Community Events Calendar

Make a fun science discovery through facts, crafts, books and more! 1-3rd Animal Tracks; 8+10th Farmers Day; 22nd+24th Fishing Fun; 29th+ 31st Worms. For more information call or visit our website.

2012 Call for Application for Maine Downtown Network (MDN) Communities Application Deadline: March 30. MDC is also announcing the Call for Applications for the 2012 round of Maine Downtown Network (MDN) communities. The MDC serves as the Maine State Coordinator for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center, and utilizes their successful Main Street Four-Point Approach as the foundation for assistance to communities. Applications are being accepted from communities with engaged volunteers who are actively organizing their downtown revitalization efforts around the Main Street Four-Point Approach of organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. The deadline for applications is March 30, 2012. Visit website for application and list of current communities. FMI on the MDN program and current communities.

In these hard economic times, more Maine families are facing hunger than ever before. Today, 200,000 Mainers, including 1 in 4 children, struggle with hunger. Bangor Savings Bank is excited to launch its first-ever Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive. During the month of March, join Bangor Savings Bank in the fight against hunger by donating peanut butter and jelly. Stop in at your local Bangor Savings Bank branch and drop off a jar of peanut butter, jelly, or both. All donations will help families right in your community through your local food pantry. Why peanut butter and jelly? Peanut butter is among one of the most expensive foods for food banks to purchase in large quantities. However, it is in high demand because it is rich with protein and also has monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils, the good fats. And what's peanut butter without jelly? Christine Force, Good Shepherd Food-Bank's Vice President of Fund Development and Strategic Initiatives says, ... thanks to this peanut butter & jelly drive, more families will have access to a protein-rich, non-perishable food, and it will make a big difference in their daily lives. For more information or to find a branch nearest you, visit www.bangor.com.

MaineGeneral s HealthReach Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is looking for items for its 15th annual Spring Auction, which will be held Saturday, April 21, at Winslow Elementary School, Benton Avenue, Winslow. Donated items should have a value of $20 or more. Ideas for donations include artwork, antiques, new or gently used furniture/appliances, crafts, theme baskets or gift certificates or merchandise from local businesses and restaurants. Auction items may be dropped off at RSVP's office at the Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street, Waterville, or RSVP will arrange for pick-up. The deadline for donations is Friday, April 6. This auction is RSVP's biggest fund raiser, with proceeds supporting direct volunteer expenses such as training, insurance coverage, mileage reimbursement and recognition. RSVP has more than 300 active volunteers contributing time and expertise to nonprofit organizations and programs throughout Kennebec, Somerset and Franklin counties. For more information on donating an item to the auction or on the RSVP program, please call Ruth Saint Amand, RSVP director, at 861-3428 or 800-427-1127.

Auditions for 17th Annual Johnson Hall / Riverfront Festival Talent Show.Got talent? Want to compete for a $200 prize? The 17th Annual Johnson Hall / Riverfront Talent Show is looking for you! Hosted this year by Johnson Hall s new Executive Artistic Director Mike Miclon, this tradition of providing an outdoor showcase for area talent continues. Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and again on Saturday, May 4, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, 280 Water Street in Gardiner. All ages and all talents are welcome to try out. Please arrive by 5:45 pm on Thursday and 1:45 pm on Saturday to get your audition number. Please contact Johnson Hall to advise which day you will be auditioning. A limited number of acts will be chosen to perform at the Talent Show, to be held on June 22 at 6:30 pm on the Gardiner Waterfront (rain date June 23 at 3:00 pm). Four prizes will be awarded at the Talent Show: Best Overall Prize is $200; Adult is $100, Teen (13-17) is $100 and Junior (12 & under) is $100. Audition applicants should bring their accompanying music, if required. Karaoke will not be allowed, so any CDs or MP3s should have the music only. Audition pieces should be presented complete with costumes and/or props, exactly as you would appear at the Talent Show itself. All acts are welcome bands, poets, storytellers, variety acts, dancers, magicians the sky s the limit. No one will be accepted into the talent show without an audition, however. This is an amateur event. We are looking to identify the area s next star. Performance slots will be open to anyone, but prizes are limited to those who do not primarily support themselves as a performer. Audition applications are available at Johnson Hall walk in, email info@johnsonhall.org or download from their website at www.johnsonhall.org. Applications can be brought to the audition or filled out at the audition. Please call 582-7144 for more information, assistance, or to sign up for an audition day.