LEWISTON — La Rencontre will meet at 11:30 a.m., Friday, July 1, at the Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar St. The meal will include lobster rolls, chicken salad rolls, pickles, chips, dessert and beverage. The cost of the meal is $7 per person.

After the meal, the program will include a presentation by Dr. Dervilla McCann and a musical event with Lucille Cloutier. Patrons are encouraged to speak only French during the meal in the newly-renovated Heritage Hall followed by the presentation and entertainment in the Performance Hall.

For the past 30 years, Lucille Cloutier was involved, mostly as a volunteer, in the music ministry at St. Augustine Church in Augusta, playing music and accompanying soloists for a variety of church-related functions. She has studied piano under Sister Marie Therese Martin of the Order of Presentation of Mary for 10 years. In addition to ecclesiastical music, Cloutier also plays popular show tunes of yesteryear.

McCann will follow other physicians who’ve presented at La Rencontre on a range of medical issues. High levels of cholesterol are clearly linked to increased risk of heart attack. Genetic factors are very important in determining risk.  A specific genetic trait called familial hypercholsterolemia is present in a high percentage of Franco Americans in the Lewiston-Auburn area, due to a link to the original French families who founded Quebec. Standard medical therapy will be explained, as well as new groundbreaking research that may provide a cure for this potentially fatal disease. 

Everyone is invited to attend La Rencontre and reservations can be made by calling Claudette Violette at 786-6936 or the center at 783-1585.