PORTLAND

Polar Dip to benefit Camp Sunshine

The seventh annual Maine Polar Dip, to benefit Camp Sunshine, will be held at noon Saturday at East End Beach at the base of Eastern Promenade. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $100 in pledges and plunge into Casco Bay to receive a commemorative T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit Camp Sunshine. The goal is to raise $20,000.

For more details, call Michael Smith of Camp Sunshine at 655-3800 or email msmith@campsunshine.org.

Party, kissing contest at Planet Dog

Planet Dog’s 10th annual Valentine’s Day Canine Cocktail Party for dog lovers and their canine companions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Planet Dog Company Store at 211 Marginal Way.

The Planet Dog Foundation fundraising event will feature a dog kissing contest and plenty of free treats, beer and wine. The longest, sloppiest buddy-to-human companion kiss wins a bundle of Planet Dog’s best-sellers valued at $75. Entry fee for the dog kissing contest is $5.

For more details, call 347-8606 or go to www.planetdog.com/company_store/

CAPE ELIZABETH

Affirming talk and banjo music

Thomas Memorial Library, at 6 Scott Dyer Road, will host two presentations this week.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, trainer, motivational speaker, writer and health promotion professional Janet Edmunson will present a free talk, “Affirming Yourself for Life’s Challenges.”

On Saturday, banjoist Peter Mezoian will perform from 3 to 4 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public. For more details, call 799-1720 or go to www.ThomasMemorialLibrary.org.

LIVERMORE

Valentine’s heritage dinner

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center will present a Valentine’s Day heritage dinner and living history program, “Keepers of the Hearth: The Love, Courtship and Marriages of the Washburn Women,” at 6:30 p.m. Friday at 290 Norlands Road.

Dinner begins in the Farmer’s Cottage and includes arugula and strawberry salad, squash soup, herbed chicken breast with wild rice and mushrooms, green beans and cheesecake. Vegetarian/vegan options also are available.

After dinner, step back into the 19th century with a visit from “Patty Washburn” and her three daughters, Martha, Mary and Caroline, who will be portrayed by Norlands staff members Willi Irish, Renee Bonin, Claire Tanner and Robin Hakala in period costume.

The women will share their stories of life in the 1800s, followed by a program of period music. The program concludes with an evening tour of the 1867 Washburn family mansion.

Cost is $20. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, by calling 897-4366 or emailing norlands@norlands.org.

YARMOUTH

Free concerts start on Tuesday

This winter and spring, 317 Main Community Music Center will present Noon Tunes, a free concert series to be held from noon to 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the cafe at 317 Main St.

The performances will feature the 317 Main faculty in a variety of genres and settings.

The series begins on Tuesday with the trio of Kate Campbell Strauss, Jed Wilson and Steve Roy performing jazz standards and improvisation on saxophone, piano and bass.

The concerts are free and open to the public. The building at 317 Main is fully accessible and all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 846-9559 or visit www.317main.org.

TOPSHAM

What’s going on at the library?

Topsham Public Library will host the following events this week:

• Topsham Historical Society, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a talk on period furniture by Jon Brandon, founder of East Point Conservation.

• The College Process, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a talk about the college search process with Rebecca Kosakowski, owner of Midcoast College Counseling.

• Teen Talk, book discussion and pizza, 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

• Maine Families Book-nic event, 2 p.m. Friday.

• Joy of Art Artist Talk, 11 a.m. Saturday in the Crooker Gallery.

The library is located at 25 Foreside Road. For more details, call 725-1727 or go to www.topshamlibrary.org.

GRAY

Find out about arts and sciences school

Fiddlehead School of Arts & Sciences, a public charter school, will hold open houses for interested families at 9:30 a.m. Monday and Feb. 24 and at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Feb. 26 at 25 Shaker Road.

The nonprofit organization is inspired and guided by the Reggio Emilia, child-centered, hands-on, mind-on learning approach and is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

Registration for fall is now open. The school currently has 75 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade. The school’s plan is to expand one grade level per year up to grade 5.

The school is open to children throughout Maine, though the catchment areas are Auburn, Casco, Cumberland, Gray, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Minot, Poland, Pownal, Raymond and Windham.

For more details, call 657-2244 or go to www.fiddleheadschool.org.

YORK

Writing Workshop at library

York Public Library will host a Writing Workshop from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday at 15 Long Sands Road.

Bring a laptop or pen, pencil and paper. Common themes will be explored and attendees may read their writings aloud or not.

The session is for all ages. Light refreshments will be served.

PARSONSFIELD

Valentine Brunch at Par Sem

The sixth annual Valentine Brunch at Par Sem will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 504 North Road, Route 160.

The event is hosted by The Friends of Par Sem to benefit the campus restoration fund.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for ages 10 and younger. Snow date is Sunday.

For more details, call (603) 539-5233 or 793-8519.

BIDDEFORD/PORTLAND

Learn about pet adoption

The Animal Welfare Society will host two animal adoption awareness events this week.

Representatives of the Adoptable Pets program will be at the Maine Home, Remodeling & Garden Show, set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

And an Animal Care and Handling Program for children will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, 142 Free St., Portland.

For more information, go to www.animalwelfaresociety.org or call 985-3244.

BUXTON

Dinner, dancing Saturday

The Dorcas Society of Hollis and Buxton will hold a Sweetheart Dinner Dance Saturday night at the Bar Mills Parish House on Main Street, Route 4.

The lasagna dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with dancing until 9 p.m., featuring line dance lessons for couples and singles. There also will be door prizes.

Admission is $10. Proceeds will benefit the Dorcas Society Scholarship and its contributions to local charities.

For more details, call 929-4382 or email sharonhouse@roadrunner.com

SOUTH BRISTOL

Help with ice harvesting

Thompson Ice House will hold an ice harvesting event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the ice house on Route 129.

The ice will be harvested as it has been done on the pond for almost 200 years. The public is invited to help in this history-in-action event.

For more details, call Ken Lincoln at 644-8808.

DAYTON

Pony ride fundraiser

LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center will host a Valentine Pony Ride Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 995 Goodwin Mills Road, at the intersection of Routes 35 and 5.

Enjoy a pony ride in an indoor arena. The event is open to all ages and other activities will be ongoing.

Cost is $10 per rider. For more details, call 499-0080.

SCARBOROUGH

Vacation fun at library

The Scarborough Public Library will offer a number of programs the week of Feb. 18-22 to keep kids engaged during school vacation.

• On Feb. 18, there will be Baby Lap-sit for ages 18 months and younger at 9:30 a.m., followed by Toddler Time at 10:30 a.m. for ages 18 months and up. At 6:30 p.m., the Reader’s Theater Troupe of student thespians will offer a performance of excerpts from favorite “Read Aloud” books. This program is appropriate for children in grades 2 through 5.

• On Feb. 19, at 10:30 a.m., children and their families can listen, laugh and join in with Mrs. C and Marilyn as they offer lively renditions of their favorite picture books.

• Starting at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 20, there will be a Family Story Time, for ages 3 to 7, including guitar music and a sing-a-long.

• Feb. 21 will have activities throughout the day in the Youth Services Room, including Legos, a variety of board games and a “maker space” where the whole family can test their creative juices to make something by hand.

• And on Feb. 22, Read to Me story time will be offered at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 and older.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more details, call 883-4723 option 3 or go to www.scarboroughlibrary.org.

KENNEBUNK

Board Game Night begins

Kennebunk Free Library will begin offering Board Game Night at 6 p.m. Wednesday in an effort to provide a little fun and break up the winter tedium.

It will be held on the second Wednesday of each month, with board game playing for adults and teens.

Whether you enjoy long, involved games or short, fast-paced games, the library has a variety available, from Apples to Apples, Quiddler and Zombie Dice to Settlers of Catan and Trivial Pursuit.

If you have a favorite game, bring that along. Come as a group or by yourself and meet others. Light refreshments will be served.

For more details, call the library at 985-2173 or go to www.kennebunklibrary.org.

SACO

Tips for job interviews

University College in Saco will host a Successful Interviewing Workshop from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Saco Island, 110 Main St.

This workshop will offer tips on how to best prepare yourself for a job interview. The talk is free and open to the public.

To register, go to www.uma.edu/careerplanningworkshops.html or call 282-4111.

WINDHAM

Talk on finding artifacts

The Windham Historical Society will offer the program “Finding What’s Lost” at 9 a.m. Saturday at Windham Public Library at 217 Windham Center Road.

The talk by Ernie Mitchell will detail discoveries made via metal detecting with an emphasis on King Philip’s War sites and other found artifacts.

A $5 donation is suggested. Light refreshments will be served. For more details, call 892-1908.

NORTH YARMOUTH

Tree expert to discuss bugs

Walnut Hill Garden Club will host Yarmouth tree warden Deb Hopkins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Skyline Farm, 95 The Lane, for a talk on insects that are affecting Maine trees.

The public is welcome, and admission is free. For more details, call 829-5708.

TOPSHAM

Blind dates with books

Celebrate Valentine’s Day all month long at the Topsham Public Library and find a perfect match.

Check the library’s special display of gift-wrapped books, each featuring a personal ad on the front. Pick one that speaks to you and have a “blind date with a book.”

After the blind date, patrons can “rate their date” on special bookmarks, and may even have their response filmed.

The library is located at 25 Foreside Road.

For more information, call 725-1727 or go to www.topshamlibrary.org.