WABI covers Maine Statehood and Bicentennial Conference
WABI (Channel 5) reported on the start of the Maine Statehood and Bicentennial Conference being held at the University of Maine May 30–June 1. The conference features a series of events including concerts, panels and keynote speakers and aims to honor Maine’s unique history, culture, arts and more, WABI reported. “Oftentimes, we’re very much looking to the future and focused on the present, so that kind of round number of a bicentennial is a great moment to stop and pause and reflect a little bit about a lot of contemporary issues that actually have much longer roots in Maine history, society and culture than we usually recognize,” said Liam Riordan, a UMaine history professor and event organizer. The conference is one of several events across the state to mark Maine’s 200th birthday in 2020. In addition, UMaine is hosting the Maine History Festival 2:30–4:30 p.m. May 31 at the Collins Center for the Arts.