A bill set for public hearing in Augusta March 4 would name Wiscasset's downtown railroad crossing for poet-diplomat-civil rights advocate and "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" writer James Weldon Johnson, killed in a car-train crash at that crossing in 1938. Selectmen are set to consider the proposal Tuesday, Feb. 18, and town officials would like residents' input.

Monday, Feb. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Community Lunch at Brady's will be a benefit for Robbie and Kristen Campbell who lost their home to fire on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club is hosting the lunch. This week, all donations will go to The Campbells.

The Edgecomb Community Church will be holding a fundraising event in the form of a sub sale Friday, Feb. 7. Church members will be taking orders for this winter event, which has become an annual fundraiser.  

A choice of an 8-inch sub with either ham or vegetables with cheese and toppings will be available along with potato chips, a cookie and a drink. All at a great deal for $10 each. Pick up at the church 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. Home delivery is also available.

The renowned DaPonte String Quartet (DSQ) is thrilled to announce a series of performances featuring the exquisite works of Franz Joseph Haydn and Erich Wolfgang Korngold from Feb. 14 to March 1.

This week, 30 Boothbay Region Y Arts youth performers and 40 adults – parents, grandparents, uncles and a few siblings – are bound for Sacramento, California where Y Arts will compete for the first time in iTheatrics’ Junior Theater Festival West, established in 2017. This year marks the 13th large scale competition for the group led by Y Arts director Emily Mirabile.

"Emilia Pérez" - (R; 2 hours, 12 minutes) - A vibrant musical crime comedy that follows a notorious Mexican cartel boss, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, who takes an unexpected turn to live as her true self—Emilia. To evade capture, she undergoes a dramatic transformation that brings both comedic chaos and heartfelt revelations.  Zoe Saldaña delivers a powerhouse performance as Emilia’s fiery lawyer, navigating the legal and emotional complexities of her client’s audacious new life.

Joseph Fiore (1925-2008) was a widely respected artist and active member of the Maine Art Gallery during the 1960s and 70s. In celebration of the 100th year of his birth, the gallery is partnering with Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) on an exclusive and overdue major retrospective, “Fiore at 100: Maine Observed.” The show runs June 19 - Aug. 24, with an opening reception on June 21 and will be enhanced by several related events. A catalogue with an appreciation by art writer Suzette McAvoy will accompany the show.

Saltwater Artist’s Gallery, a 501 c 3 art gallery, is excited to announce a call for artists for its upcoming showing season May 23 through Oct. 17. SWAG showcases original works of art by local Maine Artists using all mediums from fused glass, oil, acrylic, pastel, jewelry, fiber arts, encaustics, mosaics, photography, pottery, watercolor, woodturning, stained glass, and sculpture. Artists from all disciplines are invited to submit images of their work for consideration.

Labor Day may seem a long way off, however, the Fundraising Committee of the Friends of the Wiscasset Public Library will begin planning for their signature event, Bands for Books, on Feb. 7. The meeting will be held in our Library (21 High St., Wiscasset) at 11:30 a.m. 

Under the direction of Griff Braley and Teralyn Reiter, 21 students from several Midcoast middle schools will come together at Heartwood this weekend, to present “Jack and the Beanstalk,” a fun, fast paced piece of theater. Set in Appalachia, this rewrite of the classic tale is loads of fun for audiences of all ages, featuring cast songs, delightful humor, fun costumes and character names … and giants!   

Winner of “Grand Prize of the Festival” at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, “All We Imagine as Light” is “flat out wonderful, one of the finest films of the year” according to The New York Times Critic’s Pick review. See it on the Lincoln Theater big screen, opening Friday.

"Emilia Perez" - (R; 2 hours, 12 minutes) - Emilia Pérez is a vibrant musical crime comedy that boldly redefines genre boundaries. Directed by Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone), the film follows the exhilarating story of a notorious Mexican cartel boss, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, who takes an unexpected turn to live as her true self—Emilia. To evade capture, she undergoes a dramatic transformation that brings both comedic chaos and heartfelt revelations.

Love is in the air at River Arts in Damariscotta. Artists are invited to submit work for the upcoming juried show, “Love.” This exhibition will showcase artists ’exploration and interpretation of love in its many forms. What do you love? What makes your heart sing?

Want an opportunity to showcase your art for the community and beyond? Now is the time! The Creative Playground, in collaboration with Lincoln Theater, is excited to announce an open call for creators to participate in Lincoln County’s first PechaKucha presentation event! Artists, musicians, performers, writers, and creative organizations are invited to apply for this unique opportunity to share their work and vision with the community in a fast-paced, dynamic format. 

On Monday, Feb. 10, Coastal Senior College is offering the second event in its Winter Brown-Bag Series: A Chat with News Center Maine’s Don Carrigan. The event will be held at St. Andrew’s Church in Newcastle at noon. Refreshments will be served after the Chat.

“Inspiration: Global Fabric Traditions,” a traveling show of work by Maine Art Quilts, will be on exhibit at the Rockport Public Library from Jan. 28 through Feb. 22. The display will showcase 17 fiber art pieces created with techniques from global fabric traditions like sashimi and batik.

Each year members of Art Quilts Maine are provided with a thematic prompt to produce work that will then go on to tour to throughout the state, including libraries and galleries

Lincoln Theater is pleased to welcome artist John Knight to the stage on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., as the third guest in this season of Talking Art in Maine. Talking Art in Maine is a free series of live one on one conversations between our host, artist Emily Sabino, and notable artists and curators who have made a substantial contribution to the arts in the state of Maine.

One summer night in 1978 I was sitting at the bar in the Kettle of Fish on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. Mars, the bartender, and I struck up a conversation. His contribution included stories about the bar back in the early 60s when Bob Dylan, Dave von Ronk, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and others would gather there. You know, tidbits like the street corner (across the street) where Dylan had played and that Dylan's favorite place to sit there was in the booth down in the back.

"A Real Pain" - (R; 1 hour, 29 minutes) - Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Final showtimes Thursday, Jan. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m.

Music lovers, mark your calendars! On Sunday, Jan. 26 the electrifying Elton John tribute performer Yellow Brick Road will take the stage at Dolloff Auditorium at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro. The concert begins at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1:15 p.m.

This unforgettable afternoon of music celebrates the legendary hits of Elton John, from "Rocket Man" to "Tiny Dancer," performed by one of the most renowned tribute acts in the region.