The creative team of author and poet Susan Schadler and artists Lynne and John M.T. Seitzer recently released “Growing Wild: Four seasons of New England and Native Plants and Their Creatures.” Lynne and John’s artwork and Susan’s accompanying poetry make this book both an enchanting and informative read.

This is their second collaboration. You may remember their first endeavor, “come walk in the FYNBOS with me,” printed in 2018, took readers to Africa’s southern tip, the 500-mile stretch known as the fynbos.

Join Sean Fleming and his eight-piece Ragtime Orchestra for the "Real Ragtime Concert," a collection of classic, early 20th century Rag tunes, on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.

To further enhance visitors' experience at the ca. 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, a Timeline of Events has been installed in the ell of the historic cape at the head of Main Street.

The 100-inch chronology, depicted in art and photos, takes one from the first visits of European explorers and fishermen in the 1580s through 1960, when the house was saved from demolition, and 2008 when it was deeded to Lincoln County Historical Association.

On Tuesday, Sept. 8, festive season fans can start to purchase tickets and plan their fall and winter activities, starting with Maine’s favorite: Gardens Aglow. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens invites guests to “Gather, Glow, and Celebrate” with this year’s “Gathered in Maine” theme.

Bands for Books is the major annual fundraising activity for The Friends of the Wiscasset Public Library. This year we will celebrate our 12th anniversary and are planning another special evening. We are able to keep ticket prices at a pre-sale price of $20 each and $25 at the door the evening of the event. Once again, Bands for Books will be held at Lakehurst Lodge on Sept. 7 (Labor Day) beginning at 5 pm.

The public is invited to experience one of Maine’s iconic coastal landmarks during Maine Open Lighthouse Day at Burnt Island Light on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hosted with support from Balmy Days Cruises, the event offers visitors an opportunity to step ashore and explore the historic Burnt Island lighthouse property while enjoying live music and a festive day on the Maine coast.

Throughout the event, guests can tour the Burnt Island lighthouse tower and keeper’s house, gaining a closer look at the history and character of this treasured maritime landmark.

About the bluegrass band Chicken Wire Empire, a reviewer said, "These musicians must enjoy what they do because their joy translates through their instruments." Hailing from Wisconsin, the band has partnered with dozens of artists from all corners of the bluegrass genre, from Sam Bush and Peter Rowan to Vince Herman and Keller Williams. Their forthcoming album features guest appearances from Grammy-winning artists Jerry Douglas and Kyle Tuttle.

Sick of Swiping (SOS) is a Maine-based series of offline dating events designed to help people get off of dating apps and into real-life connections at some favorite local spots. There's an upcoming SOS event at Coastal Prime in Boothbay Harbor Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2 to 5 p.m. SOS hopes to provide a fun afternoon for singles in the Midcoast.

On Saturday, Sept. 12 Heartwood Regional Theater Company will hold low key auditions at the Poe Theater, 81 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle, from 10 a.m. to noon.  

Southport Memorial Library is pleased to welcome Claire Ackroyd as the guest of the next author talk on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. She will talk about her second book, "Body in the Blueberry Barrens." 

Claire Ackroyd is a landscape designer, independent organic inspector, educator and writer.  She grew up in rural England in a big garden with pets and ponies and now resides in Orono. 

The Waldo welcomes comedian Forrest Shaw to the stage on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The former marine biologist turned comedian, gives a voice to the ocean—and trust us, it has some things to say. "The Ocean Hates You!" dives straight into pollution, overfishing, climate change, plastic, and all the many ways humans have managed to trash the most important ecosystem on Earth.

A little bit of Nashville is coming to the Maine coast this September when rising country artist Cam Shelton headlines Hearty Roots’ Hootenanny: Ho-Down Southern Social at Glidden Point Oyster Farms in Edgecomb.

The family-friendly fundraiser will take place Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., bringing together live country music, oysters, a Southern-style pig roast and the Midcoast community in support of Hearty Roots’ work with young people across Lincoln County.

Long Branch headlines the Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 27, along with live music in galleries and pubs, and so much more to entertain visitors. Making a repeat sidewalk performance, the country/bluegrass/rock n’ roll sounds of Nanci Stein, Bill Donovan, and John Fabreau, playing as Long Branch, create the outdoor ambiance for a great evening of active strolling.

Join Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and the Harbor Theater for the final event in the Unearth a Story Summer Speaker Series. Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald, Tribal Ambassador for the Houlton Band of Maliseets, will present “The Watertown Treaty of 1776: A Wabanaki Perspective” on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Harbor Theater (185 Townsend Ave).  

Sheepscot Chorus invites you to join in as the group begin rehearsals for the Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6 Boothbay Harbor holiday concerts. The featured work: Joseph Haydn's charming "St. Nicholas Mass," performed with orchestra, and conducted by artistic director Linda Blanchard.

St. Cecilia Chamber Choir is holding auditions for all voice parts as we begin preparing for our highly-acclaimed December concert of "Lessons and Carols" for the Christmas season. Drawing inspiration from the world-famous King’s College Cambridge "Service of Lessons and Carols," our program blends carols both sacred and secular with seasonal readings, accompanied by a professional string quartet and performed in the beautiful Bowdoin College Chapel and Damariscotta Baptist Church.

Back in 1969 Jackie DeShannon sang these words: "Think of your fellow man, Give him a helping hand, Put A Little Love In Your Heart."

DeShannon's song played over and over in my head after I attended Maine State Music Theater's current show, "Come From Away," book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Given the state of our world right now, this show couldn't be staged at a better time: It demonstrates our capacity for kindness,  compassion, empathy, all of which are sorely needed now.

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" - (PG13; 2 hours, 25 minutes) - FINAL SHOWS. With the world no longer remembering who Peter Parker is, Spider-Man finds himself more isolated than ever. As his closest friends move on with lives that no longer include him, Peter throws himself into protecting New York—until a mysterious new threat emerges that challenges everything he thought he knew about being a hero.