Portland Flower Show
holds essay contest

PORTLAND — University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Portland Flower Show are sponsoring the fourth annual Portland Flower Show essay contest. 

Students ages 6 through 18 are invited to write an essay pretending they are a plant, real or imaginary, and write a short life story. The essay should describe the kind of plant, where and how it lives and what it needs to grow well.

Cash prizes for first through third place, ranging from $50-$20, will be awarded in three age categories: ages 6–9; ages 10–13; and ages 14–18. Essays will be judged on creativity, focus, and passion for the topic.

The essay deadline is Friday, Feb. 19. Winners will be announced at the show’s opening night on Wednesday, March 10. 

Contest rules and applications are available from the Cumberland County UMaine Extension office at 1-800-287-1471, awitt@umext.maine.edu or online at www.portlandcompany.com/flower.

The Portland Flower Show runs from March 11 to 14, 2010 at the Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore St., Portland.

Portland Schools holds
public budget meeting

PORTLAND — The Portland School Committee’s finance committee will hold a public budget meeting at 7 p.m., January 27 in the auditorium at Deering High School to solicit input from parents, students, staff and other community members about the fiscal year 2011 budget. 

Anyone with cost-saving ideas for the district is encouraged to submit them on the form posted on the Portland Public Schools Web site at www.portlandschools.org. 

 

Casco Bay holds
benefit auction

PORTLAND — Casco Bay High School will hold a benefit auction at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30 for Project Graduation.

The “Have A Seat” auction features 50 chairs painted by parents, students and local artists such as Daniel Minter. The auction will be held at The Maine Studios, 225 Presumpscot St., Portland, with Rob Elowitch of Barridoff Galleries as the auctioneer.  

For more information, please call 874-8160.

Cheverus elects honor
society officers

PORTLAND — Cheverus High School has elected the following students as officers of the National Honor Society: president, Emily Bauer of Kennebunk; vice president, Evan Johnston of South Portland; treasurer, Meegan Daigler of Gorham; and secretary, Taylor Noonan of Portland.