Back in February 1965, the city of Bangor was undergoing a great change. Dow Air Force Base was closing and everyone was concerned with what the future would bring.

Many people, businesses and organizations accepted the challenge of helping the community prepare for life after Dow. Among them was the late Nate Rogers of Bangor, a local businessman and community volunteer.

Rogers was a member of the Sales and Marketing Executive Club of Greater Bangor.

That organization sponsored a five-part television series produced by the public affairs division of Channel 5 titled “Operation Bangor: City at the Crossroads.”

The series was described as “an in-depth study of the effect of the closing of Dow Air Force Base on the economy of Bangor.” Part one of that series was titled “The Road Behind.”

Nate Rogers’ widow, Donna Rogers, is searching for the first film in that television series from 1965.

To date, her search has been in vain.

She wants a copy of the film — if it still exists — because her husband was chairman of the committee that produced the first program.

“I just want it, to have, ” she said simply.

Her husband was a Bangor native and the film meant a lot to him. It means a great deal to her as well. The film is a memento of a piece of work in which her husband took great pride.

A well-known and respected businessman, Nate Rogers served on city boards and took an active interest in the life of his hometown.

“I want to turn over every rock I can to find that film,” his widow said.

She started her search for the films with WABI-TV, where she was told the material had been turned over to Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport.

“But they only have the fourth in the series,” Rogers said.

She has spoken with present and former WABI-TV employees who remembered or worked on the project, hoping for clues as to where the films might be.

But still, she has no information or leads to follow.

Rogers has used the resources of the Bangor Public Library and the Bangor Historical Society, also to no avail.

“I’m just wondering if any historian out there has the films,” Rogers said. “All I really want is No. 1 in the series.

“I have my husband’s format [the script] right in front of me, but what I really want is a copy of that program.”

“I’m thinking that someone who might have mementos of Dow might have this somewhere. I’m hoping so. I don’t want the whole series, just what my husband did.”

If you have any information about where Donna Rogers might be able to find this 33-year-old film, she would appreciate a call. Her phone number is 942-2079.

When Community Health and Counseling Services requested your help providing gifts for adult clients at Christmas, you responded in an “extraordinarily generous” manner, wrote resource development manager Ann Wiersma.

“The response was wonderful,” she said of receiving “my first phone call before 8 o’clock in the morning the article ran … and it continued.

“People brought sweatshirts, towels, perfume, note paper, hats and gloves. I can’t begin to expresss the difference these gifts made.”

Wiersma described Christmastime at CHCS as “wonderful” because of the “overwhelming community response to other appeals for gifts for our children and the children of some of our clients.”

CHCS staff and clients “are so grateful for all of this support,” she added. “We do live in a very caring community.”

Since the holidays, CHCS staff has been attempting to thank all its donors.

But, Wiersma wrote, “we have been unable to thank two of our donors. One didn’t leave an address, and the other’s thank-you was returned.

“If Pat Allen or Jody Smith would call Robbie Butcher at 947-0366, Ext. 226, we’d love to be able to drop you a note.”

We had a brief message from Dick Hammond of Waterville, who is planning disaster relief trip No. 113 to aid tornado victims in Kissimmee, Fla.

Hammond is national director of the 40-8 Disaster Relief fund, a veterans program that helps children and families in need.

“We’re trying to put together a very serious load for Florida,” he said. “We’re having some problems. We’re desperate for blankets. We need at least 500. We also need cleaning supplies and materials.”

Hammond plans to leave the end of the week for central Florida, which was hit by the worst tornadoes in its history.

“We’ll be working with the 40-8 veterans and folks there to do this job,” Hammond said. “We’re planning to pull out this weekend to get the supplies down there. Anything anybody can do to help would be appreciated.”

Donations of money or materials may be left at the Maine Veterans Shelter, 23 College Ave., Waterville. If you have questions about contributions, call 873-5555.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.