Annual Rotary event features blueberry pancakes

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Now that others are learning something many of us already knew — that blueberries are not only good, but they are good for you — perhaps you’d like to take advantage of a healthy, delicious opportunity.

Terry Carlisle of the Ellsworth Rotary Club wrote to tell us the club is hosting its 38th annual Blueberry Pancake Breakfast from 6 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 12, in front of Reny’s department store in the Ellsworth Shopping Center on High Street.

Tickets are $4 in advance and $5 the day of the breakfast.

Advance tickets, she told us when we spoke this week, “are in retail outlets and other sites all over town. People can look for the posters.”

In a recent Bangor Daily News report about Maine’s blueberry harvest for this year, we learned the wild blueberry industry is benefiting from the consumer’s growing awarenesss of the positive health benefits of wild blueberries, which, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have the highest percentage of antioxidants of some 40 fruits and vegetables that agency tested.

The annual breakfast “is the Rotary Club’s oldest fund-raiser, and one that sees nearly 100 percent participation by the 85 club members,” Carlisle wrote, adding only those who are out of town are exempt from duty at this very important function.

Carlisle also noted that “the breakfast has always been a great stomping ground for local and national politicians” so, in this election year, you may just find a political hand or two waiting to shake yours.

And who would want to miss the great entertainment?

Carlisle reports that The Fletcher’s Landing Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Hancock County District Attorney Michael Povich, will perform throughtout the morning.

The orchestra, she said, consists of “a group of area gentlemen — it changes slightly from time to time — but usually there’s a banjo and a piano, and it’s a good, fun group.”

Besides the sponsoring Rotarians, many other Ellsworth organizations and businesses participate with their own activities, Carlisle wrote of such events as the Blueberry Bazaar, starting at 7 a.m. at the First Congregational Church behind City Hall in downtown Ellsworth.

Also, some area merchants will open shop early to accommodate those attending the breakfast.

And, Carlisle wrote, “It is rumored that a Rotarian, who always dreamed of clowning as a second career, will make an appearance as `Petunia,’ to entertain” the youngsters who come to the breakfast.

“The Blueberry Pancake Breakfast is a great little slice of small-town life in a town no longer small,” Carlisle added. “Maybe that’s why it’s so important, and fun, to preserve it.”

We would add that it is important to preserve this 38-year-old event because of the good that Rotarians do with the money they raise at such events, and that it offers one more opportunity for folks to eat those healthy and delicious Downeast blueberries.

“We’re all geared up for it,” Carlisle said, “and it looks like the weather will be good.” So will the pancakes, no matter what the weather.

Having recently returned from Minnesota bringing supplies to people affected by tornadoes there, Dick Hammond of Oakland will be on the road again, with your help, bringing emergency relief supplies to residents of fire-ravaged Montana.

“They want me to go out there to help as many people as we can,” Hammond said of his work as director of the American Legion 40-8 National Disaster Relief Fund.

Hammond is “going to load up with shovels, rakes, cleaning supplies, even work gloves, of any kind,” donated by generous Mainers to help those who’ve lost everything in what is being described as one of the worst fire seasons ever in the western United States.

“Believe it or not, we’re even looking for garbage bags,” Hammond said, “anything like that.” And it goes without saying, financial contributions are needed, as well, to buy fuel for the truck bringing the supplies to Montana.

This will be emergency relief trip No. 301 for Hammond. Contributions can be delievered to the NDRF warehouse at the old Cascade Woolen Mill off Exit 33 of Interstate 95, on Cascade Drive in Oakland.

“We’ll be there, each day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Hammond said, “and we’ll have a new phone number, 465-9333, by the end of the week.”

Checks can be written to the American Legion National Disaster Relief Fund and mailed to RR 3, Box 31765, Oakland, 04963.

Hammond can be reached at 397-3291 or by cell phone at 649-9372.

Friends and acquaintances of Maggie Thompson of Bangor are planning a benefit dance beginning with activities for adults and children at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12, at Camp Roosevelt in East Eddington.

Thompson, a single mother of two sons, is battling breast cancer.

Proceeds from the event, as well as other donations, will help pay for nontraditional therapies not covered by Thompson’s insurance.

The benefit begins with a horse-drawn hayride from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., for which the public is asked to make donations.

A 12-step meeting is scheduled for 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The dance runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Camp Roosevelt’s Main Lodge.

Admission to the benefit is $10 for adults and free for children.

Hot dogs, chips and soda can be purchased, and the benefit will feature a potluck dessert.

If you are unable to attend but would like to help Thompson during this difficult time, send donations to Eastern Maine Medical Center Federal Credit Union, 489 State St., Bangor 04401.

Checks should be made out in care of Margaret Thompson “for deposit only, into savings.” You are also asked to include her address, 64 Bald Mountain Drive, Bangor 04401 — so the money will be credited to the proper account.

Camp Roosevelt is located on Blackcap Road, off Route 46, in East Eddington. For more information, call 947-2367.

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