TURNER – The Maine Women’s Agricultural Network Central Coastal will hold an on-farm meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at Gloria Varney’s Nezinscot Farm, Route 117.

The diversified farm has a farm store, organic dairy with cows and goats, sheep, cheese room, fiber products and café. Bring a bag lunch or order from the café.

Aubrey Davis, director of the USDA National Ag Statistics Service, will discuss the importance for women farmers to file with the Ag Census.

For more information, contact Susan Watson, network director and regional organizer for Central Coastal, at 622-7847, ext. 4, or susan.watson@me.usda.gov.

The network enables women and other under-served people to own, operate and support agriculture-related enterprises. It is a statewide program in collaboration with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Time and Tide Resource Conservation and Development Area. For more information online go to www.umaine.edu/umext/wagn.

Home alone

BRUNSWICK – Martin’s Point Health Care will offer a workshop to help boost the confidence and calm the fears of children who are home alone after school.

The single-session workshop, designed for children ages 9 to 11, will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at the facility on Farley Road near Cook’s Corner. The fee is $10. For additional information, parents may call the Martin’s Point Health Education Center at 828-2497 or 1-800-260-6681.

The workshop will focus on safety issues and first aid techniques as a way to help children feel more confident in case of an emergency. Children will be instructed on what to say if they need to phone 911 or another emergency number for help. Parents, too, will receive information and tips about how to reduce safety hazards.

Organic farming

UNITY – The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will host a two-day course, Introduction to Organic Farming, at the Common Ground Education Center.

The annual program is geared toward novice vegetable growers who are considering producing organic crops for sale. Eric Sideman, technical services director, and certified organic farmers will be the main presenters.

The course will begin on Thursday, March 11, with a discussion of soil science. Day two, Thursday, March 18, will include a discussion of organic methods of weed, pest and disease control. Presentations will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fee is $15 a day and includes lunches. Those interested should call the office at 568-4142 by March 1 to preregister. For more information call Eric Sideman at 946-4402 or e-mail esideman@mofga.org.

French presence

SACO – York County Senior College, a program of University College in Saco and Sanford which is designed for senior citizens age 55 and over, will offer a course on the French Presence in North America from 2 to 4 p.m. starting Tuesday, March 23, at the Dyer Library, 371 Main St., b

Sessions are scheduled for eight consecutive Tuesdays. Registration can be made through the University College Centers in Saco and Sanford.

Author Doris Provencher Faucher will lead discussions based on assigned readings from the first in her series of historical novels, “Le Quebecois: The Virgin Forest,” and will provide insights gained through her research of the ethnic history and heritage.

More information is available by calling the centers at 800-696-3075 or 282-4111.

Scout anniversary

RAYMOND – The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society for the Boy Scouts of America. The local lodge, Madockawanda Lodge, will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.

Founded in 1944 at Camp William Hinds in Raymond, the order has provided thousands of hours of service to the Scouting community. Scouts across central and southern Maine have been members.

As a part of the celebration, Scouts are compiling a lodge history. Members are looking for historical documents, newspaper clippings, memories and stories, especially items from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

The lodge will hold an anniversary evening during the summer, with the dedication of a site at Camp Hinds and rededication of members.

Anyone with information can contact Matt Dubois at 212-9540 or mattdubwah@adelphia.net.

Juggling Club

GORHAM – The Juggling Club will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Centre of Movement, School of Performing Arts, 19 State St. It is free for people who juggle and people who wish to learn. Call 839-3267 for details.

Writing course

PORTLAND – The Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance will offer “Personal Essay and Column Writing” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at Mercy Hospital. Elizabeth Peavey will be the instructor. Cost is $55 for members; $75 for others. Call the alliance at 386-1400 for details or to register.

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