Spring is full of surprises in Maine, usually of the wet and white kind. Hopefully last week’s stealth snowstorm is the season’s last. It is hard to believe that this time last year I was swimming, albeit very briefly, in Highland Lake, while this year Frosty still clings to an ice floe on Moose Pond (as of press time…the ice is melting quickly). Can we finally allow ourselves to believe in the promise of spring, that the forsythias, the daffodils, the lovely, lovely lilacs will be bursting soon? I choose to. See you out in the muddy, much-missed garden!

A great debate

If you enjoy a spirited volley of proposals and opinions, join Lake Region TV for the live debate between conservative columnist Tom McLaughlin and Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

The 60-minute debate is Friday night, April 8, at 7. It will focus on medical privacy rights, the REAL ID program, reproductive rights and Marriage Equality. McLaughlin and Bellows will also take questions from the audience.

LRTV is located in the Bridgton Municipal Building at 3 Chase Street, on the first floor. It’s a good thing the police department is just upstairs, because it might get heated!

Seniors and spaghetti

Want to get your fill of a classic Italian dinner while helping keep our local kids safe and sound? The local Masons of Oriental Lodge A.F. & A.M. is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, April 9, for this year’s graduating class at LRHS, in support of Project Graduation.

Project Grad is a great program that gives seniors a night of fun partying on graduation night, keeping them off the streets and in a safe environment where they can spend one last time together before spreading their wings far and wide. This year’s class will go to the Red Jacket Inn and Indoor Water Park in North Conway, and all expenses are paid for through fund-raisers during the school year. The Masons are offering a great dinner for the whole family at $5 per person, with all proceeds going to the Project Grad fund. Spaghetti is served from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Masonic Hall on Route 117, across from Brill Lumber.

Grow a salad

In my 15 summers in Maine I have gone from tending a small kitchen garden to digging huge plots of tomatoes, greens, beans, squash and potatoes. I’ve become obsessed with making the perfect compost and actually enjoy pulling weeds. Why? Because there is nothing better than opening the freezer during the deepest, darkest days of winter and pulling out a batch of frozen, delicious veggies nurtured, harvested, blanched and stored by me.

Gardening is rewarding, economical and great for the soul. It’s also pretty easy, especially if you have someone with the skills to teach you the basics. The Bridgton Community Center is hosting the free, two-part workshop, “Grow a Salad Garden for a Small Space,” for beginning gardeners on Tuesday, April 12 and April 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Oxford County Cooperative Extension program, everyone is welcome. Pre-registration is required by calling the Extension office at 743-6329. Childcare will be provided by the BCC, call Lorraine at 647-3116 to reserve your place.

Set sail

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale…Children’s Services Librarian Annika “Julie McCoy” Black is your Cruise Director on the S.S. Rainwater, and she invites all the little Skippers to help her explore the many different kinds of boats that sail the high seas (and local lakes).

Join her from 10:30 until 11 a.m. on Friday, April 15, then stay and listen to Uncle Tom read the third book in his alphabet series at 11:30 a.m. Check out the library’s website at www.bridgton.lib.me.us for more info or call 647-2472.

‘The Work’ workshop

Cancer patients and caregivers deal with complicated, stressful emotions daily and benefit from outlets for their fear and sadness. A powerful work by Byron Katie is the focus of a free series co-sponsored by the Bridgton Hospital and the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing.

Led by presenter Jen Deraspe, “Loving What Is: The Work” is a process of working through and turning around the thoughts that often cause anxiety and anger. Join her at the Four Winds Healing Arts Center every Wednesday through April 27 from 5:30 through 7 p.m. To register, call the Dempsey Center at 877-336-7287.

Photo shoots ?in hiking boots

Bridgton Rec is offering adults 55-plus a fun chance to get in the woods and gain some photography skills at the same time. The “Photo-Hike” is a series of guided walks through area trails with a professional photographer, and the first one will be in Pondicherry Park on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. until noon.

The Rec Dept. will provide memory cards and discs to allow participants to take their photos home, and will even loan you a camera if you don’t have your own. The hike is perfect for the beginner in both hiking and photography, and is free. Contact Rec Director Tom Tash at 647-8786 to sign up. Maximum of 15 participants per event, so sign up early.

Meet the breeds

April is the ASPCA’s Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, and the Bridgton Vet Hospital is hosting a “Meet the Breeds” day on Sunday, April 17, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Along with having a chance to see many types of dogs including Dalmatians, Spaniels, Beagles, Sheepdogs and Bull Mastiffs, the event is a food drive for the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. So come and learn all about the health and personality traits of different breeds and feel free to bring as many cans of dog food and treats as you would like. It’s free, and everyone is welcome whether you come with full or empty hands. Bridgton Vet is located on Route 117, 231 Harrison Road.