Expansion soccer teams

BANGOR – Atlantic Sports Group is a new company in Bangor. It has been approved to bring two expansion soccer teams to Maine.

The Maine Tide women’s team will play in the Women’s Premier Soccer League, and the Maine Sting will play in the National Premier Soccer League.

Home games will be played at the Husson College campus on the Boucher soccer pitch beginning in May 2008.

“We are very excited about adding the Maine Tide to our league. The Atlantic Sports Group is a well-organized company that brings innovation to the business of soccer and is obviously dedicated to the game. We look forward to their participation in the league beginning the spring of 2008,” said Jerry Zanelli, soccer league commissioner.

“We think the community will really enjoy the chance to see soccer played at such a high level right here at home. Currently, the second- and fourth-ranked teams in the world play in the WPSL. Many of these women play for national teams at the World Cup and Olympic levels. Soccer is such a great form of family entertainment. We hope everyone will come out and support the teams next spring,” said Cheryl Stokes, president of Atlantic Sports Group.

The official team launch will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Paddy Murphy’s.

Benefit clay shoot

HERMON – The Hermon Skeet Club will hold its first Sporting Clay Shoot to benefit Special Olympics Maine at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. The event will include a 14 station, 100 target sporting clays shoot. The club is located on the Black Stream Road.

The shoot will be open to registered and non-registered shooters. Those interested in participating should call Charlie Tappan at 645-4867. Registration is $60, including targets and lunch.

In addition to participants, the club is seeking station sponsors and donations. A station sponsorship is $100.

Donations for a raffle also are needed and arrangements may be made to have items picked up before the event. Donation needs include hunting, fishing, sporting goods and apparel.

All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Maine, a year-round athletic training and competition program for those with intellectual disabilities of all ages. Maine has more than 2,500 athletes who participate in the program.

For information on the clay shoot, call Charlie Tappan at 645-4867.

For information on Special Olympics Maine, call 879-0489 or visit www.specialolympicsmaine.org.

Flattest Bike Ride in Maine

BANGOR – “The Flattest Bike Ride in Maine” will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9, beginning at Cascade Park, State Street:

. 100-mile ride, 7:30 a.m.

. 50-mile ride, 9:30 a.m.

. 25-mile ride, 11 a.m.

Register 30 minutes before the ride. The cost is $25, $40 family, with proceeds to benefit Shaw House services to homeless and adolescents.

For information, contact Jonathan Siegel at jsieg@verizon.net, 942-2627; Dave Atwood, Stillwater Recumbents, dcatwood72@gmail.com, or 827-6461. Helmets required. Children must be accompanied by a parent.