RUMFORD – Gordon Chaisson, manager of Hotel Harris, will hold an open house from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday, May 14. Area residents are invited to see the recently renovated lobby and available rental units, he said.

“We want to continue to increase our long-term occupancy rates,” Chaisson said, “and to welcome the community back to one of Rumford’s architectural treasures.”

Special invitations will be extended to town leaders, representatives of elderly and veterans services in the area, and Island business owners and staff. Light refreshments will be served. John Roza of California purchased the Harris in October. He and Chaisson are renovating the rental units and have refurbished the lobby, which retains its original architectural.

Cemetery group to meet May 18

RUMFORD – The Rumford Center Cemetery Association will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Rumford Center Townhouse, Route 2.

Quality-of-life grants available

The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition in collaboration with the Maine Bureau of Health Community Health Promotion Program announces the availability of mini-grants to fund projects to assist new or existing programs that will help to achieve measurable improvement in the quality of life in the River Valley.

Non-profit organizations, civic organizations, neighborhood associations, lake associations, trade organizations or other community groups may apply for a grant. The project must be applied within the River Valley area, which consists of Andover, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Hanover, Mexico, Peru, Roxbury and Rumford. Proposals are due June 1, 2004. Call 364-7408 or e-mail [email protected] for an application.

Woodstock Historical Society

WOODSTOCK – At the May meeting of the Woodstock Historical Society, secretary Elaine Roberts read excerpts from the columns called “Looking Back” in the Lewiston Sun. These stories from years ago held the interest of the members. They covered everything from a man mugged for a half pint of potato salad to a lady who received a letter from Eisenhower on the 100th anniversary of the Republican Party to two cases of smallpox back in 1904.

During the business meeting, the society received a donation of a booklet on the Great Boston Fire of 1872. Ruth Cox gave a research report on her travels with brochures. The members decided to have a flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Then History Day will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, and will feature crafts in the parking lot and a food sale and tours in the museum. Treasurer Paul Billings is to see about a new chemical toilet as fund raising is going reasonably well. Annella Burnham supplied refreshments at the end of the evening.

For the program at the 7 p.m. Saturday, June 12, meeting at the museum, president Olive Risko wants everyone to bring a list of things they remember from years ago others might recall, too.