Poetry and potluck merge on CONA menu

NEWCASTLE — Maine poets Robin Merrill and Tom Lyford will headline CONA’s annual celebration of poetry at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle.

The event includes a potluck dinner and poetry reading. Those who attend are invited to read one of their works.

Merrill is a freelance writer and editor from Madison. Her most recent collection of poetry, “A House of Bottles,” is available from MoonPie Press. She has also written three children’s books and serves as an editor for Scholastic, Hudson Bible and World Outreach International.

Born in Dover-Foxcroft in 1946, Lyford graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1964. He earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Farmington State College in 1968, then taught for the next 34 years.

He is now a part-time library clerk at Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft. His poems and essays have been published in Sakana, Bangor Metro, Off the Coast, Wolf Moon Press Journal, Up North and The Bangor Daily News.

Lyford’s first, full- length prose memoir, a humorous work titled “Work Aversion Trauma: A Lifetime of Suffering,” came out in 2009, followed by a 2011 childhood memoir, “Playing with Fire.”

The meal begins at 6 p.m. Poetry reading starts at 7 p.m.

The program is free, but donations are appreciated. All proceeds support the Community Housing Improvement Program.

For information, email dbalant@roadrunner.com or call 563-1216.

Maine Fiberarts spins out holiday sale

TOPSHAM — Maine Fiberarts will host a special holiday open house sale today, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale will be held at the newly renovated Red Studio next door to Maine Fiberarts’ gallery at 13 Main St.

One-of-a-kind items offered include handspun yarn, knitted goods, needle punch embroidery, art quilts, fiber from Maine farms, woven scarves and shawls, fabric bags, pine needle basketry, hooked items, felted goods, patchwork balsam pillows and handmade tassels will be among the items sold, according to a Fiberarts release.

A collection of used craft books also will be sold.

The sale will remain in effect through Dec. 24 during Maine Fiberarts’ regular hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

To learn more, visit the Topsham gallery or www.mainefiberarts.org, or phone 721-0678.

Sabbathday Lake Grange fair looms

NEW GLOUCESTER — Sabbathday Lake Grange will hold its annual Christmas Fair and Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Crafters who make candles, canned goods and a host of other traditional items will be on hand.

Cooked food and books will be sold. Raffles, attic treasures will be available.

Lunch will also be available. Menu options include soup, chop suey and hot dogs. Turkey pies will be for sale while supplies last.

Sabbathday Lake Grange is located on Sabbathday Road in New Gloucester, just off Route 26.

Snowflake Christmas Fair set at Bath Legion

BATH — The Snowflake Christmas Fair runs from 9 a. m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Smith-Tobey American Legion Post 21, 200 Congress Ave.

Jewelry, candles, Christmas decorations, handmade items, books, wreaths and baked goods are among the items that will be sold.

Food offerings include breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn chowder and assorted beverages.

The American Legion Auxiliary hosts the fair to benefit veterans and community service programs.

Tables are available. Call Dawn Dreyer at 442-8733.

Dodson, friends party for 24th straight year

CAMDEN — Anne Dodson and Friends Holiday Program celebrates its 24th consecutive season at 7 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church in Camden. It is the closing event of “Christmas by the Sea,” Camden’s annual weekend of holiday festivities.

This year’s program features The Quasimodal Chorus, Matt Szostak, Will Brown, Kat Logan, Jim Loney, David Dodson, Hazel Delehey, Cindy Kallet, Grey Larsen, Gordon Bok and Carol Rohl.

“As always, ‘Anne Dodson and Friends’ is a warm, informal concert, where the musicians take delight in blurring the line between performer and audience as together the community wraps up another year,” a release from organizers states.

Doors open at 6: 30 p. m. Advance tickets are available at The Owl and the Turtle in Camden and at Rock City Cafe in Rockland. Tickets may also be reserved in advance, to be held at the door.

Admission costs $ 13 for adults in advance, or $15 at the door. Children pay $6 in advance or $ 7 at the door. Children younger than 6 years old get in free.

Refreshments will be served. For more information or reservations, call 236-9576.

Greenlaws to sign books at Bath shop

BATH — Linda Greenlaw will sign copies of her books, “ Sea- Worthy” and “ The Maine Summers Cookbook” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Lisa- Marie’s Made in Maine Inc., 170 Front St.

Her mother, Martha Greenlaw, who co-wrote the cookbook, also will be on hand.

Copies of Greenlaw’s other books, “The Lobster Chronicles” and “ The Hungry Ocean” will be available while supplies last.

For more information, call 443-2225.

Dahlov Ipcar to sign books in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN — Dahlov Ipcar will autograph copies of her children’s book, “ Wild Animal Alphabet,” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Georgetown Historical Society. 20 Bay Point Road.

The Georgetown Historical Society carries signed copies of all of Ipcar’s new books, rereleases, and Carl Little’s book, “The Art of Dahlov Ipcar.” Signed copies of books by local authors Jane Freeberg, Thom Hanna, Jack Schneider, Wil Ansel, Angus King and Susie Wren are available, plus the revised and expanded “A Nice Life Back Then: Georgetown Island – 1900-1910,” the story of that period as told by Francis “Babe” Gunnell.

Also available is “ Maine Moderns: Art in Seguinland,” the hardcover catalogue of the Portland Museum of Art 2011 exhibit, which featured the works of modernist photographers, painters and sculptors in Georgetown during the first half of the 20th century.

This event is free and all are welcome. GHS members receive a discount on all purchases.

For more information, call 371-9200, email georgetownhistorical@gmail.com or visit www.georgetownhistoricalsociety.org.

Celtic harp concert celebrates Yule

AUBURN — Celtic harpist Julia Lane and members of the Auburn Harp circle will perform a Yuletide Harp concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in St. Michael’s Church, 78 Pleasant St.

“ Here is music which reflects ancient traditions, arranged and played with spirit and sensitivity,” a release about the program states.

Admission is by donation at the door of $10 for adults or $5 for children.

For more information.call 529-5438.

‘Christmas in the Cathedral’ concert set

PORTLAND — The Choral Art Society will present “Christmas at the Cathedral” at 8 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St. A concert preview will take place at noon Saturday.

This year marks the 24th year for this annual concert, which features more than 60 vocalists. The choir will be accompanied by trumpets and brass from the Portland Brass Quintet and the organ, played by Dan Moore.

The choir will perform traditional holiday songs, highlighted by a candlelight procession to “Silent Night.”

Tickets range from $10 for the noon preview show on Saturday, available at the door only, to $30. A limited number of $ 5 youth tickets will be available.

To order, call 828- 0043 or visit www.choralart.org.

The Chorale Arts Society also will perform a Messiah Sing-Along at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in St. Patrick’s Church, 1342 Congress St.

Musicians from the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra will accompany the singalong. Admission costs $ 5. Attendees are urged to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to Project FEED.