FORT KENT, Maine — In celebration of literacy, the University of Maine at Fort Kent English faculty will once again facilitate a series of events designed to share a love for the written and spoken word with people of all ages in the local area. The series of events will run from Oct. 9-15.
The events will launch on Harry Potter Book Day, a day originally intended to help increase literacy, on Thursday, Oct. 9. Professor of English and creative writing Geraldine Cannon Becker will read to first graders at Fort Kent Elementary School, providing them each a bookmark, coloring pages, and fun stickers to encourage a love for reading.
On Friday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m., the English faculty will be at the UMFK Blake Library to share excerpts of current work or some interesting favorites written by others, as they have done in past years.
“Readings by English faculty from recently published work of their own and various other ‘spooky’ selections, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’, may be expected,” said Dr. Joseph Becker, “Faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are encouraged to join us.”
Attendees are also invited to bring and read selections of their own choosing.
The events on Friday, Oct 10 will continue at First Mile Brewing Company, located at 28 Market St. at 3:30 p.m. “Come see what is brewing and bubbling up at First Mile,” said Professor Cannon Becker, “Anyone may join us to continue the conversation about events that have happened as we share adventures in literature and language. This is also the place where the Writers of the First Mile community writing group first got started. Let us know if you’d like to participate in that group, too!”
Writers of the First Mile continue to meet at the Fort Kent Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. The English faculty will make a final stop at the public library on Oct. 15. Once again, they will read from their recent work and give one another feedback in the writing group. The public is encouraged to attend.
Costumes are not required at any of these events, but Professor Cannon Becker says that at least on Harry Potter Book Day she will probably be dressed as one of her favorite characters from the Harry Potter series, Professor Minerva McGonagall.
For more information on these events, please contact Professor Cannon Becker at geraldine.becker@maine.edu.
