RUMFORD – The Acadian Society invites the public to attend “Conversational French” at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at St. Athanasius and St. John Parish Center.

Community picnic

BETHEL – The 11th annual Community Picnic will be held on the grounds of the Bethel Historical Society’s Dr. Moses Mason House on the Fourth of July, beginning around noon. Those attending should bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while listening to a concert by the Portland Brass Quintet, which will play a variety of music during its two-hour concert. If the weather is rainy, the concert will be held at the historic Middle Intervale Meetinghouse on Intervale Road. There is no admission charge and the event is open to the public. Those wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to support the appearance of the Portland Brass Quintet are invited to do so by sending a gift to the Society at P.O. Box 12, Bethel ME 04217-0012.

Strawberry fest

DIXFIELD – The Dixfield Congregational Church will hold a Strawberry Festival from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at the church annex on High Street. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. featuring waffles and strawberries or pancakes and sausage for $3.50. Lunch will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring chicken rolls or hot dogs and strawberry shortcake with homemade biscuits for $4. There will be strawberries, baked goods and raffles for sale.

Bible school

DIXFIELD – The Seventh-day Adventist Church will hold a Vacation Bible School for children ages 4-14 from 6 to 8 p.m. from Sunday, July 6, through Wednesday, July 9. The theme will be “Undersea Adventure.” For more information, people can call 562-8870.

Church schedule

DIXFIELD – The Dixfield Congregational Church will be have its services at 9 a.m. during July and August.

Class reunion

RUMFORD – The Rumford High School Class of 1973 will hold a reunion Saturday, Aug. 2. Those who plan to attend and have not replied should do so by contacting Gloria Carter at 225 York St., Rumford, by Monday, July 7.

Cheerleading camp

RUMFORD – Area girls and boys entering grades one through eight are being invited to attend the M.J.T. summer cheerleading camp. The location will be the Mountain Valley Middle School gymnasium. The dates will be July 7-11 and July 14-16. The times will be 9-10 a.m. for grades one to five, and 10-11:30 a.m. for grades six to eight. For more information call Linda Burns at 364-7064.

Region 9 Learning Center sets summer hours

MEXICO – The Region 9 Learning Center summer schedule for adult education, from Tuesday, July 8, through Thursday, Aug. 14, will be: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Wednesday 6 to 9 p.m. The office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Concerts on common

BETHEL – The Mahoosuc Arts Council has announced the return of concerts on the Bethel Common this summer. The Libbie Goodridge Kneel and Memorial Summer Series will feature The Jerks of Grass at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13, as the first of four Sunday afternoon shows. The Jerks of Grass are a bluegrass band featuring four lightning speed instrumentalists. Jason Phelps plays guitar, Carter Logan the banjo, Ronnie Gallant the mandolin and Tom Jacques on bass. Other concerts are: Bellamy Jazz Band, an eight piece traditional jazz band, on July 27, New York-based, Rumford raised, jazz vocalist Rebeca Martin on Aug. 3; and the barbershop harmonies of The Mollyockett Chorus on Aug. 24. All concerts begin at 4 p.m. and run 60 to 90 minutes. The rain site is Bingham Auditorium on Church Street at Gould Academy. The public is invited to attend. Sponsored by Mrs. Kneeland’s family, the series honors her life of teaching in the Bethel area and her work with children with learning differences. The series celebrates the teaching profession that she dearly loved and today’s teachers who care enough to make a difference in a child’s life.