• BENEFITS
Windham High School presents Dancing with the Stars to benefit Project Graduation, $10, $5 students. Windham High School, Performing Arts Center, 406 Gray Road, Windham. windham.k12.me.us/wpac. 7 p.m. Thursday.
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Brazil Dinner Party by Cottage Street Creative Exchange for local and global programs. $20 advance, $25 door. Art Moves Dance, 13 Cottage St., Norway. artmovesdance.com. 6-9 p.m. Saturday.
Bachelorette Auction to benefit Second Chances Foundation, including drinks and dancing. $15. The Carriage House, 119 Lisbon St., Lewiston. aimeescause.org/ai1ec_event/second-chances-bachelorette-auction. 6-11 p.m. Saturday.
Italian dinner and silent auction to benefit The New School, enjoy pastas, salads, breads and desserts and bid on great items. $5. First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk, 114 Main St. (Route 1). www.tnsk.org. 5:30- 8 p.m. Saturday.
Otto fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, Otto, 225 Congress St., Portland. ottoportland.com. 5-9 p.m. Tuesday.
Scoop-a-Thon for Brunswick Teen Center, nearly 50 scoopers from town government, local schools and Bowdoin College will assist. The Gelato Fiasco, 74 Maine St., Brunswick. www.gelatofiasco.com. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday.
• BOOKS & AUTHORS
Poet Betsy Sholl, reading and discussion with the author of seven collections of poetry. Free. Maine Women Writers Collection, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Abplanalp Library, Portland. une.edu/mwwc/conferences/authorseries.cfm. Noon Thursday.
Don Kerr will read from his new book, “Silent Strength: Remembering the Men of Genius and Adventure Lost in the World’s Worst Submarine Disaster,” free. Rice Public Library, 8 Wentworth Ave., Kittery. 6 p.m. Thursday.
Local author and ship captain Dominick Jones reads from his most recent book, “All At Sea: Twenty Years at the Helm of Tall Ships,” $5. The Apprenticeshop, 643 Main St., Rockland. www.apprenticeshop.org/. 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
AuthorFest 2014, meet more than 35 authors and illustrators from across New England. Books for pre-kindergarten to adult will be available for signing and purchase. Free. Cape Elizabeth High School, 345 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Open Mic Poetry Night, readers have three minutes to read their favorite poem, their own or someone else’s. Refreshments will be served, free. Patten Free Library, 33 Summer St., Bath. www.patten.lib.me.us. 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday.
Susan Q. Stranahan, award-winning journalist and author will speak about the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the subject of her latest book, free. Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Road, Cape Elizabeth. www.thomasmemoriallibrary.org. 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 17.
Richard J. King will discuss his book “The Devil’s Cormorant,” and the history, ecology and economy of this misunderstood waterfowl. Free. Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 9 Water St., Rockland. 7 p.m. April 17.
• DANCING
Salsa dancing with DJ Baulio, Latin, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, bachata and Latin hits. Dance lessons included. $5, 21-plus. Pearl Lounge, 444 Fore St., Portland. pearloldport.com. 8 p.m. Thursday and April 17.
Greater Portland Community Dance, Avant Dance & Event Center, 865 Spring St. Westbrook. avantmaine.com. $15 for lesson and dance; $10 for dance only. Lessons at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Friday.
Poets and Fools Costume Party and Dance, lively variety show with poets, storytellers, musicians, performers and a mysterious emcee; followed by a costume contest with celebrity judges, prizes and a raffle. Cash bar, dance music by Merther, refreshments, fun and friends. Costumes optional. Benefit for Waterfall Arts, $8. 256 High St., Belfast. waterfallarts.org. 7 p.m. Friday.
Afro-Carribean Dance Party, $5. Slainte, 24 Preble St., Portland. 10 p.m. Friday.
Contradance, music by Perpetual e-Motion with Maggie Robinson calling. Bring clean shoes and water. Topsham Grange, 47 Pleasant St., Topsham. Family dance at 6 p.m., finger food potluck at 7 p.m., beginner lesson at 7:30 p.m., dance at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Contradance with The Pineland Fiddlers playing and Richard Green calling, all dances taught; beginners are welcome. No partner necessary. $6 adults, $5 students, $15 family. Farmington Grange, Bridge Street, West Farmington. www.starleft.org. 8 p.m. Saturday.
Dance featuring Almost There, classic rock, country and blues; door prize. $5, for tickets call 696-5848 after 4 p.m. or stop at the hall. Madison American Legion, 20 Maple St. 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
• FOOD AND DRINK
Gary’s House Gourmet Gala, local dishes from favorite restaurants and caterers, wine, beer and a cooking competition among Maine law firms. $40. Ocean Gateway Terminal, 14 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland. mercyhospital.org. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday.
EAT Brunswick! restaurants and culinary businesses will offer breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as treats and snacks with special pricing, $6.14-$30.14. brunswickdowntown.org. Through Sunday.
Family Style Buffet Dinner, sponsored by Rolling Thunder, support local veterans, $5 adults, $2 for kids under 12. Sanford VFW, Hutchinson and School streets. 892-5333. 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday.
Bread Baking Class, learn the art of organic whole-grain sourdough bread baking. $55. Long Branch School, 20 Main St., Bowdoinham. longbranchschool.com. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Miso Making Workshop, Sheepscot General Store, 98 Townhouse Road, Whitefield. sheepscotgeneral.com/. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Cooking for Crowds, for volunteer cooks, learn up-to-date food safety techniques for buying, storing, preparing, transporting and serving food. Workshop meets the Good Shepherd-Food Bank requirements. $15. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 75 Clearwater Dr., Suite 104, Falmouth. umaine.edu/food-health/food-safety/cooking-for-crowds. 1-5 p.m. April 17.
• FOR KIDS
Planetarium Show: Two Small Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope, ages 9 and up, $3, UM students free with MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. GalaxyMaine.com. 7 p.m. Friday.
Theater on a Hand Children’s Puppet Workshop, create a simple cast of characters, a backdrop and a puppet show all on one hand. Ages 7-11. $15 (includes materials). Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. mayostreetarts.org/2014/03/april-12-theater-on-a-hand-puppet-workshop/. 1- 3 p.m. Saturday.
Planetarium Show: Earth, Moon & Sun. $3, UM students free with MaineCard. Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium, University of Maine, 5781 Wingate Hall, Orono. GalaxyMaine.com. 2 p.m. Sunday.
Brass: What a Wonderful World of Music! The PSO brass quintet takes you on a journey to explore the many places we hear music in our daily lives. $4. Kennebunk Elementary School, 177 Alewive Road. www.portlandsymphony.org/content/tickets/browse-performances/kinderkonzerts-2. 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Woodwinds: Five Fables of Aesop, PSO woodwind ensemble retells the Fables of Aesop. $4. Olin Arts Center, Bates College, 75 Russell St., Lewiston. www.portlandsymphony.org/content/tickets/browse-performances/kinderkonzerts-2/. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Good Night, Nature at Maine Audubon, gentle moonlit hour based around a bedtime story about animals of the night. We will play, sing and create art. Child members $10; non-members $15. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. www.maineaudubon.org/events. 6-7 p.m. Tuesday.
Felting for kids, learn how to turn sheep’s fleece into felted-wool items. $5. Pineland Farms Education Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. www.pinelandfarms.org. 10 a.m. April 17.
• LECTURES
Big Material in Small Archives, Alexandra Socarides speaks on use of the regional archive in a study of 19th century women’s poetry, free. Maine Women Writers Collection, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave., Aplanalp Library, Portland. www.une.edu/mwwc/conferences/authorseries.cfm. 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday.
Illustrated Talk on Historic Sailmaking by Eben Wilson of Wilson Sailmakers. Camden Public Library, 55 Main St. www.librarycamden.org. 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday .
Medical Marijuana, a free public lecture exploring medical marijuana and its history from basic medical condition treatments to cutting edge applications. Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium, 5 Monument Square. 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Development and Social Importance of Bicycles, talk by Zip Zamarchi, free. Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum, 505 Main St., Springvale. 7 p.m. April 17.
• OUTDOORS
Morning Bird Walks, looking for birds, wildlife and plants. Members $5; non-members $8. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. www.maineaudubon.org/events. 8-10 a.m. Thursday and Saturday.
• PETS
Adoptable dogs in South Portland, Animal Welfare Society Mobile Adoption Team will visit with some adoptable canines at Petco, 220 Maine Mall Road, South Portland. Free. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
Rabbit Care Workshop, free. Coastal Humane Society, 190 Pleasant St., Brunswick. www.coastalhumanesociety.org. 1-3 p.m. Saturday.
• SPECIAL EVENTS
Sierra Club’s monthly pub gathering, bringing together environmentalists in a fun and informal opportunity. Bull Feeney’s , 375 Fore St., Portland. action.sierraclub.org/site/PageNavigator/PortlandGroup3rdMeeting.html. 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Vicki Monroe, psychic, medium and spirit messenger, $35. jonathansrestaurant.com. 8 p.m. Friday.
April Stools Day & Community Cleanup, help clean up Portland parks and beaches. easternpromenade.org/events/. Coffee and goodies at Hill House, 92 Congress St. before and lunchtime snacks donated by Rosemont Market around noon. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Community Electronic Waste Recycling Day, free. Woodbury Campus Center Parking Lot, University of Southern Maine, 45 Bedford St., Portland. usm.maine.edu/sustainability/community-electronic-waste-recycling-day. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
The Maine State Button Society 11th annual Button Show and Sale, free admission. St. Louis Alumni Hall, 649 Elm St., Biddeford. www.mainebuttons.com. 9 a.m. Saturday.
Pine Tree State Bodybuilding, Figure & Bikini Championships, Maine State Health and Fitness Expo with special guest Mike O’Hearn. $20, free for kids 12 and under. Westbrook Performing Art Center, 471 Stroudwater St., Westbrook. facebook.com/events/204388999744844. 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Bath Antiques Show, more than 40 dealers, $4. Bath Middle School, 6 Old Brunswick Road, Bath. bathantiquesshows.com. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
Mind Body Spirit Festival, holistic health practitioners, readings from psychics and mediums, crystals, massage. $5 includes most workshops. Ramada, Saco Plaza. 10 a.m. Sunday.
Port Veritas, spoken word series hosts an open mic, double feature by Theresa Davis and Shyla Hardwick, and semifinals poetry slam. $3. Bull Feeney’s , 375 Fore St., Portland. www.portveritas.com/april.html. 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.
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