Many people have been working long hours so that you will enjoy the Town of Dixmont Bicentennial Celebration which runs from Sunday, Aug. 19, through Saturday, Aug. 25, with events from road races to a talent show and live entertainment featuring one of Maine’s favorite performers, Dave Mallett.

Ann-Catrine York reports one of the highlights of the bicentennial will be when the historical society and town selectmen officially open the celebration at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Dixmont town hall.

After lunch and the bicentennial birthday cake served by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Dixmont Volunteer Fire Company, the Veterans Memorial Park will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. The site is adjacent to Dixmont town hall on Western Avenue.

Among the opening day events is a Two-Crusted Apple Pie Contest sponsored by the Dixmont Scholarship Association with judging at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Maine-Ly Apples on Moosehead Trail.

Pies should be brought to the orchard by 10 a.m. and first-through-third ribbons will be awarded. For information and contest rules, call Lois Rowe at 234-2183 or e-mail Irowe@uninets.net.

The public is invited to all events throughout the week. The celebration concludes with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.

Reservations need to be made today for two seatings of the Great Lobstah Feed held by St. Thomas Traditional Anglican Church at 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the church, 373 Bangor Road, Route 1A, in Ellsworth.

Joyce Barr wrote that only 100 tickets are available for a minimum donation of $12 each.

To reserve your lobster, corn on the cob, potato salad, roll, beverage and strawberry shortcake, call 359-2319.

Proceeds benefit the “funding of a new, larger church building,” Barr wrote.

A summer yard sale for this cause was very successful, she added, extending “many thanks to all who donated items and came and made purchases.”

The third annual Downtown Dog Day is 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, in Bangor.

Maine’s first lady, Karen Baldacci, opens the festivities at the Maine Discovery Museum on Main Street, discussing programs in which dogs help children develop stronger reading skills.

For information and a list of events, visit www.downtownbangor.com or call Sally Bates, 992-4234.

Janice Deering of Bangor wrote, “The churches of Orrington have, for years, celebrated summer by providing sumptuous home-cooked meals.”

She added that “East Orrington Congregational Church is keeping up the tradition by hosting a Chicken Pie Supper” from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the church, 38 Johnson Mill Road.

Deering pointed out “the freshly-baked chicken pies will be prepared by the ladies of Alton Methodist Church,” and served with gravy, the “Rev. Carl Schreiber’s own recipe mashed potatoes,” garden-fresh carrots and “special cranberry sauce” and cakes made by the “ladies of EOCC.”

You will enjoy air-conditioned dining, she wrote, and one lucky ticket holder will win “a collection of summer-treat door prizes.”

Local trotting horse historian Clark Thompson wrote that the Dixmont Historical Association will dedicate a memorial marker for “the noted Currier & Ives trotting horse, ‘Hopeful,'” at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Dixmont Memorial Park, next to the town office on Route 9.

At the dedication, Thompson will speak about the history of Hopeful, who was “foaled in 1866 and raised in North Dixmont.”

Thompson is seeking relatives of the horse’s breeder, Benjamin D. Whitcomb, who died in Boston on Feb. 12, 1894.

Thompson said Whitcomb had four brothers who were born in Dixmont, and was survived by his wife, a son of Boston and a daughter “then living in Maine.”

Descendents of the breeder are invited to attend the dedication, as are “all friends of the horse,” Thompson wrote.

For information, call Thompson at 947-5125 or e-mail clarkprice@msn.com.

Travis Cyr has announced that Tiny Music Productions will sponsor the Arootsakoostik Music Festival from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Thomas Park in New Sweden.

Tickets at the gate are $7 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and restoration and maintenance of Thomas Park.

Farmers, artists, craftspeople, food vendors and volunteers who would like to participate can call Cyr at 868-2625 or e-mail Travcyr@yahoo.com.

In addition to Cyr, the lineup of performers will include Dominic and the Lucid, Tree By Leaf, Cursillistas, Tigroid Substance, D. Gross, Frank Hopkins with Line of Force, and others.

More information is available at www.myspace.com/amusicfest.

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