Twilite Delite concerts salute ethnic heritages

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The theme for the annual Twilite Delite Concerts came from Linda Jaffe, executive director of Bangor Museum and Center for History, reports series co-producer Steve Robbins.

“It was her idea to incorporate an ethnic theme into this year’s concerts to coincide with the new display at the museum,” Robbins explained of BMCH’s second exhibit, “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage.”

Seizing on that theme, Robbins said, the Twilite Delite Concerts will be six successive Thursdays beginning at 7 tonight on the Bangor waterfront.

“With the new construction,” Robbins said of activity along the waterfront, “we have a natural amphitheater behind the harbor master’s office, which will be an even better venue this year.”

The opening concert, A Gaelic Gala, invites you to celebrate our Scottish and Irish roots. On June 26, you can celebrate our Greek heritage with Hellenic star Opah!

Brian Nadeau’s All American Band is featured July 3, and The Memphis Belles and Belle Boys July 10.

Our Jewish heritage is the focus of the July 17 concert featuring Tzena-Tzena!

The final concert, on July 24, is the steel drum band, Flash in the Pans.

All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and you are invited to bring family, friends, guests, a blanket and chairs.

“What could be a better evening out, in New England, than to go down by the river, and listen to the stars come out?” Robbins asks. “We just hope everybody comes for a great time.”

Robbins said the concerts, which he describes as “bigger and better than ever,” are only possible because of the “tremendous financial and other support from our sponsors.”

Sea Dog Restaurant is a season sponsor; Bangor Hydro is sponsoring the July 24 concert; BMCH is the Heritage Series sponsor; and the Bangor Daily News is the media sponsor.

And, Robbins added, it’s all brought together through the “tremendous, behind-the-scenes work of Sally Bates” of the co-producing Bangor Center Corp.

So, mark your calendars for 7 p.m. each Thursday, now through July 24, and head for the Bangor Waterfront to celebrate our community heritage in grand style.

Librarian June Jaworski, of Stewart Free Library in Corinna, wants you to know the first of its summer concert series, starring local country-western group Ginger Dyer & Friends is 7 tonight on the library lawn.

The library’s 2003 summer reading club for children began this week, and its second session features author Kathy Mallat at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 25. This program continues through Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Call the library, 278-4778, for more information about the reading club or concert series.

Members of the First Congregational Church UCC of Brewer have raised $295,000 of the $300,000 needed to pay off a capital campaign loan that has enabled them to perform much-needed repair work on their church.

Thanks to those “giving extra in their pledges,” and several fund-raisers, reports member Jane Pierce, just that $5,000 remains.

To eliminate that balance, the Women’s Fellowship is sponsoring a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the church, 35 Church St. in Brewer.

Items include clothing, books, bric-a-brac, furniture and small treasures, Pierce reports.

A November fair raised more than $6,000, Pierce said, “so we’ve really got this in motion, and we hope this will do it.”

If you cannot attend, but want to help this small congregation complete this big project, send donations to First Congregational Church UCC of Brewer, c/o Jane Pierce, 211 Colonial Circle, Brewer 04412.

Friends of Marsh River Theater will benefit from the season-opening appearance of the Marsh River Singers in “Stars of Broadway” at 8 p.m. Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at the MRT on Route 139 in Brooks.

Tickets for the weekend’s opening performance only are $10, and George Wildey reminds you this group “packed the theater last year in their debut.”

The singers, directed by Dottie Clements and accompanied by Yvonne Drake, include Judy Brossmer, Carla Ellis, Vaughn Ellis, Dale Eustis, Sue Haley, Suzanne Hall, Laurie Kaufman and Nancy Quimby.

Tickets and information about ticket prices for individual performances or season tickets, can be obtained by calling MRT, 722-4110, or at The Fertile Mind Bookstore in Belfast.

Except for the opening concert, tickets cost $5 and $8.

The 2003 season runs through Saturday, Sept. 6, and includes theater camp session performances in July and August, which Wildey describes as “a highlight of the season.”

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