Opening delayed

GRAY – The Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 has delayed its originally scheduled opening day from Sunday, April 15, to Friday, April 20.

The amount of snow cover left on the ground, unseasonably cool temperatures that delayed melting and the threat of more snow this week all were factors that contributed to the rescheduling of opening day. Much of the park is inaccessible due to snow.

For more information and updates on the new opening date, call the park information line at 207-657-4977.

New Coast Parade

PORTLAND – Residents concerned about the effects of global warming are invited to a New Coast Parade and Rally on Saturday, April 14, to urge Congress to put America on the path toward reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. from Post Office Park off Exchange Street and proceed along the route where Portland’s “new coast” will be if there is a 20-foot rise in sea-level. The parade will end with a noontime rally in Monument Square featuring live music, speakers and displays.

The event is sponsored by the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Interfaith Power and Light and MENSK as part of the “Step It Up” campaign. For more information, visit www.stepitup2007.org.

Hosts needed

DURHAM – World Heritage International is looking for American families to host high school students from counties of the former Soviet Union. The students have received scholarships through the U.S. State Department-sponsored Future Leaders Exchange Program and will spend an academic year in the U.S.

World Heritage is seeking host families for students from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

By living with local families and attending local high schools, students will acquire an understanding of American values, build leadership skills and learn the elements of American civil society. Upon returning home, the students will share what they have learned.

To learn more, call Mary Jane at 1-800-888-9040.

Tour openings

AUGUSTA – The 10th year of the Forest of Maine Teachers’ Tours still has openings for the summer. Renewable Energy from Maine forests and mills and bioproducts and biofuels will be the focus of this year’s tours.

A Project Learning Tree workshop will be offered on each tour, with Maine Forest Service biometrician Ken Laustsen leading a discussion on meeting society’s needs for materials, chemicals and fuels through research and development of bioproducts from Maine’s forests.

Educators will tour renewable energy and wood products facilities, visit active harvests using modern equipment and discuss the information and planning required to practice sustainable forestry with landowners, foresters, loggers, mill owners and scientists. The registration fee covering all tour costs is $75. CEUs and graduate credits are also offered.

Space is still available on both tours: Rangeley Lakes and Western Mountains, July 10 to 13, and Central Maine’s Penobscot-Hancock Highlands, July 17 to 20. For more information or registration materials, call Julie Agri at 621-9872 or e-mail [email protected].

Frog survey

FALMOUTH – Maine Audubon is looking for volunteers across the state to listen for and note the sounds of frogs on several evenings through early summer.

“Even though the spring snow set us back, wood frogs will be out any day now, especially in southern Maine,” said Susan Gallo, Maine Audubon wildlife biologist and coordinator of the Maine Amphibian Monitoring Project, which is entering its 11th year of assessing Maine’s amphibian populations.

“Citizen science” volunteers are needed to conduct two-hour roadside surveys in southern and western Maine (Bethel, North Lebanon and South Parsonsfield). Volunteers make 10 stops along their routes, waiting five minutes at each and noting the frog species they hear.

Potential volunteers as well as the public are welcome to take the frog quiz, designed by the U.S. Geological Survey, at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz. Those interested in participating should contact Susan Gallo at 781-2330, ext. 216, or [email protected].

Music competition

GORHAM – The 2007 Anne Gannett Scholarship Competition for music majors at the college level will be held in Corthell Hall, University of Southern Maine on Saturday, June 16.

The biennial competition is open to residents of Maine (wherever they may be enrolled in school) and to nonresidents who study in Maine. Applicants must be sophomore or junior music majors in any accredited music schools, colleges or universities in September of 2007. First prize is $2,000; second, $1,000; third, $500.

Additional prizes of $200 each for the top ranked performer in each of the following categories will be awarded: piano, organ, voice, strings, winds, musical theater and harp.

Interested applicants, who must apply by May 20, should contact Joyce Chaplin, Anne Gannett Competition Chairwoman, 92 Raymond Rd., Brunswick, ME 04011, 725-1125 as soon as possible.