Vernal pools, conservation

FARMINGTON — A program on vernal pool ecology and conservation will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Roberts Learning Center, C23, UMF.

Ever wonder who makes those quacking noises coming from the half-frozen puddle behind your house in April? Ever heard of “Big Night?” Ever seen fairy shrimp or fingernail clams lay dormant on the dry forest floor?

Join Sally Stockwell, director of conservation at Maine Audubon, to see and hear about these and other ecological wonders of vernal pools during a slide presentation. Stockwell will introduce participants to the wildlife species that live or breed in vernal pools and will share tips on how to identify and conserve vernal pools.

The program is free and open to the public.

Rumford quilters meet March 14

RUMFORD — Rumford Area Quilters will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the Rumford United Methodist Church, Linnell Street.

Quilts for the Dempsey Center will be gratefully accepted. Feel free to bring favorite quilting/sewing tools as well as quilting tips and ideas to share. Show and tell is part of the meeting. All area quilters welcome. For more information call 562-7050.

Free supper will be pizza

NORWAY — Second Congregational Church is holding its monthly free supper from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 15. The menu includes individual pizzas, green salad and dessert.

The church is on the corner of Main and Paris streets, directly across from the Rowe School. For more information call the church at 743-2290 or visit www.seconch.com.

Collectible, antique sale

FARMINGTON — An antique and collectible sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Fairbanks School Meeting House, Route 4, Fairbanks, 2.5 miles north from the center of Farmington. Handicapped accessible, lots of parking.

There will be estate jewelry, furniture, glass, vintage items and much more. Donations accepted; call 778-4349 or 778-3808. Proceeds will benefit finishing the storage shed.

Program on keeping chickens

FARMINGTON — On Saturday, March 16, at 7 p.m., there will be a free program on the basics of keeping chickens at the Farmington Grange Hall, 124 Bridge St., West Farmington. This talk is geared toward people who are interested in keeping chickens but have little or no experience with keeping fowl.

The talk will also cover important information that usually isn’t covered in popular magazines, problems that are unique to this area. This is a free program, given by Bonnie Clark, a grange member, who has kept chickens for more than 40 years. All are welcome.

Senior Center Indian Head trip

RUMFORD — Rumford Senior Center will host a trip to Indian Head Resorts for St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 16. A luncheon buffet, a dessert bar, green beer, souvenir mug, memorabilia photo, beads and hat plus wonderful entertainment are part of the offerings for this fun trip. The cost for the trip and show will be $53. The bus will leave the center at 8:45 a.m.

Lodges to hold public supper

WILTON — Maine Lodge No. 20 and Wilton Lodge No. 156 will host a public supper from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Harland M. Harnden Masonic Hall, 70 Bryant Road, East Wilton.

The menu will be corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, vegetables, homemade pies, rolls and beverages. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for those under 12. This will benefit the building fund of the two lodges.

Public breakfast March 17

HARRISON —  The Ronald St. John VFW Post will hold its popular breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, March 17, at the post at 176 Waterford Road.

The breakfast features scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, home fries, fruit cups, sweet breads, orange juice and beverage. The cost will be $6 per person for adults and $3 for children 10 and under.

Bingo added on Sundays

NORWAY — Stone Smart Post 82 announces that starting Sunday, March 17, bingo will be played on Sunday as well as Monday nights. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Sunday and bingo will start at 1 p.m.

On March 17, corned beef and cabbage will be available as well as Shamrock Shakes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and homemade pies will also be available.

Community meditation

NORWAY — Kathryn Gardner will offer a free community meditation class from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at Posabilities – Physical Therapy, Yoga, Yoga Therapy, 15 Tannery St.

Gardner will lead the class for beginning meditators as well as those who have some experience and would like to deepen their practice. Class will include theory and discussion, a brief posture and breathing practice, and sitting meditation.

Meditation is known to improve brain functioning, reduce stress and improve mood. Perhaps most importantly, it can bring you closer to your true nature and allow you to become more present to this moment – and each moment – of life.

For more information contact Gardner at 207-890-7823 or kathryngardner13@gmail.com.

Trip to Band of Scots Guards

RUMFORD — Rumford Senior Center will host a trip on Sunday, March 17, to the Cumberland Civic Center to see The Band of the Scots Guards.

This is the Royal Regiments of Scotland featuring the pipes, drums and highland dancers of the Black 3rd Watch Battalion. Show starts at 4 p.m., with the bus leaving the center at 1:30. The cost for the trip is $55.

Participants will go to Cole Farms restaurant for dinner. Dinner will be on your own. Seating is limited so call early for reservation.

Finnish language classes start

WEST PARIS — Finnish language classes for beginners and intermediates will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the Finnish-American Heritage Center. Classes will run from April 6 to May 11. Registration is required by March 17 and will be on a first-come first-serve basis.

The required textbook, “Beginner’s Finnish” by Agi Risko, is available on Amazon. One may also choose to include the cost with their registration fee.

Marja-Leena Bailey and Aire-Maija Schwann will be the instructors.

For more information, call Dale Piirainen at 674-5539 or Barbara Payne at 743-5677.

Red Hat Mommas to meet

DIXFIELD — Nine Red Hat Mommas of Western Maine braved a winter snowstorm to attend their monthly meeting on Feb. 27 at the Far East Restaurant in Mexico.

The next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 27, at LaFleur’s Restaurant in Jay. Order off the menu.

The group will leave from the Dixfield post office at 5:15 p.m. If you plan to attend, call Isabel at 562-4241 by March 22.

Autism awareness

RUMFORD — An Autism Awareness presentation will take place Wednesday, March 27, at the Maine Autism Society, 85 Lincoln Ave. Snow date will be March 28.

The event will begin with a meet and greet and light refreshments at 2:30 p.m. The presentation by Aimee Cecile-DesRoches will be at 3 p.m. 

The Autism Society of Maine seeks to provide information, referrals and advocacy services to the community to help Maine, protect and serve individuals with autism. For more information call 364-4561.

World’s Fair scholarship

WATERFORD — Waterford World’s Fair Association will offer a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior who will be attending a school for studies in agriculture.

The requirements are: Student must write a brief description of their experience with agriculture and how this scholarship will be used; student must provide a letter of recommendation from either a teacher, guidance counselor or an employer; student needs to detail their association with Waterford World’s Fair, such as volunteering, competing, demonstration or any other way they may help the fair.

Deadline for submitting application is April 15. For an application or more information call Dottie Bell at 583-4146 or fair president Danna Hemingway at 595-2430.

Agnes Gray kindergarten

WEST PARIS — Kindergarten registration for the West Paris Agnes Gray School for the 2013-14 school year will be held on Tuesday, May 21, from noon to 3:30 at the Agnes Gray School.

If your child will be five before Oct. 15 and is planning on attending kindergarten, call 674-2332. For registration, parents will need to bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate, an immunization record and a copy of a recent physical examination.

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