RAGTIME RETURNS

With all the talk of recession and stock market crashes, the people need at least one saving grace.

Ragtime music worked once, so a revival could prove a twofold savior.

Three pianists and a violinist will converge on the Rockport Opera House at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 16, leading an evening of tunes harkening back to the Roaring ’20s, which seem to trickle in comparison with the rush of 2001.

Ragtime produced some of the most amazing musicians the world has seen. Those talents are carried on through the fingers of Glenn Jenks, Mimi Blais and Scott Kirby hitting the ivory and the bow-work of violinist Sophie Rivard.

The music, though long gone from pop culture, still is revered as an art form. Some of the songs may not be familiar, but the feeling derived from listening will be. The piano driving the music lends an infectious feel, taking over for gravity while raising and lowering toes without the listener being the slightest bit aware.

The concert is brought to you (no, not by the letter Q) by the Bay Chamber Concert series. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and are available at Stitchery Square in Camden, The Reading Corner in Rockland, and the Bay Chamber Concert office in Rockport. Passes also are available at the door the night of the show or by calling 236-2823.

Shows such as this don’t come along very often. There’s enough rock ‘n’ roll to go around, but ragtime will be forgotten without crusaders to keep it alive. Keep the heritage rolling.

ROARING GOOD TIME

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY!!!!!!!!

The big boys of monster truck racing are back (back) for three nights of bone-jarring action and excitement!

Speedway 95 in Hermon is proud to present the return of the one-and-only Gravedigger, driven by monster truck pioneer Gary Porter who’s made a career of battling the likes of Bigfoot with his Carolina Crusher.

Get geared up for a night of thrills, chills and spills. Tickets are $13 in advance for adults and half-price for children and are available at Napa Auto Parts stores. Tickets jump up $2 the days of the show, but no matter how much you spend for tickets … ALL YOU’LL NEED IS THE EDGE!!!!!!!

FRANCO FILM FESTIVAL

The “Franco-American Film Festival” will be one of the featured case studies in the all day conference titled “Creating a Better Maine: Building Strong Communities Through the Arts and Humanities,” June 12 at the Samoset in Rockport.

Over two seasons, fall 1999 and fall 2000, a total of 11 screenings of French-language films produced in Quebec attracted a largely Franco-American audience of young and old. In the socializing before the films and the discussions afterward, French was heard in public at the cinema for the first time in 25 or 30 years, according to Julia Schulz, president of Penobscot School and film festival co-director.

The films stimulated a resurgence of interest among Waterville’s Franco-Americans in the culture and language of their ancestors. Since the end of the last film festival, a group has met to “wake up” their French language skills.

For more information about the conference and film festival, contact Julia Schulz at 594-7688 or president@langaugelearning.org.