Library friends hosting tea

The Valentine’s Tea at Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main St., is set for 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12.

The tea will be held on the library’s historic Gathering Room on the second floor. Everyone is welcome, including children, teens and adults.

“Come and learn more about what the Friends of the Library do in Westbrook, and have a cup of tea, and a piece of fudge, or a cookie,” Kelly Day, vice president of the Friends of Walker Memorial Library, said.

Persons interested in joining the group can talk to other volunteers to learn what the group does for the city’s historic library.

“Tea will be served in fancy china teacups, and it will be a wonderful time to spend with old friends and new,” Day said. “We also have a photo exhibit displayed during our tea for the Greater Portland Maine group, and Archangel, Russia for you to peruse on display until Feb. 23.”

Winter West events include sled dog races

The city’s Winter West festival resumes next week, just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend. Events include:

Friday, Feb. 13

Kiwanis Family Skate Night, with bonfire, roasted marshmallows and warming station at the American Legion Hall, 5:30-8 p.m., Riverbank Park – free, with cash bar in Legion.

Krazy Jake Pre-show Party, 6-8 p.m., Sunset Ridge Golf Links – food and drink specials

Krazy Jake Comedy Show, 8 p.m., Sunset Ridge Golf Links – $12/advance; 15/door

Saturday, Feb. 14

Snow sculpting contest and family ice skating, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Riverbank Park – free

Competitive sled dog races, indoor arts and craft fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunset Ridge Golf Links – free

Princess Tea Party, 1-2:30 p.m., Drouin Dance Center – $5/child

Sunday, Feb. 15

Competitive sled dog races, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunset Ridge Golf Links – free.

Forum will discuss school expansion

The second community workshop discussing the expansion of Westbrook School Department facilities will be held Monday, Feb. 9?,? at 6 p.m. at the Westbrook Community Center.

Superintendent of Schools Marc Gousse said Wednesday that concept drawings for the projects, including plans for Saccarappa Elementary School and Westbrook Middle School, will be presented, followed by community feedback.

Gousse said they are looking for parents of future Westbrook students to also attend, given that the project is a few years away.Taxman cometh

Bertha Gardiner of Finch Street asked that the American Journal remind Westbrook property owners that quarterly real estate taxes are due on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Chinese New Year celebration

The Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine (CAFAM) will ring in the Year of the Ram on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater St.

This event is in its 25th year and features Chinese dance performances by the children of the CAFAM Chinese School in the morning. The celebration will open with a lion dance by Steve Wong of Bangor, who will also perform throughout the day. The Chinese School students will also perform a dragon dance at noon. Members of the University of Southern Maine’s Confucius Institute will perform in the afternoon.

Throughout the day, children can make ram themed crafts. Vendors will be selling books, Chinese teas, and Chinese crafts and products. There will be Chinese food and the Chinese School’s “Dumpling Dads” will be selling Chinese dumplings.

Featured events include talks on selecting, brewing, and serving Chinese teas and Chinese painting.

Parking is free and admission is $6; $4 for children under 12; and families of five, $20. The event is sponsored by CAFAM, the Chinese And American Friendship Association of Maine.

The Chinese New Year celebration continues in the evening with a showing of the award-winning film, “The Search for General Tso,” a documentary about Chinese food in America, at The Space Gallery, 538

Congress St., Portland at 7p.m.

For more information. go to www.cafammaine.org.

A mother and daughter, Toni, on left, and Kim Carignan, attend the Valentine’s tea last year at Walker Memorial Library. Thius year’s tea is on Thursday, Feb. 12. Courtesy photo