PORTLAND

Blood drive honors baby

The Whitby P. Tousignant Memorial Birthday Blood Drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at the American Red Cross Portland Donor Center, 524 Forest Ave., Portland.

The blood drive is hosted by Rebeccah Schaffner and Peter Tousignant, Whit’s parents. Whit died on Jan. 28, 2012. He was born on June 25, 2011, with a severe congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS.

Last year, the blood drive collected 56 pints and welcomed over 20 first-time donors.

“Whit needed blood transfusions to survive surgeries and complications on several occasions, and that blood was available only because other people chose to be donors,” Tousignant said in a statement. “Unfortunately, blood shortages happen, particularly in the summer months. We want to address this need and also celebrate Whit’s life by helping more people become regular blood donors.”

People interested in donating blood are encouraged to make an appointment. To donate, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to www.redcrossblood.org.

BIDDEFORD

Medical center offers classes

Southern Maine Health Care is offering several health education programs this week.

Connie Arnold, a macrobiotic master chef, is offering a natural foods cooking class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sweetser School, 50 Moody St. in Saco.

A childbirth education class will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The class will cover a variety of birthing information. The cost is $75.

A breastfeeding class led by a board-certified lactation consultant will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

A grandparents class, which includes infant CPR and car seat safety, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

The classes are free and held at SMHC Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive.

Pre-registration is required. To register, call 283-7350.

BRUNSWICK

Book sale benefits library

The annual Curtis Friends Book Sale to benefit the library will be held Thursday through Sunday at Brunswick Junior High School Gymnasium at 65 Columbia Ave.

It begins with a Member Appreciation Sale from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Memberships are available at the door for levels beginning at just $10.

Regular sale hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more details, go to www.curtislibrary.com/booksale, or call Scott Johnson at 721-0593.

RAYMOND

Yard sale and flea market

A yard sale and flea market will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Raymond Village Community Church at 27 Main St.

There will be a parking lot full of new and used merchandise and a church full of local vendors, plus clowns, a pie sale, grilled lunch items and a silent auction.

Table space is available for a nominal fee by calling Lois at (860) 550-1207.

For more details, call the Rev. Nancy Foran at 655-7749 or email revnancy@rvccme.org.

BOOTHBAY

Garden Symposium Friday

The 11th annual Garden Symposium from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens will feature three innovative landscape designers and garden writers who embrace art and creativity in design.

Rochelle Greayer, founder and editor of Pith + Vigor, will give the lecture “Express Yourself: Cultivating Garden Style.” Ellen Ogden, writer for Garden Design, Eating Well, Organic Gardening, Martha Stewart and many of her own books, will discuss “The Art of Growing Good: Elevating Ordinary to Extraordinary.” And Julie Moir Messervy, award-winning landscape designer and author, will give the talk “Creating the Places of Beauty and Meaning.”

The cost is $100 or $85 for garden members and includes continental breakfast, box lunch and garden admission. To register, call 633-8000 or go to www.mainegardens.org.

SPRINGVALE

Story Time at the library

Story Time will be offered at 10 a.m. each Monday through Aug. 10 at the library at 443 Main St.

This weekly group is for children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers, and features stories, finger plays, songs and activities. For more details, call 324-4624 or go to www.springvale- library.org.