YWCA Spring Fair promises good time at low cost

Quarters here, quarters there and quarters everywhere are what you will need in hand, pocket or purse when you take the kids to the YWCA Bangor-Brewer 25th Spring Fair. You will need those quarters to take advantage of the Spring Fair’s 25th anniversary specials.

This popular regional attraction will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Advance tickets are available through Thursday, March 22. Presale tickets are $1 and are on sale at the YWCA, BookMarc’s and Patrick’s Hallmark, all in Bangor, and at Ampersand in Orono. Admission is free for children. Adult and youth tickets will be $2 at the door and ride tickets are additional.

The Spring Fair is the YWCA’s major annual fund-raiser, attracting more than 15,000 people annually.

One goal, this year, is to raise an additional $15,000 to meet community needs. Individuals and businesses who double their contributions to the Spring Fair will receive special recognition as 25th anniversary stars. Such community support, in addition to what it makes from the fair, helps the YWCA reach out to people in need.

Children, families and single adults who cannot afford to join the YWCA are given that opportunity through YWCA -assisted programs.

Single mothers with part-time jobs or fathers who have gone back to school receive assistance to send their children to YWCA day care. Teen-age girls who are struggling academically or socially can participate in its K-Club and Opportunity Program for Teens. And women diagnosed with breast cancer find information and support through the YWCA ENCORE plus program.

Bangor Savings Bank is a sponsoring partner for this year’s event with fair sponsors Bangor Daily NEWS, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Means Investment Co. and LaJune Means, Paul’s Restaurant, Pepsi Cola and WLBZ-2.

When you attend the fair, you not only have fun, but you help others in the community as well. So be sure to look for those 25th anniversary specials, such as the 25-cent children’s table, where youngsters will find used books and toys, in good condition, that they can purchase.

By the way, if you have good, used books or toys that you can donate to this booth, your contributions will be greatly appreciated. Books (excluding textbooks) and toys can be dropped off at the YWCA, 17 Second St., any time before Thursday, March 22.

The YWCA Spring Fair is famous for its indoor carnival, which promises to be more fun than ever this year. YWCA executive director Lynda Clyve reports a new feature will be a climbing wall, which is something “all the kids love,” she said.

North American Amusements will be there with a merry-go-round, a pirate ship, the Extreme Challenge, the Swinger, Moon Bounce, kiddie rides and more. And don’t forget everybody’s favorite carnival food: hot dogs, cotton candy, Sno-cones and lemonade.

Be sure to visit the Elephant Room to play all the games, because everybody wins a prize! In the Civic Center, you will find a wide variety of entertainment as musicians, dancers, clowns, singers and athletes work to delight you.

The Anah Temple Shrine Clowns and YWCA Storytellers will be in Center Court throughout the fair to make balloon animals and keep the children happy.

We congratulate the YWCA staff, board and trustees on 25 successful Spring Fairs and wish them many, many more. For more information about the Spring Fair, call the YWCA at 941-2808, or visit its Web site at www.ywcabb.org.

A tip of the cap to members of the University of Maine at Fort Kent Student Nurses Organization, which recently raised more than $600 to benefit cardiac rehabilitation patients at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent.

The student nurses collected donations of goods and gift certificates from St. John Valley area businesses, which they combined into one grand raffle. The lucky raffle ticket holder was Ken Dionne of St. David.

On behalf of the student nurses, their adviser, Jenny Radsma, extends her thanks to members of the community for their support and to NMMC for its support of nursing education in the St. John Valley.

The Winslow July 4th finance committee is seeking support from area businesses to help make its July 4th weekend celebration the largest in Maine.

Needless to say, an event that attracts nearly 40,000 people costs money, so the finance committee needs financial contributions. If you have not received information from this group, committee chairman Paul Manson will be happy talk with you.

You can reach Manson at 873-7519.

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