Hear, ye! Hear, ye! Come one, come all and be part of the Newport Cultural Center Capital campaign “Ground Staking” at 1:45 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, between 152 and 158 Main St. in Newport.

Alicia Nichols, director of the capital campaign for the Newport Cultural Center, hopes representatives of every area organization will want to be part of this unusual event.

She explained that everyone from members of the Newport Women’s Club to Scouts and other organizations are invited to line the footprint of the new site for this center to be photographed by Pittsfield photographer Thomas Hopkins, who is contributing his services for this event.

“I’m sure glad it’s him, and not me,” Nichols said of the photograph Hopkins will take from 20 or 30 feet above the ground.

The future Newport Cultural Center will house the community’s two oldest cultural institutions that draw patrons from Corinna, Detroit, Dixmont, Etna, Exeter, Hartland, Palmyra, Plymouth, Stetson and St. Albans.

And that is why, Nichols said, she hopes people from all those communities will want to be part of this event, “which is a twist on a traditional groundbreaking ceremony.”

However, she did point out that “this event is very time-specific: We need people to be lined up at 1:45 p.m. for the photograph to be taken at 1:55 p.m. that day.”

The new facility will replace the 1955 library that has so many books they cannot be shelved and are stored in the basement.

The current Historical Society Museum has outgrown its 161 Main St. space, which is not climate-controlled and risks losing its collection.

The new facility will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will offer space for programs, classes, workshops, cultural activities and other events.

So, Newport Cultural Center supporters, gather your friends and fellow club members and proudly plant your feet squarely on the ground for this memorable occasion.

If you have questions, call Nichols at 368-5956 or e-mail ajnichols@prexar.com, call the Newport Town Office at 368-4410 or e-mail www.newportmaine.org.

Eleanor Parkman Heath reminds family members that the 81st Parkman Reunion is 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the American Legion Hall on the corner of North and Elm streets in Newport.

The reunion begins at 11 a.m. and the potluck lunch begins at noon.

A business meeting follows lunch, and then family members will enjoy entertainment and an auction.

For more information, call Heath, 943-5618, or e-mail epheath@midmaine.com.

I will have more detailed information about this benefit as the time draws near, but for now readers need to know that donations for this fundraiser are now being accepted.

A benefit spaghetti supper and auction for Tanya Pressley, who has terminal liver cancer, is 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Calais American Legion Hall.

Accounts have been established at both the Calais IGA and Paradis Shop ‘n Save for people who want to contribute food or money for the benefit.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased at Ace Hardware, Johnson Hardware, Machias Savings Bank, Boston Shoe Store, Rite Aid, Mitchell & Mitchell Law Offices, St. Croix Federal Credit Union and The New Friendly Restaurant.

More information can be obtained by writing Kim McVicar, 16 Poole St., Calais, 04619, or calling her at 454-2400.

If there are any musician newcomers to the area, you might like to know that the historic Bangor Symphony Orchestra will conduct auditions Saturday, Sept. 10, in Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Hall at the School of Performing Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

Xiao-Lu Li is music director and conductor of the BSO, which was founded in 1896 and is the oldest continuously operating community orchestra in the U.S.

Current orchestra openings are principal clarinet, principal viola, horn 3 and section strings as well as substitutes for all instruments.

Contracted musicians are paid on a per-service basis, reports marketing director Johnna Lacey, and mileage and housing arrangements are included.

The 2005-2006 season includes six classical concerts, three youth concerts, three performances of the “Nutcracker” ballet plus summer Pops events.

Audition requirements and information can be obtained from personnel manager Surya Mitchell, 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221, or by e-mailing surya@bangorsymphony.com.

The BSO Web site is www.bangorsymphony.com.

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