates for 2025: Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4.

All veterans and Sons of the American Legion are welcomed to attend. Legion Post 169 is located at 102 Main St. (across from the police station) in Kennebunkport. For more information, call 207-967-2400.

 

Conservation trust

appoints new president

Christ Angelos has been appointed the new president of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust Board. He replaces Russ Grady, who will continue to serve as a board member.

Angelos, according to a news release, has been an active member of the trust’s board of directors for more than 20 years and during that time he has been involved with all aspects of the organization, including trail maintenance, fundraising for many projects, being instrumental in bringing the new dog park at Meadow Woods Preserve to fruition, volunteering at events and working with the Kennebunk High School Alternative Education Program.

A practicing veterinarian in the community for more than 40 years, and a member of the Kennebunk Rotary Club, Angelos is “well known and trusted as a compassionate leader and community member,” wrote the trust. “He looks forward to expanding and enhancing the good work and programs in place at the trust to ensure the properties remain free and open for all to enjoy, always.”

For more information about Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, visit www.kporttrust.org.

 

Vets group offers

Wednesday coffee

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1044 has launched free-coffee Wednesdays to all veterans. Chapter 1044 is located at 508 Elm St. in Biddeford (basement of American Legion Post 26). Chapter meetings are held on the first Sunday of each month and begin at 1:30 p.m.

Those who served in the past, or are currently serving, are welcomed to the Wednesday coffee from 9 to 11 a.m. Veterans need simply to show military ID or wear an item that identifies their service, and the coffee is on Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1044. Tables will be set up with board games and a veteran service officer will be available to answer questions on veterans’ benefits or to help file a claim for disability through the VA system. The service is also available to spouses of veterans.

For more information, contact Joseph Armstrong, chapter president, at 207-494-9287 or visit www.vva1004maine.org.

 

Amateur Radio Society
meets at The New School

The New England Radio Discussion Society meets biweekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. throughout the year at The New School in Kennebunk. The club informally gathers to support and promote amateur (ham) radio. Wide-ranging discussion topics include: early and contemporary equipment, digital technology, internet integration, and striving for international contacts. Most meetings include a tech talk by a society member.

Those interested in amateur radio are invited to join. The New School is located at 38 York St. in Kennebunk. For more information, contact Alex at 207-967-8812.

 

Astro Society
hosts star parties

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England has set its schedule for public Star Parties through August and invites the public to attend. The society operates its own observatory, the Talmage Observatory at Starfield, on Route 35, in West Kennebunk.

At the Star Parties, the public, as well as society members, are most invited to observe the heavens through club telescopes, as well as member telescopes. Stars, visible planets, and deep-sky objects can all be viewed. Experienced society members are on hand to guide the observing, explain what is being seen, and answer questions. There is no fee.

The Talmage Observatory at Starfield opens at 7:30 p.m. for the events. For directions, visit asnne.org/where-to-find-us.php.

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England is a local association of amateur astronomers that meets monthly at the New School in Kennebunk. Meetings are on the first Friday of each month. For more information, visit ASNNE.org.

 

Land trust nature

walk schedule

Kennebunk Land Trust released the dates for its Nature Walk series. The first Saturday of each month, the land trust hosts a nature walk on a different preserve following a different theme. Participants are invited to explore a new local preserve and enjoy nature in all seasons.

The walks are led by local Maine Guides and master naturalists, who take participants through the nature preserve and share knowledge and ask questions about the flora, fauna, and nature.

The walks are free of charge for all ages and held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Donations are accepted and well-behaved dogs are welcome. The 2025 walk schedule is subject to change with notice.

For more information and to register, visit kennebunklandtrust.org.

Kennebunk Savings and Southern Maine Health Care are sponsors of the events.

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