ASNEE August Meeting

KENNEBUNKAstronomical Society of Northern New England (ASNNE) is holding its monthly meeting on Friday, August 4 at Talmage Observatory at Starfield, in West Kennebunk. This is the Annual Barbecue/ Meeting, and is a potluck, open to the general public. The potluck will run from 5 to 6 p.m., with the monthly meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. ASNNE will provide the grills, and asks that guests bring their own food and favorite beverages. Members and potluck guests are encouraged to bring as many family and friends as they wish. Port-A Potties are not available during the potluck.

The general meeting includes Bernie Reim’s “What’s Up for the Month” and the ever popular “Astro Shorts,” where attendees and members share

Newport. Assistant Conductor Jonathan Roth is the music director at Shapleigh Middle School in Kittery, where he questions, activities, news, and observations. Astro Shorts meetings always give way to lively and informative discussions. conducts three bands and the jazz ensemble.For more information, visit www.seacoastwindensemble.org.

Later that evening, ASNEE will host open observing at Starfield.

If the skies are cloudy, the meeting will proceed as scheduled, and if raining, the regular meeting will be held at the New School at 7:30 p.m., with no cook-out preceding. The New School is at 38 York Street in Kennebunk.

ASNNE 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, and the general public is always welcome For more information and directions, visit www.asnee.org, email asnne. astronomy@gmail.com or call 207 363-4920.

OMAA “Art in Bloom” Winners

OGUNQUITOgunquit Museum of American Art (OMAA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 “Art in Bloom” contest. Tied for first place were Patricia Lomando and Audrey Grumbling, with second place going to artist was Susan Haynes.

Patricia Lomando’s design responded to Charles Woodbury’s painting “Narrow Cove, Black Figure Yellow Cap.” According to Lomando, “The figure wades in the waves, clothed in full-length wool swimming garments. The path underfoot is not visible. Surrounded by unforgiving bouldered shorelines, the figure is committed to their trajectory. I chose to create a Moribana arrangement to interpret this piece.” Moribana is a style of Ikebana, or Japanese flower arranging. The technique involves using a shallow container and a kenzan - also known as a flower frog - to anchor slanting branches, leaves and flowers, creating a sense movement.

Audrey Grumbling’s design responded to Chaim Gross’s “Study of a Model.” Grumbling wrote, “This artwork is a study of simplicity... mass and... dynamic motion. The painting expresses balance and stability, at the same time showing dynamic direction and movement. The seemingly quickly sketched black inky lines are subtly enhanced with a brilliant edging of burgundy. I am reminded that Gross is a sculptor, whose attention to stability and form merges with attention to line, direction, and movement. I aim to interpret this sense of movement and stability along with the color palette of blacks, grays, and burgundy in my floral design.”

Susan Haynes’ design responded to Marsden Hartley’s “Still Life with Eel.” Haynes wrote, “In this 1917 painting, Marsden Hartley explored questions of (his) homosexuality. He is a Maine native, who took a trip to Bermuda and was exposed to a much freer lifestyle. The eel is symbolic of his exploration of sexuality, as eels do not have sex to reproduce. He loved the bright colors and wildlife, as I hope to represent. And also he was greatly influenced by Henri Matisse, who he became friends with while in Paris in the early 1900s. (Hartley) was influenced by him, the impressionists and the cubists. I feel his painting is an homage to Matisse’s ‘The Goldfish,’ in both subject matter and colors.”

OMAA is grateful to Haven Homes + Lifestyle, without whom “Art in Bloom” would not be pos-

Seaglass Chorale Call For Singers

sible. A special “Thank You” also goes out to all who voted, and the visitors who attended the exhibit, the fabulous hat wearers, and the 14 designers who created their beautiful displays. For more information, visit www.ogunquitmuseum.org.

KENNEBUNKSeaglass Chorale is starting rehearsals for their upcoming Winter Concert, which will mark the start of their 30th performance season. This year, the chorale is celebrating with two Celtic Christmas Concerts on Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2. Rehearsals are set to begin on Thursday, September 7, 6-7 p.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Route 1, Kennebunk.

Anyone who would like to sing can join. No audition is needed, just the desire to share in community.

The concert will feature the Seaglass Chorale, select choir the Seatones, an Irish Step Dancing group, and Irish poetry readings.

Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Jean Strazdes, the Seaglass Chorale is a non-auditioned adult choral group of 46 voices. The chorale represents 20 southern Maine communities, and regularly performs throughout the area, with concerts in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Sanford, Saco, and other regional venues.

For more information, visit www.seaglasschorale.org .

Art, History, and Climate Change

KENNEBUNKThe Brick Store Museum’s current exhibitions showcase its mission of illustrating the local history and art of Kennebunk and its surrounding communities, including some with a focus on climate change. This summer, the museum features two exhibitions in its main buildings, “Wrapped in Blue: Fashions to Promote Global Health” and “Making the Modern World: A Century+ of Progress,” as well as its contemporary art show, “Earthly Observations.”

The history exhibition “Making the Modern World: A Century+ of Progress” is based on the style and theming of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and explores changes in communications, transportation, health, and wellbeing, all of which affect each of our lives today.

“Wrapped in Blue” showcases 11 fashions created completely of “blue wrap,” the poly-

York HIGH yearly reunion

A free and casual event for anyone that went to York High over 30 years ago.

Saturday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at Lobster in the Rough, 1000 USR-1, York Just show up! Rain? Canceled only if the band can’t play.

propylene fabric used in hospitals to sterilize equipment, highlighting the issues related to hospital waste. It also spotlights the preservation work done by Portland-based Partners for World Health, an organization that collects medical supplies and equipment from various facilities and individuals and then sorts, evaluates, and repackages them for distribution to individuals, communities, and healthcare facilities in need.

Paired with the fashion exhibition is “Earthly Observations: Artist Perspectives of Our Climate,” featuring eight Maine artists displaying 2D and 3D artworks illustrating perspectives on climate change. Works featured are by prominent climatechange artist-activists Cole Caswell (Maine Arts Commission Fellow), Kate Cheney Chappell, Anna Dibble, Liz Hunter, Elizabeth Kelley, Andrea Roth Kimmich, Bill Presby, and Rhonda

. . . GRIEF from page 1 a voice of support for families, and to create more education out there in the community,” she says. Her own experience with grief gives her a special insight into the anguish of others. Heros says simply, “I feel that when I’m talking to others, they know I’m speaking from the heart. I’m speaking from experience.”

Peer support is at the core of the center’s work. Heros has high praise for the peer support group experience. “What

Smith. The show boasts painting and sculpture, with pieces also installed in the museum’s courtyard, including Chappell’s steel “Tumblestars” and Presby’s “Tunny the Tuna.” appealed to me,” she says, “was the fact that you were in a group of people who were ‘walking the walk,’ breaking down the walls of isolation, even more so for the children.” She goes on to express her great appreciation for the center’s volunteers. “The extra magic for me,” she says, “was that there were two facilitators in the group, and they were volunteers. That, to me, was such an unconditional love. That’s what stayed with me after we left.”

The exhibitions will close August 20 to make way for the Fall exhibition featuring the Pastel Society of Maine. The Brick Store Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday with varied hours. For more information, visit www. brickstoremuseum.org.

The value of peer support at the center cannot be overstated. Heros feels that listening to the experiences of others and what they found helpful goes a long way in aiding the healing process. “One day after another seems impossible at first,” she says, “but you get strength from seeing other people coping five or six months down the line. This gives you hope that you can get there.”

SANFORDPartners Bank announces the latest participants in the Partners Bank Employee Donation Program, in which an employee is randomly selected every month to choose a deserving nonprofit to receive a $1,000 donation. In the months of April, May, and June of 2023, each selected employee chose a unique organization to receive this special, employee-directed donation.

In April, Kim Stewart, Partners Bank AVP Mortgage Consultant, selected the SanfordSpringvale YMCA’s Trafton Senior Center as her recipient.