AARP driver safety classes presented

AARP driver safety classes for drivers age 50 and older will be presented from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Road, on Saturday, Sept.17, and at Gray-New Gloucester High School, 10 Libby Hill Road, Gray, on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

The registration fee is $12 for AARP members, $14 for others. Advance registration at least seven days before the date of the class is requested as class size is limited.

To register for the class in Windham, phone John Hammon, volunteer instructor, at 655-4943. To register for the class in Gray, call Gray-New Gloucester Adult Education at 657-2620.

AARP Driver Safety is the nation’s first and largest classroom refresher course for experienced and mature drivers. It helps drivers learn about defensive driving, new traffic laws and rules of the road and helps older drivers learn how to adjust to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Insurance companies in Maine give discounts to drivers age 55 and older who complete this course.

More information may be found on the Internet at www.home.earthlink.net/~drivesafe-me.

Hawk watch on Hacker’s Hill, Sept. 8

Join Loon Echo Land Trust on Sept. 8, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for a migratory hawk watch on Hacker’s Hill in Casco. This field day will be lead by expert birder Dick Anderson, former executive director of Maine Audubon Society from 1969 to 1977.

Anderson has conducted several hawk migration watches and was especially pleased with the Hacker’s Hill site for such an event. At the fall hawk watch last September more than 150 birds were sighted, including broad-winged hawks, cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, bald eagles and osprey. There will be mounted hawks on hand for participants to get a closer look at these magnificent creatures normally seen soaring through the skies.

In this region this time of year, peak hours for spotting migrating hawks and eagles occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., experts will be on hand during the hours of 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for assistance and questions. Participants are welcome to join for an hour or two or for the duration of the program. Participation is open to all and no registration is required. The only equipment needed are binoculars, a comfortable chair, water and a snack. Rain date will be Sunday, Sept. 9.

Hacker’s Hill is located off of Quaker Ridge Road in Casco, accessible by Route 11 (approximately 1 mile away) or Route 302 (approximately 4 miles away). A steep, paved road leads from Quaker Ridge Road to the top of the hill where parking is available.

Loon Echo Land Trust protects over 4,000 acres of land in the northern Sebago region to conserve its natural resources and character for current and future generations. To learn more about Hacker’s Hill and the ongoing fundraising efforts to raise the remaining $150,000 or other Loon Echo land protection projects, programs or events, visit www.loonecholandtrust.org or call 647-4352.

Photos sought for Portland Water District calendar

The Portland Water District’s eighth annual “Images of Sebago Lake Calendar” will be published in the fall of 2012. The district is looking for photographs that celebrate the natural beauty of Sebago Lake, taken by amateur or hobbyist photographers.

High-resolution (300 dpi at a size of 8×10) digital photos are preferred and will be accepted until mid-September. Photographers will receive also a complimentary calendar. Calendars will be available to the public after Thanksgiving.

To enter, forward the photo along with the following information to: 2013 Calendar, Portland Water District, 225 Douglass Street, PO Box 3553, Portland, ME 04104 or email to sebagolake@pwd.org.

Information needed includes your name; age if under 21; address; email address; description of the photo, location, etc.; your relationship with Sebago Lake (how long have you lived in or visited the area); can the PWD use the photo in other materials? You will be credited; and label photograph as such: last name, brief description.

Congratulations to the Summer 2012 Little Ninja graduates for Dynamic Hapkido Defense in Gray. From top left are Libby Whitten, Irie Stewart, Xavier Hourigan, Javanni Hayden, Tristan Cuttler, Carter Davis, Alex Gasc, and Master Bill Cuttler. In bottom row, from left, are Jasmine Lucas, Mychal Jenks and Ada Stenhouse.