Land trust seeks artists

The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust is now accepting artist submissions for its upcoming Paint for Preservation 2015, the organization’s annual juried wet paint auction, which will be held on July 12.

On that day the juried artists will paint on site at designated public and private locations chosen to highlight Cape Elizabeth’s natural beauty. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 28.

There is an entry fee of $20. Samples of an artist’s work may be submitted as digital images on CD or via email. All images should be in jpeg format at 72 dpi with the longest dimension being 600 pixels.

File names for images should include both the artist’s name and the image’s title. Submitting artists must also complete the required entry form. See www.capelandtrust.org, email [email protected] or call 767-6054 for more information.

Bob Keyes, the arts writer for the Maine Sunday Telegram/Portland Press Herald, will jury all the submissions and choose the artists that will take part.

The wet paint event is open to artists working in all mediums, from oils to pastels. All proceeds from the event will go toward the Saving Cape’s Great Places initiative.

Musical story hour with Jud Caswell

Due to a snowstorm, Musical Story Hour with singer-songwriter Jud Caswell at the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth was postponed to Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10:30 a.m.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is designed for children 3 and up. Upcoming programs are scheduled for March 5 and April 2.

During the monthly Musical Story Hour, Caswell reads his favorite books while accompanying himself on guitar, banjo and other instruments. Kids also get a chance to sing and play musical games.

See www.thomasmemoriallibrary.org or call 799-1720 for more information about Musical Story Hour or other library programs.

Rotary club aids homeless veterans

As part of its ongoing effort to assist Maine’s homeless veterans, the Rotary Club of South Portland/Cape Elizabeth has recently provided the following funds and materials to Veterans Affairs officials:

• $1,275 worth of public transportation (bus and Zoom) passes to help veterans get to medical appointments and job interviews;

• $1,260 worth of gasoline gift cards to vets with cars;

• $600 worth of Hannaford gift cards that allow the purchase of foods, household goods, toiletries, paper goods and other necessities; and

• 16 bedding sets consisting of sheets, pillowcases and comforter.

The Rotary club has assisted the Veterans Affairs organization for the past three years by providing public transportation passes, gift cards, household goods and bicycles, and assisting with the annual VA2K walk to raise awareness of the problem of homeless vets.

At any given time, there are more than 100 homeless veterans in Maine suffering from lack of a place to live and other basic necessities. In 2013, emergency shelter was provided to 499 homeless Maine veterans across the state, while others remain uncounted.

Rotary club president Kathy Cotter said, “We believe, as does the VA, in providing a hand up, not a hand out, to these veterans who have patriotically served all of us.”

Non-Rotarians can also help in the form of donated gas and food gift cards, donations of new household items and cash.

Contact Cotter at [email protected] or Susan Whittington at 623-8411, ext. 4344, or [email protected] to find out how you can help.

Singer-Songwriter Jud Caswell performs a Musical Story Hour for kids on the first Thursday of every month at the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth.Courtesy photoThis painting, entitled “Jordan Farm,” by Colin Page,won the People’s Choice Award at last year’s Paint for Preservation – a fundraising event for the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust.Courtesy image