FATHER’S DAY JUNE 21
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Friday, June 19, 2026 Volume 21 • Issue No. 25
15th Annual Kittery Block Party: Saturday, June 20 KITTERY The Kittery Block Party, an annual tradition now in its 15th year, will be held Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wallingford Square in Kittery Foreside. Residents and visitors from near and far are invited to attend the daylong festival, which celebrates local art, culture, and food while strengthening community ties in a neighborhood atmosphere. All events, as well as parking and shuttle services, are free. Live music on the main stage begins with Charlie Marie performing at 10 a.m., followed by Soulcolour at 11 a.m., South-
side Blues at 12:15 p.m., Jason Arnick at 1:15 p.m. and Foreside Funk at 2:15 p.m. The Foreside Music Fest, taking place in the Black Birch/ buoy parking lot, starts at noon. The lineup includes local bands
Mad, Juniper Blue Ocean, Winkler, Crazy Déja Vu, Paper Castles, Seana Carmody, Rick Rude, Dan Blakeslee, Dumbheads, Babe, Wait, Kelsey Wilson, and Rick McGuire. The Kids’ Stage features
Friend Andrea, Jenny OwenYoungs, and Fred the Magician. Performances run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Dance Hall stage will feature artists Lindsay Foote Band at 11 a.m., The Lion Sisters at 12:30 p.m., and Kathleen Parks Band at 2 p.m. The celebration also features an extensive selection of vendors offering unique goods, strolling entertainers, a dedicated children’s area with activities, and a selection of local food trucks. Whether attendees are food enthusiasts, music lovers, or simply seeking a day out with family and friends, the Kittery Block Party
offers something for everyone to enjoy regardless of age. There will be multiple shuttles running throughout the day to ensure minimal wait times. Shuttle route parking is available at Traip Academy, Post Office Square, the Kittery Community Center, the Kittery Water District, Art on the Hill, and York Hospital. There is designated accessible parking on Jones Avenue between Government Street and Walker Street, as well as street parking on Walker and Government streets in designated areas. See BLOCK on page 23...
South Berwick Strawberry Festival Celebrates 50 Years SOUTH BERWICK The 50th Annual South Berwick Strawberry Festival takes place Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Central School grounds, 197 Main St. One of the region’s most popular summer events, the festival draws more than 20,000 visitors for a day of food, music, and family activities. Strawberry favorites take center stage, including fresh strawberry shortcake and strawberry cheesecake served throughout the day. More than 100 New England arti-
sans will offer handmade goods, while local nonprofit organizations operate a variety of food booths. Live entertainment will be offered on two stages from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Main stage performers include South Side Blues, Magic Wes Wonder, and Them Talking Monkeys. Undercover Music and Freight Train will perform on the back stage, and DJ Carmen will spin tracks between sets. The whole family can enjoy games, crafts, rides, and other activities throughout the day. In the field area, All Star
Mobile Hoops will host free basketball games, while Perfect Parties USA will provide rides and bounce houses. A2B2 Reptile will offer a petting zoo experience for all ages. Free parking and trolley service will be available, and proceeds from the festival support local organizations and community projects. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/southberwickstrawberry festival or www.southberwickstrawberry festival.org/schedule.
Independence Day Events Kick Off Next Weekend KITTERY The state’s oldest town is once again kicking off area Inde-
Local Average Tide Chart Date High Low am pm
Sat 20 3:54 4:36 Sun 21 4:54 5:32 Mon 22 5:54 6:27 Tue 23 6:55 7:22 Wed 24 7:56 8:15 Thu 25 8:54 9:05 Fri 26 9:46 9:52 Sat 27 10:34 10:35
am pm
10:10 10:36 11:07 11:39 12:02 12:41 12:57 1:42 1:52 2:39 2:44 3:30 3:33 4:18 4:17
Sun Rise Sun Set Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27
5:01 8:25 5:02 8:26 5:02 8:26 5:02 8:26 5:02 8:26 5:03 8:26 5:03 8:26 5:03 8:26
pendence Day celebrations with the annual ceremony known as Whipple’s Reading. The event takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at USS Thresher Memorial Park, 200 Rogers Rd., beside Kittery Town Hall. For the past few years, Gen. William Whipple, the only known Maine native to have signed the Declaration of Independence, has returned to his hometown of Kittery for an annual public reading of the document. Gen. William Whipple was a merchant sea captain who went on to serve as a militia general and as a member of the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. The exploits that brought Whipple his greatest fame occurred after he settled across the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth,
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NH. During many of those moments, his enslaved manservant, Prince, was at his side. In 1779, Prince was one of 20 enslaved African men who penned a Petition for Freedom submitted to the New Hampshire State Legislature. Lawmakers tabled the request without further action. It was later published in a local newspaper in 1780 for the “amusement” of
readers. However, the eloquently framed petition—filled with poetry and passion—ref lected the desire for independence shared by the Founding Fathers who produced the Declaration of Independence. Stated simply, the men who were enslaved demanded to know on what grounds they had been subjected to involuntary servitude. Prince is generally believed
to be not only a signer of the petition but also one of its authors, if not the primary author. He traveled with the general to Philadelphia in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was created and, as a result, was familiar with its language and ideas. The African-born man also accompanied the general on military campaigns during the pivotal Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and the less successful Rhode Island expedition in 1778. Whipple eventually freed Prince in 1795, one year before the emancipated slave’s death. The ceremony, known as “Whipple’s Reading,” now carries added significance, with Whipple reading from the Declaration of Independence, along See INDEP on page 2...
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