New vans

LEWISTON/AUBURN — Western Maine Transportation Services has placed three new 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans in service. These three new minivans replace two 2003 Dodge Caravans and one 2005 Dodge Caravan which had exceeded their designed service life as public transportation vehicles. The new vans were purchased with assistance from Maine DOT and the Federal Transit Administration.

Along with its fleet of green and white paratransit buses, Western Maine Transportation Services employs eight minivans in Lewiston and Auburn, and maintains two spares to allow for maintenance rotations. These minivans, as with the paratransit buses, are open to the public by reservation. WMTS can be reached at 800-393-9335.

Eastern Star

AUBURN — Pine Cone Chapter 26 Order of the Eastern Star will meet at 7p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Masonic Hall, 1021 Turner St.

The chapter will have their annual meeting with pizza and Italians for dinner. All Pine Cone Members are welcome.

Danville Grange

AUBURN — Members of Danville Junction Grange will meet on Thursday, March 8, at 7 p.m. at the hall. The program is “Season It With Music” and will feature at the piano Kathy Haley, a well-known musician in the area. Refreshments will be served at the close of the meeting. All members and guests are welcome.

Bird watching

FREEPORT — There will be a bird watching field trip with the Stanton Bird Club on Saturday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to noon. The group will explore some open water along the mid-coast at Winslow Park, Freeport, in search of Buffleheads, Scaup, Mergansers and maybe even a Barrow’s Goldeneye. Meet at Staples, Promenade Mall, Lisbon Street, Lewiston, at 7:50 a.m.

DAR meetings

LISBON FALLS — Burnt Meadow Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter gathered in Sabattus in 1948 and was granted its Charter on July 4, 1949. It will begin this year’s meeting on March 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Jayne Bickford in Lisbon Falls.

The ‘special’ program will be revealed, business will be conducted and plans made for attendance at the 114th state convention being held at the Hilton Garden Riverwatch in Auburn on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18. The state theme is “Preserve and Promote Maine’s Heritage through Protecting our Natural Resources.” The emphasis will be on state parks.

The group will be collecting comfort items for Togus and planning the April luncheon meeting, where they honor the winners of the Good Citizen and Good Citizenship Awards.

Anyone believing they have a patriot ancestor, and interested in joining this group of active ladies is asked to call Violet Gerber at 375-2698.

Commercial travelers

MECHANIC FALLS — Twin City Council 160 of the United Commercial Travelers of America will meet on Saturday, March 10, at Bucknam Oaks, at 5 p.m. Installation of officers for the ensuing year will be held. A potluck supper will follow the meeting. All members and guests are welcome to attend.

Author to speak

AUBURN — Award-winning journalist and author, Kevin Mills will appear at the Auburn Public Library on Monday, March 12, at 6 p.m. to speak about his new historical novel, “Breakwater.”

“Breakwater” is a follow-up to his first novel, “Sons and Daughters of the Ocean.” Both books are based on his ancestor’s rich maritime history and looks at life in a small coastal town in which shipbuilding and seafaring are the lifeblood.

The program is free and will take place in the Androscoggin Room.