Orrington is the "Cultural Center of the Universe" during Old Home Week!

From Breakfasts, BBQs, Beans & Ice Cream

to History, Art, Nature & Industry

    The East Orrington Congregational Church had an Early Bird Breakfast for all the Endless Yard Sale shoppers on Saturday, July 22. They even made breakfast sandwiches to go!

To fuel the treasure hunters during the day, The First United Methodist Church had a Chicken BBQ on Saturday, July 22 from 11:30 a.m. until the chicken ran out!

Yard salers topped off their day of bargain shopping with a Baked Bean Supper at the Curran Hometead from 4:30-6:30 p.m They relaxed and enjoyed tjeir meal while listening to live bluegrass music from 3-7:00 p.m.

The East Orington Congregational Church hosted a dinner and show on Tuesday, July 18. A Bean and Casserole Supper was served from 4:30-6:00 p.m. The Orrington Historical Society followed from 6-7:00 p.m. with another one of their popular presentations on Orrington’s rich and lively history.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. The Orrington Center Church celebrated Old Home Week with their annual Children’s Day and Ice Cream Social from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It was a great way to cool off, enjoy arts and crafts... and savor a yummy ice cream sundae.

A Vintage Clothing Display featured turn of the century clothing from Judy Patterson's collectionon Monday, July 17 from 1-5:00 p.m. at the Grange. This coincided with the Elder' Tea at the Grange from 3-5:00 p.m.

Folks learned all about trash and recycling at the second annual PERC Open House on Saturday, July 22 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It was really cool!

The Fields Pond Audubon Center held a Native Plant Walk with Heather McCargo on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Members: $7 for Maine Audubon and Wild Seed Project Members Non-members: $10

Guests explored the habitats at Fields Pond and learned to recognize some of the wildflowers, ferns, shrubs and trees native to Maine. Heather spoke about which species are adaptable to gardens and developed landscapes, the threats to their survival, and inspire you with their unusual reproductive strategies, and edible and medicinal properties. Learning to recognize the native species in our midst is the first step to advocating for their preservation.

Presented in partnership with the Wild Seed Project. To register please visit:

https://maineaudubon.org/events/native-plant-walk-fp2017/

The Eastern Maine Bass Club invited all to the Brewer Lake Bass Tournament Weigh-in on Sunday, July 16 at 3 p.m. Many came and see all the big 'ole fish and the tournament Champs!

The Public Library is bustling with Old Home Week Activities

Visit the Library anytime during regular business hours for so wonderful events. Summer hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m.-5pm.

Thursday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Hundreds and hundreds of books were sold at the Used Book Sale.

Guested feasted their eyes on the incredible artwork from local photographers at the annual Photo Contest and Exhibit.

Donate much-needed school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks, markers, rulers, backpacks, kleenex, etc) to the Parent-Teacher Grup's Back-To-School Supply Drive. This drive continus for a few more weeks!

Artists expressed their creative side in an Adult Watercolor Class on Thursday, July 20 from 10-11:30 a.m.

Kids enjoyed a special Kids Craft Class on Friday, July 21 from 1-2:30 p.m.

PERC Open House and Giant Touch-A-Truck

Jim Leighton. Guests also enjoyed a baked bean supper and beer and wine from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Cost  for the supper is just $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for children under 12, and under 6 is free with all proceeds going to benefit the Curran Homestead Village.

Curran Homestead Village held an Open House and BBQ to celebrate Maine Open Farm Day on Sunday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The public was invited to come and see the new developments, including a new timber frame workshop and major renovation to early Orrington resident Peter Field's house that was recently lifted and placed on a new foundation. It will house restrooms and serve as a visitor's center for the developing museum village. There were hands-on activities, farm animals to see, and an old-fashioned barbeque.

The Old Home Week Citizen of the Year was announced at 12 noon. The 2017 Citizen of the Year is Alan Baker, owner and publisher of the Ellsworth American and the MDI Islander, and supporter of all things "Orrington."

The Curran Homestead Village at 372 Fields Pond Road was home base for many of the events.

Appointments were taken for 10-minute sittings on July 14, 15 and 16 for old-fashioned Silhouette Portraits at the Curran farmhouse. Get more details at curranhomestead.org/silhouetteportraits. To make your appointment, call (207) 205-4849 or (207) 745-4426.

A metal casting class was held at the Village on July 14 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and on July 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. A group of high school students from Bangor's Carlton Project, an alternative experiential high school directed by Christopher Betts, participated in the class, while the public was welcome to watch at a distance. The class was taught by Orrington resident Peter Grant. On Tuesday, July 18, these teenagers made pickles and did some baking and cooking on a woodstove in the Curran farmhouse kitchen with Carol Dandura of Addison.  On Friday, July 21 they learned letterpress printing in a workshop led by Mark Matteau, owner of the Dunstan Press in Scarborough.  

The Curran Homestead Village raised funds at their Giant Yard Sale on July 21-23, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It included just about everything including a kitchen sink, plus books, furniture, tools, restoration projects, sleighs, household items, children's items, and more.

On Saturday, July 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Curran Homestead Village hosedt its first Silent Movie Festival. This  included features and shorts shown in either the Curran barn or on the back lawn. Saturday's movies included The Haunted Castle (1896), Frankenstein (1910), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1912), Charlie Chaplin's One AM  (REEL film), Buster Keaton's The General and The Paleface, Douglas Fairbanks in The Thief of Baghdad, The Enchanted Drawing (1900), Little Nemo (1911), Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), A Boy and His Elephant (1913), and Nosferatu. Sunday's movies included Stan Laurel in West of Hot Dog (1924), Dr. Pykle and Mr. Pride, Mud and Sand (1922), Lon Chaney in Phantom of the Opera (1925). Buster Keaton in The Blacksmith, The Boat (1921), Love Nest, The Balloonatic. Also, Douglas Fairbanks in The Prisoner of Zenda. Recorded music

accompanied the showings. Popcorn and candy was available. There was a $5 admission.

On Saturday, July 22, from 3 to 7 p.m., visitors enjoyed Bluegrass Music with a variety of local musicians including the Curran's own banjo-picking board member