Eastern Star meeting

WALES — Lakeside Chapter 60, Order of the Eastern Star will gather on Tuesday, March 13, at the Grange/Masonic Building, 322 Centre Road. Officers will be in street dress.

The members are reminded to bring a potluck dish for all to share at the supper at 6 p.m. The annual meeting and election of officers will begin at 7 p.m.

Members are reminded that dues are due for 2012. To visit any chapter in March, a 2012 dues card is required.

Economic justice

AUBURN — A public discussion on “Economic Justice / Economic Opportunity” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in room 170 at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St. The event is co-sponsored by the USM LAC Student Government Association and the USM LAC Committee on Campus Engagement and Diversity Action Group.

A panel of experts from various viewpoints and groups has been invited to discuss matters of economic justice. Confirmed panelists include retired USM professor Robert Schaible, Doug Bowen of Occupy Wall Street-Maine, Chris Hastedt of Maine Equal Justice Partners, USM graduate Emily Wood, and the Maine Heritage Policy Center. The goal of the event is to promote and encourage a community discussion on economic policies and economic issues concerning student as well as the entire public community, while also promoting diverse viewpoints.

The sponsors of the event encourage a variety of viewpoints about economic policies, issues, and opportunities. The event is open to the public.

Teen open mic

AUBURN — Teen Open Mic will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St.

Teen singers, musicians, comics and spoken-word poets are invited, as well as friends and family. Performers sign up at 5:30. Refreshments and door prizes. Free. For more information, call Sally at 333-6640, ext. 4, or email her at sholt@auburnpubliclibrary.org.

Plumbing course fee waived

AUBURN — The Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District will host a septic system training for Local Plumbing Inspectors and people seeking certification. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Auburn City Hall.

Call JETCC at 253-8020 by March 16 to register. Registration is $80.

The course will offer a thorough explanation of the permitting, inspection and enforcement of the State of Maine’s Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules and the Internal Plumbing Rules. This session will primarily be of interest to local plumbing inspectors, but is open to all, including site evaluators and system installers.

Brain injury

LEWISTON — Goodwill Industries of Northern New England will hold a community learning event in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness month. “Living with a Brain Injury: Personal & Professional Points of View” will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at Goodwill NeuroRehab Services, 618 Main St.

The event will offer community members the opportunity to learn about the impact brain injury has on individuals and family members, as well as the rehabilitation process. The event features Jennifer Galbreath, neuropsychology intern at Goodwill NeuroRehab Services and Goodwill’s Brain Injury Education Group. This is a free event. Due to limited seating, RSVP to Danielle Tapley at danielle.tapley@goodwillnne.org or 795-6110 by Friday, March 16.

Goodwill manages two brain injury rehabilitation centers in Lewiston and Portland. To learn more, visit www.goodwillnne.org.

Hospice benefit

LEWISTON — An Indoor Deck Party, to benefit the Androscoggin Hospice House Deck project, will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Fast Breaks.

There will be a buffet, three live bands and raffle prizes as well as a 50/50.

Skosh, The Veggies and Dr Fatfinger will perform, with sound by Maine Line Sound. All proceeds from the $10 donation will go towards the construction of a sun deck for the patients of The Hospice House to enjoy a natural outdoor environment while being safe and accessible.

The event is organized by Dave Provencher of Meaningful Events and The Fortin Group. The Hospice House cares for nearly 500 patients per year in a family-friendly, comfortable, home-like environment.

Tickets are available in advance by calling Teri at 795-9428 or Ann at 783-8545.

Auburn Art Club

AUBURN — The next meeting of the Auburn Art Club will be held on Monday, March 19, at Schooner Estates. Please note the change of location. The speaker will be Kirsten Larsson-Turley, a docent at the Portland Museum of Art, a post she has held for 14 years.

Larsson-Turley is a native of Maine who graduated from the University of Maine and now resides in Lewiston. In addition to being a docent in Portland, she is an active participant in many activities in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

The hostesses for this meeting will be Grace Keene, chairman, assisted by Dorothy Murray, Dorothy Prince and Jan Marston. This will be the last regular meeting of the year. Sign up for the annual meeting dinner which will be held on April 3 at Central Maine Community College Culinary Arts Center.

All members are encouraged to attend.

ChocoLArt auction

LEWISTON – SeniorsPlus announces ChocoLArt, a chocolate-tasting event and silent art auction to benefit SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels and other programs, helping maintain the independence, dignity and quality of life of older adults and adults with disabilities.

At this third annual fundraising event, guests will sample a variety of chocolate-inspired creations from area restaurants and chefs while browsing the silent auction’s collection of art, pottery, crafts and jewelry. The afternoon also features the sounds of Three Point Trio, an Auburn jazz band. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.

ChocoLArt will be held on Sunday, April 1, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn. Tickets are $35 and are available online at www.seniorsplus.org, by phone at 1-800-427-1241 or in the SeniorsPlus office at 8 Falcon Road in Lewiston.

To donate art for the event, contact SeniorsPlus for details.

Garden day

LEWISTON — The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is once again offering its very popular Maine Garden Day on Saturday, April 14, at  Lewiston High School. Registration is $50, which includes breakfast and lunch, a trade show and an opportunity to take up to four workshops. Limited scholarships are available.

This year, in response to increased demand for information on self-sufficiency, workshops on small-scale livestock production, living off the grid, sharpening chainsaws and gardening tools as well as programs on various types of food preservation techniques have been added to the day-long program. To view the workshop descriptions and to download a brochure, go to: www.umaine.edu/gardening/maine-garden-day, or request a brochure by calling the Oxford County office at 743-6329 or 1-800-287-1482. Space is limited.