Damariscotta Bank & Trust Named as a Best Place to Work in Maine

Damariscotta, Maine - Damariscotta Bank & Trust was recently named as one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Maine. This statewide survey and awards program was created in 2006 to identify, recognize, and award the best places of employment in Maine who are benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and business. Damariscotta Bank & Trust was honored in the medium-sized category (50-249 U.S. employees).

“We are very excited to have been chosen as one the Best Places to Work in Maine for the fourth year in a row. Our employees are the center of our organization and a big part of what makes our bank great. They make a difference in our customer’s lives and in their communities. As an organization we take pride that every employee is treated as an individual not as a number just as we treat our customers,” said Marcia Benner, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Maine. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Maine and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

“DB&T started in the early 1970s to meet the needs of families and small businesses in the Damariscotta area, followed by an expansion to Lincoln, Knox and Waldo County. We are very proud of the Bank we have built together and appreciative of our knowledgeable, helpful and approachable employees because this is what makes our institution reflect these attributes for our customers. We thank our exceptional employees for making us a Best Place to Work in Maine for another year,” said Scott Conant, CEO & President.

Damariscotta Bank & Trust will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in Maine awards ceremony on October 2 and will be listed in a special publication by Mainebiz. The final rankings will be announced at the event. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Maine program, go to www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com or contact Jackie Miller at 717-323-5237. For more information about Damariscotta Bank & Trust, go to www.DamariscottaBank.com or call 800-639-8381.

Portland City Council Asks Rock Row Developers to Address Concert Noise

PORTLAND, Maine -- The Portland City Council has sent a letter to the Rock Row developers asking them to address concert noise and related issues at the Maine Savings Pavillion. Councilors Batson and Thibodeau co-authored the letter, which all members of the Council signed (see attached).


The Councilors are specifically asking for the following information: decibel readings for each
show which shows were amplified on the venue system or that of the artist exact locations of
the monitors at which shows was sound lowered during the performance due to excessive noise.


The Councilors are also requesting details of how Waterfront Concerts has been cataloging and

More than 44,000 Mainers Projected to Lose Food Assistance Under Trump SNAP Proposal

Nearly half at risk are children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities

AUGUSTA – A Trump administration proposal to kick millions of Americans off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would threaten essential food benefits for more than 44,000 Maine people, nearly half of whom are children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) estimates that 44,068 SNAP participants in Maine would lose food benefits under the proposed rule change. Of those, 11,031 are children and 9,598 are over age 60 or have a disability.

In total, nearly 27 percent of all SNAP participants in Maine are at risk of losing benefits under the proposal, DHHS estimates.

The proposal also would jeopardize meals for schoolchildren, by eliminating automatic enrollment of children in SNAP families in free and reduced-cost school meal programs.

"This proposal would take healthy food off the plates of children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities while punishing hard-working families," said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "We urge the Administration to rescind this misguided proposal, which will hurt Maine people who are just trying to make ends meet."

Last week, Governor Janet Mills joined a coalition of Governors from 16 other states in sending a [//content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIEOG/2019/08/28/file_attachments/1274517/Letter%20to%20Secretary%20Perdue%20-%20SNAP.pdf]letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to oppose the proposal, which would essentially eliminate Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility from SNAP. Under Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, states enroll eligible applicants in SNAP if they already qualify for other benefits for low-income people, primarily Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This allows states to tailor the program to their specific populations and to better coordinate SNAP with other public assistance programs. This now-threatened policy has resulted in more low-income families gaining access to critical food assistance, while also making SNAP less costly for states to administer.

The proposal penalizes families with incomes near the eligibility line by taking away their benefits if they experience even a small increase in wages, and similarly harms older people on fixed incomes who accumulate modest savings.

Maine DHHS is submitting comments to the federal government opposing the rule change. The federal government will accept [//www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/24/2019-15670/revision-of-categorical-eligibility-in-the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap#open-comment]comments on the proposed rule through September 23.

Westbrook Youth Football - Family Movie Night TONIGHT

Friday, September 6, 2019
Pizza, popcorn, drinks and other food available for purchase. Jungle Bootcamp for Kids and other activities at 6PM.

Date:

September 6, 2019

Time:

6:00 PM

Time Details:

Gates open at 6PM, The Lion King (original version) begins at 8PM

Location:

View Facility

Warren & Fraser Baseball Fields

Address:

Stevens Avenue
Westbrook, ME 04092

Cost:

$2 per person/$10 maximum per family

City Council to Host Workshop on Parking Garage Proposal on September 10

Biddeford, Maine - The City Council is considering a proposal from Biddeford Innovation, Inc. to build a 640-space parking garage and expand the RiverWalk and pedestrian connections. The purpose of the project is to reduce the property tax burden for residents and provide parking for current and planned development in the downtown and Mill District. No property tax dollars will be used to pay for this project, and the tax rate will not increase due to this project. A City Council Workshop on the proposal will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Community members who attend will have the opportunity to share their comments on the proposal with the Council. The Council is expected to vote on the proposal at their September 17 meeting.

If the proposal is approved, Biddeford Innovation, Inc. will design, build, and manage the parking garage. The City will contribute to the project through two sources. The first is through annual payments from the City’s TIF. Money in the TIF fund comes from sheltered property tax payments from businesses and developments in the Mill District – NOT from residential property taxpayers. The second source is revenues from the parking garage and parking lots. If parking revenues are less than expected, the City can make up the difference by collecting payments from surrounding properties in the Mill District, adjusting parking rates, or a combination of the two. If revenues are more than expected, the City will receive the benefit.

All on-street parking will remain FREE. During construction of the garage, rates for parking in surface lots will not increase. Once the garage is completed, rates for parking in the structure will be the same as surface lots. Under the proposal, Biddeford Innovation, Inc. would also assume management of surface lots in the downtown area.

A parking garage is important to our community to promote continued downtown and Mill District development. This matters to taxpayers because new development makes buildings and properties more valuable. More valuable buildings pay more property taxes to the City, which helps stabilize the property tax rate. The construction of the garage is expected to provide the City of Biddeford an additional $16,407,604 in property taxes in the first 10 years of operation and a benefit of $39,772,744 over the 25 year lifetime of the agreement.

 For more information, please visit www.biddefordmaine.org/parkinggarage.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis confirmed in York County horse

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) was alerted late this afternoon of a positive test for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse in York County. The horse, which was not vaccinated against the disease, was euthanized. This is the first case of a horse contracting EEE in Maine since 2013.

EEE is a virus that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. "EEE, which is carried by mosquitoes, is a fatal, viral disease in horses. The virus can affect human beings if they are bitten by mosquitoes that carry the virus," said Dr. Michele Walsh, Maine State Veterinarian. "People cannot acquire EEE infection from sick animals, only from the bite of an infected mosquito."

"This positive result confirms that mosquitoes carrying the virus are present in Maine, which is the reason why Maine CDC urges the state's residents and visitors to take precautions to protect themselves and their animals from mosquito bites," said Nirav D. Shah, Director of Maine CDC. "We want everyone to take precautions while enjoying themselves this holiday weekend."

Public health officials in other northeastern states have seen evidence of a very active season for EEE and some evidence of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus (WNV), another mosquito-borne illness. There have been no confirmed cases of EEE or WNV in humans in Maine this year. The last case of EEE involving a human in Maine was in 2015.

Maine CDC advises residents and visitors to protect themselves, their children, and animals by minimizing outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. If outdoor activity is unavoidable, take personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites, including:

Use an EPA-approved repellent
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
Treat clothing and gear with Permethrin
Take steps to control mosquitoes around your property by emptying artificial sources of standing water, fixing holes in screens, and working with a pesticide control applicator.
Animal owners should be aware that:

An EEE/WNV vaccine for horses is available.
Horses that have not been EEE/WNV vaccinated in the past six months should get either an initial vaccine or a booster as soon as possible.
The virus cannot be transmitted from horses to humans.
The virus can also affect specialty livestock, such as llamas, alpacas, emus, ostriches, and other farm-raised birds, such as pheasants, quail and ducks. Owners should contact their herd or flock veterinarians to discuss available vaccines and should also take precautions to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes for both themselves and their animals.
Signs of EEE in horses include stumbling or poor balance, unusual behavior, and lethargy. Other symptoms include head pressing, circling, tremors, seizures and eventual coma. In some animal species, the first signs of the disease can be bloody diarrhea or sudden death. The fatality rate for infected animals is greater than 90%, and those that recover can have permanent brain damage. When approved for protection of a particular species, vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.

The risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases such as EEE and WNV usually increases through the late summer and early fall. Mosquitoes are active until the second heavy frost.

Human infection with EEE virus can cause serious illness affecting the brain. Some persons infected with EEE have no obvious symptoms. In those persons who do develop illness, symptoms – which typically appear between three and 10 days after a bite – range from mild flu-like illness to high fever, headache, stiff neck, and decreased consciousness. Approximately one in every three individuals who are infected with EEE die and many of those who recover experience lasting health problems. Individuals with symptoms suggestive of EEE infection should contact their physician immediately. No human vaccine against EEE and WNV infection is available. There is no specific antiviral treatment for EEE or WNV infections.

Maine has many resources regarding mosquito-borne diseases:

Maine CDC's vectorborne disease website [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne]www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne includes fact sheets on EEE and WNV.
Short videos on mosquito-borne diseases, mosquito habitat, and repellent use are available at [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/videos.shtml]www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/videos.shtml or through Maine CDC's YouTube channel [//www.youtube.com/user/MainePublicHealth]www.youtube.com/user/MainePublicHealth.
Information about Maine CDC monitoring of mosquito-borne illnesses is available at [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/arboviral-surveillance.shtml]www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/arboviral-surveillance.shtml.
For more information about EEE and WNV prevention, visit this CDC website: [//www.cdc.gov/EEE/]www.cdc.gov/EEE/ or [//www.cdc.gov/westnile]www.cdc.gov/westnile

Maine Cheese Festival in Pittsfield on September 8

Pittsfield ME-The Maine Cheese Guild is holding its fourth annual cheese festival on September 8 in Pittsfield at Manson Park. Attendees can sample or purchase nationally recognized cheeses from 20 small, artisanal, Maine cheese makers. This is a perfect venue to see what Maine cheese has to offer.

Maine beer, wine, spirits, and cider will be sampled at a tent along the Sebasticook River. Five local food trucks will be cooking throughout the day. Entertainment will be provided by locals such as Rough Sawn, Married with Chitlins, and Sibley and Company.

According to Event Coordinator Arlene Brokaw, “Maine cheese is a combination of great quality cow, goat, sheep, and yes, buffalo milk, plus the innovation, creativity and dedication of Maine’s artisanal cheese makers. The personality of each Cheesemaker really shines through their cheeses, and this festival provides a wonderful opportunity to sample all of them.”

Guild President Jessie Dowling reports that Maine cheeses captured an astounding 18 awards at this year’s Big E, the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard.

Principal sponsors include Allagash Brewing Company, Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor Wine and Cheese, and Are You Ready to Party. The Town of Pittsfield is celebrating its bicentennial and has been a huge supporter.

The festival runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine. The Early Bird event begins at 10:00 AM. Kids under 12 are free.

Tickets can be purchased online: mainecheeseguild.org and click on Eventbrite.

Work on Route 106 in Livermore Falls

LIVERMORE FALLS - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting culvert, drainage, and paving work along Route 106 in Livermore Falls. Work is scheduled to begin on August 19th and be finished by September 15th. The work area is just north of the south entrance to Strickland Loop Road. Route 106 will be closed to through traffic at the work site; vehicles will use Route 133 as a detour. Manter Construction of Maine, Inc. of Sidney is the contractor on this job.

Perennial Garden Maintenance talk

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: Tuesday, August 20 at 12:00 pm.

Photo Caption: Merryspring’s perennial garden in August

Camden, Maine - Maine Master Gardener John Fromer will lead a presentation on practical perennial garden maintenance at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, August 20 at 12:00 pm.

Maintaining your perennial garden can be fun and relaxing- and the right methods can save time, money, and back pain. In this installment of his perennial gardening series, John Fromer will teach methods and tips to keep the late summer garden healthy and attractive. Weeding, deadheading, mulching, watering, staking, and pest and disease prevention will be demonstrated in the beautiful gardens at Merryspring.

A selection of recommended gardening books and tools will be available for purchase after the program. This is an outdoor program. Guests should wear weather-appropriate clothing.

Fromer has been a Maine Master Gardener since 1998 and runs Appleton Ridge Flower and Vegetable Farm with his wife Kathy, also a Maine Master Gardener. Together they grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs in a sustainable and authentic fashion.

This event is part of the Summer Talk series, co-sponsored by RE/MAX Jaret & Cohn and The First Bank.

Admission to Tuesday talks is $5, with free admission for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Nature's Tea Party

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: Friday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Photo Caption:  Wild sumac makes a refreshing and nutritious tea

Camden, Maine - Merryspring Nature Center will host a free program called "Nature's Tea Party" for families and children on Friday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Many common and wild plants can be made into teas and summer drinks. In this program, children will be able to sample teas made from common backyard plants, as well as learn how to create their own mixtures.

After a short garden tour and demonstration, there will be a tea tasting and time allowed for free play in the garden.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Quantum Electronica Concert at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - Join Quantum on Saturday, August 18, at 2:00 pm in the Camden Public Library’s Amphitheatre for an electronic tapestry of groove. Quantum Electronica is comprised of Jason Dean on vocals, drum machines, and keys; and Michael Whitehead on bass and pedals. The performers describe their sound as “an eclectic electronic music style blending dance music with film score and a jazz flair.” This theatrical duo has produced three albums and has been touring in Maine and out of state for the past five years. The show is free and open to the public. Bring a chair or blanket for comfortable seating. For more information visit www.librarycamden.org.

To Catch a Thief Screening at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - The Monday Night Movie Series at the Camden Public Library’s Amphitheatre continues on August 19, at 8:00 pm with the breathtaking thriller To Catch a Thief, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the novel by David Dodge.

This classic tale of romantic intrigue stars Grace Kelly and Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief who will be arrested unless he can trap the copycat burglar on the French Riviera. Rated PG. 1hr, 46 min. 1955. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for comfortable seating. For more information visit www.librarycamden.org.

Bedtime Math at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - Looking for a fun way to get the kids excited about back-to-school? Join children’s librarian Miss Amy for a “math-tastic” pajama party on Thursday, August 22, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the Camden Public Library. The Bedtime Math program will challenge kindergarten through fourth-grade children with math games in order to get their brains in gear for the new school year. Wear pjs and bring friends! For more information, call Miss Amy at 236-3440.

The Enchanted Hour at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - Wall Street Journal writer Meghan Cox Gurdon presents her new book The Enchanted Hour on Tuesday, August 20, at 7:00 pm at the Camden Public Library. Gurdon’s book takes a a conversation-changing look at how reading aloud makes adults and children smarter, happier, healthier, more successful, and more closely attached, even as technology pulls in the other direction.

A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another, transforming the simple stuff of a book, a voice, and a bit of time into complex and powerful fuel for the heart, brain, and imagination. Grounded in the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, and drawing widely from literature, The Enchanted Hour explains the dazzling cognitive and social-emotional benefits that await children, whatever their class, nationality, or family background. But it’s not just about bedtime stories for little kids: reading aloud consoles, uplifts, and invigorates at every age, deepening the intellectual lives and emotional well-being of teenagers and adults, too.

Meghan Cox Gurdon argues that this ancient practice is a fast-working antidote to the fractured attention spans, atomized families, and unfulfilling ephemera of the tech era, helping to replenish what our devices are leaching away. For everyone, reading aloud engages the mind in complex narratives; for children, it’s an irreplaceable gift that builds vocabulary, fosters imagination, and kindles a lifelong appreciation of language, stories, and pictures.

Bringing together the latest scientific research, practical tips, and reading recommendations, The Enchanted Hour will both charm and galvanize, inspiring readers to share this invaluable, life-altering tradition with the people they love most.

Gurdon is a Camden Hills Regional High School and Bowdoin College graduate. Her book will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation. For more information visit www.librarycamden.org.

Images attached:

The Enchanted Hour Book Cover

Photo of Meghan Cox Gurdon

Escape the Upside Down at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - An experiment at the Hawkins National Laboratory has gone wrong, and a gate has opened to another dimension, known as the Upside Down. Solve puzzles, open locks, follow clues, and try to escape the Upside Down in a Stranger Things-themed afternoon event for teens on Wednesday, August 21, at 4:00 pm at the Camden Public Library. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite ‘80s garb to fully immerse in the “escape box” experience. For more information, contact Loraine at 236-3440.

Maine DEP to test marine spill response on Penobscot River

AUGUSTA, August 9, 2019 — Emergency Response personnel from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will conduct a boom deployment exercise on the Penobscot River on Thursday, August 15, 2019 in Brewer.

The training exercise will take place at the public boat launch located on North Main Street in Brewer beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday and continuing until 3PM in the afternoon. The purpose of this exercise is to test the feasibility of emergency response strategies in the event of a marine oil spill in the river.

Maine has a total of 249 protection strategies designed for environmentally sensitive areas from Kittery to Calais, and the DEP has an active program to review and test these strategies to ensure natural resources are most effectively protected.

The North Main Street boat launch will be closed to the public for safety reasons and members of the public should seek an alternative site for boat launching and other recreational activities through the duration of this training exercise.


For additional information, contact:
David Madore, Communications Director
(207) 287-5842
[link]david.madore@maine.gov

August 20: Intergenerational Book Club at Thomaston Public Library

Thomaston, Maine - On Tuesday, August 20 at 2:30 PM, the Thomaston Intergenerational Book Club will discuss The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve.

From the publisher:

"An exquisitely suspenseful new novel about an extraordinary young woman tested by a catastrophic event and its devastating aftermath--based on the true story of the largest fire in Maine's history.

"In October 1947, after a summer long drought, fires break out all along the Maine coast from Bar

Bedford St to Close for Paving Sunday, August 11 at 5 PM

Roadway will reopen to traffic by 8 AM Monday, August 12

PORTLAND, Maine -- On Sunday evening, August 11, 2019, the City will be closing Bedford Street as part of the Bedford Street Sewer separation project for roadway pavement installation. The closure will occur from August 11 at 5:00 PM to August 12 at 8:00 AM. Shaw Brothers, the City’s contractor, will be installing final pavement on Bedford and Durham Street during this closure. 

IMPORTANT INFO FOR MOTORISTS:  The left turn movement from Forest Ave onto Bedford Street will be shut down during the paving work.  Motorists will be directed to use Falmouth Street as a detour during this night closure. Local access to all USM facilities and businesses on Bedford Street will remain open and accessible via Deering Avenue and Brighton Avenue.  The entire roadway will be back open by 8:00 AM on Monday morning. 

SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTE
Motorists will be required to seek alternate routes around the closure until the roadway is reopened.

City Announces Finalists to Create MLK Memorial in Portland

PORTLAND, Maine -- The City of Portland announced yesterday that three finalists have been selected from the RFQ phase to move forward to the RFP phase to create a memorial to honor Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Portland. The finalists are: Robert Katz, Augusta, ME; TJD&A Landscape Architects, Yarmouth, ME; and Ironwood Design Group, Newmarket, NH. The memorial  is intended to inspire visitors to reflect on Dr. King’s life and the values he espoused, prompting everyone to consider how they can contribute to realizing his vision of an equitable and fair society.


The MLK Memorial Selection Committee issued an RFQ in May 2019 to seek interested applicants for the creation of a memorial. The submissions were due at the end of June, and nine submissions were received. The Committee met on July 22 to review the submissions and choose up to three finalists to move forward with the RFP phase. The City has allocated $100,000 for the creation of the memorial and the three finalists will each receive $2,500 to develop their proposals.


“I want to thank the artists and designers who took the time to respond to our RFQ. We received several quality submissions, and I look forward to seeing and reviewing the fully developed proposals from the finalists,” said Councilor Jill Duson, Co-Chair of the MLK Memorial Selection Committee.


“A monument to the life and legacy of Dr. King will serve as a special place of reflection and inspiration for all Maine people,” said Reverend Kenneth Lewis, pastor of the Green Memorial AME Zion Church in Portland, and Co-Chair of the Selection Committee. “I encourage the public to attend the presentations on November 14.”


The RFP phase of the process asks the finalists to develop proposals that include a written project statement, visuals, models, schedule, and budget, followed by an in-person interview and presentation on November 14, 2019.


After reviewing the materials and candidate presentations, the Selection Committee will recommend a winning artist, which is expected to be announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 2020.


About the Process

The MLK Recognition Task Force was appointed to consider how best to recognize and acknowledge Dr. King’s life and work, determined it was best to site a memorial in an open area on the Bayside Trail located in the West Bayside neighborhood.


The City Council’s Sustainability & Transportation Committee established the MLK Memorial Selection Committee to oversee the RFQ and RFP process. The Committee, co-chaired by Councilor Jill Duson and Reverend Kenneth Lewis, were tasked with choosing up to three finalists to move on to the proposal phase.

Rockland Public Library-- Oshima Brothers Lawn Concert on Thursday, August 22

Photos credit: Robyn Nicole Film and Photo
Rockland, Maine - Oshima Brothers will perform on the lawn of the Rockland Public Library for a free concert on Thursday, August 22 at 6:30 PM. People of all ages are invited to celebrate summer, dance and enjoy the music, and to come early for a picnic. They are asked to bring a chair or a blanket, if they would like, as seating is not  provided.

Oshima Brothers' magnetic sibling sound and contagious joy result from a lifetime of making music together. Raised in a musical family in rural Maine, the brothers have honed a harmony-rich blend of contemporary folk and acoustic pop. On stage, Sean and Jamie create a full and complex sound with dynamic vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, octave bass, loops, and percussion.

Oshima Brothers write, record, and produce all their music and videos in their home studio. They currently have two albums to their credit, a self-titled debut in 2016, followed by the EP “Under The Same Stars” in 2019. Within a month of its release, the EP had garnered hundreds of thousands of streams online. Accompanying each of the five songs off “Under The Same Stars” is a music video, including one for the single “Ellie” which was featured as the lead track on NPR’s monthly “Heavy Rotation” playlist in March.

The brothers live together in Maine but spend most of their time on the road performing, writing, filming, and dancing.

The Library is located at 80 Union  St. FMI: 594-0310. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Library’s Community Room.