Once known as Crosby Gardens in Hermon, Ecotat Gardens now encompasses 51 acres of woodlands and landscaped gardens donated to the town five years ago by the owners, Howard and Ruth Crosby, who had lovingly tended the land since 1980.

According to a NEWS report at the time, the town of Hermon created Ecotat Trust, a nonprofit organization, in 1997, and trustees devised short- and long-term goals to ensure the property would be properly cared for.

The name Ecotat stands for ecology-habitat to reflect the work the Crosbys created that includes gardens, wildlife habitat and trails.

One of the goals of Ecotat Trust is to make sure the public takes advantage of this wonderful gift, and that people visit the gardens as often as possible.

Within that block of land are “10 acres of developed gardens and trails that are open to the public for self-tours,” said Ecotat Trust secretary Gaynor Reynolds of Hermon.

Because the trustees are always seeking ways to encourage people to visit the gardens, they eagerly accepted a request from The Sebasticook Valley Community Band of Newport to perform an outdoor band concert from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Ecotat Gardens at the crest of Miller Hill on Route 2 in Hermon.

“The band is trying to get some visibility, and this seemed like a nice joint venture,” Reynolds said of the free concert, to which you, your family, friends, neighbors and visitors to our area are invited.

Off-street parking is available, but you are asked to bring your own lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on.

Reynolds suggests you “come a little early and walk around the gardens or, if people want, they can walk around the gardens and enjoy the music at the same time.”

You are reminded, however, that the site has no public restroom facilities.

Ecotat Gardens features a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, herbs, a handmade maze carved out of rows of trees and a rock-garden amphitheater, all created by the Crosbys.

Also on site is the Mary Blethen Memorial Library, established by the Bangor Nature Club to house gardening and nature books.

“The gardens are lovely, and enjoyed by all who walk them,” Reynolds reports.

“You may self-tour during daylight hours, or a tour can be scheduled.”

For the moment, however, Reynolds and the other trustees hope that “by combining a band concert with an invitation to tour the gardens, that we will provide an enjoyable evening for those who live in the area and for those who are vacationing.”

If you wish more information about Ecotat Trust, write P.O. Box 6300 Hermon 04402-6300, or call 848-3485.

An alert caller informed me I had written the wrong day for one of the two days of the St. John Quilt Show, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, and Saturday, Aug. 4, at St. John’s Church in Pembroke.

I thank her for bringing this to my attention, and I hope everyone gets to the show on time today, and on Saturday, too!

History buffs might like the opportunity to speak with “Sarah Chamberlain,” the mother of Civil War hero Gen. Joshua Chamberlain of Brewer.

You can do that if you visit the Brewer Historical Society’s Food Sale fund-raiser from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at Marden’s on Wilson Street in Brewer.

BHS member Jean Lyford described it as a “very special to have ‘Mrs. Chamberlain’ there. People do enjoy talking with her.”

Wilma Anders of Brewer portrays the general’s mother.

She is often seen riding on floats during parades, or participating in local and state events relating to the Civil War era, as well as patriotic holidays and historical activities.

Members of the Skowhegan High School Drama Club are hard at work raising funds so they can attend the International Fringe Theater Festival next August in Scotland.

The Drama Club will host a basket sale, featuring hundreds of baskets of various shapes and sizes, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the high school.

Also on the agenda for the Drama Club is hosting a booth at the Airport Fly-in on Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5, at the Central Maine Regional Airport on Route 2 west of Norridgewock.

Club members will be selling baked goods, watermelon, 50-50 raffle tickets and raffle tickets for a Weekend Getaway on Embden Pond.

If you cannot attend either of these events, but would like to help these young people represent our state in this prestigious event, send your donation to SAHS Speech and Drama Dept., RR 3, Box 6488, Skowhegan 04976.

The Bangor Public Library invites you to view three years of artwork featuring the Eastport area painted by Watercolor Honor Society Member Suzanne Ross.

The exhibit can be viewed during regular library hours throughout the month of August in the lecture hall of the library at 145 Harlow St.

For more information about this exhibit, or other library activities, call 947-8336.

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