Baby Olympics

LEWISTON — Hope House’s fourth Baby Olympics will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Kennedy Park.

Children ranging from three months to five years will compete in 10 events, including crawl races and scooter derbies. All will receive medals and toys, and first place winners will be awarded ribbons and larger prizes.

Free drinks and snacks will be offered to all attending, and drawings will take place for two new cribs donated by Gobiel’s Furniture, as well as for 15 other items like a giant “football” toy box, infant play seats and a Little Tikes basketball toy set. Area families are invited to come out and join in the fun.

Hope House sponsors the event every two years as a fundraiser for their Family Support Center, located at 91 College St.

For more information visit www.hopehousemaine.com or contact Bruce or Jan Willson at 577-1165.

Greyhound breakfast

LISBON — The 2011 Homecoming Weekend breakfast will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Lisbon High School cafeteria. Menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee, juice and milk. All you can eat.

Open to the public. $5 per person at the door, $20 per family of four or more. All proceeds benefit Lisbon High School athletics.

For information or to pre-purchase tickets, email [email protected] or visit www.greyhoundboosters.com or Greyhound Boosters on Facebook. Greyhound merchandise will be available for sale or order.

Travelers meet

MECHANIC FALLS — Members of Twin City Council of the United Commercial Travelers of America will meet at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Bucknam Oaks. After the business meeting, a spaghetti supper will be served. All members and guests are welcome.

Blood drive

AUBURN — The American Red Cross will hold a Day of Remembrance 10th Anniversary Memorial and Blood Drive Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Auburn Fire Station, 550 Minot Ave.

Give blood between 8:46 a.m. and 1 p.m. The new monument made from a piece of steel from the World Trade Center will be unveiled.

Refreshments and a special Sept. 11 memorial T-shirt will be available for all presenting donors.

Honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 by helping save the lives of others. To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

YWCA open house

LEWISTON — YWCA will hold an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at 130 East Ave.

Entertainment will be provided by Tinpanic Steel Band. Children’s activities, refreshments, a silent auction and a raffle will be available. There will be a send off for YW Alcatraz swimmers.

For more information, visit www.ymcamaine.org.

Indie bookstores

AUBURN — The emergence of technology and superstores has given the public more ways to read and acquire books. Is there still a place for the independent bookstore? Join Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, for a look at the future of independent bookstores. The discussion will be led by the owner of Percy’s Burrow.

The prominence of independent bookstores and their economic success has been a hotly debated topic in recent times. Some like author Frank McCourt counts his triumphant return to an independent bookstore in his boyhood home of Limerick, Ireland as “the most personally meaningful event on his tour.” Barbara Fister in supporting independent bookstores wrote in the Library Journal that “a good independent bookseller knows her customers, knows her books and knows how to put them together.”

On the other side of the debate stand the superstores. The superstores point out that they too started as a single store and have just expanded on what they were already doing.

For information, contact Martin Gagnon at 333-6640, ext. 4.

Fortier Chapter

LEWISTON — The Dr. Paul J. Fortier Chapter/Council 52 of the Royal Arcanum-ACA Division will resume and gather at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, in the Senior Citizens Room of the Multi-Purpose Center. All members are welcome. Following the meeting, refreshments will be available during social time. More information is available by calling chapter president/regent Dolores Poirier at 782-8109.

Golden Age Group

AUBURN — The Golden Age Group which includes members of Sacred Heart, St. Philips and St. Louis Churches, will hold their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the lower level meeting room of Sacred Heart Church.

Reservation for the chicken-broccoli alfredo dinner must be made by calling 576-4082 no later than Sunday, Sept. 11.

The club’s annual fundraising auction of gently used items will be enjoyed after a brief business meeting. A few larger or quality items will be auctioned off to the highest bidders, but most will be distributed from called numbers.

Attendees are reminded to bring in unwanted items so they can become a treasure to someone else.

Membership is open to any interested individual.

Line dance

AUBURN — Temple Shalom will offer an intermediate level line dance class this fall. The class will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 10 to 11:15 a.m. A beginner’s class will also be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Classes are ongoing and the cost is $4 (paid each class). The classes will be instructed by Marjorie Perkins of Brunswick. Line dancing is a non-strenuous dance activity and a great deal of fun. It helps posture, circulation and balance while providing self-confidence and rhythm. No partner is needed.

This program is open to the public. To register or more information, call the Temple office at 786-4201. Temple Shalom is a nonprofit organization located at 74 Bradman St.

Irish set dancing

LEWISTON — Irish set (social) dancing will begin Tuesday, Sept. 13. Classes are free for beginners during September. No dance experience is required. All ages are welcomed.

Classes are held every Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the lower hall of Holy Family Church on Sabattus Street. For more information call 933-9761.

Breastfeeding

AUBURN — Expectant women and breastfeeding mothers are invited to the La Leche League meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 102 Bennett Ave. This month’s discussion will focus on “The Advantages of Breastfeeding For Mother and Baby.”

Pregnancy is an ideal time to begin attending meetings, and mothers find continued attendance provides support throughout their breastfeeding experience. Babies are always welcome. All concerns about breastfeeding are welcome for discussion. For more information or breastfeeding help, call the La Leche League leader at 782-6645.

Hulett meeting

AUBURN — The Capt Frank W. Hulett VFW Post 1603 will hold their monthly meeting at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Post Home, 588 Minot Ave.

All officers and members are encouraged to attend. A new slate of officers were elected and installed. New post commander is Arthur J. Roy, senior vice is Carl Douglass and junior vice is Web Pierce.

Any veterans eligible to join that have a campaign medal are invited to attend. Bring a copy of your DD-214 or contact Arthur J. Roy at 784-6883 or email [email protected] for more info.

Dog obedience

LEWISTON — Great Falls Dog Obedience Club will start another six-week dog obedience class starting Wednesday, Sept. 14. Dogs and puppies must be at least 3 1/2 months old and vaccinated. Beginners’ class is at 6:30 p.m. and advanced at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register call the club’s trainer Diane Harrington at 784-7578.

Hobbies

AUBURN — Collector and author Anne Chandler will discuss “What Good are Hobbies?” at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St. to discuss what it is that makes collecting appealing.

Some publications have said the benefits of hobbies include giving you time to relax, discover hidden talents, socializing and can also help boost a job application. Attendees are invited to bring an item from their own collection to share and discuss with the group. FMI: Martin Gagnon, 333-6640, ext. 4.

Military families

LEWISTON — The Great Falls Forum lecture series presents “Maine’s Military Families: Their Needs and Resources,” featuring Maj. Gen. Bill Libby, adjutant general of the Maine National Guard, and Maine’s first lady, Ann Lepage. The lecture will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St.

A Q-and-A session will follow. Free. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. For more information call 513-3135.

Grief support

WILTON — Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice will offer fall grief support throughout the Lewiston-Auburn, Norway, Bridgton and Farmington-Wilton areas.

The program for Grieving Children and Teens will be held in Lewiston beginning Sept. 20 and in Wilton beginning Sept. 15. Please call 795-9462 to preregister.

Guidance through Grief, an adult grief support group in Lewiston-Auburn, will begin on Sept. 20 with two offerings, one from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Auburn and one from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Lewiston.

Pathways through Grief, offered in the Norway and Bridgton areas, will begin both groups on Sept. 21.

Call 795-9468 to register for the adult grief groups. All programs are free of charge. For more information regarding the upcoming offerings, call the Bereavement Department at 777-7740 or 1-800-482-7412.