The Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce will focus its attention on the St. John River and the Fish River on June 16 during the inaugural River Fest.

The event will feature three races that promise to be entertaining.

The day’s events:

. Hartts Landing to Riverside Park 14-mile race, with several canoe and kayak classes, will begin in St. Francis at 9 a.m. and finish in Fort Kent.

. The Fish River Folly, an anything-that-floats race that will begin at Jalbert Park at 10:30 a.m. and finish at Riverside Park.

. The River Rat Challenge, a motorized canoe race that begins and ends at Riverside Park. The race will be staged between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

For more information about the River Fest events, call the Fort Kent Town office at 834-3507.

Union youth fishing event set

In memory of Mike Sabins, a youth fishing event will be held June 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ayer Park in Union.

Ayer Park is on Route 235

and was chosen because it is easy to find and is well suited to a children’s event. The event is sanctioned by the Hooked on Fishing program and equipment will be provided. Refreshments will be provided, and children are encouraged to attend the event with an adult.

This event is the fifth for the Mike Sabins Memorial Youth Fish and Game organization. In response to the death of their son Mike, Scot and Mary

Sabins are organizing a group focused on teaching Maine kids about their outdoor heritage.

Mike Sabins was an avid hunter and fisherman. The Sabins hope to be able to offer events, activities and courses for young people to experience the Maine outdoors.

Hooked on Fishing is a program to promote youth and family togetherness through fishing and is run by the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to encourage youth fishing activities.

For more information about the event, or to offer help, call Scot and Mary at 785-4076.

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.