PORTLAND

Packing gifts for kids

An Operation Christmas Child packing party will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Deering Center Community Church, 4 Brentwood St.

Volunteers are needed to pack gift-filled shoeboxes for needy children around the world. There will be a pizza supper and a video showing of Billy Graham’s “Value of a Soul.” The event is free.

For more details, go to deeringcentercommunitychurch.org/#/outreach-serving/christmas-child.

Free college planning

The Maine Educational Opportunity Center will host free Essentials of College Planning workshops for adults 19 and older at the following times and locations:

• Greater Portland CareerCenter at 10 a.m. Nov. 3-24 at 151 Jetport Blvd.

• Portland Adult Education at 10 a.m. Nov. 4-18 at 14 Locust St.

The sessions offer GED/SAT preparation, college planning, referrals and advocacy, career and financial aid advising, college admissions process and application fee waivers for qualified adults.

To register, call 800-281-3703 or go to meoc.maine.edu.

Seven pianists to perform

Seven pianists from the studio of Laura Kargul at the University of Southern Maine will present the Piano Extravaganza at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 425 Congress St.

The pianists will perform the works of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Medtner and Liszt.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. They are available at firstparishportland.org and at the door.

Support for Maine soldiers

The Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Atrium at Cedars, 640 Ocean Ave.

Capt. Adam Cole with the Maine National Guard will present a program about the chapter’s support for Maine soldiers deployed overseas at the breakfast buffet and business meeting.

For more details, email maineded52@yahoo.com or call 883-8737.

Open house at Waynflete

Waynflete Lower School will host an open house for parents and prospective students for preschool through grade 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 360 Spring St.

Rain date is Nov. 15. For more details, email Shelley Hodges at admissionoffice@waynflete.org or call 774-7863 ext. 1224.

KENNEBUNK

Homeschooling meeting

The Homeschooling Group will meet at 2 p.m. Monday at Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St.

This is an opportunity for homeschooling families to get together with others and exchange ideas or ask questions. Activities for children will be provided.

No preregistration is needed. Future meetings will be on the first Monday of most months at 2 p.m.

Look for dinosaurs at library

Kennebunk Free Library will host Dinovember! this month at 112 Main St.

Children are invited to join in a dinosaur scavenger hunt in the Children’s Room each week of November. Children finding five dinosaurs will get a small prize. Dinosaurs will move each week, so children are encouraged to return to find the latest antics.

To learn more, call 985-2173 ext. 5 or go to kennebunklibrary.org.

Parenting class on Friday

The next monthly parenting class will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Kennebunk Free Library, 112 Main St.

The drop-in session is designed to offer an opportunity for parents, grandparents and caregivers to share the joys and challenges of parenthood.

Future classes will be held on the first Friday of the month until June. Each month, a new topic will be addressed. The class is free.

For more details, go to kennebunklibrary.org or call 985-2511.

ALFRED

Talk on American Indians

The Rebecca Emery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet for their annual Thanksgiving banquet at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Oak Street Bistro, at 3 Oak St.

The guest speaker will be Barbara Healey, state DAR chairman of the American Indian Committee. A collection will be taken to benefit Native American projects.

The deadline for reservations is Monday.

For more details, call 985-1223.

NORTH YARMOUTH

‘I Am Coyote’ and art

Carnivore conservation biologist Geri Vistein will offer a book signing of her newly released “I Am Coyote” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Skyline Farm, 95 The Lane.

Maine watercolor artist Evelyn Dunphy will join the author, sharing works that were inspired by events in Vistein’s book and will offer a portrait for sale in a silent auction. There will also be live music.

For more details, call 829-9203.

SCARBOROUGH

Revolutionary War talk

Scarborough Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the society’s museum and meeting room at 647 Route 1 (adjacent to the Dunstan Fire Station).

Linda Snow McLoon will present a program entitled “Like Father, Like Sons: The Burbank Family in the Revolutionary War.”

SOUTH FREEPORT

Clothes, linens, jewelry sale

A clothing, linens and jewelry sale will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the South Freeport Congregational Church’s Community Hall, at 98 South Freeport Road.

There also will be soup and bread for sale. Proceeds will benefit Preble Street and Grace Street Ministries of Portland.

For more details, call 865-4012.

SACO

Country jam, more at Grange

Saco Grange No. 53, at 168 North St., will host the following events this week:

An acoustic country jam will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with free coffee and a raffle. The suggested donation is $5.

A holiday craft fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, featuring made-in-Maine crafts, quilts, candles, cribbage boards, sculptures and door prizes.

The monthly Knitting and Crafting Club will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday offering a gathering while working on projects.

For details, call 831-5784 or email sacogrange53@gmail.com.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Suicide prevention program

Cheryl Morin of the JD Foundation will lead a suicide prevention workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Libby Library Community Room at 27 Staples St. Preregistration is required by calling 934-4351 or emailing director@ooblibrary.org.

Classes on desserts, more

Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult & Community Education is accepting registrations for a number of classes it will begin offering next week at 40 E. E. Cummings Blvd.

Learn to make delicious, nutritious desserts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9. The cost is $29.

Food Dehydrating for Trail and Home will meet at 6:30 Nov. 10, for a fee of $25.

A class on essential oils will be given at 6:30 Nov. 12, for a fee of $18. For details or to register, go to oobsaco.maineadulted.org or call 934-7922, ext. 838.

YARMOUTH

Fiber-themed activities

The Yarmouth History Center, at 118 East Elm St., offers three fiber-themed events this fall.

A field trip to the historic Jagger Brothers Mill in Springvale is planned for 11 a.m. Friday. The tour is free but reservations are required by calling 846-6259 or emailing kworthing@yarmouthmehistory.org.

A Learn to Knit workshop and knitting circle will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 14. Learn or drop in with your current project.

And a Knit-Along and knitting circle will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 12. Join the group to knit Yarmouth-specific winter accessories or bring your own project. Call or email for information on materials needed for the knit-along patterns.