Greater Portland

Benefits

Saturday 8/25

Allagash Fluxus Ale Release Party, benefits pediatric nurse education, 2-4 p.m., Vignola Cinque Terre, 10 Dana St., Portland, 662-2243, $10.

PortQuest, scavenger hunt, benefits Easter Seals, Old Port, Portland, register online: eastersealsme.org.

Bulletin Board

Toy/Book/Art Supply Drive, at the Ledgemere Country Day School, through Aug. 31, Mitchell Road, Cape Elizabeth, 799-4631.

Wednesday 8/22

Governor Baxter Day, 6 a.m.- 8 p.m., various locations in Portland and Falmouth, costs vary for each event, 763-3014.

Friday 8/24

Thrift Shop Estate Sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St., Freeport, rlyman@fcsmaine.org 

Saturday 8/25

Bake and craft sale, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., People’s Methodist Church, 310 Broadway, South Portland, angelsuzieq@aol.com

Thrift Shop Estate Sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St., Freeport, rlyman@fcsmaine.org

Sunday 9/2

Backpack giveaway, 10:30 a.m., Next Level Church, 1053 Forest Ave., Portland, register: nlc.tv/freebackpacks, 878-8002.

Call for Volunteers

Hospice volunteer training, free 21-hour program, in July, Sept., and Oct., Beacon Hospice Center, 54 Atlantic Place, 772-0929.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network needs volunteer weather observers, visit cocorahs.org for more information.

Cumberland County Extension Association is looking for volunteers to serve on board of directors, 781-6099.

Help Someone Write Their Business Success Story, become a SCORE volunteer, 772-1147.

International Cultural Exchange Services seeking families to host a foreign exchange student, 8383-3868.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind is looking for people to host and train puppies to become guide dogs, kh@millspoint154.com.

Dining Out

Saturday 8/25

Bean supper, 5-6 p.m., West Falmouth Baptist Church, 18 Mountain Road, Falmouth, 797-4066, $7 adults, $3 children ages 5-12, under 5 free.

Roast beef dinner, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Stevens Avenue Congregational Church, 790 Stevens Ave., Portland, 797-4573, $5 children 12 and under, $7 children over 12, $9 adults.

Bean supper, 5-6 p.m., Harraseeket Grange No. 9, 13 Elm St., Freeport, adults $7, children under 10 $3, 865-3363.

Saturday 9/1

Bean supper, 5-6:30 p.m., The Triangle Club of Casco Lodge No. 36 A.F. & A. M. Yarmouth, 20 Mill St., Yarmouth, adults: $8, children 5-12 $5, children 5 and younger free.

Getting Smarter

One-on-One computer and Facebook training, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, registration required, 871-1700 ext. 708.

Health & Support

Daytime Bereavement Support Group, 2-3:30 p.m., 8 weeks from Aug. 16 through Oct. 4, West Scarborough United Methodist Church, 2 Church St., Scarborough, register: 289-3651.

Saturday 8/25

Intro to tai chi, 10 a.m., Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main St., Cumberland, 829-2215.

Asana Breakdown, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Breathing Room Yoga and Movement Studio, 864 Broadway, South Portland, cathedralanatomy@gmail.com, $25

Wednesday 8/29 

Meaningful moments in the home for those living with dementia, presentation, 6-7:30 p.m., Genesis HealthCare, 22 Northbrook Drive, Falmouth, 781-5775 x 227.

Just for Seniors

Cards & Coffee, 10 a.m., Tuesdays, Casco Bay YMCA, 14 Old South Freeport Road, Freeport, 865-9600.

The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Southern Maine Agency on Aging is looking for people age 55 and over to volunteer; local opportunities include an arts center in Portland; school mentoring or tutoring; spending time with residents in long term care facilities; volunteering as a tax aide or at a nonprofit. FMI, Priscilla Greene, 396-6521 or 800-427-7411, ext. 521.

Mid Coast

Benefits

Silent auction to benefit the Coastal Humane Society, beginning Aug. 1, list of items at At Last… Salon & Day Spa, 185 Park Row, Brunswick, and online, atlast2010.webstore.com

Bulletin Board

Wednesday 8/22 

The Cost of War, The Price of Peace: Hard Questions About the U.S. War in Afghanistan, Kathy Kelly, 7 p.m., Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick, 725-7675.

Saturday 8/25

Family fun day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bath United Methodist Church, 340 Oak Grove Ave., Bath, 443-4707. 

Saturday 9/1

Music and Fireworks, 6-8 p.m., George J. Mitchell Field, Route 123, Harpswell, Rain date Sunday, September 2. harpswellfestival.org, 833-0562.

50/50 Bingo, 1-3 p.m., Bath Senior Center, 45 Floral St., Bath, 443-4937. 

Call for Volunteers

Coastal Humane Society seeks walkers for Paws for a Cause, Aug. 25 at L.L. Bean, 449-1366.

Ongoing

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice has a growing need for hospice volunteers in the Brunswick area, training, call 777-7740, AHCH.org.

ArtVan Program seeks volunteers to help with art therapy programming with children and teens, promotional support and fundraising efforts, contact 371-4125 or visit artvanprogram.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks volunteer mentors (must be 18+) willing to commit one year and spend eight hours a month with a child 6-14 who lives in a single parent home, contact Brunswick office at 729-7736 or bigbbigs@bbbsbathbrun.org.

Chocolate Church Arts Center seeks volunteers for the art gallery and more, 798 Washington St., Bath, 442-8455.

The Greater Bath Elder Outreach Network, a program of Catholic Charities Maine, is looking for volunteers a few hours a week to assist seniors by providing companionship, transportation, assistance with errands and telephone reassurance for elderly and disabled people who live in Sagadahoc County and the Brunswick area, Martha Cushing, 837-8810; meetings 6-7:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, Patten Free Library, Bath, 837-8810.

Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine needs volunteers at ReStore in Bath, minimum four-hour shift commitment, 386-5081 or michele@habitat7rivers.org.

Home to Home, an organization providing a safe place for parents to exchange children for visitations, needs volunteers, commitment of 1-2 hours per exchange period, police check and training required, Mid-Coast Hospital, Brunswick, Rich Siegel, 837-4894, mainehometohome.org.

Meals on Wheels drivers urgently needed, Wednesdays and Fridays, information, 729-0475, Spectrum Generations, 12 Main St., Topsham.

Mid Coast Hospital, dozens of positions at the café, gift shop, or greeting patients, 123 Medical Center Drive, Brunswick, 373-6015.

Mid Coast Senior Health Center needs volunteers for various activities with seniors Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, welcome desk openings, 373-3646.

Parkview Adventist Medical Center, gift shop needs volunteers, four-hour shifts mornings, afternoons and early evenings Monday through Friday, every other Sunday 1-4 p.m., will train, 373-4518 or visit the gift shop at 329 Maine St., Brunswick.

Pejepscot Historical Society needs volunteer tour guides for Skolfield-Whittier House and Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum and volunteer staff for Chamberlain Museum gift shop, 729-6606.

People Plus Center, ongoing opportunities, 6 Noble St., Brunswick, 729-0757.

Red Cross training, Disaster Action Team, free, basic classes provide foundation for delivering assistance in emergency situations, weekday evenings, course schedules at midcoast.redcross.org, register on line or call 729-6779, 563-3299, MidCoastRedCross.net, 16 Community Way, Topsham.

Road to Recovery, American Cancer Society’s transportation program seeks volunteers to help cancer patients get to their treatment appointments, call Janice Staples, 373-3715, janice.staples@cancer.org, American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham.

Spectrum Generations has volunteer opportunities in program development, outreach, and reception at its new Community Center at 12 Main St., Topsham, Dave, 729-0475.

Sexual Assault Support Services of Mid Coast Maine needs volunteers to provide support and information to callers on 24-hour hotline, 725-2181.

Dining Out

Saturday 8/25

Bean supper, 4:30-6 p.m., Bath Senior Center, 45 Floral St., Bath, 443-4937, adults $7, children $3.50.

Garden & Outdoors

Cathance River Educational Alliance, series for adults, CREA Adult Class second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. – noon, the Ecology Center, Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham; “Ecology Lecture Series,” last Tuesday each month, 6:30-8 p.m., Topsham Public Library; 12 participants, cost per class, $15 members/$20 non-members, register, creamaine.org, click on “Programs,” 798-1913 or e-mail cathanced@gwi.net.

Topsham Garden Club, noon lunch, 1 p.m. speaker and business meeting; call Marie 729-1295 or Jane 721-8675 for location and membership info; new members/guests always welcome; mainegardenclubs.org (select GCFM Districts and Clubs, Medomak District, Topsham Garden Club), meets second Wednesday from March to December.

Getting Smarter

Aging Workers Initiative of Coastal Counties Workforce Inc., holds classes/forums for those over 55; if interested in short-term certificate training in certain fields contact Barry Peaco, 319-8436, Barry.Peaco@goodwillnne.org; FMI, visit seasonedworkforce.com.

ArtWorks, Creative Arts Night, 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Bath Recreation Center, 4 Sheridan Road, Bath, $8; 443-8360.

ESOL, English as a Second Language classes, free, Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. – noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-9 p.m., basics of English and class trips to learn about Maine, to register or FMI, 729-7323 ext. 1, Merrymeeting Adult Education, 35 Republic Ave., Topsham, Michael Myers, myersm@link75.org.

International Association of Administrative Professionals, Mid Coast Area Chapter meets third Wednesday of the month, September-May, 5:15-7:30 p.m., Mid Coast Pizza and More, Bath, monthly speakers, networking, mcac-iaap.org/index.

Joshua L. Chamberlain Civil War Round Table monthly meeting and speaker, every third Thursday, free, open to public, 7 p.m., Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick, information, Dan Cunningham 729-9520, or Jay Stencil 721-0235.

Merrymeeting Regional Adult Education, various courses available, 35 Republic Ave., Topsham, 729-7323.

Sagadahoc History & Genealogy Room, focusing on communities in Sagadahoc County, Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., Bath, 443-5141.

Spectrum Generations, Southern Midcoast Community Center, 12 Maine St., Topsham, call or visit for list of classes and events, southernmidcoast@spectrumgenerations.org, 729-0475.

University College at Bath/Brunswick hosts career and academic program information sessions, free, Mid-Coast Center for Higher Education, 9 Park St., Bath, schedule at 442-7736.

Wife of Bath hosts monthly day-long creative writing retreats, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., $25, Linden Tree Meeting House, Phippsburg Congregational Church UCC, 10 Church Lane, Phippsburg, month-by-month or pre-register, 751-2414, editor@wifeofbath.net, visit wifeofbath.net.

Health & Support

Creating Meditation in Action, five week class, Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., starting Sept. 4, Shambhala Meditation Center 19 Mason Street, Brunswick, 617-308-8637, register online: shambhalabp.org, $55.

Kids and Family

Monday 8/27

Hootenanny, 9 a.m., music and movement, Spectrum Generations Coastal Community Center, 521 Main St., Darimiscotta, 563-1788.