ELLSWORTH — Award-winning cemetery historian and author Ron Romano, whose new book “Stories from Maine Cemeteries: Lives Cut Short” has recently been featured by Maine media, is recognized as one of Maine’s leading experts on 19th century gravestones, cemetery symbolism and burial landscapes. During this free presentation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, Romano will demonstrate how gravestones can unlock family histories through burial customs, monument materials, symbols and epitaphs. Attendees will learn how cemeteries can provide valuable clues for genealogical research while gaining a deeper appreciation for the stories hidden in Maine’s historic burial grounds. He’s a frequent lecturer on early gravestones, cemetery landscapes, and Maine’s gravestone makers. He has published a series of papers and four books on those subjects and has led countless visitors through many of Maine’s historic cemeteries.