Biddeford ArtWalk 

This month’s ArtWalk is Friday, June 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Biddeford and North Dam Mill. The ArtWalk is warming up, with new artists and some great musicians from Brooklyn, N.Y. North Dam Mill venues include the Main Hallway Gallery of the North Dam Mill, the work of Ken Eason, a member of New England Wax and the Art Guild of the Kennebunks. A primarily self-taught artist, Eason has been painting with oils, encaustic and mixed media since 1992. His work was featured most recently in the Saco Museum show “Heat Stroke.” EyeSun Maine, suite 216 on the main floor, will be featuring drawings and paintings by local artist Jane Sleeper. Nora Tryon, suite 228 on the main floor, will also be showing new work and work in progress. Stop in for light refreshments. Between Heaven and Earth, suite 218 on the main floor, will host a reception featuring new work by proprietor Sara Gillis.

Participating downtown venues are lovingAnvil, Washington Street, which will present an in-store appearance of Loop 243, a percussion duo from Brooklyn, NY. Loop 243 will be promoting the release of their new CD, “Zodiac Dust.” Oh Baby! Cafe, 140 Main St., will be open with local artists’ work, live music and other assorted edible goodies. ArtMart’s Main Street Gallery, 148 Main St., features a revolving group show of local artists. LACAVA, 12 Water St., will show the work of Lisa Muller-Jones, a visual and performing artist living in Saco. Her paintings are large, iconic faces painted with acrylic on canvas. Muller-Jones studied theater and visual art at Chicago’s Academy of Performing and Visual Arts, Piven Theater Workshop, Second City, DePaul University, UC Berkeley and with The Rob Reece Actors Workshop in San Francisco.The Heart of Biddeford, 205 Main St., will host Dot Starkweather’s pastels and encaustics. City Theater, 205 Main St., is in the middle of the build for “Blood Brothers” and will have the theater open for viewing. There may be a rehearsal that night or just set work, but stop in and take a look.

For more information about participating venues and a map of the ArtWalk, visit www.biddefordartwalk.com.

August reunions

The 1959 graduates of St. Louis, St. Joseph and St. Andre high schools are planning a 50^th reunion on the weekend of Aug. 7 and 8. Activities planned include social gatherings on Friday, a golf tournament, outdoor activities by the Saco River and a dinner and dance Saturday. Any classmate who has not been notified is asked to call 282-0117, 282-1630 or 282-6001 for more details.

Fourth of July events

The Ocean Park Association presents a full slate of activities for Independence Day that is a family-friendly, patriotic, unpretentious way to celebrate.

The decorated bike contest opens activities at the Agnes L. Park Recreation Building on Colby Avenue between West Grand and Clover avenues. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and judging is at 9 a.m. All contest participants may ride in the parade.

The 59^th annual Independence Day Community Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Bell Tower on Temple Avenue at Royal Street. The parade includes the Ocean Park Kazoo Band, the Ocean Park Beach Chair Brigade, Ocean Park Band, the Old Orchard Beach Police Honor Guard and fire department and family-built floats from multiple generations of Ocean Park residents. It is followed by the Ocean Park Band Concert at 10:45 a.m. at Temple and Royal.  

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Saco Bay Artists will sponsor an art show and sale on the lawn of the Ocean Park Library at West Grand and Temple avenues.

At 7:30 p.m. caller Ray Hilton leads square and line dancing in the street in front of Jakeman Hall, 14 Temple Ave. Everyone is welcome to participate.

All events are open to the public. For more information about Ocean Park, visit www.oceanpark.org.  

DOT grants awarded

U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins recently announced the Maine Department of Transportation has been awarded $709,433 by the U.S. Department of Transportation for upgrades to the Shoreline Explorer in York County.

The funding is being distributed to Maine through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Snowe and Collins worked with a bipartisan group of senators to craft the legislation that became law in February. 

“The Shoreline Explorer shows visitors the best York County has to offer. We are pleased that the DOT has provided this funding to this project,” Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to improve safety, increase mobility in support of the nation’s economy, protect human and natural environment, achieve organizational excellence, and support the national security strategy

Women of Note

Women of Note, an eight person, southern Maine-based a cappella group, performed at former President George H.W. Bush’s 85th birthday on Saturday, June 13. The gathering of 130 family and friends from all over the country enjoyed dinner while Women of Note performed a few favorites like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Bie Mir Bist Duen Shoen” (which was personalized to include a birthday message).

The singing group has performed throughout New England for the past 17

years. Upcoming performances include: June 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Strawberry Festival, Main Street, South Berwick; July 12, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, York, combined concert with The Bow Tie Guys, a York men’s chorus; July 19, 9 p.m. at Balsams Resort, Dixville Notch, N.H.; July 22, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kennebunk Parks and Recreation, Rotary Park, Kennebunk and July 26, 7:30 to 9 p.m. during the Ocean Park Music Festival, Ocean Park.

Music festival

Good music and entertainment have been a tradition at Ocean Park for many years. The Wednesday Evening at Jordan series features a variety of local artists and instruments. 

On Wednesday, July 8 mezzo-soprano Beth Harmon and pianist Susan Rudy will perform.

Harmon is Chancel Choir director at the Cumberland Congregational Church. During summer she is a frequent soloist at area churches. She has presented several solo recitals at Peaks Island, most recently last summer. She has been a voice teacher for 20 years. 

Harmon is a member of the Choral Art Society and a performing member of Portland Rossini Club.

The concert will be held in the historic Jordan Hall, 46 Temple Ave., on Wednesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; contributions are accepted. 

More information is available at the Ocean Park Association office, 14 Temple Ave., Ocean Park or by calling 934-9068.