Mammals of Maine

NEW VINEYARD — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the New Vineyard Public Library, located at 20 Lake St, New Vineyard invites you to join them for an interactive program introducing participants to the program Chewonki – Mammals of Maine, a presentation about native warm-blooded vertebrates: Maine mammals. Each participant will study a mounted animal and observe its characteristics, such as teeth, feet, and fur. We use these observations as clues to understand each mammal’s adaptations, niche, and habitat. A collection of skulls, study skins, and other specimens complements a discussion of adaptations and the role each animal plays in the food web. This program also provides a living example of a non-releasable wild mammal.

Dinner/dance

JAY — VFW Post 3335 Auxiliary in Jay will hold a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance on February 15. Doors will open at 5 p.m., meal will be served at 6 p.m. and dancing from 7 to 11. Music will be provided by DJ Jason Lee of Rustic Beats. Menu for the evening is prime rib au jus, potatoes, squash, and salad. Dessert will be double chocolate brownies with strawberries and cream

This will be a benefit dance with all proceeds going to the Beal’s House at Togus. Beal ‘s house is a hospitality house for veterans and their families. Price of the tickets are $40 each. You must purchase your tickets ahead please call 897-2122. Come and join us for a night of dinner and dancing with great music for this great cause. As always thank you all for your continuing support

Suppers

JAY — The menu for Frank L. Mitchell VFW Post 3335, located at 64 Jewell St, Jay for Friday, February 14 will feature pork roast, apple sauce, potatoes green beans and for dessert, apple spice cake.   Please call by Thursday each week to reserve your meals. 897-2122. All meals are served at 5 p.m. Eat in optional. $12.

February 21 is Dine and Dance night with Country Fusion from 6 to 9, Doors open at 4. Featuring ham steak, roasted garlic rosemary potato wedges, peas and dessert will be peach cobbler. Dinner and dance $20, dance only $10. You must call by Thursday Feb. 20, to reserve your meal

February 28 Chicken, broccoli and rice casserole, and banana pudding

Concert

FARMINGTON — ArtsFarmington is pleased to present a flute and piano concert featuring Marvento on Sunday afternoon, March 9, at 2 p.m. The concert will be in Nordica Auditorium, Merrill Hall, UMF, and doors will open at 1:30 pm. Some refreshments will be served after the concert.

The Boston-based musicians are flutist Weronika Balewski and pianist Elizabeth Basconi. Weronika and Elizabeth are performers and teachers who are active as chamber musicians and instrumental teachers. They founded Marvento Duo in 2013 to collaborate as both performers and teaching artists.

Admission $20, more if you can, less if you can’t. All welcome, no one turned away. Free for UMF students. Youth 18 & under free through our Arts Inspire Youth program. Purchase tickets on our website, artsfarmington.org, or at the door. The auditorium is handicapped accessible. The entrance door to Nordica Auditorium is located on Academy Street at the back side of Merrill Hall. For questions email president@artsfarmington.

Shopping

FARMINGTON — Franklin County Animal Shelter merchandise is available to purchase. Great gifts for animal lovers can be found at https://fc-animal-shelter-maine.printify.me/products. The shelter is located at 550 Industry Road in Farmington, and you can visit the lobby and kitten room and available adult cat is open to the public during our normal business hours of noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Potluck

RANGELEY —On Feb. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Guides’ Clubhouse, 41 Old Skiway Rd, Oquossoc, join the Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association’s monthly potluck dinner to share their latest conservation efforts at the Guides’ Clubhouse, 41 Old Skiway Rd, Oquossoc. Come connect with Brent, Amanda, and Matt and learn about our recent successes and upcoming projects. Open to All! Whether you’re a local hunter, hiker, birder, logger, fisherman, or simply someone who loves Maine’s incredible wilderness, we welcome you to join us for a delicious potluck meal, dessert, and an informative presentation by the High Peaks Alliance. Come to learn how we’re working together to preserve public access and protect the High Peaks Region for current and future generations.

4-H

REGION — University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is offering its Ag Ambassador program in March and April. The program, open to all Maine teens ages 14-18, focuses on career exploration in the local food system through farm and production visits around the state and provides opportunities to build relationships with industry professionals. Program participants will serve year-long terms as Agriculture Ambassadors for the Maine 4-H program under the guidance of 4-H staff.

The Spring 2025 cohort will meet virtually on March 4, 11, 25, April 2 and 15 from 3:30-5 p.m. with in-person farm visits on March 22 at Mook Sea Farm and March 29 at Agri Cycle at Stoneyvale Farm. There will be an overnight Ag Symposium for all participants on April 21-22 at UMaine in Orono. For a full schedule, visit the program website. https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/ag-leadership/

This program is open to all Maine youth; previous 4-H membership is not required to enroll. Register on the program website. All participants will be enrolled as members of the Maine 4-H program. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at [email protected] or call 207.622.7546.

Grange

FARMINGTON — Farmington Grange #12 has been busy this winter with various projects. Last Tuesday, members visited the Cascade Brooke School to present new dictionaries to all of the third graders. Thousands of dictionaries have been distributed since the grange has started this program.

On Wednesday, Workers, and Warmup (WWW), the grange ladies and assorted friends have been working on a very special crazy quilt which they will be raffling off during the next Farmington Fair. The WWWs meet every first and third Wednesdays of the month until May, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Light refreshments and soup are provided, everyone is welcome to attend. People can bring their own projects to work on or just socialize, or join in.

Another project members work on is making repairs to their plastic storm windows and are willing to help people repair their own.

Grange members are also working on plans to have a flea market in the spring, where tables will be offered to vendors to sell their wares. Although antique dealers are being targeted, some crafters may also be allowed. The grange ladies will also sell sandwiches and refreshments as well as raffle tickets on two handmade quilts. More information to come as plans develop. Funds raised will go to improvements and upkeep of the grange hall. For information related to these events, please call Bonnie Clark 207 778 1416. If anyone is interested in joining the grange, we would love to have you.

PACC

PHILLIPS — Upcoming events at the Phillips Area Community Center (PACC), located at 21 Depot St. in Phillips. On Feb. 15 at the PACC, there will be a Valentine Sock Hop with a DJ from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $10 but all guests will be given a free raffle ticket with their payment for a $25 gift certificate to Bear Belly’s Tap & Table in Phillips. Meet some friends and dance the night away! For more info, contact Winona at 639-4296 or email Diana: [email protected]

PHILLIPS — New people have moved into the area, and here’s a chance to showcase your business. PACC, 21 Depot St. in Phillips, will hold a Trade Show on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for businesses from Phillips, Avon and Madrid. The cost is $10 for a table or space, and meet new customers by displaying your wares or answering questions. Contact Winona 639-4296. Plan early!

PHILLIPS — PACC, 21 Depot St. in Phillips, is hosting a Spring Bloom Art Show, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register early for your favorite spot. $10 for a table or space. Have pride  in your local community show, tables provided, food available and handicap accessible. Arrangements can be made to set up the night before. For more information, contact Winona, 639-4296 and leave a message if she’s not home. She will return your call.

Essentials

FARMINGTON — The Essentials Closet ministry at Old South Church in Farmington offers personal care products free of charge to people in the greater Farmington area who are having trouble making ends meet. In the month of February, the Essentials Closet will be open on Wednesday 2/26 from 2-4 p.m. Enter the church building (at 235 Main Street) through the door off the parking lot at the corner of Main St and Depot St. Following the signs, go down a short flight of stairs and you will see it straight ahead of you.

Skiing

CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Join the High Peaks Alliance for an Après Ski Social at the Alfond Competition Center at Bill & Joan Alfond Competition Center at Sugarloaf, in Carrabassett Valley to celebrate the High Peaks Alliance’s work ensuring recreational access to our landscape!

Come meet the passionate team behind the Alliance and learn a couple of new spots to hike, mountain bike, and backcountry ski. You’ll meet others who are committed to keeping the High Peaks open and accessible.

We hope you will join us on March 8 from 4-6 p.m. for après ski. At 4:45, our Executive Director, Brent West, will speak briefly on the Alliance’s mission, successes, and upcoming projects. We will serve light fares and complimentary beverage tickets will be available for the first 40 attendees.

We look forward to seeing you at Sugarloaf for an evening of celebration and community!

CARRABASSETT VALLEY — On Saturday, Feb. 15, the Girl Winter tour stop event will showcase six films. The event will run approximately an hour and a half and doors open at 4 p.m. with the films beginning at 4:30 p.m. All donations will benefit the Mount Abram Ski Team in Salem.

Sponsored by the Carrabassett Valley Public Library in the Begin Family Community Room. These stories will fill you up with rad skiing, deep storytelling, and good humor. We hope this screening will provide a space to continue the celebration of women in snow sports. All are welcome. For more information about the films, go to girlwinterfilmtour.com/films.