Cathcart host for SpeakOut benefit concert

The Pastorale Winds Trio will perform a chamber music concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at the home of state Sen. Mary Cathcart in Orono to benefit the Maine SpeakOut Project. For a $25 donation, the public is invited to attend.

The trio includes clarinetist Jim Higgins, administrative assistant for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and BSO performers Elizabeth Downing on flute and Lynn Flagg on bassoon. Higgins said the trio will perform works by Mozart, DeFilippi, Stamitz, Zippoli, Tomasi and Taylor.

The mission of the Maine SpeakOut Project “is to promote respect and understanding among persons of differing sexual orientations. Maine SpeakOut works to accomplish this mission by training and empowering volunteers to share their personal experiences and perspectives with individuals and community groups.”

Cathcart said she agreed to be host for the event because “I think that education is the best tool for overcoming prejudice and fear. I am a strong believer in education in every issue, so I’m happy to introduce this Maine SpeakOut Project into this area.”

Echoing her statement, MSP Director Jonathan Lee of Portland said, “we have never had a fund-raising event in Penobscot County, and we’ve worked hard to get a recognizable and diverse group of sponsors. It is our hope to encourage Bangor-area churches and civic organizations to get involved.”

Fifteen people are available from Maine SpeakOut to speak to schools, community groups and organizations, “but we need more opportunities,” Lee said.

“We are encouraging more people to consider getting trained to do this kind of speaking, and to invite us in to do this kind of discussion.”

To that end, a training session for people interested in becoming speakers for the organization is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at Bangor Theological Seminary.

To get tickets for Thursday’s benefit, call Fern Stearns of Old Town, 827-3609.

To receive information on the speakers’ training session, you also may call Stearns, or the Maine SpeakOut Project office in Portland, 879-0480.

In case people who plan to attend Patron’s Night for the 47th annual Bangor Antique Show are wondering just who the caterer is, we are pleased to solve the mystery.

Chef Anthony Strong is manager of Wells Catering and Conference Center on the University of Maine campus in Orono. We previously referred to his service as Cater Bear, but have learned that, like the university mascot, Bananas, Cater Bear is simply the organization’s mascot, not its actual name.

In any event, those of us familiar with the Wells Catering and Conference Center know that the sponsoring Junior League of Bangor has engaged one of the area’s top caterers for this event, which promises to please all the senses. Patron’s Night will be held from 7 to 9 p.m Friday, Sept. 26, at the Bangor Civic Center.

As we draw closer to the actual day that summer ends and fall begins, we all have memories to share of a most beautiful Vacationland summer.

One who wishes to share her special memories with you is Johnnie Louise Cancelarich of Presque Isle.

Cancelarich extends her thanks “to all who helped in any way with the St. James Friendly Adventure Program” that took place in the County this summer.

She includes among her thanks the media, area businesses, communities, churches, neighborhoods “and especially the host families who took the Boston children in their homes and gave them generous, loving care.”

Cancelarich wrote that “when the children left to go back to Boston on the bus, the tears of a little Boston boy reminded me of his appreciation for coming to visit a loving Maine family.”

“We are truly blessed to have such loving, giving people in the state — people who welcome children.”

An area nurse who stopped to help a grandmother with car trouble on Friday, Aug. 30, at the intersection of Griffin Road and Kenduskeag Avenue in Bangor is being publicly thanked by Anne Dowd of Charleston.

When Dowd’s car “came to a complete, inoperable stop,” the passing nurse was able to comfort Dowd’s granddaughters, allowing their grandmother to get help.

When an officer of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office arrived, the nurse helped push Dowd’s car off the road onto the shoulder.

“Even though I expressd my gratitude, I regret I did not get her name,” Dowd wrote.

“I only hope she will read this and know how much we appreciated her help; allowing my granddaughters to take back home to Boston wonderful memories of a very kind lady.”

The Standpipe, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.