BAR HARBOR — Charles Simic, former poet laureate of the United States, will give a reading at College of the Atlantic (COA) on Wednesday, Aug. 4, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Gates Community Center. On Thursday, Aug. 5 Mr. Simic will participate in an informal public conversation beginning at 9 a.m. in the college’s Deering Common Campus Center.

Jennifer Skiff of Somesville is a soulful writer. But that doesn’t mean she sits around all day crafting angst-ridden prose about pop culture’s latest zeitgeist or ruminations on life after death. Neither does she dress all in black or continually ponder the role of writer in contemporary society.

Many of the several dozen private gardens featured in coming days were designed to complement the wildly beautiful landscape throughout the Downeast Region.

TREMONT — Famed Maine author Ruth Moore will be honored this month during the second annual Ruth Moore Days, which are scheduled from Thursday, July 8, to Wednesday, July 21. A slate of events will commemorate the life, works and impact of the late author.