AUBURN – Central Maine Community College is celebrating National Community College Month for the first time as a true community college.

April is designated Community College Month by the American Association of Community Colleges and is celebrated around the country at the nation’s 1100 two-year institutions. It has also been proclaimed by Gov. John Baldacci and by the mayors of Auburn and Lewiston.

Central Maine Community College will host several activities to which the public is invited, beginning on Saturday, April 3, with the annual open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Representatives of the college’s 30 academic programs as well as admissions, financial aid and other student support staff, will be available to answer questions.

The college will hold a blood drive in conjunction with American Red Cross from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, April 5. While drop-ins are invited, people who are interested in donating blood encouraged to contact the college at 755-5232 for an appointment. They must bring a photo identification or American Red Cross blood donor card.

The Androscoggin County Job Fair will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 9. There is no charge and all job seekers are welcome.

Representatives of more than 30 area employers will be on hand to describe job openings and to conduct interviews with potential employees.

Employers with openings in health, finance and insurance, manufacturing and industrial trades, information technology, social services and retail will be looking for potential workers in a variety of settings, including business and nonprofit. Information about professional, management, entry-level, part-time, summer/seasonal and temporary/temp-to-hire positions will also be available. For more information, contact the Chamber at 783-2249.

Maine Garden Day, sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service, will be held on Saturday, April 10. Reservations are required and may be made with the Extension Service at 1-800-287-1482. Parenting Matters, the annual conference of Advocates for Children, will be held on Saturday, April 17; reservations should be made by calling 783-3990.

The college will hold the Administrative Professionals Conference from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 15. Registration is $99 a person, with discounts available for multiple participants from the same organization. Lunch, break-out sessions and a keynote presentation, “Creating Passion for Your Goals,” are included, along with a special gift for participants.