PORTLAND – First Lady Karen Baldacci will kick-off the fifth year of Read with ME., a statewide Maine Reads program aimed at improving literacy and reading skills among Maine’s students, at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Longfellow School.

Every kindergartner in the state will have the opportunity to receive a book bag, which includes a copy of this year’s featured book, “Dinosaur Stomp,” as well as literacy information, an activities sheet and a bookmark developed by the Maine Department of Education. Schools have been provided with videos about reading aloud produced by Maine Public Broadcasting.

Baldacci will read the book to a classroom of kindergartners. She will be joined by illustrator and Peaks Island resident Scott Nash, who will engage the children in an art project.

Baldacci sent letters to principals in each school in Maine that has kindergarten students inviting them to take part in the program. The students at those schools that do participate will receive the books and literacy information as school opens in September.

Fort to open

AUGUSTA – Old Fort Western, the 1754 National Landmark historic site, will open for its 250th anniversary summer season Memorial Day weekend, May 29, 30 and 31. Fort members, repeat visitors and first-time visitors are encouraged to stop by to help get the anniversary season off to a start.

It is expected that a new virtual architectural tour of the main house will be unveiled over the weekend. The tour will allow visitors to experience each of the fort’s major architectural periods. The tour will also be available on the Web, www.oldfortwestern.org.

The fort will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. through the Memorial Day weekend and will remain open daily from 1 to 4 p.m. through July 3. Weekday hours will expand to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning July 4. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 16. Kids under 6 and all Augusta residents are admitted free.

Aging resources

OXFORD – The National Association of Social Workers of Maine, Branch C, will offer “Aging Resources and Does Your Loved One Have Alzheimers?” presented by Pam Averill of SeniorsPlus, Elders Service consultant and Alzheimer’s specialist, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Oxford Advent Christian Church, Route 26.

Anita Wiles of the Maine Medicare Partnership Program will present a talk on the Medicare changes.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Continuing Education credits will be offered free to association members; non-members, $15. For additional information and registration, call Fran White, LCSW, Branch C chair, at 831-7814 or e-mail [email protected].