LEWISTON – The public is invited to a program of dramatic readings from the Franco-American novel “Papa Martel” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at Montello Heights Retirement Community.

The book tells the poignant and humorous story of a typical Franco-American family living in a fictional Maine city similar to Lewiston during the early 1900s.

Its author, Gerard Robichaud, is a Lewiston native who moved to New York as a young man, but returned to this community in his retirement. He is now 94 years old and lives at Montello Heights, where he continues to write.

A cast of four actors and a narrator will present selected scenes from the novel in a readers theater-style format. Rounding out the evening will be some old-time jigs and reels performed on fiddle by 13-year-old Rebecca Grube, a selection of songs presented by members of the cast and friends, and some lively French Canadian jigging performed by a trio of young local folk dancers who go by the name of Les Pieds Rigolants (The Giggling Feet).

This program is an outreach activity of the Lewiston Public Library, supported by its Board of Friends, in cooperation with the Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theatre. Admission is free.

Montello Heights is located at 550 College St. More information is available by calling 786-7149.