AUGUSTA – Anyone thinking about retiring from state, local, or county government can take a bag lunch and and attend a readiness seminar from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, in the Burton Cross Building (formerly State Office Building). Employee Health and Benefits will provide information on preparing for retirement from the state. For more information, call Florence Hoover at 582-1960.

Camping show

PORTLAND – The Maine Campground Owners Association will present a Vacationland RV and Camping SuperShow from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 25 to 27, at the Portland Sports Center, Warren Avenue.

The show will highlight more than 50 campgrounds from Maine and northern New England, plus more than 10 of the leading dealers. On display will be pop-up campers, tag-along trailers, fifth wheels, Class A motor homes, Class C motor homes, park model homes and accessories.

Admission is $6 a person; $4 for senior citizens and disabled veterans; free for children. Visit www.campmaine.com for more information.

Wireless heroes

PORTLAND – U.S. Cellular is looking for customers in Maine who have acted as wireless heroes during the past year to be considered for the wireless industry’s annual VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards, sponsored by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.

Awards are given to individuals who exemplify the importance of putting safety first, as well as the role individuals and wireless phones can play in emergency situations. Those selected will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend an awards ceremony in May.

To be considered, the event must have occurred between March 1, 2004, and Feb. 28, 2005. U.S. Cellular customers should submit their nominations to U.S. Cellular, Public Affairs and Communications Department, 8410 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago, Ill. 60631 by March 15 or PublicAffairs&[email protected]. For more information, visit www.uscellular.com.

Rose society

MANCHESTER – The Mid-Maine Rose Society will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, for a roundtable workshop at Longfellow’s Greenhouses, Puddledock Road.

Members from the Mid-Maine Rose Society and the Maine Rose Society will co-host the spring workshop and man the tables.

Some of the topics will be health and gardening, disease resistant roses, planting, chemicals/fertilizing, different rose selections, winter protection, companion planting, container planting and organic growing.

Growers’ school

WATERVILLE – The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a one-day school for commercial vegetable and small fruit growers. The school will be conducted on March 11 at the Waterville Elks Banquet and Conference Center and on March 14 at the Brothers at Notre Dame in Alfred.

Some of this year’s topics will include: Winter Injury on Berry Crops, 2004’s Most Common Diseases on Organic Farms, Soil Moisture Monitoring and Growing Potatoes for the Roadside Market.

Two pesticide and four certified crop advisor re-certification credits will be available. The registration fee is $20 and includes lunch. Preregistration is required and registration deadline is March 4.

For more information, contact Barbara Murphy, Extension Educator, 207-743-6329 or 1-800-287-1482 or visit www.umaine.edu/ceskl.