Victorian Tea

The 9th annual Victorian Tea and Breast Health Fair happens today, Thursday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berry Manor Inn in Rockland. Sponsored by the Picker Family Resource Center, the event is free and open to the public (tea hats welcome!).

Vote

Stop in and pick up your absentee ballot available at the town office. Check with Town Clerk Linda Greenlaw by calling 236-9648 in regard to how to pick up a ballot for someone else. Camden-Rockport State Rep. Joan Welsh provided this update for voter registration and absentee voting information: maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter_info. For information about Maine’s referendum and bond questions:maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming.

Books plus

For more information about the library or any programs, call 236-3642 or visit rockport.lib.me.us. The Library Committee will meet at the town office today at Oct. 25 at 3 p.m.

Play or learn how to play chess at the library at an all-ages, drop-in group led by a local chess enthusiast. The group will meet for four Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. beginning today, Thursday, Oct. 25, (and Nov. 1, 8, 15). There are plenty of chess boards available at the library, but If you have a chess board bring it with you.

Book Lovers’ Café will meet Saturday, Oct. 27, at 9:30 a.m. for informal conversation and catch-up. Book discussion starts in earnest at 10 a.m. All welcome - great company, books, refreshments and coffee!

“ArtLab StoryLab” concludes Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Center for Maine Contemporary Art. Both the traditional and contemporary version of a fairy tale are read by Liza Walsh to show variations involved in storytelling and Marcie Jan Bronstein, artist and ArtLab instructor, then leads the kids in an art project that stems from the tale. The program is free but preregistration required.

Farnsworth activities

Today, Thursday, Oct. 25, (and again Nov. 1, 8 and 15), “The Reimagined Place: Image to Prose,” a series of writing classes led by Lee Heffner will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Farnsworth’s Gamble Education Center.

Religious observance

Many Muslims in the U.S. observe Eid-al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, each year. This festival commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. This festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. This year, Eid-al-Adha is observed Friday, Oct. 26. Note that in the Muslim calendar (as in the Jewish calendar), a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Eid-al-Adha at sunset Thursday, Oct. 25.

Live from the Met

Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m., The Strand’s Live from the Met presentation is “Otello,” Verdi's towering masterpiece based on Shakespeare's tragedy. Remember, if you can’t make this one, a taped encore performance will be shown at The Strand on Tuesday, Nov. 6, (but remember, that’s Election Day!).

Season finale

Coastal Mountains Land trust invites all to the final open house of the season at Beech Hill in Rockport, Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spaghetti supper

Sat. Oct. 27, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. the Rockport Masonic Center will hold a spaghetti supper with all the fixings to benefit Camden Area District Nursing. For information, call Elaine Davis at 236-2304.

Habitat for Humanity

The dedication for House No. 24 will take place Sunday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m. Join the celebration at 16 Deer Run Road in Thomaston!

Moon walk

Families and children are invited to take a guided walk under the full moon at Merryspring Monday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. Come and look and look and listen for evidence of nocturnal animals, check out fall constellations and view the full moon with a telescope. Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Free and open to all, but will be canceled in case of bad weather. For more information, call MNC at 236-2239.

Citizens for Value In Education

VIE will meet Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at the opera house.

Veterans Affairs

The Mobile Information Van will be parked at the Breakwater parking lot on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Active military personnel, veterans and their family members are invited to this event hosted by University College at Rockland.

Soup’s on!

“Community Hot Soup Luncheons” (hosted by Camden Congregational Church), begin Wednesday, Oct. 31. Served from noon to 1 p.m. in the church hall. The meal includes two soups (vegetarian or non-), bread, dessert and coffee or tea. Free, open to all, but donations gratefully accepted.

Calling all elves — it’s off to work we go!

Join other cooking, crafting “Merryspring Merry Elves” every Wednesday from now until the end of November. Meet Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in MNC’s craft studio at MNC to work on crafts, decorations, arrangements and wreaths to sell at the Holiday Bazaar. For more information, call 236-2239. And mark your calendar now for "green" holiday shopping at this year's Bazaar to be held Thursday, Nov. 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All Hallows' Eve

Ashwood Waldorf School and Merryspring present the annual All Hallows' Eve Walk, free and open to the public on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at MNC. The walk for children 9 years old and younger and their parents or caregivers, invites folks to wind their way quietly through the candlelit gardens and trails to catch glimpses of gnomes, princesses, knights, dragons and other enchanted characters. Do come in costumes but leave the spooky masks at home! Scary stories will be told around a campfire to engage older children ages 9 to 13 years old.

Night skies

October’s full moon, either the Hunters’ Moon or the Dying Moon, will occur Monday, Oct. 29. As more and more leaves come off the trees, night skies seem so much brighter especially for us who have have come somewhat “treed in” over the years. Wednesday, Oct. 31 (Happy Halloween!), marks a cross-quarter day that marks the midpoint between fall equinox and winter solstice. Don’t despair - we’re that much closer to the time in December when days will begin to lengthen!