The focus of Sunday, August 1st, will be the literature of Sackville, beginning with Dr. Rob Summerby-Murrayís talk at 1 p.m. on "Diaries as Local literature: the family dynamics of Alice Bulmer and Ella Anderson in the 1920s and 30s" - a presentation on the diaries of these two Sackville area women. Born in New Zealand, Robert Summerby-Murray studied geography at the University of Canterbury beginning in 1981, before completing doctoral work at the University of Toronto. Since graduating with a PhD in 1992, he has taught economic, cultural and historical geography at Mount Allison University and is currently Dean of Social Sciences.

From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Marilyn Lerch will lead a workshop on memoir writing. Please register in advance by contacting the Trust by phone (506 536-2541) or email (tantramarheritage@nb.aibn.com).

Growing up in north-western Indiana and attending Indiana University, Lerch earned degrees in English and Education while also attaining a Masters Degree from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in California. "Beginning in the late sixties in Washington, D.C., she taught high school English and participated in several movements for social change, including the Vietnam Antiwar Movement, Women's Liberation and Gay Rights." Retiring from teaching in 1995, Lerch became a permanent resident of Sackville in 2001. Her poetry has appeared in journals both in Canada and in the U.S., including "Lambs & Llamas, Ewes & Me," a handset cycle of poems about shepherding in Alberta, and Moon Loves Its Light, published in March, 2004, which was her first collection of poetry.

On Tuesday, August 3, at 8:45 p.m., Historian Dr. Hannah Lane will speak on "The historian, the diarist, and their times," including details from the history of midwifery in the area, and will be followed by the showing of the film "A Midwifeís Tale" with several of its actors present (Ron Kelly Spurles and others). Dr. Hannah Lane teaches several courses at Mount Allison University, including courses on the history of the Atlantic Region, Colonial America, and early Canadian history.

Following these events will be the Fine Arts/Crafts week with a vintage tool show presented by the Atlantic Tool Collectors Association on Sunday, August 8th, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Formed in 1994, the Atlantic Tool Collectors Association, with currently over sixty members from across Canada and the United States, was founded with a view to promote public interest in the history and preservation of antique hand tools in the Atlantic Provinces. Its semi-annual meetings, for instance, offer an opportunity for its members to display their collections in public.

On Tuesday, August 10, conservator Michelle Gallinger will hold a talk at 7 p.m. on the "Caring for Paintings" - learn how the Trust is working to conserve some of our art work (including a "Victorian pin-up", originally from the Campbell Carriage Factory) and how to conserve your valuable paintings and art work - bring it along if youíd like! With an undergraduate degree in Art History in 1990, and later a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction in printmaking, Gallinger attained a Master in Art Conservation in paintings from Queen's University in 1997. Today, she works with a variety of materials, offering services in the conservation of murals, frames and soapstone sculpture, with a specialization in paintings and painted objects.

Finally, the "Festival Under the Sky" will be concluded with a theatre week beginning on Sunday, August 15th at 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., with a workshop on performing historical texts - both gathered and written by the Tantramar Heritage Trust. The workshop is intended for ages 10 and above. The following Tuesday, August 17th at 7 p.m., short plays will be presented featuring Van Horne and Hammond - the story of how railroad boss William Cornelius Van Horne and Sackville artist John Hammond came to be working partners. Scenes will also be developed during the Sunday workshop, and short scenes about historical figures from the area.

More information about all Festival activities, including a schedule of events with locations and ticket information (most activities are "pay what you can") can be found by phoning 536-2541.