The celebration of “Echoes” magazine’s 25th year of continuous quarterly publication culminates on July 21at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in the Campus Center, the 25th Anniversary Celebration includes readings, music, refreshments and sale of the works of a number of Echoes writers and artists. “Echoes’” back issues also will be on sale at a special anniversary discount and items donated by exhibitors will be awarded as door prizes.
Readings will begin at 4 p.m. with popular columnist Glenna Johnson Smith and “Echoes’” co-founder Gordon Hammond, author of recently published fiction. Roger Akeley will read from his book about Aroostook potato houses titled “Embedded Memories,” and Melissa Jenks, a new voice among Aroostook writers, will read from her collection of short fiction. Artists who will be showing and selling their work at the celebration include Richard Clark of Perham, Shari Ireland of Castle Hill and Mary Sanipass of Presque Isle, maker of traditional Micmac ash baskets.
“Echoes’” contributors who will bring their books to sell include: David Bergquist of Hermon, Lisa Colburn of Orono, Susan Daigneault of North Berwick, Gordon Hammond of Westfield, Kathryn Olmstead of Caribou, and Glenna Smith of Presque Isle.
Although unable to attend, columnist and Houlton native John Dombek of Utah will send some of his books, along with a special souvenir story printed especially for the occasion.
“Echoes’” webmaster Brian Levesque has assembled a video album of images spanning “Echoes’” 25 years, which will be projected as guests meet, greet, browse and enjoy Echoes’ birthday cake, served by Cindy Edgecomb of Limestone. Her husband, Fred, will be selling tickets for the door prize drawings.
Carol Pierson of Caribou will help “Echoes’” readers find the back issues they want to complete their collections, and music will be provided by Stephen Boody of New Sweden, Kellie Moody and Emma Duplissie Cyr of Caribou.
