May 13, 7 p.m. Language Arts Live featuring Paul LaFarge, author of "The Facts of Winter," free, Skelton Lounge, Chase Hall, Bates College, 56 Campus Avenue, Lewiston. FMI: 207.786.6255, www.bates.edu.

May 13, 7-8 p.m. An Evening with Amy Wilson, author of "When Did I Get Like This? The Screamer, The Worrier, The Dinosaur-Chicken-Nugget Buyer and Other Mothers I Swore I'd Never Be," talk and book signing, Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring Street, Auburn. FMI: 207.333.6640, www.auburn.lib.me.us.

May 14, 7:30 p.m. Portland Chamber Music Festival Spring Concert, featuring Jennifer Elowitch, violin; Stefani Taylor, viola; Marc Johnson, cello; and Dena Levine, piano, program includes Haydn, Piano Trio No. 44 in E Major; Rebecca Clarke, Piano Trio; Brahms, Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60, reception following, $15/person, $13/JH member, $5/under age 18, presented by Johnson Hall at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 9 Summer Street, Augusta. FMI: 207.582.7144, www.johnsonhall.org.

May 14, 7:30 p.m. Pianist Frank Glazer, artist in residence, performing all-Chopin program, free but tickets required, Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, Bates College, 75 Russell Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.786.6135, www.bates.edu.

May 15, 9-11 a.m. raindate May 16, Vaughan Woods Work Day, sponsored by Kennebec Land Trust, bring small shovels, hand clippers, gloves, meet at the parking lot on Litchfield Road, Hallowell. FMI: 207.377.2848, www.tklt.org.

May 15, 7:30 p.m. Boreal Tordu Concert celebrating their most recent album, Les Chevaliers, with the Franklin County Fiddlers opening, $8/adults, $7/seniors, free/under 16 and UMF students with ID, Nordica Auditorium, Merrill Hall, Main Street, Farmington. FMI: 207.778.1062, www.farmington.edu.

May 19, 7 p.m. Duane Andrews and Dwayne Cote, traditional Newfoundland music united with Gypsy Jazz, $12/adults, $5/under age 12, Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.783.1585, www.francoamericanheritage.org.

May 19, 7 p.m. Loons in Maine, Professor Mark Pokras, director of the Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, will show a video and discuss the hazard that lead presents for loons in Maine, free, Room C23, UMF Roberts Learning Center, Main Street, Farmington. FMI: 207.778.0706, www.farmington.edu.

May 6, noon, Jon Peter Lewis, a.k.a. JPL , third season American Idol finalist, performing original songs, $5/adults, $3/students with ID, open to the public, UMF Amphitheater, High Street, Farmington. FMI: 207.778.7339, www.umf.maine.edu.

May 7, 2 and 7 p.m. The Sky Blue Boys, Banjo Dan and Willy Lindner, perform authentic old-time music, Araxine Wilkins Sawyer Memorial Auditorium, 371 Sawyer Road, Greene. FMI: 207.946.5311, www.townofgreene.net.

May 7, 5-8 p.m. Art2010, Opening Reception,15th annual juried group show, Harlow Gallery, draws artists from all over the state of Maine, free, Harlow Gallery, 160 Water Street, Hallowell. FMI: 207.622.3813, www.harlowgallery.org.

May 8, 8:00 a.m.-1 p.m. Plant and Rummage Sale, benefit for Gardiner Elementary PTA, Laura E. Richards School, 279 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner. FMI: 207.582.9467, www.msad11.org.

May 8, 7:30 p.m. Jagermeister Music Tour: Korn's "Ballroom Blitz Tour" with special guest Dead Season and 2 Cents, "die-hard Korn fans should plan to go nuts on the floor," $31.50, Androscoggin Bank Colisee, 190 Birch Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.783.2009, www.thecolisee.com.

May 8, 7:30 p.m. Remembering Tom Rowe, concert with Schooner Fare, the Dave Rowe Trio, Tom Dyhrberg, Denny Breau and the Half Moon Jug Band, benefits the Jack McPhillips Memorial Fund, tix $15-$30, Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.782.7228, www.francoamericanheritage.org.

May 8, 8-10:30 p.m. Contra Dance, featuring Rock the Boat with calling by Richard Green, $6/person, $5/student, $15/family maximum, Farmington Grange, Bridge Street, Route 43, West Farmington. FMI: 207.491.9928, www.starleft.org.

May 11, 2-6 p.m. Sandy River Farmers' Market, offering organic seedlings, veggies, meat and dairy products, baked goods, cut flowers, dried flowers, herbs and perennials, Grange Hall, Front Street, West Farmington. FMI: www.localharvest.org.

May 11, 5:30-7 p.m. Annual Meeting and Social Hour, Peter Garrett, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails Association President will give an update on current projects and future plans for local trails, Dr. Rob Hottenton will share photos and stories about his travels and mountain climbing adventures in New Zealand, light refreshments served, REM's Forum at The Center, 93 Main Street, Waterville. FMI: 207.873.6443, www.kmtrails.org.

April 1, 5 p.m. Masquerade Ball-Paper Faces on Parade, hide your face so the world can never find you, a night of mayhem and tomfoolery, dress in costume, be anyone, be absurd or be amazing, dance the night away enjoying an array of musical genius, crazy food and punch, free, open to the public, UMF Art Gallery, 246 Main Street, Farmington. FMI: 207.778.7002, www.umf.maine.edu.

April 2, 5-8 p.m. "Eternal Whispers," Opening Reception, an exhibition of paintings by Petrea Noyes of Brooks and relief carvings by Lynne Joddrell Baggett of Steuben, Harlow Gallery, 160 Water Street, Hallowell. FMI: 207.622.3813, www.harlowgallery.org.

April 2-3, 7 p.m. Robinson Ballet LIVE 2010, an exhilarating dance show certain to entertain and delight, $14/adults, $8/children and students, Penobscot Theatre at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main Street, Bangor. FMI: 207.942.3333, www.penobscottheatre.org.

April 3, 10 a.m. Maple Sugar Tour, easy nature walk at Wishing Well Farm, Norridgewock, to view native sugaring trees led by Warren Balgooyen, call Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance for directions. FMI: 207.495.6039, www.belgradelakes.org.

April 3, 1-3 p.m. Children's Book Character Party with Geronimo Stilton, storytelling, cookie decorating and more, free, Colby College Bookstore, Cotter Union, 5400 Mayflower Hill, Waterville. FMI: 207.859.5400, www.colby.edu.

April 3, 2 p.m. L/A Arts presents "Hansel and Gretel," the Classic Brothers Grimms' Fairy Tale brought to life by the National Marionette Theatre, slightly modified version eliminating negative maternal stereotypes and deemed appropriate for all ages, $7/adults, $5/students, seniors and children, Lewiston Middle School, 75 Central Avenue, Lewiston. FMI: 207.782.7228, www.laarts.org.

April 3, 8 p.m. James Cotton Band, blues, $27/person, Skowhegan Opera House, 225 Water Street, Skowhegan. FMI: 207.242.9412, www.skowhegan.org.

April 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Planning and Starting Your Own Vegetable Garden, Kennebec County Extension Agent Caragh Fitzgerald will present information to help beginning gardeners learn the fundamentals of how to plan and start a home garden, first in a series of 6 workshops that will focus on growing healthy food from start to finish, Barrels Community Market, 74 Main Street, Waterville. FMI: 207.660.4844, www.chambermaster.com.

April 7, 6-9 p.m. Wheel Chair Races, hosted by the Wheel Chair Sports Association, races open to the public, wheel chairs available for use during the races, free, Skowhegan Community Center, 39 Poulin Drive, Skowhegan. FMI: 207.399.4086, www.skowheganchamber.com.

Two of the four kids home for Maine college break and loaded up the snow skis, boots, poles and headed out!

     We stayed at a newer condo called Birchwood Three, part of the Webber building complex. These units are super..and have everything.

Fireplace, tiled bath, all post and beam and natural woodwork thru out. And nearly 30 inches of new snow swirling, collecting and being groomed over night for our skiing pleasure the next morning.

     The staff that works at Sugarloaf is first class, friendly and down to earth. Had to adjust my skis because one son "borrowed" dad's boots. The tech crew did the operation like a Nascar pit crew with concern about me missing any runs. Offering loaner equipment to get me on the hill which was not needed due to their on the ball helpfulness, quickness.

     If you have never skiied in Maine, head to this mountain and don't be intimidated by its size. There are a slew of lifts for every skill level so you have your own area of the mountain. No matter if you are a black belt double black diamond skier or like to hanging around the easy green and blue square areas.

     Ski lessons available. And the food and entertainment are top notch along with the variety of ski lodging options. You feel rested after only a few days of Maine fresh air in your lungs. The scenery as your lift whisks you up the mountain is incredible and humbling. This winter, experience a Maine vacation to sample out outdoors. Snowmobiling in next door Eustis Maine has some pretty incredible groomed sled trails and many places to stay for that sport too!

     Plan the trip to Maine and make our four season recreation a habit for health, for family fun and to change the scenery of your day to day. Also, don't just think of Sugarloaf or our other mountains for Maine winter recreation. There is a world class golf course, a retirement community and four season activities to keep you entertained and both physically and mentally healthy!

For years, the Rangeley Lakes Region has attracted visitors who yearn for a quiet escape from the faster tempos of regular life. Located 4 1/2 hours from Boston, just travelling here can give one a true sense of "getting away from it all".

Nestled in the western mountains of Maine and off the beaten path, the Rangeley Lakes Region offers an experience that can not be found in the more southern or coastal areas of the state. The terrain here is different - the hills, valleys, and mountains are more numerous. Lakes and ponds of all sizes are found here and the fishing is still the best in Maine.

Perhaps the most impressionable feature of this area is the simple fact that there aren't that many people here. Consequently, fewer of the trappings of contemporary society that assault us in more populated areas are found here.

For those who crave peace and solitude, who revel in the majesty of Nature, and who long for a home or a getaway situated somewhere less touched by civilization, the Rangeley Lakes Region is the place for you.

The Rangeley Lakes include a half dozen large lakes and many smaller lakes and ponds. The larger lakes are Rangeley Lake (6302 acres / 149 feet deep), Mooselookmeguntic and Cupsuptic Lakes (16,359 acres / 132' ), Upper and Lower Richardson Lakes (7751 acres / 108' ), Aziscohos Lake (6872 acres / 60' ), Umbagog Lake (7767 acres / 48' ) which straddles the New Hampshire border, and Kennebago Lake (1764 acres / 28' ). Twenty-five miles to the northeast sits Flagstaff lake (17,380 acres / 48' ).

The two towns at the center of this region are Rangeley and, five miles to its west, Oquossoc. Together, their year round residents barely number 1000. There are, however, ample places to stay in the area and no end to the things you can do all year long - provided, of course, you enjoy outdoor recreation.

Lakefront Locator will get you to available listings in the Rangeley Lakes Area. LakeSmart, is a research tool that will give you important information about area lakes. If you would like to read recent news articles about this region, use our Lake News feature.

And, of course, if you have a question or need a friend in the business let us know. We love Maine's lakes and ponds and want to share them with you.