Thursday, Jan. 23: The South Portland/Cape Elizabeth TRIAD has invited a member of the Portland Police Department to speak at its January forum. The topic will be “Understanding 9-1-1.” Topics will include dialing 9-1-1 with all communication technologies (cellphones, smartphones, landlines, etc.); when to dial 9-1-1; knowing what information to have available for telling the dispatcher, and understanding what happens during and after calling 9-1-1. The talk is free to all. It will be held at 2 p.m. at the Cape Elizabeth Fire Station Training Room (2 Jordan Way). Light refreshments will be served. Contact South Portland Police Officer Bob Libby at 799-5511 (ext. 7422) or Robeli@southportland.org or Cape Elizabeth Police Officer David Galvan at 767-3323 (ext.208), or david.galvan@capeelizabeth.org for more information.

Friday, Jan. 31: “Tar Sands Exposed: Exploring the Human and Environmental Costs,” a presentation by Garth Lenz, whose award-winning photos have been featured in National Geographic, and Eriel Deranger, of the indigenous Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta, takes place in Portland at USM’s Abromson Center Hannaford Hall in Portland. Doors open at 6:30, talk begins at 7 p.m.

Feb. 4: The Scarborough Democratic Town Committee meets 7-8:30 p.m. at the Scarborough Municipal Building, Chambers B, to review plans for the coming year and prepare for the March 2 Biennial Caucus. All Democrats are welcome. Email rhndrcksn@aol.com for more information.

Feb. 4: South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway, is holding a discussion of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” starting at 6:30 p.m. The Patron Page to Stage event is presented by Portland Players with director Stacey Koloski, producers Joanna Chantal and Gigi Paquette, musicians and cast members. “Twelfth Night” runs from Jan. 24-Feb. 9, at The Portland Players’ home, located at 420 Cottage Road, South Portland. For more information, contact 799-7337, or visit www.portlandplayers.org for more information regarding the performance schedule and ticket prices.

Feb. 14-March 1: Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer St., South Portland, is performing “Into the Woods” (music by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine) Feb. 14-March 1. Fridays and Saturdays performances start at 8 p.m., Sunday performances start at 2:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, call 799-1421, email ticketslyric@gmail.com or go to www.LyricMusicTheater.org.