PORTLAND – Greater Portland Landmarks will offer a restoration academy on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18 and 19.

Participants will learn how to restore and maintain an older home through hands-on workshops taught by experts on such topics as woodworking, landscaping, plastering and painting and historic interior design and decorating.

All classes will be held at Westbrook Vocational Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preregistration is required. Fees for GPL members are $60 a one-day session and $100 for both days. Nonmembers will be charged $75 and $125. For more information and registration, contact Greater Portland Landmarks at 774-5561 or go to www.portlandlandmarks.org.

Speaker on canal

YARMOUTH – Joel W. Eastman, professor of history emeritus at the University of Southern Maine, will present an illustrated history of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the American Legion Log Cabin, Main Street.

The canal, which ran from the Portland waterfront to Sebago and Long lakes, opened in 1830. It was the biggest construction project in the state at the time. The canal is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The talk will be accompanied by historical illustrations of the canal and canal boats, as well as current views of the remains of the project. The free program is open to the public. For information, call call 846-6259 or e-mail yarmouth-history@inetmail.att.net.

Baptist anniversary

AUGUSTA – The American Baptist Churches of Maine will celebrate the bicentennial anniversary at Penney Memorial United Baptist Church on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24, 25 and 26. The theme is “Keeping the Main Thing the Maine Thing.”

The celebration will feature Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of the American Baptist Churches, USA, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Bill Clemmer, medical missionary to the Democratic Republic of Congo, will also address the assembly.

The 200th anniversary celebration will conclude with a public worship service at the Augusta Civic Center at 3 p.m. Sunday. Rev. Dr. Alfred J. Fletcher, executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Maine, will deliver the sermon.

Recycle phones

PORTLAND – U.S. Cellular is giving residents a way to recycle retired wireless phones for a good cause – the U.S. Cellular Community Action Recycling Effort program.

Through the program, residents can go to any local U.S. Cellular store or agent location to donate old wireless phones. The program is open to all wireless consumers. Donated phones will be sold to RMS Communications Inc., which restores them. Proceeds will benefit the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

The coalition the only statewide organization whose primary goal is ending domestic abuse in Maine. For more information visit www.mcedv.org.

Fall festival

HINCKLEY – The 11th annual Hinckley Fall Festival and Harvest Celebration is set for Sunday, Sept. 26. Children will enjoy carnival games, hay rides and petting zoo. Adults may browse the craft sale or the custom and antique vehicles.

Good Will-Hinckley will host the event on its Route 201 campus north of Fairfield from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Fair food will be specially prepared by the youth. Proceeds will upgrade the family cottages where youth reside, or fund outings for a cottage’s family.

The L.C. Bates Museum on the Hinckley campus will offer its annual art exhibit for adults and a children’s hands-on discovery table. Admission during the festival is free. For information call 238-4280 or visit www.gwh.org.

Families needed

World Heritage Student Exchange is seeking local families interested in sharing their home to provide a high school exchange student a positive encounter with the U.S. The students are screened by World Heritage, are proficient in English, 15 to 18 years old and come for the 2004-2005 school year. For more information, call Bethany at 800-888-9040 or visit World Heritage’s Web site at www.world-heritage.org.