A near-capacity crowd filled the Center Theatre on May 4 for opening night of “Disney's Lion King Jr.” They were treated to a local all-youth cast performance that brought them to their feet in a standing ovation. The play, directed by Ben Layman with vocal direction by Emily Allen, is a production of the Center Theatre and Slightly Off-Center Players.

The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts announced that it will be hosting the first annual Central Maine Talent Search. The event, which will offer cash and other prizes totaling close to $2,000, will consist of three preliminary events in June, July and August and a grand finale in September. Entrants must be at least 10 years old, can perform any entertaining talent either by themselves or with two other people, and cannot have been paid more than $500 to perform their talent in the past year.

Saying goodbye is never easy. Endings tend to elicit a whole range of emotions. Whether it’s the last chapter of a book or the final episode of a television show, letting go of familiar characters takes a bit of time and adjustment. The month of May brings change and continuity to Dover-Foxcroft’s Thompson Free Library.

The Harold J. Crosby Community Band will be presenting its Carnival of Melody concert on at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 at the Dexter Town Hall. This annual event is a culmination of practices that began in January.

The Center Theatre announced that thanks to a sponsorship by Dave's World and U.S. Cellular all kids 10 and under can attend for free at the opening night of Disney's “Lion King Jr.” at the Center Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 4.

It’s official, Dexter Regional High School has been named a Vans Custom Culture semifinalist. Beginning April 23 it’s up to Dexter to vote for Dexter Regional’s Custom Culture design online at https://customculture.vans.com/ for the chance to win $75,000 toward the school’s art program. Fifty schools across the U.S. are currently in the running.

From 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 4 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will host its monthly First Friday public meeting on the topic of healthcare by showing the film “Fixit” at the Abbott Memorial Library on Hall Street with a facilitated discussion following.

Mes Amis, a Gypsy jazz quartet, plays at the Wayside Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. They play an infectious mix of traditional Gypsy, Latin and American jazz standards along with many original compositions.

The critically acclaimed movie “Seed: The Untold Story” will be screened at 4 p.m. on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22 the Center Theatre. After the screening, Will Bonsall the director of the Scatterseed Project, will be on hand to discuss the movie. Admission to the movie is by donation with proceeds offsetting rental costs for the Center Theatre.

The Wayside Grange and Theatre is thrilled to be the recipient of a $2,200 from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation.

Nineteen pieces created by students at Foxcroft Academy and Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford were on display at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/Miosac Club’s annual art show, which was supported by the local Kiwanis club, on March 25 in the lobby of the Center Theatre.

The Center Theatre is accepting registrations for the “'Lion King Experience” April Vacation Camp. The camp will be held at the Commons Event Center at Central Hall from April 16-20 -- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. T

I have high hopes for spring, even if it’s taking an eternity to get here. A pileated woodpecker, I’ve named Pyewacket (after Kim Novak’s cat who stalks Jimmy Stewart in the quirky film “Bell, Book, & Candle”) is visiting our bird feeder at home (perhaps pye-babies will follow?). And, thankfully, ice cream stands are opening again!Black raspberry, anyone? Besides showers, April brings a wide-range of events to the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft.

Penquis Valley High School is proud to present the 2018 Talent Show at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 13 in the school auditorium.

The Center Theatre for the Performing Arts is hosting a Spring Fling Beach Party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. Performing at the the event will be local favorites The Doughty Hill Band playing fun summer songs.

The SeDoMoCha School Organization (SSO) with the support of a number of local organizations will be bringing the travelling exhibit "Anne Frank: A History for Today" to the Commons at Central Hall from April 30 to May 11. The exhibit, developed by the Anne Frank House and sponsored in North America by The Anne Frank Center USA, has been travelling around the world for over 10 years.

Maybe this part of Maine at this time of this particular year isn’t such a good time to be screening a film on the economic impacts of warming winters, but “Saving Snow”, a 53-minute documentary will be shown at the Center Theatre at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 25 -- appropriate for all age groups and for free.

United Maine Crafter/artist Sarah Robinson, owner and creator of My Wild Fern, focuses on nature and creating environmentally friendly products by recycling, upcycling and reusing waste into most aspects of the art work. Recycling post-consumer (newspaper, junk mail, paper bags, etc.) waste paper into handmade paper is just one of the ways My Wild Fern recycles. By upcycling old clothing, curtains and yarn and reusing metal or wood to create new and beautiful products is the artist’s purpose.