Rotary seeks auction items

The Rotary Clubs of Biddeford-Saco and Saco Bay will host their 21st annual TV auction with Time-Warner Cable of Maine noon to 9 p.m.  March 21.

 Last year the auction raised more than $45,000. Proceeds are returned to the community through community projects, such as the dictionary project for local third-graders and Saco Heath Nature Walk and also provide support for nearly 50 local community groups and charities through continued education scholarships, camper scholarships and assistance for the disadvantaged.

 Rotary members are seeking business support in the form of merchandise donations or gift certificates with a retail value of at least $50.  Donations may be made by Feb. 22 by calling Rotarians Frank Dumais at 282-3711 or Janet Davis at 282-2962.  Bidders may participate on auction day by calling 284-1900.

Afghanistan topic of talk

Afghanistan Up Close will be the subject Saturday at the meeting of the Maine Chapter of the Association for Intelligence Officers with guest LTC (Ret.) David M. Duehring.

Duehring was forward tactical operations officer for the 240th Engineer Group in Afghanistan during a one-year deployment there in 2006 and 2007.  The group was assigned to an area near the Pakistan border currently the focus of operations against the Taliban and Al Qaida and was engaged in clearing mines and improvised explosive devices, and building roads and bridges under combat conditions.

He will speak about relations between the Afghan people and the U.S. and other NATO forces. 

The meeting will be at 2 p.m. at Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St., Kennebunk, and is open to the public.  For more information, call 985-2392.

Drawing class starts Feb. 22

Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult & Community Education will offer Inspirations in Drawing, Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. The class starts Feb. 22 and continues through March 29 for a fee of $69.

For more information, call 934-7922 or go to www.oobsaco.maineadulted.org to register, get more class information and download catalogs and course schedules.

Kayaking rescue class offered

A sea kayaking rescue course will be held Sunday, Feb. 28, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Northern York County YMCA in Biddeford. Participants will learn tips and effective techniques to be confident in self-rescue. Registered Maine Sea Kayak guides and ACA instructors will teach assisted and self-rescues, wet exits and other techniques.  All equipment is provided or participants may bring their own boats to use in the heated pool. This class is designed for beginners and those new to sea kayaking. Space is limited, and the deadline for registration is Feb. 25. The cost is $20.

 Participants may sign up in advance at the Biddeford Recreation Office, J.R. Martin Community Center, 189 Alfred St., Biddeford, on the Web at www.biddefordmaine.org/recreation, or call 283-0841 for more information. 

Support group features yoga

Yoga instructor Danika Jyoti Kuhl will teach several breath techniques (called “pranayama” in yoga) and visualizations to help reduce pain at today’s meeting of the Chronic Pain Support Group of Southern Maine. She also will teach gentle  stretching, all done sitting in a chair. The meeting is at at 6 p.m., and newcomers are welcome.

The support group meets the first and third Thursdays of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Pines Hospitality Room, Pinewood Manor, Pinewood Lane, Old Orchard Beach. Meetings provide a place for people who live with chronic pain to share information, learn new coping skills and support each other. The meetings are free and open to all. Family and friends also are welcome. For travel directions, visit www.painsupportgroup.org or call Evelyn at 937-5020 or Jane at 934-4189.

Republicans to caucus Saturday

York County Republicans will caucus 9 a.m. Saturday at Sanford High School to elect delegates to the Maine State Republican Convention, the York County Republican Committee and finalize plans for the November election.

All registered Republicans in York County are invited to attend the caucus, which begins with registration from 8:30 to 9 a.m. The county caucus and candidate introductions will begin at 9 and town caucuses at 11:30.

The following towns will caucus: Acton, Alfred, Arundel, Berwick, Buxton, Cornish, Dayton, Eliot, Hollis, Kennebunk, Lebanon, Lyman, North Berwick, Parsonsfield, Sanford, Shapleigh, South Berwick, Waterboro and Wells.

Player, umpire clinics

to be held in Saco

Saco Little League will hold free player clinics beginning this Friday and continuing each Friday until March 26. The clinics times are:  ages 9 and 10, 5 to 6 p.m.; ages 7 and 8, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.; and ages 11 and 12, 7:30 to  8:30 p.m.

 Clinics will be held at the Saco Community Center on Franklin Street.  Players should bring a glove and wear sneakers only, no cleats.  Free umpire clinics also will be held during the player clinics for anyone interested in learning to be either a plate or field umpire.

Little League players

may register March 1

Registration for Saco Little League baseball will be held Monday, March 1, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Saco Community Center on Franklin Street. The snow date is March 2. Registrations also will be accepted by mail.

 More information, including the registration forms, may be found at www.sacolittleleague.com. Divisions will be for players ages 7 through 12. Players must turn 7 by May 1 to register.  Any players who did not play for Saco Little League last season must provide a photocopy of their birth certificate. Registration fee for all players is $50 and scholarships are available.

Thornton to host USM

Jazz Band next week

Thornton Academy’s jazz program will host the University of Southern Maine Jazz Band for a concert 7 p.m. Tuesday in Garland Auditorium.  The concert will include performances by the Jazz Band, the Performance Jazz Band, the Thornton combos – Pip Kolmar, the Lazy Sunday Steppers and the Baby Blues – as well as the USM band.   Tickets are $5.

The concert is a warm-up outing for the Thornton groups, which will compete in the District 1 Jazz Festival on March 4, beginning at 3 p.m. at Biddeford Middle School. More than 50 Thornton students will participate in the festival, which brings together high school jazz bands in  competition from York to Cape Elizabeth. Tickets to the festival are $5.

The Thornton Jazz Band and the Lazy Sunday Steppers also will perform March 13 at the annual Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Band Festival.

 State offers family fun

day Feb. 27 in Lyman

Winter Family Fun Day will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the State Conservation Office, Route 111, Lyman. Activities will include nature walks, snowshoeing, maple-syrup sugaring and the special visits by Smokey Bear and a Maine Forest Service ranger, who will explain work that goes into being a forest ranger.  A free lunch will be provided. The cost is $1 for adults, and children and seniors are admitted free.

Spiritual center offers

retreat March 5-7

Marie Joseph Spiritual Center, Biddeford Pool, will offer a retreat, In His Image:  A Journey with St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, March 5 to 7 with the Rev. William Jarema.  The retreat  will include intensive prayer and inner exploration.

The cost is $180.  For more information and to register, call 284-5671.