DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Androscoggin River Watershed Council is presenting a virtual (ZOOM) workshop on plastics pollution on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The Global Plastics Problem: From Rivers to Oceans to Solutions — While plastics pollution of our oceans gets the most publicity, it is also impacting our rivers and streams. Learn more about plastics and the problems from presenter Dr. Kara Lavender Law, Research Professor of Oceanography at Sea Education Association (SEA), Woods Hole and a leader in this field, who presented at the MRRA conference last spring. If you missed this presentation, this is another opportunity worth viewing.

Go to https://www.androscogginwatershedcouncil.org/ to learn more and to find the link for the ZOOM meeting. — Ferg, no town

ANSWER: This presentation will be of interest to everyone who cares about our environment.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society (MFGS) is pleased to have a presentation entitled, “Does Descent Mean Belonging?,” by guest speaker Dr. Joseph Hall,  Associate Professor of History at Bates College, at the fall general membership meeting to be held in the Androscoggin Community Room of the Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Dr. Hall’s presentation will begin at approximately 11 a.m. after a brief business meeting and light refreshments starting at 10 a.m.

In the presentation, we will discover that while there are connections between French Canadian and Wabanaki family histories, these connections can have many potential meanings, and many of these meanings are deeply contested. What is the relationship between membership in a Wabanaki nation and having Wabanaki ancestors? Dr. Hall’s talk will not resolve this question, but he will do his best to explain why the answers are so complicated.

Admission is free and open to the public.

ANSWER: MFGS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the study of Franco-American genealogy and genealogical research in the state of Maine. For more information about MFGS visit www.mfgen.org, and for more information about the meeting, contact Connie Hitchcock,  at cahitchco@aol.com.

For parking information at the Auburn Public Library, visit www.auburnpubliclibrary.org .

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Wales’s Presbyterian Church Women’s Group’s This ‘n That Yard and Bake Sale will be held at 668 Pond Road (Route 132) in Wales on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To donate items (no clothing), or for information regarding table rentals for $20, contact Cheryl Foss at 754-2926 or Susan Bisson 754-4185.

Thank you, Ms. Sun Spots, for your great column! — Susan, Monmouth

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