L/A schools get USDA financial support

LEWISTON — The Auburn/Lewiston School Department has announced it has been awarded financial support by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program in an effort to connect school nutrition services with students and local producers. Auburn/Lewiston School Districts are one team of 73 funded projects spanning 43 states.

The Auburn and Lewiston departments have partnered with Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center and Whiting Farm to prepare and design a grant application to benefit students in both school districts.

The team will work to develop relationships with local producers; increase local food purchasing in both school nutrition programs; sustain and expand utilization of school gardens through a school garden coach pilot program; and strengthen connections between school gardens and cafeterias through student and staff education and engagement. The $100,000 implementation grant started June 25, 2018, and will run until June 30, 2020.

“The Nutrition Center is excited to work with so many knowledgeable and passionate partners to expand farm to school efforts in the Lewiston Auburn community,” said Rebecca Dugan, children’s programs coordinator at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center. “We’re also looking forward to strengthening relationships with local farmers, bringing more local produce into cafeterias, and connecting more students to school gardens.”

This grant-funded implementation process follows 18 months of research and planning funded by a successful USDA Farm to School Planning Grant.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/AndroscogginFarmToSchoolNetwork.

Boys/Girls Club reps to address Rotarians

AUBURN — Bob Clark and Maura Moody from the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine will address the A-L Rotary Club at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, at a breakfast meeting at the Auburn United Methodist Church, 439 Park Ave.

The Auburn/Lewiston clubhouse has offered after-school programs for children and teens, ages 7-18, since 1995. The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe environment for young people to learn, build character and be with friends after school and during the summer.

With an annual membership, kids can receive homework assistance, visit the art room to create something exciting, get active in the gym and have a nutritious snack each day. Cost for breakfast is $15.

Food allergies to be topic at Lifetree

LEWISTON — Coping with the challenges of food allergies will be discussed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Lifetree Cafe.

The program, “Allergic to Food: Living in an Incredible, Inedible World,” will feature a filmed interview with nutritionist Nicole Eckman and provides a glimpse into the life of a woman coping with celiac disease.

“There’s a reason people are so reactive to their food when it didn’t used to be that way,” said Eckman, who describes what’s behind the rising numbers of food allergies.

Participants will have an opportunity to understand the realities of living with food allergies and share their own stories.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Lifetree Cafe is located at 1919 Lisbon Road. Questions may be directed to Travis Burleigh at 207-783-3316 or travisburleigh@gmail.com.

Learn Irish jigs and reels at ELHS

AUBURN — Learn a few reel and jig dances starting Monday, March 11, at Edward Little High School. No dance experience is necessary to pick up the simple steps.

Dances are done in groups of two to eight, but no particular partner is necessary. There are two styles, ceili and sets, both of which are danced to upbeat lively Irish tunes.

Classes will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays on a weekly basis, but drop-ins are welcome. Costs is $3. Dancing is in room 102.

For more information, call 207-933-9761.