Get educated

New to Standish or looking to learn more about the town’s history? If so, be sure to sign up for Charles Ruby’s Adult Education classes held at Bonny Eagle Middle School.

Starting Sept. 25, Ruby, who is also a tour guide for Historic New England at Standish’s Marrett House, will be offering four classes each focusing on a different piece of history. The series starts with Standish History: An Overview, followed by Sebago Station, The Paine Neighborhood, and finally, Interesting Characters of Standish: Famous, or Not!

Ruby has previously worked for Portland Landmarks, the Maine Historical Society and the Victoria Society. For more information contact the Adult Education Program at 642-4132 or 929-9185.

If you are interested in exploring your creative side, the Schoolhouse Performing Arts Center in Sebago Lake Village is offering a variety of entertainment classes throughout the fall.

Classes this year include Voice, Acting, Art, and several dance classes including Creative Movement and Hip Hop. To join or learn more, please contact the Education Director at 642-3743.

Nice shot

Thanks in part from an equipment donation by the Kittery Trading Post, Standish Recreation will be offering an after-school archery program this fall. During the six-week program, students will learn equipment handling, as well as safety and shooting skills. As their skills progress, students will test their newfound knowledge on a unique course designed by them.

“It is going to be a lot of fun for the kids,” said Recreation Programmer Brett Levin.

The classes will be held on Wednesdays at George E. Jack Elementary School starting Sept. 28. For more information, please contact the Standish Recreation at 642-6514.

The Standish Scene

• Friday

Spend Friday night under the lights at Bonny Eagle High School as the Scots Varsity Football team takes on rival South Portland. Kick off is 7 p.m.

Memory Lane located on Blake Road in Standish is hosting the band F.I.N.E. Doors open at 4 p.m. close at 1 a.m.

• Saturday

Bonny Eagle Varsity Girls Soccer team takes the field at 6 p.m. to play Kennebunk High School.

Memory Lane celebrates their first year in business with an anniversary bash. North America’s No. 1 Tribute to Rod Stewart, Rick Larrimore will be playing. Cover charge is $3, doors open at 4 p.m.

Heidi’s Take:

A Country Girl Can Survive

I often get a lot of silly comments or questions when I tell people I live out in the country. Some of my favorites are, “What do you do out there?” “Do you have cable?” And a crowd favorite, “My gosh, how long does it take you to get to Portland?” Recently however, I heard my new favorite. A question I have never been asked, and if I had not been so awestruck may have laughed out loud at it. Before I reveal this ridiculous question, please allow me to give you some background information.

Last weekend, my husband’s friends were visiting from Connecticut. It was a hot day, and after lunch we piled into the car and headed out for some ice cream (thank you, Midge). Now please note that although I do live down a dirt road it does connect, and rather quickly I might add, to Route 25 a major artery out here in the “sticks.” Immediately after my husband pointed out a gaggle of turkeys eating happily by the road, the question came.

“Wow man, you’re out here, can you guys even get UPS or Fed-Ex delivered?”

“Yeah,” his girlfriend echoed, “How do you shop?”

I’m going to give you a minute to digest that.

Apparently my face showed it all, he apologized, laughed and quickly moved on to the next subject, I however was left irritated and confused. Who doesn’t get UPS deliveries? Federal Express is a global delivery company. Global. Tiny thatch roofed villages in Africa are currently receiving packages from FedEx but I can’t get one on my dirt road in Maine? Unbelievable.

To be honest, I often refer to Standish and the surrounding area as “the sticks.” And in my youth I repeatedly complained of a lacking in the Standish social scene, but I have never had a problem shopping or having things delivered to my home. This is Standish, people, not the end of the earth.

Although I prefer sneakers and jeans (hey, a girl has to be prepared for walks in the woods and being stuck in the mud), that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the dazzle of city goods. If I so chose I am sure I could order some Manolo Blahniks (fancy designer shoes for those out here in the land of nowhere), and have them shipped ASAP to my log cabin 1.5 miles down a dirt road in the forest of nowhere without problems. I fully expect my package to arrive in a big brown truck not in a horse-drawn carriage. And furthermore, if all these city slickers are so concerned with shopping and package delivery, why do they keep moving out here and raising my taxes?

Something to think about, while I get the door. There seems to be a large white truck emblazoned with purple and orange pulling up my drive, must be that Winchester Rifle just in time for hunting season. Did I mention they ship from Connecticut?