MEXICO – A community meeting to identify and discuss the River Valley’s many cultural assets will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Mountain Valley Middle School. All individuals interested in the arts – artists, writers, performers, historians and storytellers, town leaders, owners of arts-related businesses, dancers and crafters. Dinner will be provided and catered by Maddy’s Pizza. People planning to attend can call 364-7408. The meeting is presented by the River Valley Arts Initiative, a project of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

On task force

DIXFIELD – Sen. Bruce Bryant (D-Oxford) has been appointed by the Council of State Governments to the council’s Agricultural and Rural Policy Task Force for two years. The task force identifies successful agricultural and rural policies around the nation and then promotes those ideas. It is also responsible for promoting the states’ point of view in the development of agricultural policy at the federal level.

Bryant is serving his first term as a state senator, having previously served three terms in the Maine House. He chairs the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.

Relay for Life

RUMFORD – The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life will be held Friday and Saturday, May 30-31, at Hosmer Field. Activities will be held for adults and children, including live bands and raffles. A silent auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 30, and final bids will be announced at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31. For more information on the Relay for Life or to start a team call Diane Mitchell at 364-8359. For additional information contact Louise Jarvis at 545-2155.

Farmers program

OXFORD – Farmers have until June 2, 2003, to sign up for the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program at the Oxford County Farm Service Agency office. Applications accepted after the deadline will require a $100 per farm late filing fee.

Farmers needing more program information should contact the Oxford County FSA office at 743-5789 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Veterans’ research

MEXICO – The Mexico Historical Society will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at the Calvin Lyons room at the Town Hall. There will be a potluck dinner followed by guest speaker Len Greaney. His subject will be “Veterans’ Research Project.”

Hiring interviews

OXFORD – The CCS Companies, Main Street, will hold an open house and interview session from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 23, at the Oxford Town Office, 85 Pleasant St. The company is hiring customer service representatives. It is family owned, with 500 employees in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine.

Class of ’49 lunch

PERU – The women of the Stephens High School Class of 1949 will meet for lunch Wednesday, May 28, at Worthley Pond Restaurant. Car pooling is planned from the Peru park & ride, located across from Blaisdell’s store, at 12:30 p.m.