Coin, stamp show Feb. 1 in Brunswick

BRUNSWICK — A coin and stamp show will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2 Columbus Drive.

There will be 25 dealers over 44 tables.

Admission is free and there will be hourly door prizes and a silent bid auction.

There will be coins, currency, medals, tokens, stamps, post cards and collector supplies.

For more information , call Bob Caouette at 207-721-7872, visit home.comcast.net/~brunswickcoinclub/site or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Yarmouth to Yarmouth trip offered

YARMOUTH — The Yarmouth Historical Society is offering Yarmouth to Yarmouth next October. This trip starts in London, includes Devon and Cornwall and will end at the Isle of Wight for the annual October Walking Festival. The dates are Oct. 17-25. The Yarmouth Historical Society has worked with AAA to offer this exciting adventure. Highlights include Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Land’s End and Penzance and a stop at Yarmouth Castle in Yarmouth.

The cost of the trip is $2,400 per person with double occupancy.

For more information, call Amy Aldredge at 207-846-6259.

Info meeting for elderberry growers

LISBON FALLS — A free informational meeting for current and interested elderberry growers will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office, 24 Main St.

Tori Lee Jackson, UMaine Extension educator and associate professor of agriculture and natural resources, and David Handley, UMaine Extension vegetable and small fruit specialist, will facilitate. Topics will include elderberry growers’ experiences and potential future needs, management practices and challenges, research-based information on elderberries as a potential production crop and insurance programs that cover elderberries.

For more information, to make a reservation or to request a disability accommodation, contact KymNoelle Sposato at 207-353-5550 or [email protected].

Youth essay contest for flower show

PORTLAND — Maine youth are invited to describe their “Growing the Taste of Maine” garden in the Portland Flower Show student essay contest.

Prizes of $50, $30 and $20 will be awarded in each of three age categories (6-9, 10-13 and 14-18). Essays will be judged on creativity, focus and passion in describing the garden and what grows in it. Winning essays will be announced at the opening night preview Wednesday, March 4; selected essays will be posted for viewing during the show, which runs March 5-8 at the Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore St.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, is the deadline to enter the ninth annual contest, which is co-sponsored by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For an application and rules, call 800-287-1471 or email [email protected]. Applications and information also are available at portlandcompany.com/flower and umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/student-essay.

Deadline nears for young composers

STATEWIDE — Student musicians have until Monday, Feb. 16, to submit an original musical composition to the 19th annual Bagaduce Music Lending Library’s Young Composers’ Competition. Win prize money and have your composition evaluated by expert musical composers.

The competition is open to all Maine students in kindergarten through high school. Compositions are evaluated in two categories: age 13 and younger and age 14 through high school. Three students in each age category will be awarded prize money of $200, $125 and $75. These awards will be given at the Young Composers’ Festival, which will be held on Saturday, April 25, in Blue Hill.

Entry forms and competition guidelines can be found by going to www.bagaducemusic.org and clicking on the “Events” link. For more information, email [email protected] or call 207-374-5454.

Kids First Center receives grant

PORTLAND — The Kids First Center recently received a $5,000 grant from the Fisher Charitable Foundation to support general operating expenses.

“A grant toward the general operation of an agency is extremely helpful when it comes to paying the bills,” said Peg Libby, the center’s executive director. “Many grants focus on specific program funding and don’t address the needs associated with the overhead required to house those programs. This grant will help us meet those demands and we are so appreciative.”

The nonprofit Kids First Center was founded in 1998 with a mission to minimize the trauma experienced by children when a divorce or separation occurs within their family. For more information, call 207-761-2709 or visit www.kidsfirstcenter.org.

Unity College to offer graduate degree

UNITY — The Maine Board of Education has voted unanimously to give Unity College degree-granting authority at the master’s level, complementing the College’s existing associate and bachelor’s degrees.

“This unanimous vote gives Unity the state’s approval to offer master’s level degrees of all kinds,” said Unity College President Dr. Stephen Mulkey. “We are beginning with the Master of Professional Science degree and will consider additional master’s degrees as the program develops.”

The Master of Professional Science degree will be offered in the fall as a hybrid online/campus model.

UMA gets anonymous $1 million gift

AUGUSTA — UMA has received a gift in excess of $1 million from an anonymous donor.

“We could not be more excited about this incredibly generous gift,” said UMA President Glenn Cummings. “It signals a strong confidence in UMA and an explicit recognition of the importance of our unique mission.”

The gift is part of the UMA’s 50th Anniversary Fund campaign, launched in conjunction with the school’s 50th anniversary in 2015. Money raised during the campaign will be used for student scholarships, supporting veterans enrolled at UMA, strengthening the school’s online and distance education offerings, and renovating the auditorium.