Chemistry in the park

PORTLAND — Children of all ages will be entertained when the University of Southern Maine Chemistry Club blows up Portland’s Deering Oaks Park as part of the Crusher’s Kids Concert in the Park series at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, July 26 at the Bandstand.

All the event’s demonstrations performed by USM students — dissolving a metal spoon, igniting dollar bills that will not burn and all those explosions — are designed to make science fun and accessible to kids during this free, family event.

The club also plans to do a thermite demonstration at the show, creating molten iron out of two very high burning powders.

For more information, contact Layla Venturini at [email protected].

Lothrop family reunion

NEW GLOUCESTER — The Lothrop Family Reunion will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at the home of Bill and Diane Lothrop Cordell, 58 Snow Hill Road. Call Diane at 926-4282 for directions or information.

Grant writing training

NORTH YARMOUTH — “Grantsmanship and the Grant Writing Process” is the subject of a training that will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Skyline Farm Visitors’ Center, 95 The Lane. The event features a session specifically for individuals interested in writing grants on a freelance/contractual basis for nonprofit and governmental clients.

The training will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the freelance-specific component from 3:45 to 4:45. Preregistration is required; cost is $95 for the workshop only, $110 including “Grant Writing for Freelancers.” All handouts, snacks and lunch are included.

Illene Roggensack of Third Sector Innovations will facilitate the training, providing an overview of the process for securing grant revenues for an organization or special project. To register and for further information, contact Third Sector Innovations at 800-406-7274 or [email protected].

Walk to Defeat ALS

BANGOR – The fifth annual Bangor Walk to Defeat ALS is set to take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, at Hayford Park, 13th Street. Participants will gather at the park and take part in a 1.3- or 2.3-mile walk to show their support and raise awareness of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Teams and individuals can sign up for the walk at web.alsa.org/bangorme.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., guest speakers begin at 10 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 10:30.

Speakers include Dr. Greg Cox, The Jackson Laboratory; Dr. Cathy Lutz, The Jackson Laboratory; Janice Von Brook, Bangor’s Walk Chair; and Amy Kuzma, ALS Association Northern New England Office.