PVA Newsletter

April 2, 2018

PVA NEWSLETTER Pleasant View Acres News In this issue:  Spring break activities

for kids  Low cost, no cost

events in the L/A area  Meet the new resident

services coordinator

Spring break Lewiston public schools are on spring break from April 16th through the 20th, this means children will have lots of free time on their hands and an opportunity to relax and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities while continuing to grow and learn.

Throughout the month there are also local community events for adults, young people and families which are low cost or no cost.

Planned activities schedule Monday Indoor Collage This is a getting to know one another activity and allows the participant to be creative and build fine motor control skills.

Outdoor Red Light/Green Light Select one child (perhaps myself) to start the game and be the stoplight.

Spring is on the way in Lewiston

“If people come together, they can even mend a crack in the sky.”

-Somali Proverb

All the children line up on the other side of the game area. The designated stoplight yells “Green light!” and the children lined up start running. The first one to make it to the stoplight wins and is now the stoplight.

It gets tricky when the stoplight changes, though. The stoplight should yell “Red light!” to get children to stop. Any movement by a child means she is sent back to the beginning.

The stoplight can also call out “yellow light” which means the children can only walk very slowly. (Variations to this game include adding body movements. Say “green light” with your arms up one time and then say “red light,” but throw your arms up again to confuse runners into thinking your body language says “green light.”)

Indoor Upcycle bracelets This activity utilizes used plastic shopping bags, preferably of different colors e.g. brown and white. The bags are folded several times vertically and then then cut horizontal approximately every ½ inch to form hoops, these hoops are then tied together by putting hoop through hoop to form a chain.

This can be done twice or many times forming a long chain, once there are three chains they can be woven together.

Outdoor Traffic Cop This game works best on a street with little traffic, or in a large paved area of some kind. You need bikes, wagons, pedestrians, scooters or whatever is available. One person directs traffic to make sure kids don’t run into each other. It is more fun than it sounds, and helps kids learn about waiting to cross the street and about traffic safety.

Wednesday Indoor Movie, Younger children - Lion King, Space Jam, Older children - Pay it forward, Life of Pi all movies can have a “what do you think or learn” discussion after.

Outdoor Scavenger hunt Make a list of objects for kids to find as they hike along a path, but try to think of things that are not too common or too rare. A small triangle-shaped stone, 2 small round stones a smooth stick, a pinecone, a brown broad leaf, a yellow wildflower.

Remember to tell the children not to disturb nature, but they can call out and point when they see something on the list.

Thursday Indoor Found object collage Using items from the previous days scavenger hunt, participants assemble them either on a traditional piece of

construction paper or can be glued together in a variety of ways.

These can take the form of making wind chimes, animal or human shapes.

Outdoor Pass the orange Each team lines up in straight line beside the other teams. The first player in each team holds the orange with their feet. At a given signal, it must be passed to the second player using only their feet, and so on until it has moved along the whole team. Players must not use their hands or any part of their arms at any time!

If the orange touches the floor, it must go back to the first player to start again. However, players must still not use their hands or arms they may need to crawl or slide on their bottoms if it has rolled away or under something, etc.

The first team to finish wins.

Friday Indoor My neighborhood map Making maps can help develop special concepts that support children understand distance and time it also relates to the traffic cop game in learning about traffic safety. A good way to expose children to maps is to look at several of the local area maps, and then for them to make one of their own of local area using their knowledge and perspectives.

Outdoor Find a landmark This activity makes use of the participants map making where we take a walk together afterwards and see if we can follow along with the map(s) that were made.

Monday, April 2 Auburn Art Club Meeting. 2 p.m. United Methodist Church, Park Ave., Auburn. Sisters Shelley Lance-Fulk and Jacklyn Amtower, who have photographed wildlife in Maine and around the world since their teens, share stories and photos. Free.

Stanton Bird Club Meeting. 6:30 p.m. Room 285, L-A College, 55 Westminster St., Lewiston. Bryce Hach of Maine Audubon discusses the ecological significance of vernal pools to the amphibians of Maine. Free. www.StantonBirdClub.org.

Tuesday, April 3 Curious Minds Lecture. 2 p.m. Auburn Public Library. Retired Lewiston teacher Mike Parker presents “Travels in New Zealand and Australia.” Pres. with L/A Senior College. Free.

Girl Scouts Info Session. 6 p.m. Longley Elementary School, 145 Birch St., Lewiston.

Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Wednesday, April 4 Girl Scouts Info Session. 6 p.m. Lisbon Community School, 33 Mill St., Lisbon. Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Thursday, April 5 Rotary Lunch Club Meeting. Noon to 1:30 p.m. Room TWR 405, The Tower, Central Maine Community College. Guest speaker Roger Philippon of CMCC leads a tour of the college following the luncheon; reserve by calling 713-7045 by 4/1. monica.millhime@maine.gov.

“Geology of a Volcanic Island.” 6:30 p.m. Androscoggin Room, Auburn Public Library.

Doug Rogers describes his experiences on Ascension Island, a tiny volcanic outpost of empire in the tropical mid-Atlantic. Free.

Girl Scouts Info Session. 6 p.m. Libby-Tozier School, 466 Academy Rd., Litchfield.

Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Friday, April 6 Theater: “Urinetown.” 7:30 p.m. Great Falls Performing Arts Center, Academy St., Auburn. Community Little Theatre presents this Tony-winning musical satire about what happens when public corruption and corporate greed clash with the right to go.

Again 4/7-8, 12-15 (Suns. at 2 p.m.). $18/15/12. 783-0958; www.laclt.com.

Saturday, April 7 Paper Crafting and Scrapbooking Day. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holy Family Church Hall, Sabattus St., Lewiston. There will be two make-and-takes, snacks, and drawings. $35/30. Register by 4/5 at 784-5307 or 784-0389.

Handbell Concert. 4:30 p.m. Gymnasium, Auburn Middle School, 38 Falcon Drive.

Handbell ringers convened for 2018 Maine Spring Ring perform several mass-rung and solo ensemble pieces. Free. 480-1404; http://area1.handbellmusicians.org.

Baked Bean & Casserole Supper. 4:45 to 6 p.m. Parish hall, Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Ave., Lisbon Falls. Includes dessert and beverage. Pres. by Knights of Columbus. $8 adults, $4 children 11-, $18 family with children.

Public Supper. 5 p.m. Paris Fire Station, Western Ave., So. Paris. The Paris Fire Dept. Auxiliary serves up roasted pork, potatoes, apple sauce, vegetables, mac and cheese, bread, and homemade desserts. $8 adults, $4 ages 4-12, ages 3- free.

Celebrity Waiter Dinner. 6 p.m. The Carriage House, Lewiston. This annual event benefits Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services. $30 ($250 table for 10).

784-5282; donate.sapars.org.

Adult Prom Night. 7:30 p.m. Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston. Includes buffet dinner, dancing to music of the decades, cash bar, photo booth, and other surprises.

Doors open at 6:30. $40. Reserve at 783-1585 or francocenter.org.

Frost Hill Ave., Lisbon Falls. Includes dessert and beverage. Pres. by Knights of Columbus. $8 adults, $4 children 11-, $18 family with children.

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Sunday, April 8 Country Sunday. Noon to 4:30 p.m. Sportsmen’s Club, 2261 Hallowell Rd., Litchfield. Country Fest Maine presents an afternoon of live country music.; raffles, concessions. $5; kids 12 and under, free. 536-9647.

Second Sunday Art Workshop. 2 to 4 p.m. Harlow Gallery, 100 Water St., Hallowell. Artist Andrea Lani leads “Nature Journaling.” Open to all ages, experience levels; space limited for some workshops. Free. Register at 622-3813.

Tuesday, April 10 Girl Scouts Info Session. 3 p.m. Gilbert Elementary School, 16 Sunset Ave., Augusta. Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Thursday, April 12 Chamber of Commerce “Business Before Hours.” 7 to 9 a.m. House of Bacon, 34 Court St., Auburn. No fooling, the chamber switches things up this month by having “Business After Hours” in its normal Breakfast Meeting slot. No cost, no registration; just stop by for the food, networking, and fun.

La Rencontre. 11:25 a.m. Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston. Following the meal of baked haddock, the Freeport High Chamber Choir performs a 45-minute concert of primarily a cappella songs. $12. Reserve at 783-1585 or boxoffice@francocenter.org.

Girl Scouts Info Session. 6 p.m. Montello School, 407 East Ave., Lewiston. Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Theater: “Urinetown.” 7:30 p.m. Great Falls Performing Arts Center, Academy St., Auburn. Community Little Theatre presents this Tonywinning musical satire about what happens when public corruption and corporate greed clash with the right to go. Again 4/13-15 (Sun. at 2 p.m.). $18/15/12. 783-0958; www.laclt.com.

Saturday, April 14 Superhero Saturday. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Norway Savings Bank Arena, Auburn. Celebrate Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month with a scavenger hunt, ice skating, and the “real” Spider-Man; kids may dress as their favorite superhero. $8. Benefits Advocates for Children.

Spring Breakfast. 6:30 to 10 a.m. Fire Station, Rte. 106, Leeds. Pancakes, French Toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, home fries, homemade donuts, coffee, juice. Adults $6, children $4. Proceeds will help purchase Personnel Structure firefighting equipment.

Thursday, April 19 Chamber of Commerce “Breakfast for Dinner.” 7 to 9 a.m. House of Bacon, 34 Court St., Auburn. No fooling, the chamber switches things up this month by having its monthly Breakfast Meeting in its normal “Business After Hours” slot. The speaker will be Alan Hahnel, President of Hahnel Bros. Co. $20/30. Register at www.LAMetroChamber.com.

Friday, April 20 Theatre: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” 7:30 p.m.

Cumston Hall, Monmouth. Monmouth Community Players presents this funny, touching play about six middle schoolers vying for the coveted prize. Again 4/21-22, 27-29 (Suns. at 2 p.m.) $14/12. 370-9566; www.monmouthcommunityplayers.org.

Saturday, April 21 Stanton Bird Club Field Trip. 8:30 to 11 a.m. Dan Marquis leads a bird walk along the Riverwalk in Downtown Lewiston. Meet at Staples parking lot in Lewiston for carpooling. All welcome. 513-8213.

Calico Quilters Show. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rowe School, 52 School St., Yarmouth. This event features displays of quilts and quilted items, raffles, vendors, bargain supplies, and demos. Again 4/22 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Monday, April 23 Girl Scouts Info Session. 6 p.m. Hall-Dale Elementary School, 26 Garden Lane, Hallowell. Come learn about Girl Scouts’ Sprouting Daisies program for girls entering kindergarten or first grade. Free. 888-922-4763; irlscoutsofmaine.org.

Tuesday, April 24 Stanton Bird Club Field Trip. 6 to 8:30 a.m. This first of five scheduled early morning bird walks from Bates College starts at Hathorn Hall and proceeds to the river and back. All welcome. 319-6630.

Friday, April 27 Theatre: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” 7:30 p.m. Cumston Hall, Monmouth. Monmouth Community Players presents this funny, touching play about six middle schoolers vying for the coveted prize. Again 4/28-29 (Sun. at 2 p.m.) $14/12. 370-9566; www.monmouthcommunityplayers.org.

Let me introduce myself, my name is John Painter and I’m the new resident services coordinator at Pleasant View Acres. I was born and raised in Maine, in the mid-coast area and grew up lobstering and raking blueberries like a lot of people do where I grew up. I also enjoyed, and still do work on small engines like motorcycles and outboards, as well as basic electronics. I also have a deep appreciation of the arts and believe every person has the capacity to create a joyous artful life. Though school was not my favorite thing when I was younger, I had my own challenges to work through, I loved learning and meeting people, and that lead me to move to Washington state where I was lucky enough to go to college. When I was finishing college I came to the conclusion that I should understand more about the world if I wanted to really live in it, so decided to move to Germany, then Hungary where I lived and worked for about five years. When I returned to the US I found that I appreciated the opportunities we have in America, and also recognize the life struggles many of us have faced that can make finding good jobs, housing and healthy lifestyles sometimes very hard to do. So I decided I wanted to find ways to assist Mainers, whether they have family roots here for 1000 years or 1 day, make a better life for themselves.

So what sort of things do I do here at Pleasant View Acres? I want to assist you in figuring out your needs and link you the appropriate providers and community resources here or where ever you might going in your life. I also facilitate programs and services such as health and wellness, job training or figuring out transportation. Compared to where I grew up, Lewiston is a BIG city, with its own bus system, even so transportation can be really challenging sometimes. I don’t as a general rule do things “for you” but I am always interested in doing things “with you”.