WEST PARIS – The Rev. Joy Gasta will speak on “Ecumenism and Our Inter-Faith Work: The Bigger Tent of Our Religion” at the 9 a.m. service Sunday, June 22, at the First Universalist Church.

Garden design

SUMNER – There will be a lecture on perennial garden design at 2 p.m. Sunday June, 22, at Hedgehog Hill Farm. There will also be tours of hundreds of perennials in display gardens . The farm is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Mondays. Lectures are held rain or shine and no reservations are needed. For more information, call 388-2341.

Church schedule

NORWAY – Christ Episcopal Church at 35 Paris St. will hold only a 9 a.m. service from June 22 through August. Refreshments follow the service and the nursery is staffed and open to all small children. There is a 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Eucharist with healing, and short morning prayers from 9 to 9:20 a.m.Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A centering prayer group meets on alternate Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information, call the church office at 743-6782.

Society speaker

PARIS – The Paris Hill Historical Society on Treemont Street will begin its “Evenings with Paris People” series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, with a presentation by Ben Conant of the Paris Cape Historical Society. He will speak on Dr. Charlotte Hammond, a popular homeopathic practitioner who lived on Christian Ridge. The talk on Harry Lyons has been deferred until a later time. The historical society building is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays starting July 5, or by appointment by calling Cynthia Burmeister at 743-8323 or Julie DeMont at 743-5409.

Kantele institute

WEST PARIS – The Maine Kantele Institute will meet from July 20 to 26 at Southern Maine Technical College in South Portland with a focus on playing and building a kantele, the Finnish lap harp. Anyone interested in the course can register at the Web site, www.kantelelaulu.com, by e-mail to [email protected] or by calling 657-6404. Tuition is $450 and there is an additional church for room and board.

Bridge results

NORWAY – Oxford Hills Duplicate Bridge met June 13 with four full tables playing a Howell Movement. Beverly Pelletier and Eleanor Griffin came in first. Second was Mike Newsom and Don Hitch and Mike Quinn and Paul Barber were third. The group meets every Friday at 9 a.m. at the Fare Share Commons on Main Street. Any bridge player is welcome. A partner is always available. Good snacks are available. For more information call Rowena Palmer at 743-2882.

Help for farmers

OXFORD – Oxford County farmers are eligible to apply for financial assistance at the Farm Service Agency for crop losses caused by adverse weather conditions during the 2001 or 2002 growing seasons. “Local weather conditions have shifted from one extreme to another,” said Laura M. Rand, director of the Oxford County FSA office. For more information, contact the FSA office at 743-5789.