BETHEL – Dr. Joel Eastman, professor emeritus of history at the University of Southern Maine, will be the featured speaker at the first of the 2003 Lecture Series.

It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Dr. Moses Mason House Exhibit/Lecture Hall at the Bethel Historical Society’s Regional History Center.

His topic will be “The Cumberland and Oxford Canal, 1830-1870.”

Society meeting

DIXFIELD – The Dixfield Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the charter meeting room of the society building. Antiquec cars of Maine will be the subject of the program by Richard Frazier. Refreshments will be served and the public is welcome to attend.

Benefit auction

FARMINGTON – The Tumbledown Conservation Alliance benefit auction will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, at The Granary.

Women’s luncheon

MEXICO – The women of Stephens High School Class of 1943 will meet at 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the Chicken Coop Restaurant.

For more information, call 364-8335.

Breakfast meeting

RUMFORD – The Tres Dias breakfast meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Rumford United Methodist Church on Linnell Street. Bring your own breakfast, coffee will be provided.

For more information, call 364-8083.

Health screening

RUMFORD – A no-cost screening clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10, to identify children in the area who may benefit from the expert orthopedic and burn care provided by Shrine Hospitals.

The clinic will be held at the Rumford Hospital.

For more information or an appointment, call 1-800-782-5672.

Degrees conferred

RUMFORD – Rumford Royal Arch Chapter 56 will meet Monday, May 12, at the Blazing Star Lodge on Route 232 in Rumford Corner. There will be a baked bean supper at 6:30 p.m. and the chapter opening at 7:30 p.m. Past master and most excellent master degree will be conferred on three candidates.

A rehearsal will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 11. For more information, phone Joseph N. Roy at 364-4715.

Quilters meeting

RUMFORD – The Rumford Area Quilters will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, at the Rumford United Methodist Church, Linnell Street, for a potluck supper and end of the year meeting. Note change in time of meeting.

Those attending are asked to bring something for supper and their place setting. Those who wish may bring a first and a more recent quilting project for a special “show and tell.” For more information, call Naomi at 369-9422 or Mary 562-7050.

Cemetery group

RUMFORD – The Rumford Center Cemetery Association annual meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Rumford Center Town Hall.

Isabella meeting

RUMFORD – The Daughters of Isabella will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, in the upper room of the Parish Center. Refreshment committee will be Kim Kilcourse, Francis Kersey, Kay Lawler and Pearl Murphy.

Women’s social

MEXICO – The women of Stephens High School Class of 1956 will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Far East Restaurant, for a social gathering.

The train trip has been postponed until a later date.

For information, call Muriel Shurtleff at 562-7550.

Democrats to meet

BETHEL – The Oxford County Democrats will meet on Thursday, May 15, at Telstar Regional High School on Route 26. There will be a potluck supper at 5:30 p.m., followed by a meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Room 106.

Those attending the supper are being asked to bring a food item to share.

Chairperson Cathy Newell and State Committee member India Haynes will report on the recent State Committee retreat. The meeting also will focus on planning for upcoming activities.

Anyone unable to attend but who would like to be involved in the Oxford County Democrats may contact Cathy Newell at 875-2116.