BRUNSWICK

Library offering a series of lectures on gardening

Curtis Memorial Library will offer the free, monthlong series of talks themed “Eat Our Yards: Food for Thought to Plant Your Plot,” from March 1 through April 5 in its Morrell Meeting Room at 23 Pleasant St.

This series of lectures is intended to educate the pubic about turning their yard into a growing space, be it for ornamental, edible or medicinal purposes, via a series of gardening talks offering growing strategies, as well as subjects like caring for bees, growing mushrooms and livestock.

The first two talks will include “Guidance on Town Zoning for Animals and Pest-free Yards (Including Browntail Moths),” headed by Heidi Nelson of Brunswick Animal Control and Mary Ann Nahf of Harpswell Conservation Commission, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and the talk “Vegetable Gardening in Maine,” to be headed by Master Gardener David Elliott from noon to 1 :30 p.m. Friday.

Additional afternoon talks, meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m., include: “Citrus Trees and Indoor Food Gardening” March 8; “Home-scale Dairy and Chickens” March 13; “Backyard Bees” March 29; “Edible Ornamentals” March 31; and “Types of Gardens and Library Resources” on April 3.

Additional evening talks, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. include: “A Medicinal Garden in Your Yard” March 21; “Perennial Vegetables for Maine” March 23; “Grow Your Own Mushrooms” March 30; and “Transform Your Community: Permablitz!” April 5.

For more details, call 725-5242, ext. 228, email honsrud@curtislibrary.com or go to curtislibrary.com/eatouryards.

KENNEBUNK

Children can read to a therapy dog named Jack

Jack the Tail Waggin’ Tutor returns to the Kennebunk Free Library from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday to listen to children read.

Children of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sit with Jack, and experience the pleasure of reading to such a nonjudgmental listener. Children often relax in a manner they might not when reading to an adult or sibling. Practice gained by reading to a dog has been shown to help students increase reading fluency.

Jack is a certified therapy dog, and will be accompanied by his favorite humans, Ursula and Kate Roese. He also volunteers at the Kennebunk Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

No registration is needed to participate. The program is free, wheelchair accessible, and open to all.

The library is located at 112 Main St. For more details, call 985-2173.

Food, music, workshops set for winter doldrums

Kennebunk Free Library’s annual Cabin Fever Reliever fundraiser will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at 112 Main St.

The library will be transformed into a midwinter oasis, complete with fine food from Kennebunk’s own Kitchen Chicks Catering, live music from the Kennebunk River Trio, a silent auction fundraiser, and “Pop-Up Relievers,” short workshops sure to educate, entertain, and do away with the winter doldrums.

Tickets are $40 each. For more details, call the library at 985-2173.

Parenting classes are set for first Friday of the month

Stevie Westmoreland, LMFT, LCPC will lead a parenting class at 10 a.m. Friday at the Kennebunk Free Library at 112 Main St.

Future classes will be held on the first Friday of every month at the library. Each month a new topic will be addressed.

The class offers an opportunity for parents, grandparents and caregivers to gather to share the joys and challenges of parenthood. Skills developed will focus on identifying and understanding a child’s four basic feelings, calming ourselves down and the positive effect of mirror neurons with your child.

The event is free.

For more details, go to katherinestevenswestmoreland.com/the-well.html or call 985-2511.

WELLS

Story times and parenting programs on tap at library

Wells Public Library will offer the following programs this week at 1434 Post Road:

Mother Goose Storytime will meet at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The event offers lap activities, rhymes, songs, and fingerplays for children up to age 24 months and their caregivers.

Toddler Storytime will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, offering stories, songs, and movement, all followed by a craft for ages 2-5 and their caregivers.

Random Fandom meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday for kids in grades 5-8, who will explore Maker Tech to make a craft, talk about it, eat snacks and play games.

“Active Parenting: The First Five Years” will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday with Shannon Briggs from Kids Free to Grow located in Kennebunk. The four-week program is intended to educate parents and caregivers how to nurture their child with a “just right” combination of freedom and nonviolent discipline. There is no commitment to attend all four sessions, and children are welcome to accompany adults. Lego and Rubik’s Cube Club will meet at 3 p.m. Friday to build master creations with Legos provided by the library.

Trained AARP Tax Aide volunteers will be at the library from 1 to 6 p.m. each Tuesday through April 11 to answer questions and help with electronically filing taxes.

Conversational French Language Group will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday for an informal approach to practicing or re-learning French.

Fiber Arts Group meets at 10:30 a.m. Friday. All are welcome to bring their projects, like embroider, cross-stitch, sew, weave, quilt, etc.

For more details, call 646-8181.

SOUTH BERWICK

Auditions open for summer shows at Hackmatack

Hackmatack Playhouse will hold auditions for two of its planned summer theater shows,”She Loves Me” and “The Fantasticks,” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, with callbacks set for Saturday and Sunday, all at the South Berwick Community Center on Norton Street.

For more information go to hackmatack.org. For appointments for auditions, email mikeguptill@hotmail.com or call 698-1807 with questions.

SCARBOROUGH

Kindergarten information night planned for Tuesday

Scarborough Primary Schools will host a kindergarten information night at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wentworth School cafeteria at 20 Quentin Drive.

Parents and guardians with children who will turn age 5 on or before Oct. 15 are invited to attend this event. This is an adult-only event.

Rain date is Wednesday.

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