Kennebunk Free Library announced its next Speers Gallery exhibit, Watercolors, by Bob Lown, opening March 5. The exhibit features watercolor paintings of local architecture, beaches, parks and scenery of the greater Kennebunk area.

The public is invited to attend an artist reception on Saturday, March 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Speers Gallery.

Speers Gallery at Kennebunk Free Library will feature the art of Bob Lown during March. An opening reception is planned for 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. Above, Turbats Creek by Lown. Courtesy image

Lown has been painting since 1960. In his younger years, when his time was filled with job and family, his painting had to be tucked in between other priorities. Upon retirement in 1995, he was able to paint more regularly.

Though mostly self-taught, Bob has been able to take courses from various artists while on vacation and in retirement. Some memorable teachers were George Shedd, Carlton Plummer, Phoebe Flory, Russell Whitten, Carl Schmaltz and Dewitt Hardy.

Lown is an active member of Art Guild of The Kennebunks and has exhibited several times before at Kennebunk Free Library.

Cherries, by Bob Lown. Courtesy image

The public is invited to view the exhibit in the library’s Speers Gallery from March 5-31. The library is located at 112 Main St., Kennebunk. The exhibit will be available for viewing during regular library hours when the gallery is not in use for library programs. For library hours and gallery access, visit www.kennebunklibrary.org.

Students at Holy Spirit Parish assemble care kits for homeless

Middle school students in faith formation classes at Holy Spirit Parish (St. Martha Church in Kennebunk and St. Mary Church in Wells) will collect and provide necessary items for a group in need.

The Holy Spirit Parish Middle School Outreach Project is underway, with the students collecting items to assemble care kits for the homeless in their communities. Courtesy image

The Holy Spirit Parish Middle School Outreach Project is underway, with the students collecting items (through March 6) to assemble care kits for the homeless in their communities.

“Care kits are gallon-sized to-go bags filled with basic necessities that can be distributed to people who need them on the street, at homeless shelters, and at soup kitchens,” said Carolyn Houston, director of faith formation at the parish, in a Feb. 15 news release.

Community members and parishioners are being asked to bring new and unopened items to St. Martha or St. Mary and place them in the large collection baskets located in the narthex (lobby area) of both churches.

“My hope for these fantastic students is that their experience plants within them a deep desire to always be involved in service,” said Houston. “Projects like these teach them how to be the body of Christ and how to see Christ in others and allow them to mature spiritually and grow closer to Jesus.”

The items in most need are:

Men’s and women’s regular socks
Men’s and women’s deodorant
Soap (individually packaged)
Toothbrushes (individually packaged)
Toothpaste
Travel-size Band-Aids, wipes, hand sanitizer, lotion, and tissues
Lip balm
Granola bars and fruit snacks (individually packaged)
Feminine hygiene products (individually wrapped)

$5 gift cards to Dunkin,’ McDonald’s or Wendy’s (gift cards should be placed in an envelope labeled “Faith Formation” and dropped in the collection basket or dropped off at the parish or faith formation offices; envelopes can be slid under the office doors if the office isn’t open).

For more information about the project or ways in which to assist, call the parish at 207-646-5605 or 207-985-6252.

Journalism scholarships available for Maine students

Maine students interested in careers in journalism are invited to apply for post-secondary scholarships from the Guy P. Gannett Journalism Scholarship Fund at the Maine Community Foundation.

The scholarship honors businessman and entrepreneur Guy P. Gannett, who launched his newspaper career in 1921 with the purchase of two newspapers he merged into the Portland Press Herald. By 1998 when the family sold Guy Gannett Communications, its media reach spanned several states with three daily newspapers in Maine and seven television stations.

Gannett’s granddaughter Maddy Corson and her uncle John Gannett established the Guy P. Gannett Scholarship Fund in 2000 to pay tuition and expenses for Maine students who dream of careers in journalism. Since then, the initial $3 million scholarship fund – Maine Community Foundation’s largest – has helped educate nearly 150 students with more than $3.8 million in support. In 2021, 16 students were awarded $332,000 in scholarship support.

The Gannett Scholarship provides renewable support for students majoring in journalism or a field reasonably related, including print, broadcast or electronic media. The fund helps pay the cost of attendance to attend an undergraduate, graduate, trade or technical school.

Applicants must be graduates of Maine high schools or have been home-schooled in Maine during their last year of secondary education. Students are chosen based on demonstrated interest in journalism through their choice of coursework and extracurricular activities, as well as financial need and academic achievement. The application deadline is April 1, 2022. Apply online at www.mainecf.org. For more information about the Gannett Scholarship, visit https://www.mainecf.org/find-a-scholarship/available-scholarships/guy-p-gannett-scholarship-fund, and hear from past Gannett scholars at https://www.mainecf.org/2020/11/maines-eyes-on-the-world/.

Maine Community Foundation is headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft, Rockport and Mars Hill. For more information about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.

Astronomical society schedules March meeting

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England will hold its monthly meeting 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4 at The

New School, 38 York St., Kennebunk. A business meeting, also open to the public, commences at 7 p.m.

The March meeting agenda includes: Bernie Reim’s What’s Up for the Month and Astro Shorts, where attendees and

members share questions, activities, news and observations. The Astro Shorts meetings give way to many discussions.

The Astronomical Society of Northern New England is a local association of amateur astronomers that meets monthly at The New School.  Meetings are on the first Friday of each month. All those interested in astronomy are welcome, from stargazers and hobbyists, to serious observers, astrophotographers, and those interested in astronomical theory. The general public is also invited and welcome.

The society also hosts Star Parties at its own Talmage Observatory at Starfield on Route 35 in West Kennebunk.

For meeting status as it pertains to weather or pandemic considerations, email asnne.astronomy@gmail.com. For more information about the society, including directions and events, or to contact the club, visit www.ASNNE.org.

Community invited for Ash Wednesday hours

The community is invited to Open Sanctuary Hours for Ash Wednesday, March 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. at South Congregational Church. The church is located at 2 North St. in Kennebunkport.

There will be resources for prayer and scripture reading. Images and words will be projected for contemplation. The pastor, the Rev. Susan Townsley, will be available for those who wish to receive prayers, blessings or ashes. David Brandes, organist, will play music from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and 4 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.southchurchucc.org or visit the South Congregational Church Facebook page.

A mangled lobster trap, swept ashore during a recent nor’easter, sits atop the rocks along Great Hill Road in Kennebunk. The National Weather Service in Gray is calling for a winter storm to arrive late Thursday and into Friday, Feb. 25. Dan King photo