Workforce training event at SMCC

On Thursday, Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., the Business & Community Partnerships Department at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland is holding an open house to give area businesses the opportunity to learn about the college’s workforce training programs. In addition, out-of-work Mainers can register for free training in Microsoft applications.

The event will be held at the McKernan Hospitality Center.

Business leaders are invited to learn about the college’s affordable, customized employee training and professional development programs. The event will also serve as the launch for SkillUp Maine – a program that offers unemployed, underemployed and part-time workers free Microsoft training.

Show up anytime during the day and register for free online courses in Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint applications. The first 100 participants to complete the training are also eligible for a free certification voucher.

SkillUp Maine is a collaborative effort between the Maine Community College System and New York Wired for Education, an e-training company focused on workforce development. Contact Peggy Fleury at 741-5758 or pfleury@smccME.edu for more information.

PTA hosts Family Literacy Night

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6-7:30 p.m., the parent-teacher association at Wentworth School in Scarborough will host its annual Family Literacy Night.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include fun for the whole family, such as a scavenger hunt, word Bingo, a reader’s theater, a book swap and more. See the Wentworth PTA page on Facebook for more information.

Upcoming events at Scarborough Public Library

November will be a busy month at the Scarborough Public Library as it introduces its Camden Conference Series and holds a variety of other fun and interesting programs for all ages.

All events are free and open to the pubic, unless otherwise noted. Call 883-4723 or see www.scarboroughlibrary.org for more information.

• Sunday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m., Camden Conference kick off

The library has partnered with the Camden Conference to bring a series of original programs to Scarborough. Each will explore the theme “Russia Resurgent” – the focus of the 2015 conference to be held in February 20-22 in Camden.

The first program in the series will feature literary translator, Lisa Hayden, who will present a program, entitled, “Today’s Russia in Contemporary Russian Fiction: One Translator’s Experiences.” Hayden will read passages from Russian literary works she has translated to illustrate ways contemporary Russian fiction writers address aspects of Russian history in their work.

Hayden, who lives in Scarborough, has had translations published in various journals and anthologies. Her blog, Lizok’s Bookshelf, also focuses on contemporary Russian fiction.

• Monday, Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m., “Words and Pictures”

This month’s Monday Movie Matine?e tells the story of an English teacher and fallen literary star, Clive Owen, who challenges an art teacher, Juliette Binoche, to a war of words versus images to determine which art form carries the greatest meaning Rated PG-13. Running time is 111 minutes.

• Tuesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m., “Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman”

This month’s Book Discussion Group focuses on a narrative biography on Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie, which tells the extraordinary story of an obscure young German princess who traveled to Russia at 14 and rose to become one of the most remarkable, powerful and captivating women in history.

• Thursday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. Lets Talk America

This month’s session will focus on the topic, “What should the U.S. and the international community be doing to defeat/control the Ebola crisis?” Call Sam at 650-1814 for more information.

• Sunday, Nov. 16, 2-4 p.m., Kitchen Gardens with Roger Doiron

The Friends Of Scarborough Library are sponsoring this program by Scarborough resident Roger Doiron, who is the founder and director of Kitchen Gardens International.

Horror author coming to South Portland

Fans of Maine horror author Stephen King have an opportunity to meet the famous writer when he makes an appearance at Books-a- Million in South Portland to sign copies of his new book, “Revival.”

Tickets for the event will become available starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Only those with a ticket will be allowed to attend King’s Nov. 17 event at the bookstore.

In order to get a ticket, attendees must firt purchase a copy of “Revivial” at the South Portland Books-A-Million store and provide a receipt. Each customer must be present to receive one ticket per book.

Only copies of “Revival” will be signed at this event. King will sign no other memorabilia or books. The stop in South Portland is part of a six-city tour promoting his new book.

Police offer mother-daughter self-defense class

The South Portland Police Department is offering a free self-defense class for mothers and daughters on Saturday, Nov. 1. The WAVE program will be held at the police station, 8 a.m.-noon. To register please contact officer Linda Barker at lindba@southportland.org or 799-5511, ext. 7424.

Cape land trust to hold annual meeting, Nov. 2

The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Nov. 2, 5-7 p.m. at the Purpoodock Club. The public is invited to attend this special event, which will feature a keynote presentation from Ben Tettlebaum, a Rhodes Fellow working with the Conservation Law Foundation to strengthen Maine’s local foods community.

His talk, entitled, “Can the Local Foods Movement Grow Without Losing its Soul?,” raises critical legal and structural questions for both food consumers and producers. The annual meeting will also feature updates from Chris Franklin, the land trust’s executive director, as well as Kathleen Janick, board president.

The event will include a cash bar and light fare. Pre-registration is required and will be limited to the first 150 registrants. Call

767-6064 or email info@capelandtrust.org to sign up or for more information.

Land trust benefit

On Thursday, Nov. 6, 5-9 p.m., Portland Pie will donate $1 from every pizza or Shipyard beer sold to the Scarborough Land Trust.

Get your pizza delivered or eat in or take out from any one of Portland Pie’s three locations – Scarborough, Westbrook and Portland. Call the land trust at 289-1199 for more information.

College offers film screening, discussion, Nov. 6

On Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m., the Social Science Department at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland will host a screening for a documentary film about family in Maine, which will followed by a discussion.

The film, “Household – Four Stories of Kinship and Curiosity,” will be shown in the auditorium at Jewett Hall. Assistant sociology professor Genevieve Cox will lead the discussion following the viewing. This event is free and open to the public.

Marching band finals at Thornton Academy, Nov. 1

The Maine Band Directors’ Association is hosting the marching band state finals on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Hill Stadium, which is located at Thornton Academy in Saco.

The event will feature local bands, including the one from South Portland High School, which is scheduled to take the field at 6 p.m.

In addition, bands from Westbrook and Old Orchard Beach high schools are also set to compete – at 5 and 5:45 p.m. respectively. The competition kicks off at 3 p.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony.