Church news

On Palm Sunday, March 16, the North Sebago United Methodist Church will be showing the movie “Amazing Grace” in the church vestry, at 3 p.m. The movie is free, and those attending are encouraged to make an offering to go to the building fund to defray costs of insurance-mandated security systems in the church.

There will be a memorial service for Ted Smith, held on Sunday,

April 20 at 2 p.m. Smith was a church member when he lived in the Lakes Region in the 1990s. He resided in Naples and owned Lake Region Caterers. Desserts will be served after the memorial service.

New Fire Engine in Sebago

On Friday, March 14, there will be a new fire engine delivered to the Sebago Fire Department. This will be a tanker to replace Tank 1, which is being sold, and can no longer be used as fire apparatus due to safety issues. Funding for the new engine was made available from federal grant money written about previously in this column. I hope to join Sebago Selectman Allen Crabtree to welcome the new truck to town with camera and notepad in hand.

Sebago 4-H news

Evelyn Abrams and her 4-H troop have been very active. Last fall the club set up and ran a haunted house in the basement of Potter Academy, Sebago’s old town hall. They did a great job with it, and also at the rest stop for the Loon Echo Bike Trek serving riders on the 100-mile fundraising trip.

Last August the club helped set up and run a raffle table for Spaulding Memorial Library “Pull Up a Chair” auction, and plan on doing the same for the upcoming auction this August. The members also helped out with potluck dinners at town hall for the Volunteer Association.

Currently members Holly Abrams, Kyle Abrams, Colton Abrams, Nolan Abrams, Tim Giles and Stephen Achorn, are looking for donations of exterior white latex paint to paint the garden shed for the Sebago Kids Community Growing Garden at Sebago Elementary School. If anyone has paint they would like to donate, please contact Evelyn Abrams at 671-2406.

Calendar changes

The School Administrative District 61 School Board approved these changes to the 2008 school calendar. Please note that Friday, March 14, originally scheduled as a teacher workshop day, and Monday, March 24, originally scheduled as a parent-teacher conference day, will now be used as student days to make up for storm related school closures. If there are no more school closings in SAD 61 this winter, the projected last day of school, will be June 13.

Watershed lessons

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the staff from Ferry Beach Ecology School came to present programs to the students at Sebago Elementary School. The staff naturalists presented three programs: “World Within Your Watershed” for the kindergarten and first-grade; “Winter Ecology” for second- and third-grades; and “Town Meeting” for grades four through six.

The Winter Ecology program was presented outside on a snowy day, reported Kathy Harmon, a second-grade teacher at the elementary school. Students learned about why we have winter, animals and what happens to them during the winter, and animal tracks and how the animals move in the winter.

Science Fair coming

Wednesday, April 2, is the date of the Science Fair, sponsored by the Sebago Elementary School, and the Parent-Teacher Council. All students are invited to participate in the fair.

Students from kindergarten through third-grade can show off their collections, research or an experiment. Students in grades four through six will use the scientific method for experiments, demonstrations or inventions. All projects are to be completed at home by the students, and each will be required to create a display to set up to share their work at the Science Fair.

Three-part project boards for displays are sold at office supply stores and craft supply stores. Registration forms are due by Wednesday, March 19. The fair schedule will be: 4:15-6 p.m. – set up displays; 5:45-6:30 – project evaluation; 6:15-7:30 – fair open to the public. Awards will be made at 7:20.

Diamond Dip coming

The annual Diamond Dip is taking place at Nason’s Beach (behind Gemmes Variety on Route 14, Sunday March 30, at 1 p.m. This event is held to benefit the Sebago youth softball and baseball leagues. There is a spectator raffle and prizes for various categories of participants.

If you would like to become a dipper and brave the frigid waters

of Sebago Lake or would like to sponsor a dipper, please contact Chris or Maureen Harriman at 787-3167 or Ron Willey at 787-8006. This is a fun event and most of the town seems the brave the cold to dip or to cheer on the bathers.

Closing notes

I hope you are all enjoying these nice sunny (now longer) days. I love to see the sun. Just wish it were a little warmer out, but it will be soon enough.

I was rather startled to see that the entire lake appears to be frozen at this time. I have been busy traveling away from it, heading to Bridgton a lot these days, and so was not aware this chilling weather had worked its wonders on our grand lake. I have next weekend off, so I think I shall certainly be out walking around on the ice.

Last time the lake froze, I enjoyed walking out to nearby Spider Island. I may get my family to brave a trip to a friend’s house, who lives in Standish. That would be a lengthy hike for sure.

Thanks to everyone for all the information. I certainly appreciate the e-mailed story information as well as the in person, phone or via mail. Have a great week, stay warm, and enjoy these longer and sunnier days.