Alton

Spring cleanup

The Alton Spring Clean-up will be held Saturday, June 7. Acceptable material must be at curbside by 7 a.m. Pile metals separately from bulky waste. Mixed debris will not be taken.

Unacceptable metals are gas containers, propane cylinders and metal that contains a liquid. Other unacceptable items are auto-related parts such as tire rims, TVs, computers, microwave ovens, mercury vapor tubes or wood waste.

Carpet must be cut into 4-foot sections, rolled and tied.

Couches, mattresses and small amounts of sheet rock in bags will be accepted.

Freon must be removed from refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners before pickup.

For more information, call Maine Waste Systems at 379-2031, or the town at 394-2601.

Bangor

Respite provider information

Those interested in providing relief for families who care for children with disabilities are invited to attended a free informational meeting on how to become a Certified Respite Provider 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, June 6, in the Piscataquis Room, Suite 3, Bangor Career Center, 45 Oak St.

For more information, call Alicia Allen, UCP Respite Services, at 941-2952, ext. 257, or 800-686-9649.

Adoptive and foster care

The Bangor office of the Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public informational meeting about adoption and foster care 1-3 p.m. Friday, June 13, in Bangor. For meeting location and sign-up, call A Family For ME at 877-505-0545.

Botanical gardens trip

The Bangor Garden Club will be the host for a bus trip on Tuesday, July 15, to the 248-acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor. The cost is $40, including bus fare, gratuity for the driver and admission to the gardens. Dinner is at participant expense at the Lobster Pound Restaurant in Lincolnville Beach. Reservation deadline is June 30. Proceeds will benefit the program for civic plantings at the University of Maine and a scholarship fund.

Dance recital

Top Hat II Dance Studio will present “Let’s Go to the Movies” on Saturday, June 7, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School.

The show will include preschool age through adult dancers, performing to a variety of songs from movie soundtracks. Dancers from Holden classes will perform in the 1:30 p.m. show, and Hampden students will be featured in the 6:30 p.m. show.

Admission is $10, $5 children and students. For information, call Top Hat II Dance Studio at 843-6028 or e-mail tophatii@aol.com.

Ham radio festival

The 21st annual Hamfest, organized by area ham radio operators, will be held 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Hermon High School, Route 2. Admission is $5, free to children under 12.

Door prizes of cash and gift certificates will be awarded. Food, provided by the sophomore class of Hermon High School, will be available. Demonstrators and vendors will be a feature of the event.

Ham radio operator exams will be conducted for all levels and CW proficiency tests will be given. Certificates will be issued to those who pass.

For more information, contact Roger W. Dole by ham radio at KA1TKS, call 848-3846 or e-mail rdole@hermon.net. The club Web site is www.n1me.com.

Gospel music concert

Weather permitting, Neighborhood Church will hold an outdoor concert featuring the musical ministry team Rejoice, from Toccoa Falls College in Georgia, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 6. The concert will be held in the church if weather is inclement. A cookout with hot dogs and drinks will precede the show at 6 p.m. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted to contribute to the group’s travel expenses.

Located at 263 Texas Ave. in the old Dow AFB Chapel on the University College of Bangor campus, Neighborhood Church has plenty of parking. For more information about the event or Neighborhood Church, call 945-9937.

Zonta perennial plant sale

The Zonta Club of Bangor will hold its perennial plant sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Bruns Chiropratic Center, 371 Union St.

DeeEtte Bruns, chairwoman of the event, said, “We have a delightful selection and variety of plants. So far, we are looking at more than 800 plants and 40 varieties of perennials. They include everything from violets, lupines and iris to five varieties of hosta, six varieties of day lilies and 10 different ground covers. The choices include both sun and shade loving plants.”

Zonta Club of Bangor will use the proceeds from the sale to fund its local and international service projects. To learn more about the club, visit zontaclubofbangor.org.

Library events for children

Events for children are scheduled at Bangor Public Library.

. Children are invited to the Bangor Public Library’s annual Planting Party at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 5. The Bangor Garden Club will bring flowering and foliage plants, explain the basics of creating an eye-catching arrangement in a container, and oversee the planting of the containers on the patio outside the Children’s Room. Bring work gloves and plan on eating a snack after the digging in the dirt is finished. Rain date for the event is 4 p.m. Friday, June 6.

. Young ladies and gents are invited to the annual Doll’s Day Tea at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, in the Story Room at the Bangor Public Library. Bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal for tea and a parade. Wear bow ties, jewelry and gloves to add to the fun. Special guest will be Margaret the Doll Lady. She will share several favorites from her vast collection of ethnic dolls.

. Amazing young musicians from the Blue Hill music camp, Kneisel Hall, will present the annual children’s concert at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, in the Story Room. The performers will guide the children in listening to what the music is saying and how the instruments talk to each other. A concert for the whole family takes place at 7 p.m. that evening.

. Summer Reading Program Kick-Off with the Schoodic Steel Pan Band takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, June 23.

Shoes wanted

The Salvation Army Family Store, adjacent to the Broadway Shopping Center, is conducting a shoe drive through June 15 to collect new and nearly new shoes to send to Africa. Athletic shoes are especially needed. Drop off shoes at the Salvation Army Family Store, Shaw’s, Marden’s or KB Toys.

Brewer

Kiwanis Club talent show

Auditions for the Brewer Kiwanis Club second annual “So You Think You Have Talent” Show were held recently. Twenty-four acts were chosen for the show.

The winner will receive $1,000. In addition, $500 will be awarded in each of the following three classes: up to 12 years old, age 13 to 18 years old, and age 19 and over.

The talent show will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Brewer High School. The talent roster includes comedy, singing, dancing, piano, guitar, jazz and bands.

Tickets for the show will be sold at the door. VIP seating in chairs at the front of the auditorium is $15, $10 general admission, $5 students. Last year, contestants came from Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Belfast, Lincoln and Franklin. Proceeds benefit local children’s charities and programs.

Annual plant sale

The Brewer Historical Society will host the Brewer Garden and Bird Club for its annual plant sale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Clewley Museum, 199 Wilson St.

The historical society will offer a white elephant table, cooked food, coffee and muffins.

Castine

Guild of Miniature Artisans

The International Guild of Miniature Artisans conference will open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 8, through Wednesday, June 11, and 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, June 12, at Maine Maritime Academy.

The event comprises 250 guests who come to MMA annually to participate in workshops and seminars known as The Guild School. The artists, some amateur and some professional, travel from all over the world to continue their studies in furniture making, metal work, painting, figures, needlework and more. Many artists also serve as instructors to many talented students.

Now in its 27th year at MMA, the Guild School conference originally came to campus thanks to the late Don Buttfield, longtime Castine resident and guild president. Buttfield’s wife still spends her summer in Castine and their son, Carey, will help welcome the guild conference to MMA during a dinner on Saturday, June 7.

The conference will begin on Saturday, and class work will begin Sunday. The courses and conference will continue through the week and end with a celebration on Friday, June 13. During their time at MMA, the guild organization hosts a Miniature Art Exhibit in the Alfond Student Center, Harborview Dining Room. The exhibit showcases miniature artwork, created by artists from around the world, most of whom attend the conference, in various fields of expertise.

The guild invites the public to view the exhibits free.

Hampden

Day lily sale

The Hampden Garden Club will hold a day lily sale 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 7, at Harmony Hall, 24 Kennebec Road. Several unique varieties will be available, organizers of the sale said. Proceeds from the event benefit a fund earmarked for repairs to Harmony Hall.

Holden

Nature talk

“The Peculiar Forest of Fray Jorge National Park, Chile,” will be presented at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road. Richard Jagels, professor of forest biology at the University of Maine, will be the speaker. The cost to attend is $5 Audubon members, $6 others.

Northern Chile has very low rainfall and harbors the driest desert on Earth, the Atacama. Yet fragments of forests can be found along the coast that contain tree species that normally grow in the wet, southern region of Chile or in rain forests of the Andes. Jagels visited this region in 2007. He will show photos of these rare forest remnants that may disappear with global warming.

Orland

Trail blazing

Celebrate National Trails Day by joining the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust Wildlands trail work crew at 1 p.m. Saturdays, June 7 and 14.

The public is invited to help build a new hiking trail in the Wildlands that will be easily accessible from Route 1. Meet at the south gate on Route 1, just south of the Route 176 intersection in East Orland. Bring bug spray, sun protection, gloves, water and snacks. Some tools will be available, but consider bringing pruners, loppers, bow saws and other hand tools. For info, call Scott at 825-4709.

Orono

Church personnel

The Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St., recently hired Mary Peters as organist and Andrew McCormick as the church’s senior choir director.

Peters has served as a church organist since 1982 in various parishes in Indiana, Massachusetts and Maine. She holds an associate’s degree from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Ind., in liturgy and music with a concentration in organ. She has completed many individual classes in theology and piano performance and a course in service playing from the American Guild of Organists, of which she is a member. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Maine at Farmington.

She has served as interim church organist at the church for the past few months.

McCormick has been employed at the church as director of creative ministries since 2006, developing the children’s choir and the Fellowship Singers. He brings with him in his new position a vast library of music and years of training as a singer, member of a youth choir and participation in drama ministries, senior choir and as a piano accompanist and organist.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Maine with a minor in theater and has a private teaching practice in voice and piano. His experience also includes work in creative ministry in Lincoln and participation in Up with People, a multicultural, educational leadership and performance program.

Book group

“A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf,” by John Muir, will be discussed at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Dirigo Pines by the Fields Pond Book Discussion Group with leader Joyce Rumery. The event is free. Call 866-3400 for directions to Dirigo Pines.

Raised bed gardening

Gardening with raised beds is a good way to grow healthy vegetables in areas with poor soil. It also is the topic of a brown bag lunch and lecture noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the University of Maine’s Page Farm and Home Museum.

Donna Coffin, educator with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County office, will be the speaker.

In her presentation “Growing Vegetables in Raised Beds,” Coffin will discuss raised-bed construction, soil mixtures, best vegetable varieties and raised-bed maintenance. Participants will receive handouts on raised-bed gardening.

Bring a lunch. More information is available by calling the museum at 581-4100.

Musical theater workshop

The Church of Universal Fellowship will offer a Summer Musical Theater Workshop for students entering grades eight through 12. This event offers students the chance to get hands on training and experience in musical theater.

The seven-day workshop series will include classes in dance, drama and music led by Andrew McCormick and Cami Carter, both professionally trained in music and theater. The workshop will culminate in a showcase that workshop participants will present on the final night of the series.

Workshop participants may receive vocal, dance and acting training, one-on-one and small group instruction, and individual and ensemble performance. Repertoire will come from classic and contemporary Broadway musicals.

The workshop will run 1-5 p.m. June 23-July 2, with the workshop performance taking place at 7 p.m. Monday, July 2, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St. To register or to obtain information, call Connie Carter at 866-3187 or e-mail conniecarter@gmail.com.