Absentee ballots at clerk’s office

Absentee ballots can be requested for the Nov. 6 election by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 591-8131 or by requesting one online at www.westbrookmaine.com. Ballots will be mailed out after Oct. 1. In-person absentee voting will begin at City Hall on Oct. 8.

Laser Tag Turf Wars to start

The Westbrook Community Center has partnered with Trigger Combat Sports to offer laser tag programs at the center beginning in early October. ?

Trigger is live gaming on the go in the form of laser tag. The gaming guns are state-of-the-art. They look like real guns, sound like real guns, are the same size as real guns and weigh the same as real guns. They are, however, harmless, using infrared light instead of actual lasers. There are no projectiles like paintball or airsoft.

The program is open to residents of Westbrook and all surrounding communities.

Middle school group (grades 5-8)?Westbrook Community Center outdoor fields,?Fridays, 5-7 p.m.,?Oct. 5, 12, 19 and Nov. 2. ?

High school group (grades 9-12)?Westbrook Community Center outdoor fields?Fridays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Oct. 5, 12, 19 and Nov. 2.? Trigger all the The program fee is $65 residents and $75 non-resident includes four weeks and eight hours of laser tag game play, one Trigger Combat Sports bandana, one Trigger Combat Sports dog tag? and free admission to play during Westbrook Community Center’s “Fright Night” event on Friday, Oct. 26, from 6-8 p.m. (other participants pay $2 per game)? ?

Certified Trigger Combat Sports staff will be onsite to manage and supervise all sessions. Participants should dress in layers for outdoor play. This is a drop-off program.??Trigger Combat Sports Official Website:?http://triggercombatsports.com/.

To pre-register, visit http://www.westbrookcommunitycenter.org/info/activities. Registration closes at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Oct. 3. A minimum of eight persons and a maximum of 24 persons required per group to run the program.

For more information, contact Greg Post at [email protected] or call 207-854-0676.

Library launches Young Women’s Book Club

Walker Memorial Library will begin hosting a new book club, Young Women’s Book Club, for young women ages 14-18 who love to read. Those interested are invited to the first meeting, Thursday, Oct. 18, from 5-6 p.m. The first book is “All These Things I’ve Done,” by Gabrielle Zevin. There will be copies available at the library shortly; feel free to stop in or call to reserve a copy.

“All These Things I’ve Done” takes place in 2083, when chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the 16-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame.

Brush disposal

Westbrook residents can now dispose of small amounts of brush at the Public Services only during regular business hours of 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The annual fall yard debris program begins Oct. 29. Call Public Services for more information.

Halloween fun set for Oct. 26

The annual Halloween on Main Street event will take place on Friday, Oct. 26. Main Street will be shut down between Stroudwater and Mechanic streets from 4-6 pm. The event begins at 4:30 p.m.

Author, workshops, discussions ?at library

October events at Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main St., include:

For adults

Put the Stress on Wellness: Techniques to Stay Cool, Calm and Collected!?with Deb Bergeron, founder of Ocean of Possibilities, certified personal and professional life coach. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 5:30pm. This presentation focuses on wellness and gives people many proven stress management techniques for successfully managing stress. Practicing the techniques can truly add years to your life – and life to your years.

Author Speaks Series: Monica Wood, Thursday, Oct. 11, 7pm, Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church (next door at 810 Main St.). Maine author Monica Wood reads from her new memoir, “When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir of Mexico, Maine.” Reading followed by question-and-answer period with the author, followed by a book signing. Refreshments will be served.

Halloween Craft Time for Grownups with Michele, Saturday, Oct. 13, 10am?Create and decorate two spooky, charming crafty containers in this creative, fun workshop. Supplies provided. Space is limited. To sign up, contact Jenny Santomauro at 854-0630.

Walker Book Clubs. The Evening Book Group meets at 5:45pm on Thursday, Oct. 4. Read something by Monica Wood and discuss her work in preparation for her reading on Oct. 11. The Noon Book Group meets at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Help choose books for the next year.

Wireless Wednesday, every Wednesday, 10am-3pm. Got a tech issue? Bring your questions and/or your devices to the library. This isn’t limited to wireless questions –all computer or tech related issues are welcome.

?Teen Events

Hunger Games Movie Screening & Teen Read Week Kickoff?Tuesday, October 15, 4pm?Play hunger games, eat pizza and watch The Hunger Games to kickoff Teen Read Week at the library. Stay tuned for more fun events to celebrate the reader in every teen.

Young Women’s Book Club?Thursday, October 18, 5pm?Monthly book group open to young women ages 14-18 who love to read. We’ll discuss All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin.

For children

Toddler Story Times every Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30am.

Baby & Me Lapsit every Wednesday, 10:30am.

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Mission Possible names Zakaria Mohamed as October’s ‘Teen of the Month’