Essay contest topic announced

SKOWHEGAN — The Margaret Chase Smith Library has announced that the topic of its 21st annual essay contest is drug abuse.

As far back as 1951, Sen. Smith warned that “one of the great threats to our country today is the preying of narcotic peddlers upon our children.” Since the 1980s, the nation has waged a war on drugs with mixed results. The Margaret Chase Smith Library invites Maine high school seniors to propose how they would address the current lethal drug epidemic.

Entries are due by April 1 and decisions will be announced on May 1. Prizes are $50 for five honorable mentions, $250 for third place, $500 for second place, and $1,000 for first place.

FMI: mcslibrary.org/program/edu/essay.htm; 207-474-7133.

Fresh Air Fund seeks host families

NEW YORK — The Fresh Air Fund is seeking central Maine families to host New York City children.

Each summer, thousands children visit suburban, rural and small town communities along the East Coast, from North Carolina to Maine and Canada, through The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program.

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent nonprofit, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities. Fresh Air children are boys and girls from ages seven to 18 who live in New York City. Children who are re-invited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips.

FMI: 207-931-8889, freshair.org.

Fundraiser to tackle child abuse 

LEWISTON — The Children’s Advocacy Center of Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin Counties is seeking party hosts for its first annual Tackling Child Abuse fundraiser.

During football parties on Sunday, Feb. 5, CAC hopes to have hosts collect donations from party guests when certain plays help the New England Patriots: $1 for a field goal, $1 for a sack of the Falcon’s quarterback, $3 for a touch down and $5 if the Patriots win.

FMI, host: 207-784-0436.

Legion seeks crafters for sale

MECHANIC FALLS — The American Legion Auxilary is seeking crafters for a fair that will be held Saturday, March 18, at 41 Elm St.

FMI, RSVP: 207-345-9043, 207-212-0538.