Belfast arts festival to raise funds for city parks

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Trying to catch up with people working on the Friends of Belfast Parks Sixth Annual Arts in the Park, which is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, at Heritage Park on the Belfast waterfront, proved a bit difficult, since they’re so busy this week.

I am therefore grateful that committee member Chris Ureck had the foresight to send me information recently about that event, and that she found the time to return my telephone call.

Ureck had written that “Belfast’s premier arts and craft show” will feature 60 arts and crafts people, lots of great music and delicious food, and many children’s activities on Sunday.

You will find everything from paintings to pottery to photography, and Ureck reports the Blue Hill Brass Quintet will be back “by popular demand” to entertain you from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Prior to that, however, be sure to listen to Tom Seymour playing his bagpipes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Youngsters will enjoy hearing story-teller/musician Jennifer Armstrong from 11:30 to 12:15 p.m. Sunday, and then they can take part in the Children’s Dress-up Parade at 12:30 p.m.

Out of Hand Puppets will perform 1-2 p.m., followed by the musical duo Side by Side from 2 to 4 p.m.

Ureck wrote that this year’s show poster is from a watercolor by Belfast resident Jim Truxes, and that souvenir posters will be for sale, as will some of his other artwork.

Ureck is pleased that the Belfast event is gaining in popularity, especially since the money raised during the weekend goes to help maintain the parks in Belfast.

“And we’re actually planning a botanical garden in Belfast City Park,” she added. “It’s a big project, and we’re looking for volunteers,” as well as money to complete the project.

You can learn more about the botanical garden project, and about Friends of Belfast Parks, by visiting its booth during the festivities.

It’s time once again for Living History Days at Leonard’s Mills, the Maine Forest and Logging Museum on Route 178 in Bradley.

The activity runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, and is a great place for people of all ages to visit.

Anette Rodrigues wants you to know that the focal point of the site “is the reconstructed 1790s water-powered saw mill,” but that you can also visit the log cabin, which “will be staffed by volunteers, both days, to give visitors an idea of what life was like so many generations ago.”

Spinners, weavers, rag braiders and basket makers will be busy, and you can enjoy bateau rides, horse-drawn-wagon rides and shake making.

Food, bean-hole beans and reflector oven biscuits will also be available.

Admission to support the Museum is $5 for adults, $1 for children 12 and under, and free for museum members and babes in arms.

For information, call 581-2871.

Flowerbeds of businesses, churches, schools and towns throughout area of the 21-community Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce are eligible for entry in the 2001 Keep Bangor Beautiful Outdoor Gardening Contest.

“Bloomin’ Beds” now not only features residential gardens, but contest judges Louise Snow of Orono and Gloria Burrill of Corinna provided the impetus behind the organization’s decision to honor the work that is evident, as well, in nonresidential gardens.

Contest categories include water gardens, rock gardens, window boxes, flower gardens, seasonal landscaping, containerized plantings and hanging plants.

Judging, which will be conducted the second week of July, will be based on general appearance, uniqueness and coordination.

KBB is a nonprofit, local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. The mission of KBB is to provide leadership in voluntary recycling and beautification through education and example.

For more information about KBB, or an entry form for this contest, call KBB at 990-1201 or Louise Snow at 866-4120.

Ruth Barker writes that the Bangor Nature Club is planning another summer bus trip, and members of the public are invited along.

BNC will host a “Great Tour” to Campobello, N.B., Lubec Light House and more on Monday, July 30.

The bus leaves at 8 a.m. from Cameron Field on Mount Hope Avenue in Bangor.

The cost for the trip is $18 for members, $20 for non-members, and you must bring your own lunch.

Reservations must be made by the second week of July by calling Baker at 942-5944 or Muriel Frati at 262-7145.

Congratulations are extended to Junior Girl Scout Troop 267 of Mountain View School in Sullivan which has been awarded a $2,500 Best Buy Community Service Grant.

The grant will enable the Scouts to help Birdsacre Sanctuary in Ellsworth build and maintain a trail for elderly visitors.

In April, according to assistant scout leader Ronda Alley, the girls researched 26 birds, and collaborated with Sumner Memorial High School’s wood shop class about revitalizing the bird-identification markers that will be placed along the trail.

The project, which is expected to be completed by this fall, includes building the trail, six new benches, planting annuals along the trail, researching and writing reports on native birds, and learning the history of Birdsacre and Maine pioneer ornithologist and photographer Cordelia Stanwood.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.