FAYETTE – The Androscoggin Valley, Franklin County and Oxford County conservation districts are sponsoring a workshop, “Highway Design for Road Crew Personnel,” from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Starling Grange Hall.

John Simon, PE, of Balanced Engineering, will teach various design elements and lead a field practicum. Simon specializes in storm water management and water quality project design.

Preregistration is required. People can call 753-9400, extension 400, to enroll. Cost is $30, which covers materials and dinner.

Earth Day

FALMOUTH – The public is invited to celebrate Earth Day with Maine Audubon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday, April 19, at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center. The event is free.

Festivities will include nature walks, bake sale and kids’ crafts using recycled materials. Displays will range from organic gardening and composting with worms, to shopping “green” and creating green household cleaners, to Maine Audubon’s conservation projects.

At 1 p.m. winning tickets from a raffle will be drawn. Tickets are $5 or six for $25. For raffle tickets or more information, people can call 781-2330. The center is at 20 Gilsland Farm Road.

College Web site

PORTLAND — Maine Senior College is now online with a Web site, www.maineseniorcollege.org. There are 15 senior colleges in the state, with more than 3,500 people enrolled each term.

The Web site features extracurricular activities and courses from each location, as well as information on statewide events and leadership resources.

Beatitudes’ help

AUGUSTA – The Institute of Pastoral Studies at St. Joseph’s College in Standish will bring Dr. Kathleen Chesto, a nationally known presenter in religious education and family ministry, to lead a workshop, “Blessed Are Those in Ministry: Beatitudes for People Who Serve,” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3, at the St. Paul’s Center in Augusta.

“We live in a time of self-analysis,” said Chesto. “The Myers-Briggs tells how I function best, Dr. Gregore tells me how I learn, the Enneagram describes me through my weaknesses. But none of these tools begin with my giftedness. The Beatitudes begin with what is blessed about me and invite me into a self-knowledge and a life of prayer and service in keeping with the gift that I am. The Beatitudes are exactly what Jesus called them, blessings, not a new, harder set of commandments.”

To preregister, people can call Dr. Rita LaBruzzo at St. Joseph’s College at 893-7990 or 800-343-5498, extension 7990.

A gift of oaks

NEBRASKA CITY – Ten free oak trees will be given to each person who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation during April.

The oaks are part of the nonprofit foundation’s Trees for America campaign. The trees are: two red oaks, two pin oaks, two bur oaks, two scarlet oaks and two willow oaks. They will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting in April or May with planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow.

To become a member of the foundation and receive the trees, people can send a $10 contribution to Ten Free Oak Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by April 30 or join online at www.arborday.org.

Essay deadline

BRUNSWICK – The Maine Voices Project is making a final push to collect essays from Maine residents before the Earth Day deadline of April 22.

In January, the project invited Mainers from all walks of life and writing levels to submit an essay describing places in Maine they cherish and how these places have shaped them, taught them, nurtured them or provided joy or solitude. Organizers also are encouraging senior citizens to write about how the land has changed in their lifetime and the legacy they’d like to leave to future generations.

Milkweed Editions, a national nonprofit literary press (www.milkweed.org) will publish 50 to 80 essays in a book to be released this fall. A Web site celebrating all essays will be launched this summer.

The project is a joint effort of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, the Wilderness Society, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Milkweed Editions.

Entries must be postmarked or e-mailed by April 22. Essays should be 500 words or less. They can be submitted by e-mail to mainevoices@tws.org or mailed to the Maine Voices Project, c/o Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, 14 Maine St., Suite 416, Brunswick, ME 04011. People should include their name, address, county, phone number, e-mail address, school/organization and age.

Copy the Story Link