Alzheimer’s group meets

The monthly meeting of the Alzheimer’s Support Group sponsored by the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will be held on Monday, Nov. 10, at the First Congregational Church at 301 Cottage Road in South Portland from 7-8:30 p.m. The meeting is held on the second Monday of each month and provides support to families, friends and individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

American Legion hosts dinner

On Saturday, March 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m., the Stewart P. Morrill American Legion post in South Portland will hold a public corned beef supper.

On the menu is corn beef, cabbage, vegetables, dessert and coffee, tea or punch. The cost is $10 for adults and $3 for children 3 to 12. The post is located at 413 Broadway.

Father-daughter dance, March 21

The South Portland Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registration for its annual father-daughter dance. The cost is $10 per child and dads are free.

Space is limited and registration will not be taken on the day of the event so sign up now. Go online to www.southportland.org/departments/parks-recreation-aquaticspool or call 767-7650 to sign up or for more information.

The dance is scheduled to take place 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at the Community Center. This year’s theme is Paris in Spring and the staff will be pulling out the stops to present a beautiful Parisian celebration.

Register for kindergarten

The South Portland School Department will hold kindergarten registration appointments throughout the month of March at all of its elementary schools.

Registration is open to children who will be 5 or older on or before Oct. 15. Parents and guardians should call their local school to make a registration appointment.

To register a child for school, an original birth certificate, a copy of an original immunization record and proof of residency are required.

Contact the schools at the following phone numbers or see the school department website at www.spsd.org for more information:

• Brown – 799-5196

• Dyer – 799-4845

• Kaler – 799-3214

• Skillin – 773-7375

• Small – 799 – 7676

Traditional Irish music at library

Prepare for Saint Patrick’s Day with the South Portland Public Library and enjoy a traditional Irish music concert featuring Fodhla, a trio of talented female musicians.

This After Hours concert will be held on Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. Fodhla is composed of fiddler Ellery Klein, guitarist Bethany Waickman and Irish flutist Nicole Rabata.

Fashion show, auction Sunday

On Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m., South Portland High School will hold its annual fashion show and silent auction to benefit Project Graduation, the chemical free, post-graduation party.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. There is no charge to take part in the silent auction. Doors open for the auction at 1 p.m. Call 767-3266 for more information.

State jazz fest at SPHS

South Portland High School will host the Maine State High School Instrumental Jazz Festival on March 13 and 14. This annual event jazz groups from about 35 schools across the state.

The festival will feature jazz combos, bands and ensembles and individual outstanding musicianship awards, placement trophies, and gold plaques for superior ratings will be awarded.

On Saturday evening March 14, a best of best showcase will be held in the auditorium where each division will vie for top honors. The showcase, which is slated to start about 6:45 p.m., is open to the public.

The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens or $15 for a family. Call 767-3266 for more information.

SMCC students focus on lab work

A dozen students from Southern Maine Community College in South Portland recently spent time studying the DNA of sharks, zebra fish and other animals at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.

Marine science, biotechnology and science students, along with two professors, attended an intensive weeklong laboratory course in January, which focused on researching how certain proteins evolve in animals as diverse as sharks, dogs and humans.

Denry Sato, a professor emeritus at the MDI Biological Laboratory, taught the course. The students are now analyzing their data and will present their findings in April at the annual Maine Biological and Biomedical Sciences Symposium and at the Thinking Matters symposium at University of Southern Maine.

This is the sixth year students from Southern Maine Community College have attended the course, which is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“I learned a multitude of techniques from lab skills to interpreting scientific data,” said Dustin Daws, a biotechnology student from South Portland. “The staff and faculty at (the lab) and our professors make this a valuable learning environment. I learned so much and had a blast.”

Other participating students from South Portland were Lauren Hayden, Derek Theriault and Crystal Cooper.

– Kate Irish Collins