DEP changes event meeting sites

STRONG — The DEP Erosion & Sediment Control Practices training, to be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, has been moved to the Strong Town Office, 14 South Main St.

There are still has a few openings. Call 207-778-4279, e-mail info@franklincswcd.org or go to the FaceBook page at FCSWCD for a registration form. Registration is $95. The homemade lunch is $7, $10 at the door or bring a lunch.

The Basic Septic System Installers Workshop has been moved to the Chesterville Town Office, 409 Dutch Gap Road. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. Registration will be taken until Monday, March 26.

The class will allow certified contractors to extend their certification for an addition three years as well as septic installers recertification credits.

Use the above contact information for a registration form. A $75 registration fee is due by Friday, March 16, and $90 after that date. Registration includes materials, refreshments, and lunch.

Open Observatory Night rescheduled

PARIS — The free Monthly Open Observatory Night will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, at Twitchell’s Observatory, depending on weather and road access. Weather date is Saturday, March 17.

The night has been postponed due to weather for the first two weekends of the month. Check for postponements at tinyurl.com/yaqgwnpj or text/call 207-890-5207.

To view Mercury and Venus, arrive at 7 p.m.

Dwarf conifers to be lecture series topic

PARIS —  Rex Beisel will be the fourth speaker in the 2018 McLaughlin Garden lecture series on Wednesday, March 21. Beisel’s subject will be “Dwarf Conifers in the Garden” and will include a photographic presentation.

Beisel has worked in the Maine green industry, retiring from O’Donal’s Nursery. He and Craig Cote have an extensive garden in Otisfield that has a dwarf conifer garden. Their large landscaped property includes beds for daylily hybridizing as well as designed display gardens featuring different shrubs, trees and flowers.

The illustrated lecture will begin at 4 p.m. upstairs in the historic Tribou home at 97 Main St., where Bernard McLaughlin lived with his wife. Tea will be served at 3:30. The gift shop will be open.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Parking is just to the north of Maurice’s; a driveway will be plowed. Parking is also available on Western Avenue. Donations will be accepted for the preservation of the buildings and garden.

Union Veterans Daughters install officers

NORWAY — Hannah F. Richardson Tent 19, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-65, Stoneham, held their first meeting of the new year on Feb. 22 at the home of Marilyn Jones in Norway.

Sally Sawyer, department registrar, served as installing officer for the installation of new officers. The charter was draped in memory of Margaret Stevens, deceased member of Tent 19, and Michelle Cary, past department president of Maine.

The next meeting will be Thursday, March 22, same location.

Poetry Night at Rumford Library

RUMFORD — The Fourth Thursday Poetry Night will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22, at the Rumford Library.

Join poets and poetry lovers to read a favorite poem and join in the discussion. The program is free and open to the public.

For more information, call 207-364-3661.