Historical Society meeting

OXFORD — The Oxford Historical Society will hold their May meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, May 25, at the Kay House Museum in Oxford Village. The American Legion will present the American flag etiquette. After the program a social time with coffee and light refreshments will be held. All are invited.

Garden bus trip

PARIS — The McLaughlin Garden is sponsoring a bus trip to several outstanding gardens on Saturday, June 16. This is an opportunity to leave the driving to someone else for a trip to Tower Hill Botanic Garden near Worcester, Mass., and Fuller Gardens in North Hampton, N.H.

There will be guided tours and a chance to explore the two destination gardens. The bus will also stop at Blanchette Gardens in Carlisle, Mass., where there will be time to browse display gardens and shop from their large perennial selection.

Further information is available from McLaughlin Garden volunteer Judy Florenz at 739-9921 and at the McLaughlin Garden at 743-8820. A small portion of the proceeds will benefit the McLaughlin Garden, but the price is being kept as low as possible to encourage local garden enthusiasts to enjoy the outing. Payment of $55 can be made in person or mailed to McLaughlin Garden, PO Box 492, South Paris, 04281. The price includes transportation and garden admissions.

The deadline for sign-ups is Friday, May 25.

Weekend buffet breakfast

HARRISON — Memorial Day weekend buffet breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at the United Parish Congregational Church. Sponsored by the United Parish of Harrison and N. Bridgton.

The buffet-style meal will feature scrambled eggs, homemade pancakes, sausage, home fries, fresh fruit, homemade coffee cakes, orange juice, coffee and tea.

Donations appreciated.

Church plans rhubarb festival

WEST PARIS — The First Universalist Church of West Paris will hold its second annual Rhubarb Festival and yard sale on Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to noon at the church on Main Street. An addition to this year’s event will be games for children.

The theme is “Everything Rhubarb.” In addition to the church’s famous rhubarb pies, everything from rhubarb muffins to rhubarb spring tonic will be offered.

Last year the Rhubarb Festival evolved from a yard sale with a few pies to lots of rhubarb baked goods and a yard sale. This was prompted by the popularity of the church’s delicious pies that would sell out in the first hour of the annual yard sale. Since it didn’t take long to sell out of baked goods at last year’s festival, even more rhubarb goodies will be available; handmade crafts will also be on sale.

The church’s Goodwill Fellowship members and others created a cookbook which includes a chapter on rhubarb recipes. The cookbook will be on sale during the festival.

For more information contact Beverly Stevens at bstevens@megalink.net, or Suzanne Dunham at dunhamfarm@msn.com, or 665-2967.

Memorial Day parade, events

OTISFIELD/OXFORD — A brief memorial ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the War Memorial in Otisfield at the corner of Rayville Road. The wreath-laying ceremony will be followed by the Anderson Staples Post 112 American Legion annual Memorial Day Parade and memorial service

The parade will form at Oxford Elementary School at 8:45 a.m. and will begin at 9 a.m. with a wreath-laying at Ellsworth Park. The parade will then proceed to the Oxford Legion. A wreath will be laid at the Oxford War Memorial Park then a Memorial Day program will be held outside with featured speaker Rep. James Hamper of Oxford.

If the weather is bad the program will be held in the Legion Hall on Kings Street. Light refreshments will be available afterwards.

‘Mud movie’ series

BETHEL — On Wednesday, May 30, at 2 p.m., the Bethel Historical Society’s “Mud Season Movies” series will continue with a showing of “The How and Why of Spuds,” a short film detailing the techniques and equipment of potato farming in Aroostook County in 1920.

The planting and harvesting techniques shown in this silent movie, with subtitles, are similar to those utilized in potato production in and around Bethel. A second short film, also connected with farming in Maine, will follow. Dick Hale, BHS trustee and retired UMO forestry professor, is coordinator for the series and will introduce each film.

These free showings take place at the society’s Robinson House, next to the Bethel Library, and are open to the public.

Library hosts book signing

PARIS — West Paris Library will host a book signing of “Feldspar, Families and Feuds” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 1. There will be a program presented by two contributing authors, Jan Brownstein of Albany and John Davis of South Paris.

Legion seeks sale donations

OXFORD — Norway American Legion Post 82  is seeking donations for a yard sale to be held July 20 and 21 at Great Scott’s Storage, Route 26.

All money raised benefits local veterans. The group is accepting donations of clean used or like-new items such as furniture, sporting goods, electronics, tools and household goods. To arrange for pick-up, call Ron Snow at 744-9156.

Church hosting juggler, musicians

WEST PARIS — Mission Congregational Church will host a celebration on Saturday, June 2, at the church.

Juggler Shane Miclon from Buckfield will be performing both outside the church before the program and during the show. Sharing their musical talents are Just Us Two, featuring Jo Plummer and Bob Gauthier; musician Judith Leino and Mary Alice Standard.

The program begins at 3 p.m. and will include juggling, harmonica playing, guitar and banjo strumming, songs and refreshments. The event is part of West Paris Old Home Days and is free to the public.

The church has been a presence for the Finnish community since 1917, and a membership book compiled by Cynthia Immonen will be available to check for ancestors. Also available is an opportunity to preorder baked goods including pies, brownies, whoopie pies and Finnish nisu and rice pie.

For more information call Pastor Wally at 336-2696 or visit www.missioncongregational.com.

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