History Mystery Tour
The newly opened Rufus Porter Museum in the Webb House at 121 Main St. in Bridgton (across from the library) will host a History Mystery Tour to five historical sites around Bridgton on Saturday, July 23, from 12 to 4 p.m. Driving is required to reach some of the sites, but participants can walk to others. Pick up a map for the self-guided tour around noon at the Webb House on Main Street and the locations of the sites, which are not ordinarily open to the public, will be revealed as the tour unfolds. Light refreshments will be served at one of the locations. Tickets for the tour cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with proceeds going to help fund the museum’s various projects and exhibits.

The museum, dedicated to the work of Rufus Porter, artist, inventor and founder of the Scientific American, is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, noon-4p.m. until Sept. 5. The gift shop is open during museum hours and features unique Maine-made items related to the 19th century. Tours of the museum are free, but donations are always appreciated. Call the museum at 647-2828 or check out www.rufusportermuseum.org to learn more.

Hot Music for a Warm Night
The Thirsty Brothers, a popular local band with connections to Bridgton, will take the stage for an evening “social hour” from 5-7 p.m. at the Bridgton Highlands Country Club, 379 Highland Road, on Saturday, July 23. The concert is open to the public and the Highlands snack bar will be open to serve drinks during the event. There is no admission charge, making this a great opportunity to gather some friends, have a cold drink, sing along with some tunes and check out the scene up at the golf course. If you need more information, call the Highlands at 647-3491.

All Church Yard Sale
The First Congregational Church of Bridgton’s annual All Church Yard Sale, sponsored by its Board of Trustees, will take place Friday and Saturday, July 22-23, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The sale will be held rain or shine behind the church, located at 33 S. High St. Donated merchandise for the church sale, its largest fundraiser, include estate sale items, books, antiques and sport equipment. A reserved section will hold higher-end objects with non-negotiable prices. Breakfast sandwiches and hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch will be served on both days. There is plenty of parking behind the church.

Proceeds of the yard sale benefit the church’s outreach programs, such as  Jeanette’s Closet, where local families can find no-cost clothing, and the Adopt a Child for Christmas program that last year served nearly 200 Bridgton children.

Sip & Shop!
Sip and Shop!, which bills itself as Bridgton’s first annual Summer Celebration of Women, offers a couple hours in town to relax, chat with friends, meet new people and enjoy the blues and soft jazz of Carolyn Rhoads, keyboard player of the local band Skylark. Sip & Shop! is the brainstorm of Firefly Boutique owner Jessica Jones and Barbara Bloomgren, proprietor of Towanda’s Specialty Food & Deli and T’s Pantry, both located at 103 Main St. On Thursday, July 28, from 5-7 p.m., the two shops will offer complimentary jewelry, gifts, wine and beer tastings, and a variety of other surprises to showcase their new locations and entertain customers. The new Firefly Boutique has a larger inventory and wider selection of goods. Its Sassy & Blue has expanded its line of handcrafted clothing for infants and girls. Towanda’s, which opened in April, now has a liquor license that enables it to host the wine and beer tastings, and the kitchen is cooking up some surprise treats for the event. Bloomgren is also opening T’s Pantry in the back of 103 Main St. to offer specialty meats and charcuterie, imported Italian pasta, and a wide variety of cheeses, as well as Maine-made chocolates, olive oil from Tuscany and Provence, affordable wines and a selection of local craft beer.

Hangin’ it out to dry
I sometimes hear people complain about the tedium of ordinary daily tasks such as cooking, caring for kids and cleaning house. Yes, these things can be boring and annoying but at least today we have lots of modern conveniences to help us out. I am always interested in the daily lives of people (mainly women) in the past – if nothing else, it gives me an appreciation for many things we take for granted nowadays. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, you can experience Laundry Day at Narramissic, the Bridgton Historical Society’s farmhouse in South Bridgton, and learn how the washing was done in the 19th and early 20th centuries. No push-button automatic washers and dryers here! Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 7-17 and $12 for a family. Historical Society members receive a discount.

Also, on Friday, July 29, Fred and Deb will be playing “Old Tyme Music” at Narramissic beginning at 5 p.m. Come early, tour the house, bring a picnic and enjoy a day out at the farm. Concert admission is $10. On Friday, Aug. 5,

Robert Sanford, author of “Reading the Rural Landscape: A Field Guide to New England’s Past,” will conduct a guided hike through Bridgton’s Pondicherry Park. The time will be announced soon. This event is made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council. Admission is $5, $4 for BHS members.

Further information and details can be found at bridgtonhistory.org or by calling 647-3699.

Book Signing
Bridgton Books, at 140 Main St., continues its summer series of book signings on Saturday, July 30, from 1-3 p.m., this time featuring “The Legacy Chronicle: The Sword” by Hebron-based author T.H. Paul.

“The Sword” is the first volume of a new fantasy series set in a world of mystical creatures and gallant quests where the lives of gods and mortals interact. Maine native Paul teaches at Hebron Academy in Hebron, where he lives with his wife and their dog. “The Sword” is his first novel, developed over 15 years of “tinkering, rewriting, frustration and hope.” Bridgton Books can be contacted at 647-2122.

Firefly owner Jessica Jones, left, Dianne Scammon and Barbara Bloomgren toast in anticipation of what they’re calling the town’s first annual Summer Celebration of Women on Thursday, July 28.