By Tammie Mulvey
Houlton Rotary Club
HOULTON — Kristen Wells from the Houlton Community Arts Center was the guest speaker at the Aug. 19 meeting of the Houlton Rotary Club.
Contributed photo/Michael Clark
GUEST SPEAKER — Kristen Wells, right, from the Houlton Community Arts Center, was the guest speaker at the Aug. 19 meeting of the Houlton Rotary Club. Wells spoke on her reasons for returning to The County and the future of the arts center.
She gave the group a history of where she came from (right down the road) and where she has been, then how and why she came back to the area. Wells went to high school in Hodgdon, then moved to Southern Maine for College, she said USM was a great place to start her college years.
While in Portland she met her husband. She moved on from there to Boston to obtain her graduate degree, while actually living in New Hampshire. He was traveling for his job in Portland and she was traveling to school and a job in Boston. She made lots of connections in the art world, great people and learned a lot. They started their family and while visiting her family in Hodgdon, they decided to see if this may just be where they would like to raise their family.
Thankfully for us they decided it was a great idea. Wells has worked for a few agencies that really helped her expand her experience and connections. She worked at Frannie Peabody Center in Portland, mostly doing fundraising. If you have not heard of them they assist people that have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
She also worked for Catholic Charities of Maine and helped them during a time of stillness. She gave them the ideas and energy to get rolling again. Some of the questions they asked each other prior to making the decision to move back is — can they find work? Is there a coffee shop? Well what do you know, we have both! Maybe not the same as where they were living, but in our own Houlton/County way!
Wells then spoke of the wonderful facility that the community has — the Houlton Community Arts Center. Just this year they have had comedy shows, plays, musicals and more. If you have not experienced any of these then it is time to.
Kristen would like to know what it is that the community would like to have take place, or maybe what you think is missing or would be a good event. She will listen to any and all ideas and greatly appreciates the community’s input and support!
She mentioned the loss that we will all be feeling as Joe Fagnant leaves, but is looking forward to what is coming next. Wells mentioned that they are looking at having more free children’s programs and possibly The Nite Show with Danny Cashman, which airs on a Bangor television station. The center holds 600 people, 300 regular seats with 300 more available.
Speaking of available, there are still balcony seats available to purchase and get your name on, or in honor of a family, friend or even a business or pet – why not? You can visit the website at www.houltonarts.org or like them on face book, or email her at kristen@houltonarts.org, or give her a call at 207-619-1996. She would love to hear from you so don’t be shy.
