We spoke with Susan Xirinachs of Brewer, president of the Garden Club Federation of Maine, who told us her organization is one of the participants in Bangor Beautiful’s 8th annual Garden Show today through Sunday at the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center.

Xirinachs wanted our readers to be aware of two GCFM projects you will certainly enjoy when you attend the Garden Show.

In the large room across from the vendors in the Civic Center, Xirinachs said you can view the organization’s Standard Flower Show under the direction of chairwoman Mary Lou Smith. Judging of that show, which has “The Joy of Gardening” as its theme, took place Thursday.

It includes artistic crafts and educational exhibits “as well as the regular, standard flower designs,” Xirinachs said of entries by garden club members as well as members of the public.

And the GCFM has a special treat in store for children who attend the show.

“Our Children’s Room, located in the mezzanine is `Through the Maine Woods’ where we will have chldren’s programs, music, garden clowns and wildlife exhibits where kids can actually crawl through a burrow and see a sleeping groundhog!,” Xirinachs said.

“Through the Maine Woods” will provide hands-on flower arranging for children with assistance from GCFM members who will help youngsters make their own designs, free of charge.

“We’ll also have potting marigolds, tree seedlings and they can participate in the Children’s Choice Awards where the children will vote for their favorite designs and win prizes,” Xirinachs said.

So if you wondered whether your children would enjoy this particular event, now you know they will because there is a very special place for you to take them when you visit the Bangor Garden Show this weekend.

Continuing with the Bangor Garden Show theme, it appears volunteer Sylvia Curran Smith will be flying around town this weekend if she is to meet her commitments at that show and elsewhere.

Smith wrote us recently asking that we inform readers that the Volunteer Cemetery Angels second Spring Clean Up begins at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, 449 Ohio St., Bangor.

Smith asks volunteers to meet at the cemetery office entrance and to bring their own rakes and shovels, if possible. It is suggested you wear boots and work gloves.

This cleanup is expected to be difficult and labor-intensive because of the severity of the harsh winter and the January ice storm, so the Volunteer Angels are going to need all the help they can get.

Smith also wanted to inform our readers that the organization has received nonprofit status, which now makes your contributions to it tax-deductible.

The Angels are currently conducting a raffle of angel-theme items and a benefactor drive to raise funds for improvements to the cemetery, many of which will get under way this spring and summer.

If you are interested in helping Saturday and Sunday, just show up.

If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Cemetery Angel or donating to this most worthy cause, call Smith at 947-9960.

Mary Jo Sanger of Orono reports the American Field Service is accepting applications for students wishing to go abroad, and is seeking families in northern, eastern and central Maine to host international high school students for the upcoming school year.

Celebrating 50 years of international student exchanges this year, AFS annually has more than 10,000 students participating in AFS programs throughout the world.

An AFS Information Night begins at 7 p.m. Monday at Borders on Bangor Mall Boulevard. The event, featuring former AFS students and families, will provide details on hosting and being an AFS student.

If you are interested in studying abroad through the AFS program, call Linda Currie, 947-8260.

If you are interested in hosting a foreign exchange student, call Nancy Grant, 866-4542.

General information about AFS is available by calling 800-AFS-INFO or visiting the AFS Web site at http://www.afs.org/usa.

Plans are under way for the 55th reunion of Brewer High School Class of 1943, which is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Reunion committee members are seeking information on the following classmates: Arthur Bryce, Richmond Eddy, Barbara McLaughlin Dayton, Ellen Fish Griffin, Norma Spratt Smith and Geraldine Spratt Campbell.

If you can help the reunion committee locate these classmates, please call either Charlotte Cross, 945-2615, or Geraldine Burrill, 942-9274.

Yet another organization is raising funds by helping to rid our environment of used vehicles.

Volunteers of America’s message is “if it rolls and works, we’ll turn it into funding to help those who need it most.”

Those people are Maine residents enrolled in programs that improve their quality of life and teach individuals to help themselves.

Automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats and trucks will be picked up by VA and the donor will receive a tax-deductible receipt for the contribution.

Volunteers of America Northern New England is based in Falmouth.

Call Jessica Gendron, 781-2962, for information about this program that benefits you as well as those in need.

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