Winter Sports Expo a sign of the coming season

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A bit more warm weather this week probably kept people from planning for winter, but Maine’s foremost outdoor outfitter has an event planned today that might put you in the right mood.

The L.L. Bean Winter Sports Expo will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in and around the Freeport store, with all kinds of activities on tap.

Among the highlights:

. Throughout the day families will be able to “meet” a team of sled dogs at an exhibit run by Outward Bound.

. Another all-day event: Snowshoe testing will be provided by the L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools.

. Winter Camping Essentials is the topic of a revolving series of lectures offered by Outward Bound.

Also, a variety of demonstrations and clinics are on tap, and some offerings are targeted at children.

For kids:

. The Fiddlehead Center for the Arts will teach children how to make their own handmade holiday wrapping paper.

. The Creative Resource Center will hold a clinic on making snowman puppets.

. Ellie Bear will be meeting children.

. Chris Van Dusen will hold a storytelling and book-signing session, and will share “Down to the Sea With Mr. Magee,” with interested children.

Some of the demonstrations adults may be interested in:

. Primaloft will show you how to stay insulated against the cold.

. W.L. Gore will educate you about Gore-Tex and Windstopper fabrics.

. A live ice-sculpting demonstration will be staged by the Maine Snow and Ice-Sculpting Foundation.

. Stonewall Kitchen will hold a specialty bread taste test.

Clinics include one on ice fishing for beginners, another on cooking outdoors, and a third on dressing for the winter weather.

That’s just a taste of what promises to be a fun and informative day for the outdoors-oriented shopper.

Holden hunter’s breakfast set

Hunters heading into the woods around Holden today may want to stop off and fuel up at a hunter’s breakfast planned for the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club on the Levenseller Road.

The breakfast runs from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m., and will feature eggs, ham, biscuits, home fries and more. The cost is $4.50 per eager eater.

Oh. One more thing: You don’t have to be a hunter to stop by and enjoy a nice breakfast.

Maine Wildlife Park closes gates

The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray will end its 2003 season Tuesday, Nov. 11, after another successful year.

Most of the wildlife will remain outside during the winter, with the exception of the raptors, which are moved into large, protected and unheated indoor aviaries for the coldest months.

The bears den up as food gradually is tapered off, simulating what happens in the wild.

The park will be open from 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 11. For more information call 657-4977, or check the Web at www.mainewildlifepark.com.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, Maine, 04402-1329.