Author to discuss mountain lore

 

Steve Pinkham, author of  “The Mountains of Maine: Intriguing Stories Behind Their Names,” will share the tragedies, comic stories and tall tales used in naming the hills and mountains of Maine during a presentation March 3 at McArthur Library in Biddeford.

His free presenation about his book, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be accompanied by projected photographs of turn-of-the-century postcards from all around Maine.

“Only a handful of Maine’s mountains were named by the Wabanaki tribes, such as Katahdin and Kineo, and most of those with Native American names got them from nearby rivers and lakes, which the Wabanakis named since they were the part of the routes they used to migrate and hunt,”  Pinkham said.

 Many of Maine’s hills and mountains were named descriptively, such as Long Mountain, Bald Mountainand Round Mountain, while others were named for the early trappers, hunters and pioneers.

 Some mountains and geographic locations were named in memory of well-known people, such as Eliot Mountain and Parkman Mountain in Acadia, and Hamlin Peak and Thoreau Spring at Katahdin.

Pinkham, of Quincy, Mass., is past president of Chiltern Mountain Club and an active outdoorsman.  He has backpacked the entire section of the Appalachian Trail in New England, climbed the 100 highest mountains in New England, and climbed more than 150 mountains and hills in Maine.

 

Hatha yoga class to be offered Mondays

 

A Hatha yoga class will be held 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Mondays starting March 1 at the Ross Center TV room. The instructor is Patrick Conner, a registered yoga teacher. Participants must be 21 years or older. The cost is $7.

For more information, call Debbie or Stephanie at 282-5005

 

SkillBuilders classes scheduled for March

 

The Maine Association of Nonprofits will offer the following SkillBuilders in York County:

•  “Apply Effective Business Writing to Your Nonprofit,” presented by Aleta Mustone, March 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Saco City Hall.

•  “Federal Grants Through the Recovery Act of 2009,” free, presented by Brenda Peluso and Anne Gass on March 15 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. by Web seminar.

•  “How to Make Social Media Work for Your Nonprofit,” presented by Jane A. Kelley, March 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. by Web seminar.

•  “Health Care Reform and Nonprofits, ” by Doug Clopp and Brenda Peluso, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. by Web seminar

Registration is required for all SkillBuilders courses. Full course descriptions, dates, location and registration information are available at www.nonprofitmaine.org/skillbuilders.asp.

 Fees for half-day courses are $50 for members and $100 for non-members. Fees for Web seminars are $35 for members and $70 for non-members.

For more information, call 871-1885.

 

Maine’s Got Talent competition March 6

 

The final preliminary competition for the 2010 Maine’s Got Talent will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 6 at Chasing the Sun Photography Studio at North Dam Mill in Biddeford. Participants, ages 5 years and older may compete in solo, duet or group acts that may include singing, dancing, gymnastics, playing an instrument and other skills.

 Entry fees are $20 for singles, $35 for duets and $50 for groups of three people or more. Winners will compete for a $500 cash prize and an audition with Dolphin Entertainment at the Maine’s Got Talent finals in April at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport.

To participate or receive an entry form, contact Deb Landry at 284-6316 at deb@brysontaylor.com.  Deadline for entry is Monday, March 1.

The event is sponsored by the Miss Maine Scholarship Program, and proceeds will benefit its scholarship fund. Dolphin produces Nickelodeon shows “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” “Zoey 101” and many movies for Nickelodeon.

 

Audubon to offer camp scholarship

 

York County Audubon will offer a scholarship to the field ornithology session at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen June 15 through 20.  Ideal candidates include area educators and youth group leaders.

To apply, visit  www.yorkcountyaudubon.org for an application and www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHqGmgniJE4 for a preview.

Each year more 100 York County youth ages 9 to 14 attend Vaughn Island 4-H Environmental Camp in Kennebunkport.  The camp is geared toward first-time and experienced campers, with special sessions to introduce younger children. The camp also has a teen leader component that trains youth ages14 to 17 to assist as counselors in training.

The program includes camping skills, leadership, recreation, environmental education and community building. Directed by University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the camp is affiliated with Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center and licensed by the state.

For a copy of the camp brochure and application packet, contact the office at 1-800-287-1535, or 324-2814 or download registration materials at: extension.umaine.edu/york/programs/vaughn-island-4-h-camp/.

 

Students may sign up for Hogwarts program

 

Hogwarts Summer School will be held beginning in March at Dyer Library in Saco. The program is open to 20 children ages 8 to 12. Participants may sign up in the Children’s Room of Dyer Library.

The class will read the Harry Potter books and take lessons on a variety of topics, including gemstones, magical creatures and Greek mythology.

 

Group to discuss transition to maturity

 

 A six-week “Transitioning to Maturity” group meeting will be held 1:30 to 3 p.m. starting today at Second Congregational Church, 19 Crescent St., Biddeford.  The group will be facilitated by Heather Thompson from Beacon Hospice.

The group is free, but space is limited. To register, call 284-7898.

 

Altrusa offering $1,000 scholarship

 

Altrusa International Club of Greater Biddeford-Saco is accepting applications for its annual Altrusa Club Scholarship.

This year’s $1,000 scholarship amount will be awarded to a 2010 graduate of Biddeford High School, Old Orchard Beach High School, Thornton Academy or the Maine School of Science and Mathematics who also is a resident of Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach or Dayton.

Criteria for selection include evidence of a high level of academic success, acceptance at a college or university of higher learning and a record of public or charitable service above and beyond that required for high school graduation.  Details and application forms are available from school guidance departments.

 

Saco Bay Gardening to host guest speaker

 

 Saco Bay Gardening will feature Edith Ellis of Turner, 6 p.m., March 4, at Dyer Library in Saco. She is the owner of Sunnyside Gardens and has been building and creating gardens for more than 30 years.

 The fee is $3 for non-members.   

 

Tobacco-free sessions start next month

 

Southern Maine Medical Center and Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition will host Be Tobacco Free educational sessions for four weeks beginning the first Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Cardiopulmonary Wellness Center at Southern Maine Medical Center.

Certified tobacco treatment specialists will facilitate sessions. To preregister, call 283-7272.

 

Equest to hold volunteer open house

 

Equest Therapeutic Riding Center in Lyman will hold a volunteer open house and training March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The orientation will include an introduction to therapeutic riding,  facility tour, an opportunity to learn about Equest and volunteer options. Training will include an overview of benefits of therapeutic riding, disabilities awareness, safety, horse behavior and scheduling.

Side-walker training includes a hands-on session with Equest staff and horses in a simulated lesson. Vigorous walking beside the horse and spotting the rider is required for side walkers. Prior horse experience is not necessary. Training also offers teens age 14 and older a chance to fulfill community service.

Participants in side-walker training must wear sturdy shoes or boots that cover the ankle, if possible. Part of the training is conducted outside and participants are urged to dress for the weather.

For more information, contact Kristen Gould at 985-0374 or kgould@equestmaine.org.

 

Agency on Aging offers leader training

 

Free training from the Southern Maine Agency on Aging will be held in March for volunteer leaders of “Living Well for Better Health,” a self-management workshop for adults who live with chronic health challenges such as pain, arthritis, heart disease and other conditions.

Training consists of 28 hours over four days: March 8 and 9 and March 15 and 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at People’s Choice Credit Union, Industrial Park Road in Saco.

To register or for more information, contact Anne Murray at 800-427-7411, ext. 529.

 

Divorce support group to start new session

 

The Divorce & Beyond support group will start Tuesday, March 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Saco.

Divorce & Beyond is an eight-week divorce support group that discusses topics such as anger, stress, blame, loneliness, hope and healing.  The group is for people who are divorced or divorcing. The facilitated support program is sponsored by Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry and is open to  people of all faiths. 

For more information and to register, call Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry, 871-7464, ext. 2672, in the Portland area or 1-800-CARE-002, ext. 2672.  E-mail is psm@ccmaine.org. Pre-registration is required.  The fee is $25 for eight sessions.

 

Bereavement classes start March 3

 

The Salvation Army will hold a series of classes, “Living with Bereavement,” Wednesday, March 3, March 17 and March 31 at 6 p.m. at its facilities on the corner of Church and Sixth streets in Old Orchard Beach.

 Carol Schoneberg of Hospice of Southern Maine, an end-of-life Education and volunteer and bereavement program manager, will conduct classes. Hospice of Southern Maine in Scarborough is Maine’s only free-standing nonprofit hospice,

Schoneberg is certified as an advance care planning facilitator trainer through the Respecting Choices program at Gundersen-Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wis.

 She strongly believes helping people talk about their choices for end-of-life care can make a huge difference in the way families experience the dying process.  Her classes will include “How Long Will this Last – The Face of Grief?”;  “When Grief is Complicated”; and “The Road to Healing: Honoring Those We Love” at which she asks individuals to bring a photo of their loved one who has died.

 There is no cost for these classes. For more information, call 934-9318.

 

Financial, workforce series planned

 

A financial and workforce development series designed for people who are unemployed, underemployed, semi-retired or recently laid off will be  9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, at University College at Saco.

Modules will explore personal finances, workplace communication skills, career exploration, educational opportunities and marketing tools for employment. They may be taken individually, in combination with other modules, or as an entire series.

They are:

• Financing Your Future, March 1 to 17.

• Assertiveness/Workplace Communications, March 29 to 31.

• Creating Your Future, orientation 9 to 11 a.m., March 22. Classes 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 5 to April 28.

• Marketing Yourself for New Employment, May 10 to 19.

• Assertiveness/Enhancing Workplace Communication Skills, May 24 to June 9.

All modules are free.  Registration is required.  For more information, contact Women, Work and Community at 286-1722.

 

Host families needed for foreign students

 

Cultural Homestay International, a nonprofit organization, is seeking host families in this area for foreign high school students for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Host families may choose a student from more than 30 countries for a semester or a full school year. Host families must agree to a background check and personal interview.

For more information, call Pat McCandless, CSI academic coordinator, 934-4755 or pmccandless@maine.rr.com.

 

Little League needs umpires for season

 

Area Little Leagues need volunteer umpires age 16 and older. Saco Little League will sponsor free weekly clinics to teach basics of umpiring.

They will be held Friday nights, Feb. 26 to March 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Saco Community Center, 75 Franklin St. For more information, contact Craig Chamberlain, 590-5840 or ccham@gwi.net.