Madison Avenue to be paved this summer

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July 21, 2025

Happy Monday, Skowhegan!

Skowhegan has a special place in my heart. A great friend and mentor of mine during my time at Colby College (1997-2001) had several connections here, so I swung up this way a few times.

And when my grandfather was named America’s Truck Driver of the Year in 1962 for rescuing a teenager from drowning, among the dignitaries to greet him in Washington D.C. was Skowhegan's own Margaret Chase Smith.

I was in touch with the Margaret Chase Smith library several years ago about a photo I have of the senator with my grandfather, and I hope to visit there one of these days. Last week's newsletter mentioned the the library's ongoing exhibit of local artist John Meader's astrophotography.

Please don't hesitate to email me with submissions about upcoming events or other community contributions to be included in this newsletter. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you for reading,

— Alex Lear

SKOWHEGAN AREA NEWS

Annual Maine bread festival in Skowhegan celebrates local grains, artisan bread and community

Skowhegan’s Madison Avenue, U.S. Route 2 set to be paved

Madison theatrics, outdoor concerts in Skowhegan, Gardiner, Norridgewock and Old Hallowell Day are set

EPAPER | GUIDES | HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS | GAMES

AROUND TOWN: BLACK POINT PRESERVATION

The Lake Wesserunsett Association and Somerset Woods Trustees have surpassed their $350,000 fundraising goal to purchase and preserve Black Point, a 130-acre property on Lake Wesserunsett. The organizations are now raising $20,000 to create a parking area, trail system and kiosk. Learn more here and here.

FREE TRIAL: Want to read all the news from Skowhegan and more? New subscribers are eligible for 30 days of free access to all of Centralmaine.com.

THINGS TO DO

• The Skowhegan Public Library, 9 Elm St., will host a talk with Austin Taylor, author of "Notes on Infinity," at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 22. Taylor is a private pilot, registered Maine guide and a bassist. She grew up in central Maine, where she now lives and writes. Click here to learn more.

• The Maine Grain Alliance is offering two events on Thursday, July 24. The

first is its Kneading Conference, with a keynote address by Dr. Marion Nestle from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Strand Theater, 19 Court St. Learn more and get tickets here. The second event is a film screening of "Kanenon:we - Original Seeds" in the courtyard of the Miller's Table Cafe, 42 Court St., from 7 to 9 p.m. There will also be a virtual Q&A with filmmaker Katsitsionni Fox. Ger tickets and more info here.

• Grammy-nominated children's entertainer Judy Pancoast will perform at the Skowhegan Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Part of the library's summer reading program, the gathering is free. Learn more here.

• Kristen Seavey, founder of the "Murder, She Told" podcast, will speak at the Skowhegan Public Library at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Her true crime podcast sheds light on the cold cases and unsolved murders, missing persons, and crime stories that often get overlooked from Maine, New England, and small towns from away. More info is available here.

• The 41st annual Mickey Powers Memorial Lobster Bake runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 25, at the municipal parking lot, 23 Commercial St. in Skowhegan. Pre-orders are recommended; limited meals will be available the day of the event. Proceeds support the Rotary Club of Skowhegan's Fuel Assistance for the Elderly program and other Rotary causes. Click here for tickets and more info.

• The Maine Artisan Bread Fair is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, indoors and out, rain or shine. Organized by the Maine Grain Alliance, the 33 Constitution Ave. annual event celebrates the craft of artisan baking and the rich grain traditions of Maine. The fair features a marketplace of bakers, millers, grain growers, and food artisans. This year offers free parking and a $5 entry fee (youth under 12 are free). Learn more here.

VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR

THE WAY IT WAS IN SKOWHEGAN

July 22, 1912: "The superintending school committee held a protracted session Friday evening, wrestling with the problems connected with the removal of the eighth grade pupils from the high school building. The announcement that this grade would be changed to the Park school building has called forth a protest from the parents of children, who would be obliged to walk farther than at present, and the committee finally postponed their decision until all the factors in the situation should have had full consideration."

Click here to read more on this story from 1912 from our archives on Newspapers.com.

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