Spring Arrival

School vacation week is here, starting for SAD 61 a bit early, on Friday, April 18. Thank goodness the weather is warming up. Read on to get some ideas on what to do for Easter weekend and spring break with your kids. Unfortunately, the warm weather isn’t something we can rely on, and some of the snow is still hanging around. With the recent rains, things are a bit wet and muddy!

Burn It

Even though things are a bit soggy, you still need a burn permit if you are planning to get rid of some of the unsightly brush that has accumulated after this horrific winter. The good news is you can now file for your permit electronically. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has expanded its online services statewide. Online burn permits can be obtained anytime but are only valid for 48 hours after payment is submitted. For more information, visit www.maineburnpermit.com or call 287-4989.

New Students

Speaking of SAD 61, the call is out for kids to attend the kindergarten screening if your child will be five years old on or before Oct. 15, 2014. Screening for all schools will be conveniently held at Crooked River Adult Education Center at 1435 Poland Spring Road, (Route 11) in Casco. Parents and guardians are asked to contact the school their child will be attending to schedule an appointment and receive a kindergarten registration packet.

Spring Break Family Activities

How about some indoor mini golf? Casco Public Library is setting up the green right in the library on Wednesday, April 23, from 4-7 p.m. Adult entry are just $2.50 and kids are $1.50 to play. The Casco Library is also offering a Disney movie on Friday, April 25, called “Saving Mr. Banks,” the story of the battle between Walt Disney and the author of “Mary Poppins” to bring the classic to the big screen.

Egg Hunt

In case you missed the Easter Egg hunts that took place last Saturday, have no fear, there are more scheduled for our area for this Saturday, April 19. Casco Recreation is starting theirs at 9 a.m. at the Casco Community Center. Bring your own baskets and hop on down to join the fun. Open to kids ages 1 through 8. Even the Easter Bunny is rumored to make an appearance. There will be a limit of five eggs

per kid. In Sebago, the Egg Hunt kicks off at 10 a.m. at the Sebago Elementary School. Or if you prefer cake over candy, stop by the Sebago Spaulding Library on Route 114 this Saturday for their Easter Cake Sale held during library hours, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Season Opens for Songo Garden Club

The Songo Garden Club, in its 60th year, kicked off its 2014 season with a pot luck supper. Special guests were representatives from the fourth-grade class at Songo Locks School. The club sponsored a class trip on April 1 to the Maine State House and Museum in Augusta. Rebecca Caron, Liz Smith, and Brooke Toole, accompanied by teacher Sharon Rogers, and their parents, delighted club members by sharing their experiences of the trip. Other children wrote illustrated letters of appreciation which truly impressed club members. This has become a “pet project” for the club and is truly enjoyed by all.

Girl Scouts’ Good Deed

On Saturday, March 8, Girl Troop 1963, comprised of Songo Locks School students, visited the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham. The troop, through bottle drives and donations, presented a check to the organization for $125. The money will be used to provide bales of hay for the horses. Our service project was led by Allison Baker and Rebecca Caron. The girls had a tour of the facility and learned about the care provided by MSSPA and enjoyed giving the horses a lot of lovin’. Learn more about MSSPA, the service that they provide, and the hours that they are open to the public at www.msspa.org.

LRHS Announces Top 10%

Congratulations to all the students who made Lake Region High School’s Top 10% list. A very special shout out goes to Katie Caulfield (Valedictorian) and Taylor Cronin (Salutorian), both of Naples I may ever so proudly add! Great going girls!

Elle Hall, foreground, and Leah Plummer get in touch with the animals on Girl Scout Troop 1963’s recent visit to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham. Fourth grade Songo Locks students Rebecca Caron, Brooke Toole, and Liz Smith, along with fourth-grade teacher Sharon Rogers, visit the Songo Garden Club at a recent meeting to thank the club for sponsoring a recent field trip taken by fourth-grade students to the Maine State House and Museum. Pictured also are Songo Garden Club’s Polly Glavine and Jack Dean.