May Day 5K set for May 13

BETHEL — Bethel Rotary’s annual May Day 5K Race will take place on Saturday, May 13.

The course winds through Bethel village and begins and ends at Crescent Park School, 19 Crescent St.

The 5K road race will start at 10:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., there will be a 1-mile fun run or walk. Both events are open to all ages.

Registration costs $15 for adults 18 and older; free for younger than 18. Online registration is encouraged by visiting www.runreg.com/bethel-rotary-may-day-5k.

All proceeds will support after-school enrichment programs, including music, art, physical fitness and other creative pursuits.

Commemorative T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 100 registrants.

Date change for Society meeting

RUMFORD — The Rumford Historical Society will be holding its Annual Meeting of the Members on Thursday, May 18, instead of Wednesday, May 17. This is due to other significantly conflicting community events for Wednesday.

This Annual Meeting will be a pot luck supper at 5 p.m., at the home of Janice and Lewis Irish, at 315 Knox Street. Members and guests are asked to bring a favorite dish to share with other members. Beverage and silverware will be provided.

A brief business meeting and election of Officers and Directors for the year will precede the supper. No program will be given, but all attendees are encouraged to bring their ideas for next year’s programs and events, and to simply enjoy the company of other members.

Reservations are required by Monday, May 15.

FMI, RSVP: 207-364-8303.

West Paris Historical Society meeting

WEST PARIS — The West Paris Historical Society will meet at 6 p.m Monday, May 15, at the Historical Society building, on Main Street.

There will be a potluck, followed by a short business meeting.

The guest will be Wayne Millien, who will talk about State Parks. All are welcome.

FMI: 207-515-1998.

Storytellers Guild to meet

FARMINGTON — The Western Order of Dedicated Storytellers Guild will meet on the third Thursday of the month through Dec. 21 at the Farmington Public Library, 117 Academy St. 

The next meeting will be held May 18, and it is free to attend.

FMI: 778-4387, westernmainestorytelling.org.

SeniorsPlus in Bethel, Norway

BETHEL/NORWAY — Representatives from SeniorsPlus will hold outreach hours in Norway and Bethel to answer questions and address concerns community members may have about services and resources for older adults and adults with disabilities and their families.

Bethel: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at the Norway Savings Bank.

Norway: Noon to 4 p.m. Monday, May 22, at the Norway Town Office.

The events are free and open to the public.

FMI: 1-800-427-1241.

Society to hear about Finnish 

PARIS — The Paris Cape Historical Society will hold its first meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at its meeting room at 77 High St.

After a short business meeting, Dale Piirainen will speak on the Finnish immigrants who came to this area in the 1930s.

Piirainen is well known in the area as he has spoken to many historical societies about the Finnish immigrants to Oxford County. He is very knowledgeable about Finnish history, and has done extensive research online. He and his wife Loraine have made several trips to Finland and done more study of the families there. He is the president of the Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine. You are welcome to come and hear his talk, which will be a little different from his talks at other historical societies.

The meeting will be followed by refreshments and fellowship. The society looks forward to an interesting year of talks, research and meeting new people.

Jay Historical Society Meeting

JAY — The Jay Historical Society will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at the Holmes-Crafts Homestead, on Jay Hill.

Susan Austin of Chester, Virginia, formerly of Jay, will present a program on the history of the harmonium. This is usually called a pump organ, which is an instrument developed in France in the early 1800s and popular in homes of that century and early 1900s.

The public is cordially invited to come hear the history and demonstration of the society’s harmonium in the homestead parlor.

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