Mystery writer Boyle

to speak tonight

Gerry Boyle, Maine author of the Jack McMorrow mysteries,will be the guest speaker at McArthur Library in Biddeford today at 7 p.m.  He will read from his latest book, “DamagedGoods,” and answer questions from the audience.

A former newspaper reporter, Boyle has drawn on his ownexperience as a journalist to describe crimes that unfold in histhrillers.  In most of his novels,reporter Jack McMorrow finds himself embroiled in complicated criminal andfamily situations when he attempts to solve murders.  In “Port City Shakedown,” published last year, a newcharacter named Brandon Blake travels around greater Portland and Casco Baytrying to catch the bad guys.

McArthur Library is located at 271 Main St.,Biddeford.  For more informationabout An Evening With Gerry Boyle, contact the library at 284-4181.

Sweetser begins new

family intervention

Officials at Sweetser have announced the opening of anInfant Family Focus residential program in Saco.

 Infant FamilyFocus is designed to provide early intervention to families with very youngchildren to improve coping and parenting skills and reduce behavioral crises inthe future.

 The programworks in partnership with families whose child is at high risk and with stateChild Protective Services. The parents and their children face mutualchallenges, such as overcoming significant substance abuse, eliminatingdomestic violence, and learning to parent without resorting to abusive orneglectful behavior.  Individual,family and group therapy is provided, with a focus on the family unit. Theprojected length of stay in residence is four to six months.

 For moreinformation about Infant Family Focus, contact Dean Bailey, at 294-4446 or theSweetser PromiseLine at 800-434-3000.

OOB students present

play, art and dessert

The Old Orchard Beach High School Drama Club will presentits third annual Arts and Acting a la Mode student art show and one-act playperformance, 7 p.m. Wednesday in Old Orchard Beach High School cafeteria. Thehigh school culinary arts class will provide dessert. 

Admission is $5, including dessert, and will benefit boththe drama and art programs. 

The final performance of the one-act play “Masterpiece,”will be 7 p.m., next Thursday in the cafeteria. Admission will be “pay what youcan,” and donations are welcomed.

Tickets are available at the door. For more information,call 934-4461 or e-mail awright@rsu23.org.

An evening of opera

set for City Theater

 “La Stagioned’Amore (Season of Love) – an Evening of Opera” marks the return of opera toCity Theater in Biddeford. Several Maine singers will perform scenes fromoperas including “Carmen,” “La Bohème,” “Don Giovanni,” “The Elixir of Love,”  “Hansel and Gretel” and more.

The cast includes sopranos Danielle Vayenas, Devin Dukes,Jenny Robinson, Rebecca Rinaldi and Michelle Rawding; mezzo-sopranos SaraSturdivant, Jazmin DeRice and Nicole Rawding; tenors John Coons, Kurt Perry andJason Phillips, baritone Dan Cyr and bass-baritone John Adams.

All have performed throughout the New England region withgroups including PORT Opera, Longwood Opera in Massachusetts, Boston LyricOpera, Maine Oratorio Chorale, Boston Masterworks Chorale and more, and severalof the artists have performed in New York and beyond.

Performance times are March 12 at 8 p.m. and March 14 at 2p.m. This event also is the annual fundraiser for City Theater. Tickets are $25for adults and $10 with a student ID at the door, by calling 282-0849,e-mailing info@citytheater.org or online atwww.citytheatertix.org/webtiks/WebTiks.ASP.

University singers

to perform Wednesday

The University of Maine Singers, under the choral directionof Dr. Dennis Cox, will perform 7 p.m. Wednesday at First Parish CongregationalChurch at the corner of Beach and Main streets in Saco.

Several university singers also belong to the “MaineSteiners” (an all-male a capella group), and “Renaissance” (an all female-acapella group) and will perform as well.

 For moreinformation, call 283-3771.

Talk explores letters

of Victorian author

 “Out of theArchives: Editing Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Letters” with Jennifer S. Tuttlewill be hosted by the Dyer Library 6 p.m. March 16 in the library’s DeeringRoom.

Tuttle’s talk will explore letters written by Gilman tovarious people in her life, her relationship with her daughter and herstruggles as a mother and author in the late Victorian period.

 Gilman, aprominent American author, lecturer and social reformer who died in 1935, isbest known for her 1898 treatise “Women and Economics,” which traced genderinequality to women’s economic dependence upon men, and her 1892 short story“The Yellow Wall-Paper,” which portrays a woman’s descent into madness as aresult of a “rest cure” for nervous prostration.

Tuttle will offer an overview of Gilman’s correspondence.Gilman not only exchanged letters with family and friends but also with anarray of famous individuals such as H.G. Wells, Margaret Sanger and UptonSinclair. Tuttle will also explore how the correspondence impacts theunderstanding of Gilman’s life and legacy.

Tuttle is the Dorothy M. Healy Professor of Literature andassociate professor of English at the University of New England, where she isfaculty director of the Maine Women Writers Collection.

UNE hosts exhibit of

scrap metal sculptures

 The Universityof New England is hosting an exhibit of scrap metal sculptures by Mark Robergeat its Campus Center on the Biddeford campus. 

Roberge owns an automotive repair business in Biddeford andin his spare time, turns old car parts, junk metal and found objects intosculptures. He recycles mufflers, gas tanks, saw blades, tea kettles, dishdrainers and bike seats and turns them into unusual “creatures” with uniquepersonalities.

Among his creations are “Ice-Tian,” an ice skating Martiancreated from old speakers, muffler hangers and other parts that resemble anOlympic medalist; “The Blue Elephant,” with a motorcycle gas tank body, teakettle head and other assorted parts; and “Kirby, the Dude,” with itskidney-shaped muffler body and bike seat head with spoon eyes.

The exhibit runs through March 31 and is free and open tothe public. Campus Center hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

St. Demetrios plans

Lenten retreat

The Parish Nurse Ministry of St. Demetrios Greek OrthodoxChurch will hold the Lenten retreat Prayer and our Lenten Journey on Saturdayat the church, 186 Bradley St. in Saco. Gerondisa Thekla, abbess of the HolyMonastery of Panagia Paragorittisa, will be the guest speaker and guide. 

 The retreatwill begin with liturgy at 8:30 a.m., followed by a light breakfast.  The presentation and discussion will be10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a Lenten luncheon.  Closing prayers will be at 1 p.m.

The retreat is open to the public and free, howeverdonations will benefit the monastery. For more information, call ElizabethAshton, 985-8692, or Donna Teague, 985-5995.

OOB residents form

animal watch group

Old Orchard Beach residents have formed Old Orchard BeachCommunity Animal Watch, a town committee to help establish humane practices forprotecting the health and welfare of abandoned or homeless domesticated animalswithin the town.

The group meets at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of each monthat the police substation in the Grand Victorian by The Pier.

For more information, contact Jacqui Deveneau,934-1911. 

Winter carnival

Saturday at TA

The Thornton Academy Almuni Association and Thornton’sstudent groups will sponsor Children’s Winter Carnival, a day of games andactivities for younger children. The annual event will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Saturday at Linnell Gymnasium.

Thornton students will provide games and activities forchildren ages 2 to 10. Tickets are a quarter per game. Entrance is free with anon-perishable item to be donated to a local food pantry.

For more information or to volunteer to help, contact LisaMorin at 282-3361, ext. 281, or e-mail lisa.morin@thorntonacademy.org.

EPA event marks

Biddeford progress

The Environmental Protection Agency will celebrate theone-year anniversary of the Recovery Act and Brownfields accomplishments inBiddeford 11 a.m. Monday at North Dam Mill in Biddeford.

Those in attendance will include Curt Spalding, regionalEPA administrator for New England, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Doug Sanfordof North Dam LLC and city and state officials.

Colorectal cancer

focus of workshop

Southern Maine Medical Center will host the second annualSMMC Dress in Blue Day event Friday to promote March as National ColorectalCancer Awareness Month and encourage people to get screened.

 Dress in BlueDay encourages individuals, businesses and community groups to wear blue anddiscuss the importance of colon cancer screenings.

 SMMC and theCoastal Healthy Communities Coalition will host a colorectal cancer awarenesslunch and learn for work sites and community members next Wednesday from noonto 1 p.m. at Peoples Choice Credit Union in Saco.  Peggy Belanger, manager of SMMC’s Cancer Care Program, willtalk about colorectal cancer, the importance of being screened, prevention, andstate and national resources.  CallBethany at 602-3555 or e-mail bfortier@une.edu to preregister.

Spiritual center offers

retreats during March

Marie Joseph Spiritual Center will host several retreatsthis month. They are: Pathways to Prayer For Young Adults for ages 18 to 35with Sister Linda Mae Plourde and a team of presenters on March 6; Walking inthe Bright Darkness of Faith: Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, with Sister Susan Frederick and SisterSylvia Genesse, March 19 to 21, $145; and A Journey Toward Forgiveness: What doyou have to let go of to become a more forgiving person, with Sister AlinePlante, March 12 to14, $145.

For more information and to register, call Marie JosephSpiritual Center, 284-5671.

Hed

Crossroads will hold open auditions 10 a.m. to noonSaturday for its 10th anniversary show, Crossroads Recycled, The Green CarpetEvent, which will star Miss Maine Susie Stauble and America Idol’s JessicaCunningham.

Auditions for group numbers include selections from  “Joseph and the Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat,” “Sound of Music,” “High School Musical” and “The Wizard of Oz.”They will be held at Chasing the Sun Photography, North Dam Mills, 2 Main St.,Suite 18-115, in Biddeford.

individuals,businesses and community groups to wear blue and discuss the importance ofcolon cancer screenings.

 SMMC and CoastalHealthy Communities Coalition will host a colorectal cancer awareness lunch andlearn for work sites and community members next Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m.at Peoples Choice Credit Union in Saco.

  PeggyBelanger, manager of SMMC’s Cancer Care Program, will talk about colorectalcancer, the importance of being screened, prevention and state and nationalresources.

  Call Bethanyat 602-3555 or e-mail bfortier@une.edu to preregister.

Saco garden meeting

will be held Tuesday

The Saco Community Garden committee invites all interestedgardeners to join the next meeting at 6 p.m.Tuesday at the Saco Parks andRecreation Center, Franklin Street, Saco. Applications are now being acceptedfor garden plots.

For more information, call 283-1025, e-mail sacocommunitygarden@gmail.comor visit www.cityofsaco.org/community_garden.shtml.

Auditions Saturday

for Crossroads show

Crossroads will hold open auditions 10 a.m. to noonSaturday for its 10th anniversary show, Crossroads Recycled, The Green CarpetEvent, which will star Miss Maine Susie Stauble and American Idol’s JessicaCunningham.

Auditions for group numbers include selections from  “Joseph and the Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat,” “Sound of Music,” “High School Musical” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Itwill be held at Chasing the Sun Photography, North Dam Mills, 2 Main St., Suite18-115, in Biddeford.

Participants should prepare a one- to two-minute song tosing. For more information, contact Deb at 838-2146.

 The 10thanniversary show is scheduled for April 3 at Garland Auditorium at ThorntonAcademy.

50+ Club plans trips

for music, quilting

The Biddeford 50+ Club will visit the Lakes Region of NewHampshire from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 12.

Participants will visit Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant forlunch as well as Keepsake Quilting, The Old Country Store and Knight’s Quiltand Gift Shop. Seating is limited, and the cost is $65.

The club also will travel March 18 to hear Four CelticWomen at Venus De Milo in Massachusetts. Each performer’s talents showcasesongs of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Northern Spain and France andfeature traditional Celtic instruments. The trip is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and thecost is $95.

For more information or to register, call Debbie orStephanie at 282-5005.

Recreational classes

offered in March

Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult and Community Education willoffer new classes in March. They are: Decorating Confidently with Color,Tuesday, 6 to 8:30 p.m., $29; Past Life Regression, Tuesday and March 16, 6:30to 8:30 p.m., $24; Get More from Your Digital Camera, March 11, 6 to 9 p.m.,$29; Pet First Aid Basics, March 11 and 18, 6 to 7:30 p.m., $29; AdobePhotoshop: Level I, March 16 to April 13, 6 to 9 p.m., $119; Popular ThaiCooking, March 16, 6 to 9 p.m., $39; Psychic Development: Level III, March 18and March 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., $39.

Call 934-7922 or go www.oobsaco.maineadulted.org toregister.

Talk explores hazards

in everyday products

Sally Chappell will make a presentation on harmfulchemicals in everyday products at 6:30 p.m. March 11 at St. Phillips Church,404 Goodwins Mills Road, Lyman. She is sponsored through a grant from theNational Councils of Churches on Environmental Health and Topics Project. Formore information, call 282 2451.

Lectures explore

Greek culture, history

Ancient Greek culture and history are the focus of theHellenic Society of Maine’s Spring Lecture Series. The lectures on March 11 andApril 8 are free and open to the public.

The first lecture, “The Antikythera Mechanism: The 2,000Year Old Greek Computer,” will be 7 p.m., Thursday, March 11, in 41 PaysonSmith Hall (basement level) on the University of Southern Maine Portlandcampus.

USM Planetarium director and physics professor Jerry LaSalawill lecture on the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek computing devicerecovered from a Roman shipwreck.

 Ever sincesponge divers recovered this artifact in 1901, scientists have attempted toreplicate its mechanism to understand both how it worked and the types ofcelestial phenomena it was designed to predict. Today, astronomers believe theyhave unraveled the mechanism’s mysteries and are astonished at its complexity.

“Constantine and the Christianization of the Roman Empire”is the topic of the second lecture 7 p.m. April 8, also in 41 Payson SmithHall.

Gary Johnson of the USM History Department will discussConstantine the Great. The Roman Emperor Constantine (306-337) is the source ofdisagreement among modern historians; much of this disagreement focuses uponConstantine’s relationship to the Christian church.

Auditions next week

for ‘The Odd Couple’

Auditions for “The Odd Couple” at City Theater will beMonday and Tuesday at 6 p.m. Actors are sought for roles of five men and twowomen. Those who audition should prepare a comedic monologue that is not fromthe script.

For more information, call 642-7840 or go towww.citytheater.org.

New Fit Club session

to begin Tuesday

The next session of the Biddeford Recreation Fit Club forteens and adults begins Tuesday at the Community Center gym.

Classes for the eight-week session are Tuesdays andThursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. The cost is $70.

Participants work out twice weekly as a group and areweighed in weekly to track progress.

Registrations are taken at the Biddeford RecreationDepartment, 189 Alfred St. For more information, call Deb Droggitis, 283-0841.