Explore urban living
BANGOR — The Downtown Bangor Partnership is offering an opportunity to explore urban living in downtown Bangor 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Participants will view several downtown living locations of varying sizes and price ranges. Many of the apartments are newly built and are available to rent or have not yet been put on the market. From touring apartment buildings to asking current residents about their experience living in the heart of it all, the event is a “can’t miss” for those interested in residency downtown.
Maps of participating locations will be available in West Market Square during the event. For information, visit downtownbangor.com or email downtown@bangormaine.gov.
Arts and Sciences Celebration
BANGOR — The Masonic Grand Lodge will host its annual Arts and Sciences Celebration 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at the Bangor Masonic Center, 294 Union St. Dinner will be served at 1 p.m.
Guest speaker at the event will be Dr. Jeffrey Hecker, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, University of Maine. His topic will be “The Arts and Sciences: Essential and Besieged.”‘
The event is free and open to all. The cost for the dinner is $5. To register, call the Masonic Grand Lodge office at 843-1086.
Auction and tapas tasting
BANGOR — Bangor Region Junior Achievement of Maine is gearing up for its ninth annual Benefit Auction and Tapas Tasting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road.
The fundraiser will include a live and silent auction. Event proceeds will be used to support Junior Achievement’s economics classes for Bangor region students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Tickets are $10. For information, call 347-4333 or email jjamison@jamaine.org.
Mother and Son Mothers Day Dance
BANGOR — The Bangor Parks and Recreation Department still has tickets available for its annual Mother and Son Mother’s Day Dance set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Cross Insurance Center in the Grand Ballroom. The event is open to mothers, and their sons in kindergarten through grade seven.
The cost is $20 per couple Bangor residents, $30 per couple others. Additional sons may attend at a cost of $5 each. If mom can’t make it, a grandmother, aunt, older sister or other special woman may attend instead.
To register, stop by the parks and recreation office at 647 Main St. No phone registrations will be accepted and tickets will not be available at the door. For information, visit bangorparksandrec.com or call 992-4490.
Spring Fling
CARMEL — A Spring Fling will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Caravel Middle School gymnasium. The event is open to all and suitable for all ages, organizers said.
The event will offer face painting, bean bag toss, duck pond, paratrooper landing, bowling and a photo booth.
The concession stand will be open and serving hotdogs, french fries, doughboys, beverages and other treats.
Fifth-graders will offer seeds for sale; sixth-graders will host a cake walk; seventh-graders will conduct a silent raffle; and eighth-graders will have cotton candy and snow cones available for purchase in an effort to raise funds for their eighth-grade year.
Representatives from Lowe’s will be on hand offering many projects to choose from.
Parents and-or guardians must accompany their children to the event.
A portion of event proceeds will go toward the purchase of books for the Caravel school library.
Open House
HAMPDEN — Highland Pre-School, 29 Kennebec Road, will host an Open House 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, at the school. The event is open to children and families from Hampden and area towns. For information visit, highlandpreschool.com or call 862-3351.
Gardening workshop
HAMPDEN — The Hampden Garden Club will present a workshop on succulent gardening given by Hannah Todd of Brickhouse Succulents in Etna, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the Hampden Town Hall Meeting Room. Plant plugs and soil will be provided free of charge. Participants should bring a small container for planting. Larger plants and hypertufa containers will be available for purchase. Open to all. For information call Ellen, 234-2945.
Signs of the Seasons
HOLDEN — Signs of the Seasons training will take place 4-6 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Fields Pond Audubon Center. The citizens science program will train volunteers to observe and record phenology, which is the timing of seasonal changes in plants and animals. Program training includes information on the history and science of phenology, the connection to the changing climate and an overview of the current research being conducted.
Participants will gain practical experience for observing and recording plant and animal life cycles in their own backyard, schoolyard or other community location. Participants also will learn how their observations become valuable data when added to Nature’s Notebook, the national online database hosted by the USA-National Phenology Network.
Visit http://umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons/ for information on the Signs of the Seasons program or e-mail Elissa Koskela at elissa.koskela@maine.edu.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant coordinate Signs of the Seasons: A New England Phenology Program in partnership with the USA National Phenology Network, Acadia National Park, Schoodic Education and Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Maritime Academy, Maine Audubon, Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, University of New Hampshire Sea Grant-Cooperative Extension, and climate scientists and educators at the University of Maine.
Islamic Awareness Week
ORONO — The Islamic Center of Maine will hold its sixth annual Open House during Islamic Awareness Week 5-7 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Islamic Center of Maine, 151 Park St.
Topics of discussion will include “Rights vs Responsibilities: Islam, the Media, and You” and
“Freedom of Expression: Where do you draw the line?”
Gardening newsletter
ORONO — Home gardeners can subscribe for free to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 2015 Maine Home Garden News, and read the latest edition, by visiting umaine.edu/gardening/maine-home-garden-news.
The newsletter, released monthly from March through October, is designed to equip beginning and experienced home gardeners with research-based information. Each issue includes a reminder list of timely actions in the garden and yard; articles on fruits, vegetables, flowers, lawn care, trees and shrubs; videos; and other informative resources.
“Growing food and taking care of the yard can be rewarding and satisfying,” said Richard Brzozowski UMaine Extension educator and newsletter editor. “Gardening is a great way to be outside, exercise and have fun. Gardening can be therapeutic and a great family activity. Home gardeners in Maine are always seeking ways to improve their garden and its production. Improvements might involve extending the season, managing pests effectively or trying something new and different.”
For information, contact Lois Elwell at lois.elwell@maine.edu or 800-287-1471.
Everything Equine
ORONO — Youth in kindergarten through grade 12 are invited to learn about horses with large animal veterinarians at a University of Maine 4-H Science Saturday workshop 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at the UMaine J.F. Witter Teaching and Research Center, 160 University Farm Road.
Attendees will learn to use stethoscopes on a model of a horse heart and learn to understand sounds as a basis for a physical exam, focusing on digestive, heart, percussion of feet and hoof sounds. Participants also will learn about training a Standardbred for riding, conformation and judging.
Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, UMaine Extension veterinarian, and Dr. Robert Causey, associate professor, animal and veterinary sciences, will lead the workshop.
Workshop fee is $8, including the program and lunch. Registration materials are available at umaine.edu/4h/home/science-saturday/. Maximum enrollment is 40. Deadline to register is Friday, March 27.
For information, or to request a disability accommodation, call Jessica Brainerd at 581-3877. The program is supported by the Maine 4-H Foundation.