School to life fair planned for special students

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With the kind assistance of many willing and eager people, high school students with special needs, and their parents, can participate in a free “School to Life Resource Fair” from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at United Technologies Center, 200 Hogan Road in Bangor.

For people unfamiliar with that address, UTC is located on the corner of Hogan Road and Mount Hope Avenue. The event is sponsored by the Penobscot Council on Transition of the Penquis Regional Transition Board in Bangor.

Joan Cameron is coordinator of PRTB. She said the fair will cover the issues of employment; post-secondary education; leisure time or community involvement; health; transportation and housing.

Cameron said individuals providing those services will be among the more that 25 presenters from a variety of organizations that offer those services, including state and local agencies.

One of the more popular presenters is a man who hands out fast-food coupons to those who actively participate in the workshops by answering questions, Cameron said.

And, we understand prizes will be awarded even to those who ask questions.

Informational booths set up by various organizations and programs will also enable students and their families to learn more about what opportunities are available once they complete high school.

Many local businesses have donated gift certificates for door prizes and are providing food for the supper, Cameron said.

Workshop presentations include Guardianship from 5 to 5:30 p.m.; Youth Sharing from 5 to 6 p.m.; a Parent Panel from 6 to 7 p.m., Job Seeking and Interviewing Skills from 6 to 7 p.m.; Job Applications from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and Interviewing from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Throughout the four-hour fair, “Planning for the Future” will be conducted by student leaders “who’ve already done that,” Cameron said, “and they will be there to help others understand the process.

“They will be doing the first step of transition planning, which is to create a dream collage in which students will be asked to start thinking of what their dreams are.”

Cameron is particularly pleased with the student involvement, citing the Youth Sharing portion of the program in which students will share their experiences with attendees. Topics covered will include everything from independent living to college experiences.

Cameron hopes those who attend will think about the program in advance, and come prepared to ask lots of questions.

With adult supervision provided throughout the event, parents and guardians also will have the opportunity to freely participate.

The fair is open to high school and middle school students, and the facility is handicapped accessible.

Participants who need special accommodations may call Cameron in advance at 941-2855. For your information, PRTB is located in the Catholic Charities Maine facility in Bangor, and that is what you will hear when you call Cameron. All you need do is ask for her, and your call will be transferred to her office.

It is obvious many people have put in a lot of time and effort into preparing for this event which, hopefully, will help special students plan for their future. It should be a very informative and valuable four hours, and lots of fun, too!

If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call Cameron. She will be happy to help you.

With all the snow we’ve had this winter, it is gratifying to learn that those who keep our highways free and clear are appreciated. The Bangor Daily News received a nice letter from Ann Pilcher of Orono recently.

Pilcher wrote “We haven’t’ seen Cal around much this winter. In fact, we haven’t seen him at all.

“But I know he’s in Orono because I hear the snowplows going by in the night clearing the roads; and I see the sand on the streets so cars and people won’t slip on the ice.

“As a pedestrian, I also appreciate that even the sidewalks are cleared for safer walking.”

So Pilcher knows that “Cal’s around all right.

Cal Smith, that is, and his public works crew, Pilcher wrote, of the people who are “working night and day to be sure Orono’s streets are in good shape for safe winter driving and walking.”

To work, continuously, for 24 to 36 hours “is very demanding,” Pilcher points out, urging Orono residents to give Smith, and his crew, “a big hand for the fine job they’re doing in Orono this winter. They’ve been doing it for years.”

Acadia Community Theatre of Mount Desert is conducting tryouts for its first production of “Alice in Wonderland” from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor.

With a large cast and lots of roles for a variety of people of all ages, the play is planned for the evenings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 5-7, with a matinee on Sunday, April 8.

Rehearsals are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, with no rehearsals the week of February school vacation.

Kerry Taylor, secretary of ACT, said she believes those who audition will be given sections of the script from which to read, and she hopes people come to the tryouts with some idea of what part they are interested in.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea, if you have the book or a tape, to take a look at it before you arrive so you’ll know just what to expect.

This should be a really fun show, and we wish ACT well in its effort to bring this production to community theater lovers in the Hancock County area, and beyond.

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