Sports briefs

Healthy Kids Day

OLD TOWN – The Old Town-Orono YMCA, 472 Stillwater Ave., will celebrate YMCA Healthy Kids Day 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 9. The daylong event will emphasize healthy living, help families embrace a more active lifestyle, and showcase YMCA programs to “put play in your day.”

All events are free and open to the public. The event is part of YMCA Activate America, a national long-term initiative focused on developing and implementing community-based solutions to help improve health and wellness.

Activities will include climbing wall, open swim, water aerobics, slap shot hockey, tug-o-war, gymnastic events, running races, foul shooting, paddling and dance lessons.

With 9 million overweight children in the United States – more than double the figure reported in 1980 – increasing the levels of physical activity in the lives of children is a critical component in reducing childhood obesity.

Old Town-Orono YMCA is one of 1,250 YMCAs nationwide sponsoring a day of activities designed to engage families in fun, healthy, physical activities. Tropicana, Kimberly-Clark and the Disney Channel are supporting YMCA Healthy Kids Day events across the country. The Disney Channel is the national media sponsor.

To learn about the event, call Amy Hamlin, fitness director,

827-9622.

Clinic for track officials

ORONO – The Maine Association of USA Track and Field will conduct a track and field officials’ clinic for those interested in officiating track and field or becoming certified or recertified.

The Orono Area Officials Clinic will be held 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10, in the Town Council Chambers at the Orono Municipal Office Building.

The contact person for the clinic is Mary Cady, 866-5674, or mary.cady@umit.maine.edu.

Don Berry, a master official in the sport and the certification chairman of the Maine Track and Field Association, will conduct the clinic. His presentation will cover all aspects of track and field officiating and rules review. The clinic is designed to provide both beginning and advanced levels of instruction.

There are three primary certification levels: association level for new officials; the national level, which requires two years of officiating at the association level; and the master level, which requires written recommendations, at least three years experience at the national level, and a higher degree of testing.

There is no cost to participants. Track rulebooks and testing materials will be available for purchase but are not required. The state association will provide snacks and beverages. For information, call Don Berry at 342-5675, or e-mail chemman

@pivot.net.

Maine Handicapped Skiing

Maine Handicapped Skiing, Maine’s largest year-round adaptive recreation program for adults and children with physical disabilities, raised $265,000 at its 20th anniversary Ski-A-Thon March 19 at Sunday River Ski Resort.

More than 650 skiers and riders and 120 volunteers participated. Highlights included an on-slope obstacle course, built and operated by the Parrot Head Club of Maine; and a blues concert by Rockin’ George Leh and His Band.

The Ski-A-Thon team Snow Snakes won the grand prize – five days of skiing and four days’ lodging at an eastern ski resort – for raising $17,805. Craig Cooper of Cape Elizabeth was the top individual fund-raiser for the fourth year in a row.

Andy Barlow of Andover, a longtime volunteer and participant at MHS, was honored by Maine Handicapped Skiing with the 110 Percent Award for giving extraordinary service to MHS.

Sunday River Ski Resort, longtime sponsor of Maine Handicapped Skiing, provided free lift tickets to skiers and riders at the Ski-A-Thon.

For information on becoming a volunteer or a participant in Maine Handicapped Skiing’s adaptive recreational program for adults and children with physical disabilities, call (800) 639-7770, e-mail info@skimhs.org or visit www.skimhs.org.