LEARNING BY DOING. The members of York's own Girl Scouts of Maine Troop 408, who will attain the level of Cadettes this September, are not strangers to trying to make a difference. Among their efforts was a recent beach cleanup event at York's Harbor Beach, organized by Cape Neddick Girl Scout Allie Hayford, who is pictured here with the members of Troop 408. That cleanup effort yielded 38 pounds of garbage, ranging from cigarette butts to a complete outfit, a wine goblet and a Christmas tree. The Junior Girl Scouts learned about the danger such litter poses to wildlife and to public health and safety. This summer, the 10- and 11-year-old girls will be heading to Washington, D.C., along with their leaders, Geraldine Young and Amy Mahoney, with a goal of learning firsthand about their nation. The troop is in the process of planning visits to the White House as well as the Capitol, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving and NASA. The troop will also tour the Smithsonian, the home of President George Washington and historic Williamsburg, Va. Those interested in assisting the fundraising efforts of Madeliene, Maggie, Alexandra, Jacey, Madison and Emily of Troop 408 as they work together to cover the costs of traveling by minivan with gasoline prices constantly on the rise may do so by mailing donations to GSME Troop 408 at P.O. Box 361, York Harbor, ME 03911.
Courtesy photo

MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL. Step back in time to the 12^th century as Trinity Episcopal Church in York Harbor is transformed to Canterbury Cathedral in England for four performance of T.S. Eliot's riveting drama, "Murder in the Cathedral." The performances, which are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays, July 18, 19, 25 and 26, are part of the summer-long Centennial Celebration at Trinity Church. Inside the historic church, witness a beautifully staged and authentically costumed presentation of this 1938 play that gained Eliot a Nobel Prize for Literature. The audience literally becomes a part of the production, as acclaimed Seacoast actors, under the direction of Tim Robinson, reenact the martyrdom of Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket following his estrangement from King Henry II. The audience is drawn into this enthralling play, where characters make their case directly to those seated in the church, which itself plays an integral part in the production. The ensemble cast is led by Alan Huisman as Thomas Becket and includes Will Fraser and Richard Harris as the priests; Thorpe Fiedt, Camden Brown, Greg Gaskell and Craig Fogg as the tempters/knights and Carol Davenport, Katherine Griswold Horrigan, Sarah Pietlicki, Susan Turner, Megan Karas, Constance Witman and Lesley Hamblin as the women of Canterbury, with stage management by Norm Smith. All performances begin at 7 p.m. The suggested donation is $15, and tickets may be obtained in advance at the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, the Museums of Old York Administration Office and St. George's Church Office, or at the door prior to each performance. Due to parking constraints in the area of the historic Trinity Church, attendees are encouraged to carpool.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders