GORHAM, ME – Casco Bay Wind Symphony Fall Concert, led by Dr. William Kinne will be held Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at McCormack Performing Arts Center, Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Ave., Gorham, Me 04038.

Bring the whole family to this menagerie of spooky Halloween music performed by Maine’s premiere wind band, the Casco Bay Wind Symphony. This spine-tingling concert includes a world-premiere by CBWS musician, Heather Hastings, new works from Erika Svanoe and John Mackey, and includes music from the motion pictures “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Edward Scissorhands,” and much more.

 Tickets: Adults – $13 in Advance, $15 at the door; Seniors (65 +) – Pay what you can; Students / Kids – Free; Tickets can be purchased at the door, or on our website https://www.cascobaywindsymphony.org/event-details/tunes-from-the-crypt

Costumes are Welcome!!!!!!!!

Upcoming concerts:

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2 PM

Sunday May 4, 2025, 2 PM

GORHAM, ME — The public is welcome to attend an hour-long reading of original works by local authors scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 in the library. Refreshments will be served.

The group, Women Who Write, meets every two weeks at the library where they workshop their writing with their peers. The group includes Lynne Mentzer and Mary Snell of Gorham, Carolyn Gaul and Cheri Wing-Jones of Windham, and Annie Boissevain of Gray.

On October 23 they will read stories, poems, and other works developed during the two years they have been working together.

Prose and Poetry Reading by Women Who Write, North Gorham Public Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

MAINE — On Saturday, October 19th, 2024 from 9am-1pm Falmouth Land Trust (FLT)  is teaming up with the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) for a guided hike through PRLT’s Lowell Preserve and onto the connecting Cross Falmouth Trail!  GPNEMBA will also lead a guided mountain bike ride as well.

We’ll meet at PRLT’s Lowell Preserve in Windham at 9 am to kick off the event. Choose between a guided hike and a guided mountain bike ride for your morning adventure. The hiking group will go all the way to the parking lot of Hadlock Community Forest for a 7-mile adventure.  A shuttle will then take hikers back to the start so everyone can do a fun point-to-point hike. GPNEMBA will lead a medium-paced, no-drop 7-8 mile ride, as well as a faster-paced (but no-drop) ride of 12-14 miles out to Hadlock Community Forest and back.

Funds from this event will support FLT and PRLT’s stewardship efforts. We hope you’ll join us and support these great trails!

Register at the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s website.

GORHAM, ME — The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre’s 2024-2025 season is off! To see the Wizard, that is, in a wonderful radio theatre adaptation of this beloved tale. Written by Linus Speary and directed by Joshua N Hsu, the show is performed by USM Theatre students. To celebrate its inaugural broadcast, we’re hosting a Wizard of Oz listening party on October 26th at 7pm on the USM Gorham Campus.

In a world where everything seems too green, witches are in every direction, and roads unexpectedly end and begin, discover a land where dreams can come true. Join Dorothy and her fearless dog, Toto, as she’s whisked away from Kansas to the wonderful land of Oz. Together with a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Lion, they learn to depend on each other, and discover their power within. Gather friends and family and join us at our listening party. The event will feature an Oz-inspired costume contest, food and non-alcoholic beverages, raffles, fun, and, of course, a listen to the final piece.

For director Joshua N Hsu, this project has been a chance to dive deeply into an American classic in a new way, “…”Oz” is a book deeply embedded in the American consciousness: it’s omnipresent in our music, our films, our art, and our everyday lives. Its thoughts on friendship, self-determination, and our love for “home” continue to endure in our cultural vocabulary. We revisit the story from generation to generation, not just because of nostalgia but because we still cherish the ideals Baum espouses. We’ve tried to capture and convey how much “Oz” is an influential Americana piece.”

This is the second radio play produced in the Bill Dufris Memorial Studio on the Gorham Campus by the USM Department of Theatre. Last year, USM Theatre produced The War of the Worlds in the new studio and offered courses in audio engineering and podcasting.

Audiences can enjoy the Wizard of Oz radio play three ways:

Join us for a Listening Party on October 26th at 7-9 PM in Lower Brooks Student Center on at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus.

This event is free and open to all. Best for ages 7and up. Everyone is encouraged to dress in their best Oz-inspired costume!

RSVP here: https://usm.maine.edu/department-theatre/box-office-tickets/

Also streaming on WMPG 90.9, Portland and Gorham Maine, on October 26th at 7pm.

Audiences can purchase access when the finished piece is ready at: https://usm.maine.edu/department-theatre/box-office-tickets/

Appropriate for ages 7 and up.

For more information, visit USM Theatre online at usm.maine.edu/theatre, or call the USM Theatre Box Office at (207) 780-5151. For more information on USM’s Department of Theatre events and programs, click here.

Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program should contact Janice Gardner at (207)780-5289 or janice.gardner@maine.edu. Hearing impaired: call USM’s telex / TDD number (207)780-5646

Mike Lawrence as the Wizard, Jared Lennon as the Tin Man; photo by Michael Kmack

NORTON, MA — Junior forward Caroline DiGiovanni (Harwich, Mass.) scored a pair of goals to lead the No. 6 Babson College field hockey team over host Wheaton College (Mass.), 7-0, this evening in New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference play at Nordin Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Beavers, who are ranked in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, improve to 6-3 on the season, including a perfect 2-0 in league play to extend their incredible conference regular-season win streak to 61 straight with their last NEWMAC loss dating back to October 17, 2015. The Lyons fall to 6-3 and 0-2 in league action.

Babson dominated from start to finish, owning a 29-1 shot advantage, including identical 8-0 margins in the second and fourth quarters of play. The Beavers held a 10-1 advantage in penalty corners as well.

Wheaton’s defense was resilient for most of the first quarter and did not break until Babson broke through on a penalty corner inside the final two minutes of the period. Senior back Berit Sharrow (Denver, Colo.) took a short cross from senior defender Ellie Powers (Bethlehem, Pa.) and fired a shot from just inside the circle on the left side for the first marker of the night and her third goal of the season with just 83 seconds left in the quarter.

The Beavers added to their total with a successful strike early in the second quarter to double their lead at 2-0. Junior midfielder Alex Michelotti (Englewood, Colo.) carried the ball down to the endline on the right side, before sending a centering cross to classmate Caroline DiGiovanni (Harwich, Mass.), who ripped a shot from the front of the cage for her first marker of the match just 2:54 into the period.

Graduate student forward Andrea Marguerite (Hopkinton, Mass.) increased the visitors’ cushion to 3-0 with a goal coming with 6:58 remaining before the intermission. Marguerite collected a loose ball just outside the circle, before pulling it inside the arc, where she unleashed a bouncing shot that found the far left corner of the cage for her third tally of the year,

The Lyons’ defense did a commendable job to hold nationally-ranked Babson to just three goals in the opening half, but the Beavers erupted for three goals in a span of just over six minutes of play in the third quarter to effectively put the game out of reach.

DiGiovanni’s second score came when she collected a long rebound, turned and fired a shot into the back of the cage from just outside the goal box for her seventh goal of the year with 10:27 to go in the quarter. Babson scored just 2:07 later to bump its cushion to 5-0. Junior back Sanne van der Goes (Glenview, Ill.) dribbled the ball along the endline before sending a cross to the front of the cage, where sophomore forward Helen DiGiovanni (Harwich, Mass.) converted for her third marker of the season. The Beavers’ final goal of the quarter came with 4:02 showing on the clock to give them a 6-0 advantage. Graduate student midfielder Katie Guden (Belmont, Mass.) carried the ball along the endline, before flipping it to the front of the cage for senior forward Jessica Evans (Southbury, Conn.), who was able to push the ball over the goal line for her fourth tally of the year.

Wheaton stemmed Babson’s momentum in the fourth quarter, holding it to just one goal for the quarter. Senior midfielder Camille Marsh (Englewood, Colo.) ripped a shot from five yards in front of the cage, but Lyon defender Abby Miller (Andover, Mass.) stopped the attempt with a defensive save. Junior forward Ally Antonacci (Skillman, N.J.) picked up the rebound and lifted it into the back of the cage in a scrum for her first goal of the season with 8:22 remaining in the contest.

The Lyons only shot of the match came with 7:56 left in the third quarter when senior midfielder Lydia Gaudreau (Gorham, Maine) smacked a shot from the edge of the arc on a penalty corner, but it proved to be harmless.

Senior keeper Bayla Furmanek (State College, Pa.) was untested in the match and posted her fifth shutout of the season for the Beavers and the 26th blank sheet of her career, while Sophomore goalie Grace Ferguson (Williston, Vt.) made nine saves for Wheaton. Junior defender Maddie Hatch (Gorham, Maine) joined Miller with a defensive save for the home team.

WINDHAM, ME – The Giving Tree of Maine & Mystical & Whimsical Events is excited to announce the kickoff of our fundraising and toy/gift/family item collections on Saturday, October 13th, during our “The Sanderson Sisters’ Spooktacular Halloween Family Event” at the Windham Town Hall Gymnasium. This family-friendly event will run from 10 AM to 3 PM and is free for all attendees.

Founded in 2019 by our daughter, Julia Swett, The Giving Tree of Maine has been dedicated to supporting families in need throughout the community. Julia, a recipient of the WCSH6 Teens Who Care Award at just 15 years old, featured on 207Maine (https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/local/207/giving-tree-of-maine/97-927d2b80-ae55-4ca5-8009-9cd9e601f761) is now a Trauma RN at Orlando Healthcare in Orlando, Florida. Her younger sister, Braedyn, continues to champion our fundraising efforts, ensuring that our mission lives on.

This year, we aim to surpass last year’s success, where we provided gifts to over 20 families in Maine. Our upcoming event will feature a variety of activities, including:

Music

Craft Stations

Halloween Marketplace

Wand Making

Potion Making

Raffles and Giveaways

We are proud to announce that we just concluded our Harry Potter Diagon Alley Market Family Event, where we collected socks for those in need. With your help, we hope to gather even more toys and gifts this holiday season.

Join us for a day of fun, creativity, and community spirit as we work together to make a difference in the lives of families across Maine.

For more information about our event or to learn how you can contribute, please contact us at givingtreeofmaine@gmail.com or mysticalwhimsicalevents@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!

SOUTH PORTLAND, ME — American Idol star Julia Gagnon will have a free Halloween performance at the Maine Mall-area Goodwill store 4:30-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Gagnon, a former Goodwill NNE employee, learned interpersonal skills working at the Falmouth, ME Goodwill that she now uses in her singing career. Now, Gagnon is giving back to the local nonprofit by helping to promote sustainable Halloween shopping. 

“In the three years I worked at Goodwill, I learned how to talk with people and the fact that everyone has a different story that is unique and beautiful in their own way,” Julia said. “I also learned how important shopping secondhand can be when it comes to the environment.” As advocates for sustainable fashion, Julia and Goodwill NNE are partnering up to bring a special DIY costume shopping experience that celebrates secondhand.

About 83% of costumes end up in landfills. Shopping secondhand, especially for Halloween, has never been more important. A leader in reuse, Goodwill NNE diverts 50+ million pounds of donated goods from landfills annually and makes shopping secondhand accessible and affordable. That’s important because according to Goodwill Industries International’s 2024 Halloween Survey, inflation is impacting what families are able to spend on Halloween costumes this year.

The survey shows that more people are planning DIY costumes this year with pop-culture and character-based costumes leading in popularity. Julia and Goodwill NNE will be serving thrifted costume inspiration like “how to make an idol” on their social media platforms and in-person at the event. 

“The average consumer can no longer afford to spend $50 dollars on something they’ll only wear once,” said Goodwill NNE’s Vice President of Retail, Dave Robison. “We’re here to provide affordable, sustainable costumes that offer room for creativity, and discourage throw-away culture.”

Revenue from Goodwill NNE stores goes towards funding their mission of helping people achieve personal stability in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. We at Goodwill like to call it value shopping, with values.

Julia and her fiancé Nate will be performing a mini-concert followed by a meet-and-greet at the event on Oct. 18  at the Goodwill store at 555 Maine Mall Road in South Portland. With your support, we’ll make a difference to people in our northern New England community, and the planet.

 WINDHAM, ME — Saturday October 19th from 5:30-11 pm at 14 Lilac Drive in Windham, Riding To The Top Therapeutic (RTT) Riding Center will host its 16th Annual Triple B ~ Boots, Band and BBQ.

This year’s event will celebrate “Team RTT,” and all the different ways that this manifests at the farm – from riding teams to volunteers to staff to client families to paddock mates. RTT pays tribute to the people, horses, businesses and organizations that have helped sustain Riding The Top since its beginning in 1993. Organizers for the October 19th event have a goal of raising $200,000 to support Financial Aid for RTT’s clients and Horse Care.

The evening will feature Schilly’s mouthwatering barbecue, a Mission Based Auction, dancing to the live music of local favorite “Under The Covers,” a fantastic raffle, photo booth, boot contests and door prizes.  Michelle Taylor of 99.9 THE WOLF will return to emcee and auctioneer Elizabeth Ross Holmstrom will call the unique mission based auction.  

This annual “Party with a Purpose” plays a vital to role in RTT’s ability to provide equine-assisted services for local children and adults with disabilities. Sarah Bronson, RTT’s Executive Director, shared that “this event has become a community favorite. While raising critical funds to support RTT’s programs and most notably our Rider and Horse Funds, it’s also an incredibly fun evening for our guests, including some time meeting our horses, enjoying delicious food, music and dancing!”

This year’s Triple B is supported by many local business partners led by our Grand Champion Sponsor, Portland Volvo, and Reserve Champion Sponsor, Norway Savings Bank.

If you’re interested in more information or reserving your tickets today, please visit: https://www.ridingtothetop.org/tripleb

RTT Client and volunteer riding team work with herd member, Dream

RTT Client and volunteer riding team walk with herd member, Paxton

GORHAM, ME — Halloween is creeping up and many stores have already started putting out inventory at scary good prices. Whether you’re looking for spooky decorations or a hat to finish your look, Goodwill is here for all your Halloween needs.

When you donate and shop at Goodwill, you’re supporting a circular economy (no trick here). And that’s the real treat! Have an old costume? Donate it today for someone else to enjoy!

GORHAM, ME – On Saturday, October 26, 2024, 7:00 PM at McCormack Performing Arts Center — Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Avenue, Gorham, Maine’s largest fiddle orchestra will perform.

Tickets available online or at the door $20 adults, $15 students.

Ages 12 and under free.

Summary of concert information and tickets available at  fiddleicious.com/performances/