PARIS – More than 40 horses and riders are involved in the Oxford County Bicentennial Trail Ride. Couriers will ride over 200 miles and visit 26 schools.

The first part of the journey occurred May 4, when couriers on horseback carried documents from the Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society History House to the South Hiram Elementary School. On Thursday, May 5, the journey will continue to the Hiram Elementary School.

On Tuesday, May 24, an event will be held where as many as 15 riders with flags, banners and other historic regalia will sweep down from Andover into Rumford and Mexico, where all four of the district elementary schools will greet them for a History Fest at Riverfront Park in Mexico.

On Saturday, June 11, all of the earlier riders will assemble into a procession and canter up to Paris Hill where they will be met by the governor and other dignitaries. A day of festivities is planned. Call Bicentennial Committee Chairman Larry Glatz at 743-0443 or 583-4549 for details.

Set up camp

BRYANT POND – The Maine Conservation School will hold its annual Cleanup, Setup Camp Community Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Volunteers are needed to help out with maintenance and setup tasks to prepare the campus for the season.

Work may include tree removal, trail trimming, brush removal, wood chip dispersal, firewood cutting, splitting, and moving, brush chipping and trail maintenance.

The camp and school programs have introduced children and adults to environmental education and practical outdoor skills. Visit www.meconservationsschool.org or call 665-2068 for more information.

Legion to install

OXFORD – American Legion Post 112 and Auxiliary will hold installation of officers on Tuesday, May 10. Members and those joining are asked to note that the date is Tuesday for this month only, not the usual Monday night. There will be a dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the installation of officers.

Concert series

OXFORD – The summer concert series sponsored by the American Legion and held at the Anderson-Staples Legion Memorial Park will begin on June 14, with the first one featuring the Record Family Band.

Enterprise dinner

PARIS – Enterprise Maine will celebrate its 10th anniversary and annual dinner community celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School’s gym.

The event will include the presentation of awards and special recognition to businesses and community organizations that have made a positive impact on the Western Maine economy in the year 2004, as well as recognize their own success stories covering the past 10 years.

Keynote speaker will be Mark R. Drabenstott, vice president and director of the Center for the Study of Rural America that serves as the Federal Reserve’s focal point for research on rural and agricultural issues.

Drabenstott is a member of the United States Delegation to an OECD Committee that tracks global trends in rural issues. For more information, call Karen at 743-8830 or e-mail karen@enterprisemaine.com.

Churches to meet

NORWAY – The Oxford Hills Area Association of Churches will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Norway Universalist Unitarian Universalist Church, Main Street.

A community lunch will be held at noon. The church offers the free lunch program and seeks to promote better understanding among area churches. Churches are invited to send one clergy and two delegates to the meeting. For more information, call Marilyn Hammond, president, at 743-2766.

Sunday service

PARIS – Silver Moore-Leamon will lead the Mother’s Day service on Sunday, May 8, at the First Universalist Church, 36 Pine St., South Paris. The service will begin at 10 a.m., and Moore-Leamon’s sermon topic will be “Mother Mary.”

Forest Perkins, church organist, will direct the music and Renee Wales, religious education director, will direct the Sunday school. The coffee hour will follow in Good Cheer Hall. Everyone is welcome.

MS walk-a-thon

BETHEL – There will be a Multiple Sclerosis Walk-A-Thon on Saturday, May 14, with registration at 8 a.m. at the Crescent Park School. They will serve a light breakfast.

The kick-off will be at 9. During the walk there will be rest stops with refreshments, snacks and restrooms. If anyone is interested in doing the walk, he or she may register online at www.msmaine.org.

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