HOULTON, Maine — The Aid for Kids’ annual Educational Fair returns this Saturday, Sept. 30, at the John Millar Civic Center.
The event, being held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is free and will once again feature an appearance by “Bess the Book Bus,” a mobile literacy outreach from Florida which will provide free new books for children of all ages, according to Danette Ellis, event organizer.
Steve Turner founder of Giving Tree Music from Florida also will be back, bringing his drum circle music for all ages to enjoy. Darling’s “Ice Cream for a Cause” will be on hand as well offering free, pre-packaged ice cream in exchange for voluntary donations to help raise money for charities.
Representatives from the sheriff’s offices in Hancock and Aroostook counties will be offering free “Iris Scans” for children and vulnerable adults. An Iris Scan is a biometric recognition service that is used for the purpose of identifying and locating missing children or vulnerable adults. The scan is performed by looking into a computer and takes about 15 seconds, Ellis said. This new technology can identify a child within seconds.
The texting simulator from the Maine Department of Public Safety also will be available to help reinforce the importance of not texting and driving. The simulator is a teaching tool that allows the participant to “drive”and try to text at the same time on a computer to see the consequences of texting and driving.
Among the many other events slated are: Mad Science of Maine will offer two educational science shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; representatives of the Maine Forest Service will be onsite with their helicopter; members of the Maine Warden Service will feature Safari in a box, a hands on learning project utilizing pelts and animal tracks; Sara McQuarrie from Sneakin in Science will offer hands on science activity; the Maine Fire Marshal’s office will offer fire education information; and the Houlton Fire Department will bring its “hazard house.”
Rounding out the events are a bounce house and free barbecue. For more information on this event, contact Ellis at dmellis@myfairpoint.net.
