BANGOR – Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance will present a literary get-together for playwrights and theater devotees from 2:15 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Bangor Public Library.

Linda Britt, professor of Spanish at the University of Maine at Farmington, will present “Let Me Count the Ways,” open to all genres and free. A $2 donation is requested to defray the cost of refreshments. Call the alliance at 386-1400 or e-mail sarah@mainewriters.org if planning to attend.

Course on Maya

PORTLAND – The Maine Humanities Council will offer teachers “The Maya,” a day-long introduction to Mayan civilization, on Friday, Feb. 27, at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus.

The $45 fee covers tuition, the book, coffee and lunch. Continuing education credits are available for teachers. The seminar is open to the public for $50 a person. Scholarships are available for high school and college students who wish to attend.

The course is sponsored by Teachers for a New Century program, Maine Humanities Council. For details, visit www.mainehumanities.org, call 773-5051 or toll free 1-866-MEreader.

Science bowl

GORHAM – The University of Southern Maine will host the Northern New England Science Bowl from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, on the Gorham campus.

Teams of four or five students will compete in a round-robin forum, answering questions on topics ranging from astronomy to environmental science.

The Northern New England regional competition will include four teams from Maine and 12 from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to compete for the national title from April 29 to May 3 in Washington, D.C.

The event is free and open to the public.

Funds for Habitat

FREEPORT – The Maine Innkeepers Association, a leading provider of tourism information to the state’s lodging industry and its visitors, announces a new program to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, while seeking to encourage spring tourism in Maine.

Executive Director Greg Dugal said, “Between May 1 and 9, participating member properties will offer a designated number of their rooms at half the regular rate, in exchange for a $25 check payable to Habitat for Humanity International.”

Habitat for Humanity International is a Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. The Web site is www.habitat.org.

Reservations must be made in advance, and the contribution to Habitat for Humanity must be in the form of a check. For a list of participating properties, visit www.maineinns.com and click on the Hospitality for Habitat link.

Boating courses

CASTINE – Maine Maritime Academy will hold “Boating on the Coast of Maine,” a hands-on course for high school students interested in learning sail, power boat and navigation skills. The five-day course will take place June 27 to July 2 at the waterfront campus.

The academy also will hold “Summer Sea Session,” a hands-on course for high school students interested in learning fundamentals of coastal oceanography and marine biology. The course will be presented two times, June 27 to July 2 and July 5 to 10, at the campus. The courses are coeducational and participants must be 16 or older.

Participants of all experience levels are welcome, and enrollment is limited. Tuition is $500 and includes lodging in the residence hall and meals. To register or for more information, contact the school’s Continuing and Distance Education Department at 326-2211 or e-mail vsterns@mma.edu. To learn more about the academy, visit www.mainemaritime.edu.

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