Library hosts naval historian

Acclaimed author and historian George Daughan will be on hand at the Scarborough Public Library on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served. Call 883-4723 for more information.

Daughan will discuss his latest book, “The Shining Sea: David Porter and the Epic Voyage of the USS Essex During the War of 1812.” Daughan holds a doctorate in American history and government from Harvard and received the Samuel Eliot Morison Award in 2008 for “If By Sea.”

Copies of Daughan’s new book will be available for purchase and signing.

Law Day at library

On Thursday, May 1, noon-1 p.m., the Scarborough Public Library will celebrate Law Day with attorney Peter L. Hatem, a solo practitioner practicing in town since 2002. The event is free and open to the public. Call 883-4723 for more information.

Hatem has a civil law practice with an emphasis in real estate, civil litigation, and bankruptcy. He also represents clients in small estate planning matters, including wills and durable powers of attorney.

Law Day is a statewide event organized by the Maine Justice Action Group Collaboration on Innovation, Technology and Equal Access to Justice, which includes public libraries, the Maine State Bar Association, the Maine Bar Foundation, the state of Maine Judicial Branch, Maine’s legal aid providers and other organizations interested in helping people access the legal resources they need.

Artifacts, memorabilia sought from Willard Square

The South Portland Historical Society is seeking artifacts and mementos of businesses once housed in Willard Square. An exhibit on the square is being mounted now, so anyone with an item to share should call 767-7299 as soon as possible.

Cancer society holds ‘Bark for Life’ walk

On Sunday, May 4, the American Cancer Society will hold the Bark for Life of Greater Portland fundraising walk at Bug Light Park in South Portland.

The walk is designed for dogs and their owners who want to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Registration for this 3-mile walk on a pre-planned route begins at 11:30 a.m.

In addition to the walk, the event includes games, demonstrations, children’s activities and more. Call 1-800-227-2345 or see www.relayforlife.org more information.

Blue Point School kids in concert

Students at Blue Point School in Scarborough will present their annual spring concert at the Winslow Homer Auditorium in the high school, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, and Thursday, May 1.

Both concerts will be similar in terms of the music and choreography performed, according to Suzanne Ingrisano, the school’s music teacher.

On Tuesday, second graders in Lori Bloom’s and Marilisa Dowling’s classrooms will perform, along with the first-graders taught by Leah Ly and Amy Taylor. In addition, the Blue Point Singers and the kindergartners in Aimee Sheehan’s class will also perform.

On Thursday, the second-graders taught by Miriam Collins and Julie Belanger will perform, along with first-graders in the classrooms of Lisa Douglas and Kelly Harriman. The kindergartners taught by Patty Penley and Alison McLean will also be in concert.

CEHS mock trial team fundraiser

The mock trial team at Cape Elizabeth High School will hold a fundraiser at The Local Buzz, 327 Ocean House Road, on Friday, April 25, from 7-9 p.m. Email [email protected] for more information.

CEHS musicians Sam MacDuffie, Leo Wing, Robert McKay, Charlie Tall, and Austin Mageles will perform music of different genres. All proceeds will help the mock trial team get to the national championship being held on Wisconsin next month.

Kids invited to play Ultimate Frisbee

Beginning on Tuesday, April 29, Cape Elizabeth Community Services is offering a new Ultimate Frisbee Club for kids in fifth through eighth-grade. The club will meet twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-4 p.m., at the middle school playground. The cost is $72 for the session, which runs through June 5. Call 799-2868 or go online to www.capecommunityservices.org to register.

Library offers marble tourney

On Friday, April 25, at 11 a.m., the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth will hold a marble tournament for kids 7 to 12.

This event is free and open to the public. See www.thomasmemoriallibrary.org to register.

Preschool in the Park event

On Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the city of South Portland will host its second annual Preschool in the Park festival at Mill Creek Park. The event includes a variety of games, prizes, entertainment and more. Free and open to the public. Call the Recreation Department at 767-7650 for more information.

Applicants sought for Cape firing range committee

The Appointments Committee of the Town Council is now accepting applications for residents interested in serving on the new Firing Range Committee or the Personnel Appeals Board.

The Firing Range Committee needs one resident and one member who is a certified firearms instructor and may or may not be a resident.

The open term on the Personnel Appeals Board expires in December of 2016. The board is a quasi-judicial, three-member body that meets in the event an employee files an appeal of a disciplinary action.

Applications are available on the town website at www.capeelizabeth.com and are due no later than Friday, April 25. Call Debra Lane at 799-7665 for more information.

Scarborough Land Trust holds spring clean up

On Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to noon, the Scarborough Land Trust will hold its annual spring clean up event on its various trails and other properties. Volunteers are needed, but there will be no heavy lifting or strenuous work. Attendees should bring their own work gloves and wear boots. There will also be an optional brown bag lunch at the Broadturn Farm afterward. Call 289-1199 or email [email protected] for the meet-up location.

Lyric Music Theater offers scholarships

The Lyric Music Theater in South Portland is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. There is no age limit and scholarships may be awarded to college-bound students majoring in the arts, younger students pursing artistic lessons such as voice or instrument locally, as well as adults taking a local class in the arts.

Applicants must submit a written statement outlining their current pursuit of arts-related education opportunities and the proposed use of the scholarship. The deadline for applications is Thursday, May 1.

Go to www.lyricmusictheater.org/scholarships.aspx to download the scholarship application, then mail the completed form to: Attn: Scholarship Committee, Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer Street, South Portland, Maine, 04106.

‘Dancing with the Community’ nets $2K

It was a packed house on April 5th at the Westbrook American Legion Hall where 150 people came out to enjoy the local version of Dancing with the Stars hosted by South Portland Recreation and local dance studios. The sixth year of the benefit dance raised another $2,000 for the South Portland Recreation Senior Fitness class; “Fit to Live.”

This event has featured local celebrities dancing with local area dance instructors. First place was awarded to the founder of “Women to Women”, Marcelle Pick and her instructor Laurence Miller; they danced their way to the top by performing the Tango. Second place went to Raisa Pelletier, owner of Raisa’s Sewing & Accessories, a custom dressmaking business in Portland. Pelletier and her dance partner, Sergei Slussky preformed the Hustle. The other two couples: Dr. Shelia Pinette, director of the Maine CDC, danced with John Davis, and Dori Flynn, owner of Curves in Westbrook, danced with David Marcotte.

There were also special guest appearances from past dancers including last year’s champions Eric Finch and Lesley Hoey. Finch is the head swim coach for both middle and high school teams in Scarborough. A showcase was performed by Patty Medina, founder of “Fit to Live” and Doug Roth. The master of ceremonies was Trish Scott, who kept the crowd entertained throughout the evening. The event was catered by French’s Cakes, which really was the “icing on the cake” to this wonderful night.

May events at the Scarborough Marsh

Throughout the month of May Maine Audubon will hold a variety of special programs and events at the Scarborough Marsh Center off Pine Point Road. Call 883-5100 or see www.maineaudubon.org/find-us/scarborough-marsh for more information, including how to register.

• Monday, May 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Salt Marsh Nature Explorations.

The cost is $5 per person. Event is suitable for ages 4 and up. In this 1.5-hour interactive exploration, participants have the opportunity for hands-on learning about the plants and animals unique to the salt marsh, including catching and releasing fish and testing marsh mud and upland soil.

• Monday, May 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Salt Marsh by Canoe.

The cost is $11 per person with a 10-person minimum. Suitable for students in grades 7 and up. This 1.5-hour program provides a special opportunity to explore the salt marsh. During this unique paddle adventure participants become a part of the dynamic Dunstan River habitat, observing its inhabitants in their natural setting. See crabs, fish, feeding birds, edible plants and more.

• Monday, May 26, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Snowy Egret 5K Run/Walk.

Run or walk at one of the most scenic and special places in Maine and support the Scarborough Marsh. The race starts at 9 a.m. with a 1K Fun Run for kids at 8:30 a.m. The entry fee is $14 for those that pre-register and $17 on race day. The fun run, for kids 12 and under, is $4. The race is sponsored by the Chiropractic Family Wellness Center.

On Saturday, May 3, 7-8:30 p.m., the Bellamy Jazz Band will play a concert at the main branch of the South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway. The event is free and open to the public. Call 767-7660 for more information. The band plays traditional New Orleans- and Chicago-style jazz and swing and features Peter Dunphy on banjo, tenor guitar and vocals; Peter Lord on soprano and tenor saxophone; Bill Thurston on drums; Al Doane on string bass; Dana Fisher on trumpet; and David DeBree on tenor sax and vocals.