LOS ANGELES (AP) — With its purchase of left-leaning Current TV, the Pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera has fulfilled a long-held quest to reach tens of millions of U.S. homes. But its new audience immediately got a little smaller. The nation’s second-largest TV operator, Time Warner Cable Inc., dropped Current after the deal was confirmed Wednesday, […]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Stewart is hosting the Musi- Cares salute to Bruce Springsteen. The Recording Academy also announced Wednesday that Elton John, Neil Young, Mumford & Sons, Sting, Mavis Staples and Kenny Chesney will be among more than a dozen performers who will help pay tribute to Springsteen during the Feb. 8 benefit […]

The Maine-made dramatic web series “Ragged Isle” has been nominated for seven Indie Soap Awards. The fourth annual Indie Soap Awards have announced the 2012 nominees to be awarded in February 2013 at a gala event in New York City. The awards are prestigious recognition in the independent online entertainment community, a news release said. […]

HALLOWELL — On Sunday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Manchester artist Hélène Farrar will teach a one-day workshop on encaustic painting at the Harlow Gallery, 160 Water St. Encaustic is a beeswaxbased painting medium that is used in a molten state. The molten state implies that the wax is heated to a […]

AUGUSTA — The Finance Authority of Maine is currently displaying photography by Dennis Griggs of Topsham. The public may view the exhibition for free at FAME’s Augusta office until mid-January. FAME is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. FAME’s office is located near the Augusta Civic Center, 5 Community Drive; Exit […]

BATH — Centre St. Arts Gallery, LLC, presents the first of many art workshops at its 11 Centre St. gallery and studio on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. Introduction to Watercolor for the Uninitiated is offered for 10 adult would-be watercolorists by Livy Glaubitz. The cost is $20 per 60- to 90- minute session. […]

BRUNSWICK — Friends of Merrymeeting Bay’s fourth presentation in its 16th annual Winter Speaker Series will be Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at Cram Alumni House, Bowdoin College. The program, “Lighthouses of the Kennebec,” features lighthouse historian and University of Maine at Augusta Senior College instructor Duane Prugh with a special appearance by painter, […]

BATH — Auditions for the seventh Hot Chocolate Jubilee will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St. The theme and title of HCJVII is “Let the Good Times Roll.” Potential acts should fit this theme and be three or four minutes […]

BRUNSWICK — A reception for Maria Castellano-Usery will be held Saturday, Jan. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Morrell Meeting Room to celebrate the opening of her solo art show at Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St. Cumberland Crossing will provide live bluegrass music. The exhibit runs through Jan. 31. For more information, call […]