Bicycle Center to hold

auction fundraiser

 

The Community Bicycle Center will hold its first silent auction and American Lung Association-Trek Across Maine Pledge Night, 5:30 to 9 p.m. March 31 at Run of the Mill Restaurant, 100 Main St. in Saco.

Throughout the night, attendees will be able to bid on donated items on display and computers will be placed at the Trek information table for attendees to pledge donations to cyclists riding with the CBC Trek Across Maine Team.  An updated list of auction items will be posted on the CBC Web site, www.communitybike.net.

  Bidding will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:15 p.m. Auction winners will be announced at 7:45 p.m. Cash or checks are accepted.  All silent auction proceeds will benefit the CBC youth development programs. The Run of the Mill Restaurant also will donate a percentage of dinner and drink sales to CBC.

Tickets will be pre-sold at the CBC, 284 Hill St., Biddeford, at The Run of the Mill Restaurant or may be purchased at the door.

 

Thornton students

will present research

 

More than 40 Thornton Academy students will share their hands-on scientific work at the fourth annual Biology Research Symposium next Thursday in Thornton’s science building, room 55.

Three sessions are planned for the evening: 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., 6:30 to 7:20 p.m. and 7:30 to 8 p.m. Parents and others who attend should plan to stay for an entire session.

Advanced biology teacher Christy Lajoie directed students to focus on the general topic of bacteria growth. Each group performed an experiment, gathered data and analyzed results and prepared a formal paper and PowerPoint presentation for the symposium.

Students will present research on topics such as facial cleansers’ role in inhibiting bacterial growth, the amount of bacteria on indoor vs. outdoor floors and the effect of household cleaners on micrococcus roseus.

 

OOB Egg-Stravaganza

planned for March 27

 

The Old Orchard Beach Recreation Department will host its fifth annual Egg-Stravaganza 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 27, at Old Orchard Beach High School. The free event is for children of all ages.

The event begins with the arrival of Old Orchard Beach Bunny at the front entrance of the school, who will be available for photos. Participants will find 6,000 plastic eggs covering the gym floor, carnival games, a bounce house and face painting. This year’s event will feature a new preschool section.

Children are welcome to dress in a simple Easter costume or wear a bonnet. They must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Food will also be available for purchase.

Volunteers are still needed, and may call Nikki Duplisea at 934-0860.

 

Student actors to perform ‘Honk Jr.’

 

The Thornton Academy Middle School drama club will perform its rendition of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale of the Ugly Duckling with a production of “Honk Jr.” at Thornton’s Garland Auditorium tonight and Friday. Admission is $3 at the door, and the show begins at 7 both nights.

Honk is the story of Ugly, whose odd looks incite prejudice from his friends and neighbors.  When he becomes separated from the farm and finds himself pursued by a hungry cat, Ugly must find his own way and discover his true beauty along the way.

Ugly is played by Camden Loeser, the Cat is played by Katherine Gillespie, Sam Saucier plays Ida and Drake Duck is played by Steven Fasulo.

 

Easter egg hunt

planned in Dayton

 

The Community Library, which serves Lyman and Dayton, will hold an Easter egg hunt 10 a.m. March 27 for children ages 2 through 10.

The library also will host a benefit jewelry show 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. The library will receive 25 percent of profits.

 

Training offered for

balance coaches

 

Coach training for A Matter of Balance, a program to help people manage their concerns about falling and increase their physical activity, will be held March 30 and April 1 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Southern Maine Medical Center, 1 Medical Drive, Biddeford.

The two-day program is sponsored by Southern Maine Agency on Aging. For more information or to register, call Anne Murray at 1-800-427-7411, ext. 529.

 

Community classes

begin next week

 

OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education will sponsor the following classes in March:

Got Digital Photos? Now What? 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 23 and 30, $39.

Introduction to Herbs, 6 to 8:30 p.m., March 24, $24.

Mediterranean Cuisine, 6 to 9 p.m., March 31, $54.

For more information or to register, call OOB/Saco Adult & Community Education at 934-7922 or go to www.oobsaco.maineadulted.org.

            

Thornton Dance

Festival is March 27

 

Thornton Academy’s Dance Festival is scheduled for March 27. Anyone 12 years or older is welcome to join in the fun at the biennial event.

 The event will feature 24 workshops including Irish step, world dance, African, modern, ballroom, hip hop, Bollywood, country line, dance fitness, belly dance, jazz, lyrical, break dance, yoga and others.

Prices are $8 to $18 for students and $10  to $28 for adults, according to the number of workshops attended. Members of the public are encouraged to register early to get a spot in the dance workshops they prefer because  tickets are likely to sell out.

The registration form and informational brochure can be found online. Go to www.thorntonacademy.org, click on “Student Life” and select “TA Dance Company” from the drop down menu. The form may be mailed to teacher and Dance Festival Director Kathy Nolan at Thornton Academy, 438 Main St., Saco, ME 04072.

Participants will have opportunities to explore the world of dance, and both novice and experienced dancers are welcome.

Collective Motion will perform “Been Here Before,” Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Garland Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students or seniors and $10 for adults.

To learn more, contact Nolan at kathy.nolan@thornton.saco.org or 282-3361, ext. 269.

 

Business security seminar set

 

Information security for small businesses – the dangers posed and what to do about them – is the subject of a free seminar Thursday, March 25, in Saco.

The two-hour program will focus on the need for businesses to recognize the value of information, security threats and the need for a security response plan. It will be held 6 to 8 p.m. at the Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution’s Operations Center, 50 Industrial Park Road, Saco.

Jenn Nitchman, senior vice president and director of technology and information services at Saco & Biddeford Savings, will host a panel of experts including David Jacquet, CEO of InfoSecurus Inc., and Ryan Stinneford, Pierce Atwood LLC.

Jacquet, a senior information security consultant and  practice director will discuss current threats, ways in which to mitigate a business’s risk and how to build a response plan.

Stinneford, a partner at Pierce Atwood, will explain liability issues surrounding information security and responsibilities of business owners.

Additional information about the seminar is available at www.sbsavings.com.

For information or to reserve a space, call Donald Lauzier, vice president of community relations, at 602-7323 or e-mail lauzierd@sbsavings.com, and leave your name, phone and number of reservations.

 

Saco to hold Easter egg hunt

 

The annual Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday, March 27 at Saco Middle School. The event will begin with children ages 3 to 6 at 9 a.m. and children 7 to 10 at 10 a.m.

The event will be held rain or shine.

 

Post office plans passport fair

 

A passport fair will be held 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Biddeford post office, 100 Alfred St., to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications.

 U.S. citizens must present a valid passport book when entering or re-entering the United States by air. U.S. citizens entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land borders and sea ports of entry must present a passport book, passport card, or other travel documents approved by the U.S. government.

 

Community gardeners to meet

 

Gardeners are invited to join the Saco Community Garden at its annual meeting 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at The Run of the Mill restaurant. Attendees will be able to meet fellow gardeners, receive garden updates, elect steering committee members and be eligible to win the door prize, a 10 by 10-foot garden plot.

Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Saco Food Pantry.  RSVP to sacocommunitygarden@gmail.com.

Applications are now being accepted for garden plots. For more information, call 283-1025 or e-mail sacocommunitygarden@gmail.com or visit www.cityofsaco.org/community_garden.shtml.

 

Schools plan open houses

 

Open houses will be held next week at Notre Dame de Lourdes School and St. James School. Notre Dame de Lourdes, 50 Beach St. in Saco, will host its open house 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

St. James, 25 Graham St., Biddeford, will hold its open house 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Registration for new students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade will be held at the schools March 29 through 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment.

 

Food rescue to take donations

 

York County Food Rescue will hold a food drive at Shaw’s Sanford on Friday, March 26, and Sunday, March 28, and at the Biddeford Shaw’s on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. York County Food Rescue supplies donated food at no charge to 47 York County food pantries and feeding programs.

 For more information, e-mail foodrescue@metrocast.net or call Jodi at 324-1273.