PORTLAND

Coffee by Design gives share of sales to women’s program

For the second year, Coffee by Design is selling coffee for a cause.

During the month of May, the company will contribute $1 to Women, Work and Community for every 1-pound bag of “My Mom’s Coffee” sold.

The coffee is available through the company’s coffee houses or its website. Orders may also be placed through Women, Work and Community at womenworkandcommunity.org.

Women, Work and Community is a statewide training organization that offers one-on-one assistance as well as free programs in career building, starting a business, managing money and becoming a leader.

Wine club to gather next week at Havana South

The Havana South Wine Club will meet from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 18 in the restaurant’s Cozy Room.

Devenish Wines and Browne Trading Co. will be on hand to share some exotic varietals.

Havana South is at 50 Wharf St.

FREEPORT

Azerbaijani cooking lesson to benefit food pantry

Learn how to prepare an Azerbaijani family meal at a cooking lesson and dinner Friday at the Freeport Community Center.

The event – cooking starts at 7, dinner’s at 8:30 – is a project to raise money for the Freeport Food Pantry. A donation of $15 to $35 is suggested.

The menu will include lamb meatball soup, ghee-scented rice and stewed beef with sour golden plums and chestnuts.

The Freeport Community Center is at 53 Depot St. Reserve a spot by emailing lindsay@lindsaysterling.com.

SCARBOROUGH

Cheese Iron honored by specialty food group

The Cheese Iron, 200 U.S. Route 1, won a gold medal this year at the 2011 Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer Awards.

The specialty cheese shop will be presented with the award July 11 at the Summer Fancy Food Show in Washington, D.C. The store will also be featured in the June issue of Specialty Food Magazine.

The awards are presented by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

Other Maine businesses that made the list of silver finalists this year in the specialty product categories include Sullivan Harbor Farm for its Omega Burst Maple & Pepper double-smoked salmon and for Dave’s Bacon; Stonewall Kitchen for its Roasted Peach Whiskey Sauce; Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. for its Pemaquid Point Lobster Pot Pies, its Lobster Risotto on the Half Shell and its Orr’s Island Oyster Stew.

ELIOT

Children invited to join in barbecue competition

Got a kid who loves ’cue?

This year, for the first time, the Mainely Grillin’ & Chillin’ Country BBQ State Competition will include 20 competitors between the ages of 6 and 15.

Each child will receive an EZ Grill, meat and a bun to create their own recipe for official Kansas City Barbecue Society judges to score at the Aug. 12-14 event. Children will supply their own seasonings and any other items they use to create their entry.

Applications will be available starting Sunday on mainelybbq.com. The first 20 to get their applications in will be chosen to participate Aug. 13.

Cash prizes and trophies will be provided to the top three entries.

The barbecue festival is one of the main fundraisers for the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum. For more information, call 748-3303 or e-mail eatea@comcast.net.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Synagogue invites public to plant wheat, vegetables

Help plant a wheat crop and a vegetable garden on Sunday at “Big Garden Day” at Congregation Bet Ha’am, 81 Westbrook St.

The wheat planting will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. From 1 to 5 p.m., the synagogue’s students, in partnership with Cultivating Community, will be building raised-bed vegetable gardens.

There will also be a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help fund the project.

Attendance is free.