CAPE ELIZABETH

Three topics at genealogy meeting

The Greater Portland Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 29 Ocean House Road.

The meeting will begin with a social time that includes refreshments.

The program will follow at 1 p.m., allowing those in attendance a chance to explore three different topics: “Organizing Your Research,” “Vital Records – How to Use in Genealogy Research” and “DNA Questions and Discussions.” Following the program, there will be a business meeting.

At the December 2014 meeting, the following officers were elected for 2015: Paul Doucette, president; Sue Hawes, vice president; Diane Holden, treasurer; Sharon Shane, secretary; and Nancy Mason, program chair.

For more details, call Paul Doucette at 899-9640.

SCARBOROUGH

Memoir writer to address group

The Scarborough Historical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the society’s museum and meeting room, 647 Route 1 (adjacent to the Dunstan Fire Station).

A brief business meeting will be held, followed by a presentation by Thatcher Freund, a memoir writer and journalist.

All monthly meetings are free to members of the public. However, donations are always welcome.

The presentation is about one hour.

For more details, call Dr. Bruce Thurlow at 883-5445 or email Thurlow@maine.rr.com.

PORTLAND

Family contradance at library

Children and families are invited to ring in the New Year with a family contradance on New Year’s Eve morning at the Portland Public Library.

Maggie Robinson and Jenny Van West will lead the session, from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, in the Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library at 5 Monument Square.

Contradance is a type of social dance where parallel lines of dancers stand opposite – or “contra to” – their partners. A caller, usually working with a group of live musicians, guides new and experienced dancers alike through a variety of dances. Contradancing is about social interaction, meeting people and making new friends, set to music.

The accompanying music for contradances includes, but is not limited to Irish, Scottish and French-Canadian folk songs.

For more details, call Jerri Blatt at 871-1700 ext. 707 or email childrens@portland.lib.me.us.

College workshops for adults

The Maine Educational Opportunity Center will host free “Essentials of College Planning” workshops for adults, 19 and older, at the following times and locations: Portland CareerCenter, 185 Lancaster St., at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 13, 20 and 27; Portland Adult Education, 14 Locust St. at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 14, 21 and 28.

MEOC is funded entirely by the U.S. Department of Education. The program helps qualified adults make the transition toward a college education. MEOC, which is housed at the University of Maine, provides assistance to adults living in Maine and helps them go to whichever college or university they choose.

To register or for more information, call 800-281-3703 or go to meoc.maine.edu.

CAMDEN

Race will benefit Malawi children

The fifth annual Holiday 5K Road Race, benefiting the nonprofit organization Go! Malawi, will be held Thursday morning at the Smokestack Grill at 43 Mechanic St.

Walkers, runners and well-behaved dogs are all welcome to register at 9:30 a.m.; the race starts at 11 a.m.

Money raised will directly fund an education program in rural Malawi that helps educate impoverished and orphaned children, since there is no free public education in Malawi past the eighth grade. Last year’s race raised enough to send 46 Malawi students to high school and four to college.

To preregister, go to at www.active.com or www.runsignup.com or go to www.go-malawi.org.

Events feature music, art, books

Camden Public Library will host three events this week at 55 Main St.

A “Song Circle” will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the facility’s Picker Room. Attendees are encouraged to bring a song or two and a friend or two for some live music in song-circle format.

All are welcome to attend.

An opening reception for artist Jack Silverio’s exhibit “Progressions and Proportions” will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

A meeting of the Simply Books Club also will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. Simply bring along whatever book you’re currently reading and share it with the group; all are welcome.

For more details, call Ken Gross at 236-3440.

KENNEBUNKPORT

Medicare kicks off senior series

The Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library will begin its monthly senior series, with the talk “Medicare and You” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at 18 Maine St.

The four sessions will focus on long-term care, Medicare, retirement planning, estate planning and social security. Each meeting will be offered in an open forum format, with a specialist in his/her appropriate field of expertise sharing the particulars with audience members.

A question-and-answer period will follow.

Additional sessions will include “Retirement Planning,” Feb. 5; “Estate Planning,” March 5; and “Social Security,” April 9.

For more details, call 967-2778 or go to www.graveslibrary.org.

KENNEBUNK

A gentle introduction to family yoga

Kennebunk Free Library is offering Family Yoga at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at 112 Main St.

Open to children ages 4 and up, this gentle introduction to yoga will feature spinal stretches and twists, a few active standing poses and some group or partner poses that are sure to invite fun and laughter. Moving and stretching with attention to breathing will promote focus and relaxation.

Space is limited. Preregistration and a waiver are required.

Attendees are welcome to bring their own yoga mat if they have one, and all are asked to bring a blanket for warmth during resting pose.

For more details, call 985-2173, ext. 5, or go to www.KennebunkLibrary.org.

Legos club will meet 2 p.m. Tuesday

The Kennebunk Free Library Legos Club will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at 112 Main St.

Because it is school vacation week, the meeting time will be earlier in the day than usual.

Children in kindergarten and older are encouraged to preregister for this popular program, because space is limited.

Legos are provided and attendees are asked to leave theirs at home.

For more details, call 985-2173, ext. 5, or go to www.KennebunkLibrary.org.

Learn to evaluate genealogy data

Pam Eagleson, a certified genealogist, will present “Confronting Conflicting Evidence” at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St.

In genealogical work it’s almost a given that researchers will encounter conflicting evidence. This lecture examines ways to analyze and resolve such evidence.

Genealogy is the passion of Eagleson, who regularly offers her services to teach, lecture, write and mentor on the subject.

Drop-ins are welcome.

For more details, call 985-2173 or email kfl@kennebunk.lib.me.us.

JEFFERSON

Evening with artist George Mason

A “Full Moon Art Walk and Community Supper,” featuring the works of Hidden Valley Nature Center artist in residence George Mason will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the center, 131 Egypt Road.

Mason, of Damariscotta Mills, spent nearly two weeks living at the 1,000-acre parcel at HVNC in October, exploring the woods and wetlands and creating his artwork.

A recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts awards, Mason has shown at the Portland Museum of Art and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, with solo shows at the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.

Visitors will meet at the main gate and will, as a group, head through the woods and gather at HVNC’s educational buildings where Mason’s work will be on display.

The evening will also include a light supper, wine, hot cider and some remarks from Mason. There is a suggested $5 donation.

For more details, call 200-8840 or go to www.hvnc.org.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Take a dip for Special Olympics

Registrations are still being accepted for the 2015 New Year’s Day Lobster Dip at noon Jan. 1 in front of The Brunswick.

The event benefits Special Olympics Maine.

Each dipper must raise a minimum of $100 to get a premium long sleeve T-shirt.

Visit www.somaine.org to download a registration packet or call 879-0489 for details.

WELLS

Coupon expert to reveal her secrets

Wells Public Library will host a Lunch and Learn session with couponing practitioner Kathy Slowick at noon Friday at 1434 Post Road.

Slowick has been an “extreme coupon expert” and skilled money saver for many years and teaches others how to do what she does. Join her to learn how to save money on your family’s grocery bill.

Slowick also will discuss how to donate to worthy organizations or needy families without breaking the bank.

Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch; the library will provide drinks and desserts.

For more details, contact Kristi Bryant at kbryant@wellstown.org or call the library at 646-8181.

Copy the Story Link