Broadway Veterans Star in Ogunquit Playhouse’s My Fair Lady

By Devin Beliveau
Staff Columnist
OGUNQUIT –
One of the “all-time great shows” of American musical theater, Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady is now showing at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Made possible in part by a $20,000 American Masterpiece Grant from the Maine Arts Commission (an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts) to the Playhouse, this Tony Award winning 1956 musical is a timeless story directed in Ogunquit by Shaun Kerrison.
“This beloved musical tells the tale of a stringent linguist, Professor Henry Higgins, who bets a colleague he can turn flower vendor Eliza Doolittle from a guttersnipe into a duchess,” according to Cheryl Farley, Community Relations Manager of the Ogunquit Playhouse.
Following a recent performance, two of the main actors in My Fair Lady sat down for an interview with the Weekly Sentinel.
Conrad John Schuck, a 40-year veteran of stage and screen (and whose first screen kiss was with Elizabeth Taylor), plays Colonel Pickering, friend and colleague of Henry Higgins. Nancy Dussault, recipient of multiple Tony Award nominations for her work on Broadway, plays Mrs. Higgins, mother of the main character Henry Higgins.
Weekly Sentinel: Why did you want to play a part in My Fair Lady?
Schuck: “It was one of the all-time great shows when I grew up. Now it’s part of the American musical theater lexicon and I had simply never done it.”
Dussault: “I’ve played Eliza Doolittle before, Mrs. Higgins is a smaller role but it’s a great one. And for me this just came along at a great time.”
WS: Why do you think a play as old as My Fair Lady remains popular?
Dussault: “It’s a Cinderella story. It’s got a score that rivals almost anything ever written. You feel wonderful when you come out of the theater. It’s a love story, but it’s a different kind of love story, and the characters are great, and the language is extraordinary. The show is long, but it’s so great a story it’s easy to do. It’s a classic.”
WS: How has your experience in Maine been so far?
Schuck: “I arrived from Los Angeles on August 5th and it’s been terrific, but we just can’t find any lakes! (jokingly) We spent our day off in Boothbay Harbor. It’s glorious. Ogunquit is great. The people are very friendly and it’s so charming. I’m thrilled that this playhouse is still here.”
Dussault: “I had to come to Maine! I felt like I was the only actress to not have played here! (OPH) You need to be really proud of this theater.”
My Fair Lady will be at the Ogunquit Playhouse through September 6. For more information visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.com or call 646-5511.
Caption: Nancy Dussault (right), nominated for multiple Tony Awards for her work on Broadway, plays Mrs. Higgins in Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of My Fair Lady. She is pictured opposite Gail Bennett who plays Eliza Doolittle. (Courtesy photo)

Maine Resolve: Fighting a Long Term Disaster-in-the-Making

YORK COUNTY –
When we think about natural disasters in the United States, we usually think about hurricanes in the Southern states, wildfires out West, or tornados and flooding in the Midwest. But a winter in the Northeast? Unfortunately, with the energy crisis looming, most of us in Maine and the Northeast are rightly concerned about making it through this upcoming winter season.
As with most natural disasters, it is usually the weather person that alerts citizens about an approaching disaster. This advanced notice provides valuable time for emergency response to prepare and address an event before, and as, it occurs. Here in Maine, we are looking at common sense numbers and economics to provide us with our warning of a pending disaster.
The hard facts are easy to understand.
Essentially 100% of Mainers depend on petroleum products to fuel our vehicles and 80% of us rely on oil to heat our homes. Heating and transportation fuel costs have increased 100% over the last five years. This equates to 10%-20% of most Mainer’s monthly incomes. Hence, our long-term disaster-in-the-making.
Recently Senator Peter Bowman, along with Representatives Dawn Hill and Walter Wheeler, hosted an Energy Conservation Forum in Kittery to listen and discuss what we can do as individuals and a community to prepare for this winter. The Director of Maine Housing and a representative from Efficiency Maine presented programs implemented through their respective agencies and offered recommendations to better prepare for the colder months. The audience consisted of concerned residents, local officials, and also members of the newly-formed Kittery Energy Committee, all of whom also provided valuable insight on what we can do as a community.
It was evident, following the forum, that preparedness for this winter will rely on coordination at all levels – federal and state governments, municipalities and local organizations (e.g., civic, fraternal, religious), families, friends and neighbors, and individuals. Together we can make a difference.
Some ideas that were mentioned that evening are worth considering as options to reduce energy costs:
Explore the option of a home energy audit to identify areas to improve your home’s energy efficiency; Weatherize your home, or at least winterize your home. A properly weatherized home can reduce fuel consumption by 20%; Government should increase the visibility and availability of Keep ME Warm kits and organize volunteers to help winterize homes of our neighbors and elderly that may need assistance; and Communities should consider fundraising options (e.g., conduct spaghetti suppers, donate to local fuel funds, sponsor furnace cleanings of homes, or even school fundraisers that sell energy efficient light bulbs instead of candy).
These are all great ideas and a great start to take action. Specifically, Senator Bowman wants to thank General Assistance Administrator Kathryn Pridham. She understands the situation facing Mainers this winter and offered to serve as a point of contact for volunteers looking to help in the community. She is also organizing efforts to collect money for fuel assistance. Please contact her at 475-1309 for more information.
Additionally, here are a few more ways you can help:
Donate to the Keep ME Warm Fund at www.mainecommunity
action.org/kmw/index; Go to www.volunteermaine.org for more information about volunteer needs and opportunities; and Stay in touch at www.maine.gov for more information about energy-related resources.
Senator Bowman will be hosting another energy conservation forum with local representatives, this time in York, on Tuesday, September 9 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the York Public Library. Just like the forum in Kittery, this will be open to the public. He is also hoping to do a similar event for Eliot/South Berwick in late September.

Norman Rockwell Weekend Showcases Maine Artists

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
KENNEBUNK –
Many things bring back memories of a time when America and the world were slower paced, less complicated, more straightforward and identified by small town living.
Certainly a champion and recorder of that era was Norman Rockwell, whose paintings or illustrations were on display regularly on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.
Last weekend Rockwell’s work was honored in a festival at the town hall that featured modern photographic representations of the artist’s work, paintings inspired by his illustrations, and a series of short plays based on those works at the Town Hall.
Norman Rockwell Weekend was the brainchild of Danie Connolly of Kennebunk, an events planner and admirer of Rockwell’s work. The celebration featured the work of photographer Liam Crotty of Kennebunk, eight Maine playwrights including Ms. Connolly, two of whom were from Kennebunk, and 12 artists including Ms. Connolly, all but one of whom was from Maine and six of whom were from Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.
“It was lovely,” Ms. Connolly said early this week. “We had a never ending flow of smiling people,” many of whom were “revisiting memories from the past.”
More than 2,000 people attended the town hall event, many of them coming to the opening reception Friday night and bring back friends, neighbors and relatives for a second look Saturday.
“It was fabulous,” Tina Ambrose, the art director of the weekend said. “The crowd just kept coming. It filled town hall.”
“We never thought we’d get that many people,” Ms. Connolly said.
“I was blown away by the turnout and enthusiasm,” Crotty said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
A representative of the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., talked to the group about recreating its creation at the museum sometime in the future.
The plays were limited to no more than 15 minutes in length and had to either begin or end with a familiar Rockwell illustration selected by the writer. Other than that, and allowing no obscenities, the writers were on their own.
“We had a nice little cast of actors,” Ms. Connolly said, and “the energy was terrific. Everybody went home with a smile on their face.”
Crotty began doing the photographs in March and had a total of 17 on display at the weekend.
“It was a blast,” Crotty, a longtime fan of Rockwell, said of the weekend.
The models in Crotty’s photographs are all from Maine, including members of the Portland Sea Dogs baseball team, the Boston Red Sox Eastern League affiliate, who Crotty said were extremely generous with their time.
His work will be on display at the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge and the Worcester, (Mass.) Museum in the future.
The 17 paintings were not representations of Rockwell illustrations but were inspired by his work.
“They were inspired by Rockwell,” Tina Ambrose of Kennebunk, the weekend’s art director said. While most of the painters were on the realism side, she said, some of the paintings “were very interesting. Some were really totally different.”
The playwrights who contributed to the weekend included Ms. Connolly and Dana M. Pearson of Kennebunk, Clare Melley Smith of Cape Elizabeth, Laura K. Emack of Prospect, Dr. Delvyn C. Case Jr. of Cumberland Foresides, John Rizzo of Harrison, Carolyn Gage and John Linscott of Portland.
Maine artists contributing work included Suzanne Payne and Paul Bonneau of Kennebunkport, Steve Hrehovcik. Ann Livermore, Ms. Ambrose, Ms. Connolly and Heather Hill of Kennebunk, Natalie Skelton of Ocean Park, Josh Dallaire and Nancy Brackett of Portland, Iona Desmond of Old Orchard Beach.
The weekend was modeled after the Pageant of the Masters Ms. Connolly saw in California years ago. That presentation is done outdoors, something that couldn’t be accomplished in Maine’s unpredictable weather.
She said the group is considering doing a Christmas version of the Rockwell Weekend but nothing has been finalized as yet.

Caption: “Bottom of the Sixth” by Liam Crotty. (Liam Crotty photo)

Veritas Academy Students EarnAnnual York County Award

WELLS –
The Child Abuse Prevention Council is a busy organization educating adults and kids of all ages and giving kids the courage to report any abuse happening to them. That’s why when a group of students from Veritas Academy, a newly formed private Christian high school located in Wells, approached the Council and offered to assist them with their activities, the Council was more than happy to take them up on their offer.
Each year the students at Veritas Academy engage in “Project Veritas.” Project Veritas is the school’s community service effort. In December, each student must research and present a compelling essay regarding a local or world cause and make a plea to join an organization in its efforts to help in that cause. “This year students asked fellow students to support efforts to curb human trafficking, child brides in India and poverty in Africa. But it was the essay that told the story of child abuse victims and outlined the work by the Kennebunk-based Child Abuse Prevention Council that carried the day and became the Project Veritas focus for 2008,” said Nancy Parsons, Veritas Academy Director.
Each week the students and the Council met to talk about the basics of running a non-profit. The students assumed roles of CEO, CFO, Manufacturing, Marketing and so forth. They developed a business plan with four goals: First, to raise money for and manufacture flannel baby bags for the 900 new parents in York county hospitals. Each bag contained information regarding child abuse and shaken baby syndrome. Second, to support two Rick Charette concerts I’ve Got Super Powers for public schools who could not afford the concert. Third, to make a baby quilt for the Council’s auction and also work at the auction. Finally, to attend many April events in support of the Council’s efforts to promote Child Abuse Prevention month.
All in all Veritas Academy students cut and sewed all 900 bags and through all of their efforts raised over $1600 for the Council’s programs. “ Not only did the kids learn about running an organization, they experienced the joys and struggles of working in the non-profit world where so much of your effort is dependent on the generosity of others and their belief in what you are doing,” said Nancy Parsons. Debbie Duross, resource development coordinator, commented, “We watched these high school students bear down, work together and follow through on their commitments even when they were busy with other priorities.” Each year the Council gives an award called “Friends of York County’s Children” that is for recognizing longstanding commitment to children and families. This year’s award is going to the students at the Council’s Annual Meeting in September.
The Child Abuse Prevention council can be reached at (207) 985-5975 or at www.kidsfreetogrow.org.

Caption: Front to back - Ashley Lowell, Kate Moore, Rebekah Risteen, Sara Picard, Sara Higgins, Sara Dore-Fairfield from the CAPC and Christopher Picard at the State House for Child Abuse Prevention Month.. (Courtesy photo)

Coastal Clover 4-H Club Fights Hunger

YORK –
The fight against hunger in our community has a new weapon. The Coastal Clovers 4-H Club, a group of farm and non-farm kids ages 5 to 12, undertook a project called Food for Families. Their goal is to donate one ton (2000 lbs) of fresh produce and fruit to the local food pantries. To date they have harvested over 1000 pounds of vegetables. The harvest is donated weekly to the York Food Pantry, with occasional donations to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, not only benefiting the local community but the entire State of Maine.
Coastal Clovers 4-H Club started their project in April with a donation of over 1000 seedling plugs from Coastal Landscaping. With a grant from the Pine Tree 4-H Foundation they purchased transplanting supplies and tools, and then children planted the seedling plugs into growing trays. The seedlings were raised in a makeshift greenhouse until the temperature regulated. On June 1, Coastal Clovers transplanted the seedlings into a field donated by Zach’s Farm. The one-acre field is lined with two rows of plastic mulch and an irrigation system. The 4-H Club has worked hard at keeping weeds down and tending plants, harvesting nearly 200 pounds of lettuce in July. Since then harvests of cabbage, zucchini, squash, cauliflower, peppers, broccoli and cucumbers, all totaling over 750 pounds, have followed. Coastal Clovers also has tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe and three kinds of winter squash that will soon be ready.
Coastal Clovers 4-H wants to acknowledge the support of local and corporate business and the parents that come to help with the upkeep alongside their children. Without them this wouldn’t have been possible. Generous donations from Coastal Landscaping, Paris Farmers Union, Lebanon Seaboard Corporation – Preen Weed Preventer, Home Depot, Eldredge Lumber & Hardware, and Pine Tree 4-H Foundation have been instrumental in making this project a success. John Zacharias, the owner of Zach’s Farm, has truly been an inspiration to the kids in Coastal Clovers 4-H. He has not only given over an acre of land but has donated his time, equipments and knowledge to help Coastal Clovers 4-H provide local food pantries with fresh, locally raised produce.

Caption: Carly Osgood, Haleigh Osgood and Laura Wilson with their harvest of lettuce, cabbage and zucchini. (Courtesy photo)

Heating Oil Program

YORK COUNTY –
State Rep. Dawn Hill (D- York) would like residents to know that applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be accepted early this year, and Maine residents can make an appointment now to apply for heating assistance for this coming winter season.
Community Action Program Agencies across the state, like the York County Community Action Corp.(YCCAC), manage the LIHEAP program locally and schedule appointments for applications and fuel delivery.
“Given heating oil prices, many more residents will be applying to the program this year,” said Hill. “I encourage anyone who believes they may qualify for this program to schedule an appointment and complete an application as soon as possible to avoid processing delays.”
The program is designed to help low-income Mainers earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is currently $15,600 for an individual and $31,800 for a family of four, to purchase heating fuels. Households with senior citizens or children age 2 and under will get first priority, and the income limits for those homes are $17,680 for an individual and $36,040 for a family of four.
There are different income limits for households of all sizes, from one person up to eight. YCCAC has information about all of the different income limits. The average benefit is expected to be around $417 per household this year, which at current rates would purchase about a third of a tank of oil.
In recent years Congress has released additional emergency funds for the program during the winter season, and the legislature and Gov. John Baldacci are urging Congress to appropriate more funds for the program this year, as demand and costs have risen so sharply. Washington has appropriated $17 million for LIHEAP to Maine this year; last year, the state got a total of $38 million after a series of emergency funds were released throughout the winter. There are no projections for the potential of additional funds from Washington at this time.
Applicants will not know if they’ve been approved or the total dollar amount that they will receive until fall, but Hill encouraged constituents to apply early in order to beat the rush and have the application process behind them. Thousands of households are expected to apply when the weather gets cold, and applying now will prevent a request from being held up for weeks or months with winter looming.
Maine homeowners and renters in York County can arrange an appointment to apply for assistance by contacting YCCAC at (800) 965-5762. YCCAC will begin to schedule appointments during the week of July 14.
In addition to LIHEAP, there are other state resources available for Mainers of all incomes to save on energy costs. For more information, constituents can contact Rep. Hill at 337-3689 or visit a new state web site: www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/policy/energy.shtml, which con-tains helpful information and resources on energy efficiency.

Eliot Inventor Shatters Stereotypes with ‘The Renegade’

By Devin Beliveau
Staff Columnist
ELIOT –
Hunting and fishing are not activities usually associated with wheelchairs, but that may soon change thanks to John Rackley and his new invention: The Renegade Wheelchair. “The Renegade is the mountain bike of wheelchairs,” he explained during an interview at his Eliot home. “It can handle just about any terrain: mud, snow, beach sand, in your yard and in the woods.”
Rackley, an Eliot native, lost the use of his legs in a trampoline accident 6 years ago. “After my injury, I couldn’t get out to where I used to hunt.” Thus, the inspiration for the Renegade. The concept for his invention came from the mountain bike he purchased for his daughter Kayla. He noticed its thick tires and wondered whether that same off-road approach could work for wheelchairs. “I began 6 years ago using bikes from the dump. It worked, so then I bought two new bikes and put those together.” And he was off and running.
Rackley completed the Renegade in early 2006, and has since found other ways to put it to work. “It’s opened up all kinds of things. Now I plow my driveway with it. I can push 8-10 inches of fluffy snow with it. I can also attach a yard trailer. I pulled 300 lbs in the yard cart the other day.” The Renegade is powered entirely by the user, and does not use a motor.
In July, the Renegade made a successful appearance at the Paralyzed Veterans of America Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Nebraska. “Hundreds there were interested, and we are now completing a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs.” Rackley has partnered with AlphaOne Center for Independent Living in South Portland to promote the Renegade, and has also hired a salesman for what he anticipates will be a large demand.
“There are 1.6 million wheelchair users in the US,” according to Rackley, “and this is for any wheelchair user that wants to get out in the woods, work in the yard or go in the snow. We now have demo chairs for people to go into the woods with me for a couple hours.”
The Renegade will soon make an appearance on the hunting show North American Safari, to be aired both on the Sportsman Channel and the Pursuit Channel. “We are going wild hog hunting in South Carolina, and I can’t wait.”
The Renegade is now being manufactured by Don’s Sheet Metal in Biddeford. The current price is $3,995.
For more information and to see video clips of the Renegade in action, go to www.renegadewheelchairs.com.

Caption: John Rackley does some ocean fishing in The Renegade. (www.renegadeweelchairs.com photo)