LEWISTON — La Rencontre will meet at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 2, at the Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar St. At the event, a meal will be followed with magic by “Mr. Magic” himself, Dennis Labbe. The meal will include beef stroganoff with fresh vegetables, dessert and beverage. The cost of the meal is $7 each person. Patrons are encouraged to speak only French during the two-hour meal and entertainment in the newly-renovated Heritage Hall.

Labbe started practicing magic at the age of 7 and he has been performing the magic arts professionally for the past 17 years. Labbe is a magician who performs classical and comical magic that is “guaranteed to entertain.” His presentations are tailored to suit any age group. He has performed for corporations, grade schools to colleges, campgrounds, libraries and nightclubs as well as countless private parties all over New England.

Dyke Hendrickson will also give a brief presentation and sign copies of his latest work, “Franco-Americans of Maine.” Lewiston is the focus of the book, which is the newest pictorial history book in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

Hendrickson is a journalist who has been a writer and editor for newspapers in Biddeford, Portland, Waterville and Bangor. He won a feature writing award for his series in the Maine Sunday Telegram titled “The Franco-Americans” and later wrote the book “Quiet Presence: Stories of Franco-Americans in New England,” which has been excerpted at the Museum of National Heritage at Ellis Island, N.Y. The book will be on sale at La Rencontre and available in the center’s gift shop anytime after July 2.

All are invited to attend and reservations can be made by calling Claudette Violette at 786-6936 or the center at 783-1585.