Orono-Veazie Hoop Classic

ORONO – The Orono Parks and Recreation, along with the Veazie Recreation Department, is accepting registrations for its 2008 Orono-Veazie Hoop Classic. The classic is open to teams of fifth- and sixth-graders. No AAU teams will be accepted.

The classic will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2.

Teams are guaranteed four games and players will receive a gift for participating.

The fee is $155 per team or $300 for two teams, one boys and one girls. For information, call the recreation office at 866-5065.

Basketball tournament

GLENBURN – A basketball tournament for fifth- and sixth-graders is planned for March. Boys games will be Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, and girls games will be Friday and Saturday, March 15-16.

The tournament will have a double elimination format. All participants will receive ribbons. First- and second-place teams will receive trophies.

A foul-shooting contest will be conducted during halftimes.

The cost to participate is a nonrefundable fee of $150 per team. To reserve a spot, mail fee and roster to: Glenburn Recreation Department, 144 Lakeview Road, Glenburn ME 04401.

Checks should be made payable to Glenburn Recreation Department.

Deadline for team registration is Tuesday, Feb 22.

For information, call Glenburn recreation director Mrs. Carey Besse at 945-3119.

Karate for kids

ORONO – Maine Traditional Karate, in cooperation with the Orono Parks and Recreation Department, is offering karate classes Wednesday and Friday afternoons at Keith Anderson Community House.

Children ages 5-8 meet for classes 3-4 p.m. Children ages 9 and older meet 4:15-5:15 p.m. The fee for the program is $75 per month. For information, call 570-5425 or 866-5065.

Special Olympics games

Five hundred Special Olympics Maine athletes, including several athletes from the Bangor area, are spending the final days of January preparing for the 38th annual Special Olympics Maine winter games. Athletes, coaches, families and volunteers will meet on Sunday, Jan. 27, at Sugarloaf for this exciting event. The games will continue through Tuesday, Jan, 29.

This will be Special Olympics’ 26th year at Sugarloaf.

Maine is credited with holding the first Special Olympics Winter Games in the world. In 1970 a handful of athletes joined together on a small hill in Gorham to show their skills in Alpine and Nordic skiing. The following year the games had grown enough to move to Saddleback Mountain and 1982 saw the need to move again to Sugarloaf.

The people of Carrabasset Valley go out of their way every year to make sure the athletes feel right at home. The entire community participates by preparing all of the meals for the first night for all 500 athletes, their coaches and volunteers.

Upon arrival the athletes check into condos and after settling in, head out to enjoy a fun-packed evening of moonlight skating and cross-country skiing, karaoke, a bonfire and more.

The competition begins on Monday morning. Athletes compete in Alpine and Nordic skiing, speed skating, snowshoeing and dual ski.

The official Opening Ceremonies will take place at noon Monday with the newly crowned Miss Maine Teen, Avery Barr; Miss Farmington, Chantel White; and Junior Miss Farmington, Star Thibodeau, along with numerous VIP’s. The event will kick off with a parade of athletes.

Monday evening the athletes get a chance to wind down while enjoying a Banquet of Champions sponsored by KFC Corp., a Torch Light Parade put on by Carrabasset Valley Academy and a fireworks display before heading off to the Victory Dance.

Competition picks up again on Tuesday morning.

Special Olympics is a year-round athletic training and competition program for persons with intellectual disabilities of all ages. In Maine more than 2,500 athletes participate. For information on the Winter Games, or Special Olympics call 879-0489 or visit www.specialolympicsmaine.org.

Adult open gym in Orono

ORONO – The Orono Parks and Recreation Department is offering adults an opportunity to get out and work off those holiday pounds.

The Orono Middle School Gym will be open 8-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for pick-up basketball. Open gym is free to Orono residents, $2 others.

There will be no open gym during school vacations or when school is canceled. For information, call the recreation office at 866-5065.

Ice fishing derby

HUDSON – The Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club, Whitmore Landing Road, will hold its 28th annual ice fishing derby Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2-3. The cost to participate is $3.

A derby breakfast will be served 5-11 a.m. both days. The cost is $5.

An ice shack will be raffled. Tickets are $3.

For information, call 852-0287.