Historic documents
PORTLAND — A special Library of Congress traveling exhibition, mounted in a customized 18-wheel truck, will visit Portland this weekend.
“Gateway to Knowledge” will be in Portland on Friday, Sept. 2, and Saturday, Sept. 3, and will be parked at Monument Square. The exhibit is free and open to the public from noon to 8 p.m. both days.
For further information about the exhibit, visit www.loc.gov/gateway/.
The exhibition features facsimiles of such treasures as the 1507 Waldseemuller Map (the first document to use the word “America”); the 1455 Gutenberg Bible; the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, in Thomas Jefferson’s hand with edits by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams; the 1962 drawings for the comic book that introduced Spider-Man to the world; the handwritten manuscript to jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton’s “Frog-i-More Rag”; and Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass.”
Trail damage
AUGUSTA — Now that things are starting to clear off from this past weekend’s tropical storm, Maine Snowmobile Association encourages all clubs to check their trails and infrastructure, particularly bridges and culverts for major storm related damage. Maine Emergency Management and FEMA are both soliciting reports of damage to determine what if any counties in Maine may be eligible for assistance.
Send reports of damage ASAP to the Off-Road Division of the Bureau of Parks & Lands. Contacts are joe.higgins@maine.gov, scott.ramsay@maine.gov and Shannon.D.Morin@maine.gov). Reports should include location, pictures, maps and estimated costs. The more accurate information these agencies receive, the better they will be able to provide assistance should it become available.
Balance class
FARMINGTON — SeniorsPlus, the area agency on aging based in Lewiston, will hold a Matter of Balance class beginning Friday, Sept. 23, at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Classes are held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays for eight weeks.
Many older adults restrict their activities because they are afraid of falling. This program teaches practical ways to prevent and manage falls.
The weekly program teaches balance, coordination and flexibility.
Instructors are Kelli Gilzow and Alice Dyer.
The cost is $20, which is a reduced fee due to partial grant funding. For more information and to register, call SeniorsPlus at 1-800-427-1241. Deadline to register is Sept. 16.
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