Cookies on sale

LEWISTON – Girl Scouts of Maine have been selling Girl Scout cookies since January and have made home deliveries. Booth sales will now take place through March 30 in communities statewide.

Booth locations in Androscoggin County include: March 16 and 29, Auburn Wal-Mart, from 1 to 5 p.m.; March 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bretton’s Variety in Livermore Falls; March 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Transfer Station in Lisbon Falls; and March 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, Sabattus Regional Credit Union.

For a complete list of sale dates and locations, visit the Girl Scouts of Maine Web site at www.girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Francophone gala

BOSTON – The Fortnight of Francophonie, a 15-day celebration of the bonds created by the use of a common language, French, and of the values of human rights, cultural diversity and solidarity, will take place in the six New England states from Thursday, March 13, to Friday, March 28.

Highlights will include an exhibit on Champlain’s America at the Boston Public Library, March 13 to May 31. It will be followed by a gastronomic and musical opening gala at the Langham Hotel on March 14, a Bruins vs. Canadians hockey game on March 20, a women’s forum on achievements and challenges in North Africa March 20 and 26, an official day at the Maine Legislature on March 19, and concerts, dinners, conferences, and films throughout New England.

The full program of the Fortnight is available at www.franco-newengland.org.

Award nominations

ROCKPORT – The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine is accepting nominations for the Linda Voss Student of the Year Award. Awards will be given in art and writing categories for grades kindergarten to four and grades five to 12.

All entries must be received by April 30. Awards will be presented at the recipient’s school.

For information about nominations and other procedures, contact volunteer coordinator Liz Dailey, Camden Hills Regional High School, 25 Keelson Drive, Rockport, ME 04856; call 236-7800, ext. 324, or 236-4641 after 5 p.m.; or e-mail [email protected]. Nomination forms may also be downloaded from the HHRC Web site at www.hhrc.uma.edu.

Homestart conclave

FREEPORT – The 10th annual Homestart Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Harraseeket Inn.

The program is offered in Franklin, Kennebec, Somerset, Oxford and Waldo counties. The keynote address will be given by Attorney General Steve Rowe on “How quality parent strengthening and early care and education programs are key to healthy brain development and why it makes good economic sense to invest in these programs.”

Other workshops will include back yard nature fun, yoga with children, reducing the risk for childhood obesity and creating active learning environments.

For more information, contact Mary Pietroski at 739-6373.

AEDs donated

CARMEL – A donation of 25 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has been made to Maine schools from Defibtech, a company that designs and manufactures the portable, electronic devices that can shock a heart back into normal rhythm and save a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

Dr. Glenn Laub, Defibtech’s CEO, announced the donation to Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Emergency Services Director Jay Bradshaw and other school and EMS officials during an event at Caravel Middle School.

Local schools receiving AEDs were Maranacook Middle of Readfield, Stratton Elementary, Elm Street of Mechanic Falls, Leavitt Area High School of Turner, Lewiston High School, Bowdoinham Community and Jordan Small of Raymond.

Applications taken

AUGUSTA – The Maine Public Relations Council, a statewide nonprofit association dedicated to the advancement of the public relations profession, has announced that it is accepting applications for its college scholarship program.

The council awards a minimum of one $1,000 scholarship and a maximum of two $1,000 scholarships to students majoring in an accredited communications program, including public relations, broadcasting, journalism, marketing, advertising or related communications areas.

Applications are available from the financial aid offices of Maine colleges and universities, or online at www.meprcouncil.org and are due April 18. Scholarship winners will be announced by May 1.