For the first time ever, one of our state’s most outstanding high school drama programs has been honored by being chosen for the American High School Theatre Festival which will represent the United States in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August 2002.

Skowhegan Area High School students will be joined by thousands of other drama students from countries around the world in performing live theater throughout Edinburgh.

Robin Lisherness, who is co-director of the SAHS speech and theater program with Joanna Hopkins, is understandably proud of the accomplishments of these students who join an elite group of 32 schools chosen from among 450 nominated nationwide for the honor of representing the United States in this festival.

The detailed application process was worth the effort it took to complete, however, since Lisherness learned the SAHS application “just blew the judges away,” he said.

“All eight judges chose us as one of their favorites, and that doesn’t happen,” he said. “I was told that’s very rare, and that they might even use our application as a model to show people how to apply” for future festivals, he added.

The competition for one of those 32 slots is extremely tough, Lisherness added.

Skowhegan was up against large city schools with exceptional theater and drama programs in addition to schools that specialize solely in the arts.

Raising the money for SAHS to represent Maine and the nation in this festival is going to take a lot of work.

“Our goal is to raise $100,000,” Lisherness said. “We want to take as many as 30 students, and it would be prohibitive for most of them” to participate otherwise.

“It’s an expensive trip, because it is two weeks, and involves going to London first, and doing some theater experience there before going to Edinburgh which, at that time, is just filled with thousands of performers from all over the world, so that, in itself, makes it an expensive time to be there.”

Lisherness said the program “will need corporate sponsors, will be applying for grants from various foundations, and will be participating in fund-raisers” with the help of “our very active booster group.”

Letters seeking support from corporations and businesses are now in the mail, and all contributions are gratefully being accepted.

Checks can be made out to Skowhegan Area High School, with Edinburgh Experience in the memo line, and mailed to RR 3, Box 6488, Skowhegan 04976.

“One of the things we are trying to emphasize is that we are going to be representing the whole state, not just Skowhegan,” Lisherness said. “We will be representing Maine.”

To give the public a taste of what it is they are supporting, the SAHS drama students will be participating in Log Days on Friday, July 27, in Coburn Park in Skowhegan, and will be part of “Taste of Waterville” on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

“These are not really fund-raisers,” Lisherness said of the upcoming performances, “but we would not turn down any donations, and we will pass the hat at the end of the plays.

“We just hope someone sees them and realizes that, when they take this trip, they will just not be tourists, but will be performers with thousands of other people, and that they will get to see a lot of good performances while they are there.”

For more information about how you can help sponsor the Edinburgh Experience so these young people can represent Maine in Scotland, call Lisherness at 684-4483 or 474-9672 or by e-mail at bntarrw@somtel.com.

Before I met one, I never knew what a railbird was.

In fact, I had never even heard the word until I came to work for the Bangor Daily News and had the distinct pleasure of meeting Kenny Ward, the man who proudly, and with that wonderful grin of his, patiently explained the term to me.

It’s someone who watches horse races, he told me, especially someone who watches the race while standing alongside the rail.

Now, of course, I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t know what that word means, since Kenny Ward made it his own, through his weekly column.

He was the nicest “Railbird” you’ll ever meet.

Our NEWS family lost one of its most treasured members when Kenny died this week, and it has brought great sadness to us all.

Although he probably never thought about it, I would consider Ken Ward one of our nicer career success stories, as a man who moved, easily and gracefully, from one segment of the publishing business to another.

He started as a printer, then expanded upon his talents and skills by becoming an editor and columnist.

He knew this business – his vocation – inside and out, just as he did his avocation, the harness racing industry.

Everybody who knew Kenny Ward loved him.

We loved to hear his stories, on any subject.

We loved to hear him laugh.

We loved to hear him talk with pride about his wife, Dot, whom I consider his best friend. And he always kept us posted on the happenings within his large family.

Kenny was a very self-assured man who knew his facts, especially when it came to all things Maine.

It was often very entertaining around here, years ago, when he and the late Bud Leavitt challenged each other’s memory.

All such discussions were in good humor, of course, but Kenny gave no quarter, nor did Bud.

When all was said and done, their laughter would fill the newsroom, and we knew they were enjoying each other’s company as we were enjoying them.

For Dot, and for her family, we know that this is a very difficult time.

Kenny was a kind man, a wonderful co-worker, and a friend.

We will miss him dearly.

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