New elder agency

AUGUSTA – Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging announced the formation of a new statewide association to coordinate efforts on behalf of senior citizens. Based in Augusta, the newly formed Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging is dedicated to unifying and strengthening the advocacy and elder service efforts of Maine’s five nonprofit Area Agencies on Aging – Aroostook, Eastern, SeniorsPlus, Senior Spectrum and Southern Maine.

Graham Newson has been named executive director of the new agency. Newson had been director of government affairs for the American Academy of Pediatrics in Washington, D.C.

Newson holds a master’s degree in political science from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster. After family vacations in Maine over the years, Newson and his wife, Cathy, live in Bath.

Call for art

UNITY – The Leonard R Craig Art Gallery at Unity College has issued a call for submissions for inclusion in a spring 2006 juried exhibition, “Environmental Perspectives: A Visual Discourse on Humanity’s Relationship with the Environment.”

Submissions will be accepted from Maine-based post-secondary students and emerging artists. Artists are encouraged to submit slides or CDs of their work with a maximum of three images accepted. All mediums will be accepted (with the exclusion of video or sound due to space constraints).

All entries must be post-marked by Dec. 23. There is no entry fee. For a complete prospectus, send a SASE to Arts Coordinator, Unity College, 90 Quaker Hill Road, Unity, Maine 04988-9502, or e-mail [email protected].

Miss Teen chosen

SOUTH PORTLAND – Donna Marie Schlieper of Scarborough was crowned Miss Maine Teen USA recently following two days of competition at the Sheridan Hotel. Schlieper was one of 38 contestants from around the state.

Competition included a series of interviews, swimsuit and evening gown categories. She will represent Maine at the Miss Teen USA pageant in August at a location yet to be determined.

Schlieper is a junior at Scarborough High School. She is the granddaughter of Col. and Mrs. David Schlieper of Topsham.

Adoption is topic

PORTLAND – Maine Adoption Placement Service will hold an adoption informational session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at MAPS International, 277 Congress St. Preregister by calling 775-4101. The focus will be on domestic and international programs. See www.mapsadopt.org for more information.

Train rides

BOOTHBAY – The Boothbay Railway Village will offer steam train rides from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. The rides last about 15 minutes and the train will run approximately every hour. While donations will be accepted, the museum is offering the final train ride of 2005 at no cost. For more information, visit the Web at www.railwayvillage.org.