PORTLAND, ME — United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM) announced it will invest $6,769,279 into our community this year. 

Investments include Community Impact Grants of $3,127,863 to programs and innovative initiatives across Southern Maine. These grants reflect United Way’s priorities to advance equity and ensure alignment with our community’s shared vision to give kids a strong start, empower neighbors to thrive – not just survive, and help us all live longer, better.

“With deep local roots in Southern Maine, United Way sees how our community’s greatest challenges like food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of access to child care and health services are connected, and how we can bring people and resources together to address them,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine. “We could not do this without the extraordinary support of individuals and organizations working every day to create opportunities for all people.”

Included in the Community Impact Grants are member-directed investments through United Way’s giving circles, Emerging Leaders United (formerly Brick & Beam Society) and Women United, and United-Way led programming such as 211 Maine, CA$H Greater Portland, Biddeford Ready!, and the Greater Portland Workforce Initiative.

In addition to Community Impact Grants, UWSM will invest $730,000 through donor-directed contributions and $1,850,033 in United Way’s efforts to mobilize people and resources to quickly respond to emerging needs and tackle persistent community issues. UWSM also secured $1,039,058 this year through the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to support local individuals and families. United Way’s work includes public policy, community and volunteer engagement, evaluation and measurement, and programmatic leadership for Thrive2027.

Through community input, nonprofit partnerships, and strategic funding, United Way is continuing to foster a stronger, healthier Southern Maine region for us all.  “Using a comprehensive, collaborative approach, we increase the availability of high-quality child care, connect people with educational and employment opportunities, and improve access to better health services,” said Dan Coyne, Senior Vice President of Community Impact and Governance.

United Way relies on community members and subject-matter expert volunteers to make funding decisions and ensure grants are distributed to fill gaps in services, invest in proven solutions, and make the greatest impact.

BAR MILLS, ME – Saco River Theatre will be holding two performances in August:

Novel Jazz Septet – Keeping the musical legacy of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn Friday, August 23 at 7:30 PM.  Tickets: $15 General Admission at www.sacorivertheate.org.

Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas – If you haven’t heard what’s happening in zydeco lately, here’s your chance. Join us on Wednesday, August 28 at 7:30 PM.  Tickets: $15 at www.sacorivertheatre.org

Saco River Theatre is located at 29 Salmon Falls Road, Bar Mills, ME.

Novel Jazz Septet

WINDHAM, ME — Join us for a spellbinding day of magic, wonder, and family fun at the Harry Potter Diagon Alley Market!

Step into the wizarding world as Diagon Alley comes to life inside the Windham Town Hall Gym. Explore a bustling marketplace filled with colorful vendor carts, each offering an enchanting array of magical wares.

Witness the amazing Magician demonstrate her latest Hogwarts magic eliciting laughter and delight from the crowd.

Enjoy a viewing of “The Goblet of Fire” as families gather sipping refreshing Butterbeer and enjoying food from Omi’s Haus food truck!

Wander in wonder through the aisles of self-stirring cauldrons, and twinkling fairy lights that bring the magic of Diagon Alley to life.

This FREE admission event is perfect for witches, wizards, and Muggles of all ages. Come explore the wonders of the Wizarding World and create unforgettable memories at the Harry Potter Diagon Alley Market!

We can’t wait to see you there!

When: Saturday, August 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Where: Windham Town Hall Gym

Movie: Goblet of Fire @noon

Free Admission

BRUNSWICK, ME – Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, a captivating journey through the life of one of music’s most iconic songwriters. The production will run from August 7 to August 24.

Before she was the hit-maker, Carole King, she was Carole Klein, a spunky young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical takes audiences back to where it all began, chronicling her rise to stardom through the chart-topping hits she wrote for the biggest acts in music and her own life-changing success with the album “Tapestry.” Featuring songs such as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “One Fine Day,” “Natural Woman,” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” this musical promises an unforgettable ride through Carole King’s extraordinary life and career.

The cast includes Kyra Kennedy as Carole King, Jeff Sullivan as Gerry Goffin, Kathryn Boswell as Cynthia Weil, and Nick Moulton as Barry Mann. Also included in the cast are Reed Campbell  (Don Kirshner), Mary Beth Donahoe (Betty), Rachel Gubow (Marilyn), and Charis Leos as Genie Klein. Randy Cain and Seth Eliser play the Righteous Brothers, while the Drifters are portrayed by DeShawn Bowens, Trevail Maurice, Alfie Parker, Jr., and Jeremiah Valentino Porter. The Shirelles feature Giselle Amarisa Watts, Candace Haynes, Paris Porché Richardson, and Mikayla White. Understudies include Calista Jones and Jalen Kirkman.

Kyra Kennedy (Carole King) makes her MSMT debut with this production. She has previously portrayed Carole King in Beautiful at Paper Mill Playhouse. She has been featured in roles such as Kat Arujo in the World Premiere of Mystic Pizza the Musical (Ogunquit Playhouse, La Mirada Theatre), Monica Lewinsky in the World Premiere play When Monica Met Hillary (Miami New Drama), and roles in national tours of Waitress.

Jeff Sullivan (Gerry Goffin) hails from Newfoundland, Canada, and has been part of tours including TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Finding Neverland (J.M. Barrie), West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, and The Producers.

Kathryn Boswell (Cynthia Weil) is also making her MSMT debut. Her Broadway credits include Anastasia and Gigi, and she played Cynthia in the Broadway National Tour of Beautiful.

Nick Moulton (Barry Mann) has appeared in the national tours of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Peter Pan 360, and regional productions of Jersey Boys (Casa Mañana) and Pump Boys and Dinettes (Phoenix Theater), among others.

The production is directed and choreographed by Parker Esse, with music direction by Ben McNaboe and associate music direction by Jacob Stebly. Associate Choreographer/Dance Captain is Alfie Parker, Jr.

Costume design is by Madison Queen, light design by Jesse Klug, set design by Kyle Dixon, sound design by Shannon Slaton, video/projections by Luis Garcia, and wig design by Kevin S. Foster II. The production stage manager is Amy Bertacini.

Director/Choreographer Parker Esse followed his passion to the other side of the creative table as director/choreographer after performing on Broadway, in national tours, and regionally. He is a multiple Helen Hayes and CT Critics Circle nominee and the 2010 Helen Hayes Winner for Best Choreography for Arena Stage’s Oklahoma! Mr. Esse has served as director/choreographer for Crazy for You and West Side Story at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and served as associate choreographer for Broadway’s Finian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities; as well as five productions for New York City Center Encores!

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at msmt.org or by calling the box office at 207.725.8769. The production will feature both evening and matinee performances.

GORHAM, ME — Get your tickets to GPAC’s Singin’ in the Rain Jr! Shows are at GMS on Aug 2nd 7pm, 3rd 2 & 7pm and the 4th at 2pm.  Visit Gorham Arts Alliance website to secure your seats today!

About the musical:

The “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” is faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green, from their original award-winning screenplay in Singin’ in the Rain JR. Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards make Singin’ in the Rain JR. a guaranteed good time for performers and audience members alike.

Singin’ in the Rain JR. has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline — the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers! In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.

PORTLAND, ME — Can you help us with any of these items? These are things we are completely out of. 

Check our website for the full list of what we’re in need of currently and then come see us during donation hours: Tue 8am-8pm, Wed & Sat 10am-12pm.

332 Forest Ave, Portland

For more information, please visit maineneeds.org/donations

GORHAM, ME — TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, has begun unveiling its top “royalty” for 2023. TOPS® royalty are women and men who have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their starting weight at the end of the year, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal. Maria Spofford of Gorham, who lost 139.6 pounds, is the 2023 Maine Queen. She was honored on April 13 at the Maine recognition event at the Augusta Civic Center.

TOPS provides an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness. Consistent group support, health education, and recognition are all key components to successful weight management. Maine has an adult obesity rate of 33.1%, and in 2023, TOPS members in Maine lost a cumulative 5,057 pounds.

“All of us in TOPS are immensely proud of our members’ weight-loss achievements,” said TOPS President Rick Danforth, who maintained a 100-pound weight loss for 15 years. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can honor their life-altering successes, other members, and those who have preceded them. By maintaining their allegiance to lifestyle modifications, a hallmark of TOPS’ winning formula, TOPS members apply the tools they’re provided and the backing of their peers to attain their weight loss goals.”

Weekly meetings are the heart of TOPS support, whether they are held in person or online. In-person meetings start with an optional weigh-in, with members then sharing challenges, successes, or goals, followed by a brief program covering a variety of health and wellness topics, and may conclude with awards and recognition for the week. Visitors can attend their first TOPS in-person meeting free of charge and are encouraged to try more than one chapter since they’re all a little different.

For online membership, meetings are conducted via Zoom and are offered at least five times during the week. The meeting starts with members disclosing challenges, successes, or goals. Next, the online facilitator presents a prepared program and sometimes includes guest speakers who share their expert views on fitness, nutrition, and more. Meetings conclude with action steps related to the program presented.

Membership is affordable, starting at $49 per year in the U.S. and $59 annually in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees. Join TOPS, visit www.tops.org, or call 800-932-8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.

Maria Spofford of Gorham, in her ‘before’ photograph.

Spofford, after having lost 139.6 pounds, was named the 2023 Maine Queen.

GORHAM, ME — A Municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2024 for the purpose of electing:

TWO (2) persons for Town Council to serve a 3 year term

TWO (2) persons for School Committee to serve a 3 year term

Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk’s Office beginning on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Completed nomination papers must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Any registered voter of the Town of Gorham, who is interested in running for any of these positions, must submit nomination papers with no less than 35 or more than 50 signatures of persons who are registered voters of the Town of Gorham.

Please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 222-1670 if you have any questions.

GORHAM, ME – The Courage Center is proud to announce the grand opening of a new community outpatient facility dedicated to providing support and clinical care for individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUD). The new center, located at 341 Main St., Gorham, ME, began providing clinical services several weeks ago and will host a Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 7th @ 12 PM. All are invited to attend.

The Courage Center offers a full spectrum of services designed to support individuals on their journey to recovery and promote long-term wellness. Our services include Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), Driver Education and Evaluation Program (DEEP), and individual and group therapy. These programs are not dogmatic and are tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant, ensuring they receive the personalized care necessary for successful recovery.

“As we were opening our program,” says Rob Korobkin, MPH, the Founder and Executive Director of Courage Center, “We were shocked time and again by the stories we were hearing from potential staff about the dangerous and unethical practices happening at so many of the treatment programs currently offering services to people in Maine with Substance Use Disorders. Our team here at the center is profoundly dedicated to doing it right, developing and delivering services that are truly ethical, evidence-based, and effective.”

The new facility is designed to provide a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment. The center’s MAT program combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders effectively. The IOP offers a structured and intensive program that allows clients to continue their daily activities while receiving the support they need. Individual therapy sessions provide personalized attention and strategies to address the underlying causes of addiction.

In addition to these new clinical services, the organization also offers 34 beds in a sober, affordable, and supportive living environment about a mile up the road at the Courage House, the recovery housing program that the organization has operated since 2019.

“Our goal with Courage House,” says Josh Wentworth, RCPF, the organization’s Housing Director and also an alumnus of Courage House himself, “has always been to create a safe place for people to call home for as long as they want as they piece together the building blocks of a real life in the community outside of an institutional setting. The challenge in launching our clinical program was to do so in a way that maintained that progressive culture, making it easier, not harder, for people in recovery to build a normal healthy life for themselves and their families.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will feature remarks from local leaders and a tour of the facility will follow. We invite the community to join us in celebrating this important milestone and learning more about the vital services we offer. Please mark your calendars.

GORHAM, ME — After being medically retired out of the Marine Corps, Cody found themself separated from their wife and son, and struggling to deal with a brain injury that had fractured their personality and robbed them of all the things they thought they were. No longer able to stand the face in the mirror, they quickly fell down a rabbit hole of alcoholism, and self-loathing unable to forgive themself for the life they destroyed. Even though they moved to a new city and tried to start over by going to school and doing the ‘right’ things, they still felt like an empty shell, a ghost living in skin that didn’t belong to them. It all came crashing down one summer afternoon when still suffering from a massive hangover, they truly saw themself in the mirror for the first time, gaunt, broken, and pathetic. Staring at their reflection they knew something had to change. One way or another.

Cody is a Pushcart nominated writer from the woods of Maine. When not writing, you can find them investing way too much time in reading and collecting vintage fantasy books. They hold degrees in English, History, an MFA in Creative Writing and is currently working on their Masters in Library Science. Cody is also a Marine Corps veteran and advocate for mental health.

Wednesday, August 7th 6pm at Baxter Memorial Library