AUBURN – The Maine Army Retiree Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 11, at American Legion Post 31, 426 Washington St. north. The Maine Army Retiree Council conducts meetings that impart information of interest to all military retirees. Retirees of all military services and their spouses are invited to attend.

Work party

UNITY – The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is organizing a volunteer work party. The event will take place at the Common Ground Education Center from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 19.

Volunteers are needed for the following projects: landscaping, orchard and shade tree care and repairs to the red barn.

There will be a picnic/potluck lunch at noon, a kindling free-for-all at 5 p.m. and a bonfire at 6. Volunteers should bring work gloves and something for the potluck or brown bag lunch. The association will provide drinks and snacks.

MOFGA has lots of year-round volunteer opportunities as well. Anyone interested in lending a hand should call the office at 568-4142 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Insurance help

AUGUSTA – Maine Superintendent of Insurance Alessandro A. Iuppa announces assistance for property owners who have had difficulty obtaining insurance for specific types of residential property insurance risks.

The bureau has compiled a list of the names of property and casualty insurance companies (available on its Web site at www.maineinsurancereg.org) that have indicated a willingness to consider insuring certain types of risks in the Maine homeowner market.

Lab program

BOOTHBAY – Area 11th-graders discovered what being a marine scientist is all about. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor hosted research experiences and explorations in oceanography for students.

Bigelow has offered an educational program to high school students to promote careers in marine science and to strengthen an interest in science in general for the past 14 years.

The Keller BLOOM Program gave students a chance to work in the laboratories and on the water.

Area students attending were Zoe Turcotte, St. Dominic Regional High School, Auburn; Anne Monahan, Mount Abram High School, Salem; Nathaniel Meyer, Maranacook Community High School, Readfield; Alexa Kaubris, Dirigo High School, Dixfield; Jessie Wilcox, Mount Ararat High School, Topsham.