Traditional baskets
The third annual Maine Native American Summer Market and Demonstration will be held at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, off Route 26, New Gloucester on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event is a unique blending of two of Maine’s most unique and continuing traditions – that of the Maine Shakers and Maine’s four Native American tribes.
The 20 featured artists are among the finest and most renowned Penobscot, Maliseet, Micmac and Passamaquoddy artisans. This gathering represents decades of tradition, and includes master basket makers, apprentices and multiple generations of family members. There will be hand-woven ash-splint and sweetgrass baskets, traditional etched birch bark vessels, stone sculptures, woodcarvings, cedar flutes, and jewelry available for sale, as well as demonstrations and traditional storytelling.
An excerpt from a preamble by Micmac storyteller David Sanipass at last year’s event provides context. He said, “We are here today because of traditions – generations of traditions. Many of the traditions are in the form of baskets, birch bark vessels, carvings, jewelry and other beautiful creations made by generations of our ancestors. There is also another tradition very present here today – the tradition of gathering together. The Wabanaki and the Shakers started to gather a long time ago and shared ideas about basket making and herbal medicine. Later on in time, they gathered again to sell their sales goods to tourists at the grand hotels throughout the State of Maine.”
The event is funded by the Maine Community Foundation and the Maine Arts Commission. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.shaker.lib.me.us or call 926-4597.
Open Range Day
Everyone is invited to the annual Open Range Day held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Royal River Rod and Gun Club, located on Fish Hatchery Road in New Gloucester. Open Range Day gives the public a chance to check out the club’s 35-yard and 100-yard shooting ranges, meet and talk to members, and learn about the safety, education, and community programs sponsored free of charge.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a firearm or two and try their hand at target shooting. Members can help you sight in for the upcoming deer and moose season. People who have never handled a firearm before but are interested in learning the skill are encouraged to come and talk to proficient shooters. Our members come from a broad spectrum of experience including Maine DIFW, law enforcement, and military; as well as hunters, casual target shooters and fishing enthusiasts. Nothing thrills an experienced sportsman or woman more than to be able to teach their skill and start a person on the road to a safe, rewarding experience in the outdoors. For more information, please contact Pete Thoits at 657-4184 or [email protected].
Kindling Stone concert
The vocal and instrumental trio, Kindling Stone, will perform in the 1794 Shaker Meeting House at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, just off Route 26, New Gloucester. The show is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19.
The group will play traditional songs and tunes from many backgrounds, as well as their own original compositions. Members are Charlotte Avant, Mark Wingate and Chris Moore. Ticket prices are $15 for adults; $5 for children; under 6 free. For more information or to make reservations, call 926-4597.
Library play
For an entertaining evening of global proportions, come to the Library Players’ production about world cultures, featuring a 20-member cast. New Gloucester Public Library’s Board of Trustees Chairman Tim Terranova is the playwright.
The play, which utilizes the Bob Leighton Memorial Gazebo located behind the library as its stage, starts at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23. Audience members may want to bring lawn chairs. For more information, call 926-4840.
School supplies for homeless teens
While you’re out and about back-to-school shopping, why not purchase an extra item for a less fortunate teen? There will be a box at the First Congregational Church, 19 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester for such donations overseen by the Board of Missions.
A wish list includes gift cards for new school outfits and miscellaneous needs, backpacks (high school age) without wheels, single subject notebooks, calculators, highlighters, three-ring binders, wooden pencils, 3×5 note cards and poster board. Contact coordinator Erin Pendexter at 926-3255 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Decorative baskets by Passamaquoddy artist Butch Jacobs,
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