The Abri Pregnancy Consultation Center in Rockland is “operated by a Christian board and staff and volunteers who work, particularly, with unexpected pregnancies,” explained Abri volunteer Meg Sawyer of Tenants Harbor.

Abri is open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at its 389B Main St. location in Rockland.

To help raise funds for the organization that assists “women and teens facing difficult decisions in their lives, and to babies, little miracles of life,” Abri has published a new cookbook using those words for its dedication.

The 141-page book is titled “Cooking for Life.”

According to Sawyer, who is co-chairwoman of the project, the book contains wonderfully healthful, and hearty, recipes “compiled by contributors from 17 churches in the midcoast area.”

The hardcover book was put together by Sawyer, Dorcelle Brown, Judy Foster and typist Joanne Moore.

It features a full-color cover in an original design by Abri program director Julie Crane.

The contents of “Cooking for Life” are considered favorites by members of the area churches who so graciously shared them for this fund-raiser.

According to information provided by Sawyer, the book features a variety of cuisines ranging from traditional Maine cooking to ethnic dishes from around the world.

Vegetable dishes and low-fat creations as well as family-favorite main dishes and desserts are included.

People who visit the Abri pie booth during Rockland’s annual Lobster Festival will be happy to learn that one of the highlights of this book is the “Abri Pie Booth” section featuring 35 of those pie recipes.

Sawyer stands strongly behind the contents of the book, telling us, “I use it all the time.”

The suggested donation for the cookbook is $10 but, of course, any amount above that would be greatly appreciated by all who are associated with Abri.

The cookbooks are available at The First Baptist Bookstore and The Reading Corner in Rockland, at Dave’s Restaurant and The Personal Book Shop in Thomaston, at Moody’s Gift Shop in Waldoboro, at Quilter’s Cottage in Camden, at several local churches and at the Abri office. For more information about the cookbook, call (800)-835-1611.

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As the Maine Discovery Museum prepares for its February 2001 opening in the former Freese’s building in downtown Bangor, money is still coming in to help complete the new facility’s capital campaign.

A most generous contribution was received recently from the Libra Foundation in the form of a grant of $100,000.

Founded by the late Elizabeth Noyce in 1989, the Libra Foundation provides charitable assistance to a broad cross-section of people and organizations in Maine.

Last October’s “Steps & Stars Walk” in downtown Bangor attracted more than 350 children and families and raised more than $20,000 for the museum.

This event was led by major museum contributors Jay and Hope Benton of Bangor who were all decked out in crowns and capes as King and Queen of the Walk.

Mid-Maine Communications is also a contributor to the museum, having donated $2,000.

Nicholas Winchester, a representative of Mid-Maine Communications, explained that the gift “is evidence of the strong support we feel for this important community project that will enrich the lives of the children and families in the area we serve.

And, while we’re on the subject, did you know that the museum is seeking volunteers and part-time staff? If you want to get involved with this grand new adventure, or you know of someone who might, you are encouraged to contact Aymie Walshe or Joanna Wilhelm at 262-7200 for more information or to request an application.

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Steve Morrison of Bremerton, Wash., is a self-described “cybervolunteer sleuth, presently seeking word definitions-confirmations for the Dictionary of American Regional English,” he writes.

Morrison wants to know if any of our readers is familiar with the expression “rawny” as in “rawny (-bone) or “rawboned.”

He writes that he has eight references to the word from Maine and New Hampshire and wonders if “this is still current there or elsewhere.”

We’ve checked around with co-workers, and no one here is familiar with the word. The closest we’ve come is “scrawny” or “brawny.”

Anyone who is familiar with “rawny” is asked to write Morrison at P.O. Box 2231, Bremerton, Wash. 98310, or e-mail him at smorrison71@home.com.

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We learned this month that the second annual Leo “Jim” Higgins Memorial Golf Classic played last fall resulted in a $2,750 contribution to the John Bapst Memorial High School scholarship fund named for the late Bapst athlete who graduated in 1966.

Leo Higgins Sr., Bapst ’39, and his daughter Jackie Ireland, Bapst ’85, made the presentation to Principal Joe Sekera.

The tournament was directed by Scott Clark, Tom Starno and Mary Jo Freeman who credited much of the success of the fund-raiser to the generosity of supporters such as W.S. Emerson, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pepsi- Cola and event sponsors Bangor Federal Credit Union and Eastern Maine Medical Center Credit Union.

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

990-8288.