Cemetery group program, meeting

HIRAM — The Maine Old Cemetery Association will hold its third 2012 program day and annual meeting on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Great Ossipee Museum, 20 Historical Ridge (off Schoolhouse Road, off Route 17). The public is invited. Lunch reservation deadline is Sept. 20.

Featured speakers will be Jessica Felix, an educator and leader of New Hampshire cemetery restoration projects, and Wayne Holmquist.

At 9:30 a.m. Holmquist, a professional dowser, will talk about how dowsing can be applied to cemeteries. Felix, at 10 a.m. will present “Cemeteries as an Educational Tool.” At 1 p.m. Holmquist will demonstrate dowsing at an unmarked grave at the Hiram Village Cemetery.

The Hiram Historical Society is the hosting group. From 8:30 a.m. there will be exhibits and displays; attendees are invited to display information about cemetery-related projects. In the afternoon there will be a tour of some Hiram cemeteries.

After the cemetery tour the Hiram Historical Society is planning and sponsoring a Felix-led stone cleaning workshop.

Registration cost is $3 at the door. Lunch reservation deadline is Sept. 20 and those wishing to order lunch, at a cost of $8, should mail a check payable to MOCA to 114 North Shore Road, Blanchard Twp., ME 04406-3829. They should include the names of those for whom they are ordering lunch.

Questions about the program day should be directed to Jane M. Macomber at janem@mainestream.us or 879-4125. Additional information is available at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~memoca/moca.htm.

Paris Cape Historical

PARIS — Members and friends of the Paris Cape Historical Society will meet at 77 High St. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. After a brief business meeting Jeffrey R. Parsons of Ann Arbor, Mich. and South Paris will speak on working girls from South Paris, 1845-1964.

Jane Robinson Stevens (1829-1917) was the granddaughter of Dr. Cyprian Stevens, one of the earliest doctors in Oxford County, and the daughter of Simon S. Stevens and Nancy French, all of South Paris. She was orphaned at age 13 and lived during her adolescence and youth at the home of her cousins, John and Apphia Robinson Parsons on their farm in South Paris.

While there she received letters from her widowed stepmother and numerous sisters who lived scattered around New England. Parsons will highlight what he and his wife, Mary, have learned from these letters about how these impecunious girls and young women from South Paris, forced to support themselves, made their ways in life as dressmakers, housekeepers, school teachers, shop assistants and textile mill workers during the early years of the industrial revolution in New England.

Refreshments will be served. The public is welcome.

Project Grad planning meetings

PARIS — The Project Graduation committee meets on the first and third Thursday of each month in the Graphic Arts Classroom at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. Help plan an unforgettable graduation night for your senior. Lots of fundraising ideas and projects are lined up but help is needed.

Project Graduation begins after graduation and continues until the next morning. At Project Graduation there are organized, adult-supervised and alcohol/drug free activities and is a “lock-in” event, which means the graduates and their guests are not allowed to leave the festivities unless they are with a parent.

The next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 20.

Children’s theater in Norway

NORWAY — Shirli Allen Heald, a local thespian and educator, invites children in grades K-6 to register to become a part of her new venture to bring children’s theater back to the Oxford Hills. Registration for the free 10-week workshop will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Second Congregational Church UCC.

Workshops will also be held on Wednesdays from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. at the church. There is no cost for attendance.

The children will investigate the process of show production and stage performance as they prepare to put on the musical, “It’s Saturday” by Mac Huff and Jacob Johnson. Production assistants are Kate Wood of Otisfield and Deborah Fickett of Paris.

Having directed children’s theater during the summer, the workshop will be the first time that Heald is directing children’s theater during the school year.

For more information, call 743-7047.

Oxford Rec duck race

OXFORD — Oxford Recreation will hold the annual Duck Race on Saturday, Sept 22, at the Station House Community Center.

There will be kids games from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 25 cents a game. A chicken barbecue will be served from 11 to 1:30. Adults $6, kids $3.50. There will also be music from 11 to 1:30.

Duck tickets can be purchased for $5 at the Oxford Town Office, Polly’s, Crestholm Farms, The Green Spot, Smedburgs, Key Bank or from any recreation member.

The Duck Race will begin at 2 p.m.; ticket sales end at 1:30. For more information contact Pam Lovely at 539-4563.

Great Maine Outdoor Weekend

NEWRY/BETHEL — The Mahoosuc Land Trust in partnership with The UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum and Mahoosuc Pathways has developed a great range of activities to celebrate the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend on Sept. 29.

There will be a choice of a hike, bike, paddle, mine tour or trail work session. Trail workers meet at Grafton Loop Parking Area on Route 26, Newry, at 9 a.m. Others meet at 69 Winslow Road, off the Intervale Road in Bethel, at 10 a.m.

All meet back at 2 p.m. for a barbecue. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Bring a salad, side or dessert to share. More details and information at 824-3806 or Facebook.com/mahoosuclandtrust.