The month is indeed filled with such a variety of art and cultural offerings that no one should feel overlooked.

The Rumford Historical Society’s education committee is holding another fund-raiser, this time featuring a local woman’s mezzo-soprano talents.

Originally from Mexico, and now making her home in North Carolina, Dorothy “Dorrie” Casey will present a concert of music written by American composers, some featuring the poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay. It will be held at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 25, at Mountain Valley Middle School.

She has performed as a featured soloist in choirs, choruses and operas for several years. She will be accompanied by Deborah Coclanis and actress Meredith Sause, also from Chapel Hill, N.C.

Those who want to sing may take part in the annual Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts Christmas program by contacting Mary Pulsifer at 562-7050 or Bob Bohren at 364-2536 for details on how to audition. Rehearsals for the Christmas program begin on Sept. 7, and continue weekly until the performances on Dec. 4 and 5.

Anyone with a talent for song and a sense of history is invited to take part in the second River Valley History in Song workshop set for Sept. 8 at Scrappers Domaine. The Foothills Arts Center, based in Farmington, is collecting stories about significant people from several areas throughout western Maine in preparation for performances in Jay, Rumford and Strong in November.

Dancers have their time thanks to the Expressive Movement Performing Arts Center, owned by Debbie Murphy, Darianne Dunn and Thea Dunn, when a jazz ensemble from New York City conducts two, two-hour jazz workshops on Sept. 11 at Mountain Valley High School.

Professional dancer and choreographer Jacqui Young of DanzJam will lead a two-hour workshop from 10 a.m. until noon for dancers under age 14, then another two-hour session for teens and adults from 1 to 3 p.m. Those interested should register by calling 364-2543 by Sept. 4.

This and That

Fine craftspeople, known as artisans, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the Rumford Municipal Building to continue plans for setting up a marketing location and to pursue bylaws and nonprofit status.

A new season of sometimes offbeat, sometimes utilitarian courses kicks off on Sept. 9 by Western Maine Senior College. For a $25 membership charge and a minimal fee, people older than 50 can learn why they view things differently than their spouses or friends by taking the Myers Briggs test, find out what it’s like to live in the different country, feed the creative within by taking watercolor classes, and participate in one of several other unique four- to six-week courses.

Registration takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the O’Neil Robinson House in Bethel on Sept. 9. Other courses, now being developed, will also be offered in the Rumford area.

Also in Bethel, famed Mount Washington weatherman Marty Engstrom, who always sported an enigmatic smile at the end of each broadcast, will speak on winter trips on Mount Washington at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Bethel Historical Society’s Regional History Center.

Back in Rumford, the Pennacook Art Center on Congress Street unveils its third exhibit on at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3. The watercolors of Peru artist June Dragoon will be featured depicting flowers, still lifes, landscapes and other topics, many from the River Valley area.

The featured exhibit continues through the month of September.

And finally, after nearly two years of research, “A Guide to Arts and Culture in the River Valley” will be issued next week.

Becky Welsh, River Valley Arts Initiative coordinator, has been collecting the names and talents of hundreds of talented people living in the River Valley. This directory, to be distributed throughout the area and the state, will let people know the types and varieties of talent available in the area. The unveiling takes place at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition office on River Street.