One of the great ways to conclude the Bangor Symphony Orchestra season is by attending its annual dinner-auction, which comes after the BSO’s final performance of the season next month at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

The theme for this year’s BSO dinner-auction is “The Merry Face of Spring.”

The event begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at Wells dining commons on the campus of the University of Maine.

For those who attend the BSO’s season finale that day at the MCA, transportation will be provided from the concert site to the dinner-auction site.

Reservations for the fund-raiser are $30 each and may be made by calling the BSO office at 942-5555.

In the meantime, chairwoman Chris Szal and members of her dinner-auction committee are seeking individuals or businesses to donate items, talents or experiences to be auctioned off at the fund-raiser.

All proceeds from “The Merry Face of Spring” benefit the BSO, which is the oldest continuously running symphony orchestra in the country.

Among the items that would be accepted for the auction are artwork, antiques, lessons of any kind – from music lessons to swimming lessons – health club memberships, event tickets or adventure experiences.

If you have something to donate to help support the BSO, or if you need more information, call Szal at 945-3329.

I am sure all of you join all of us at the Bangor Daily News in wishing Delphine Daigle of Frenchville a very happy 100th birthday.

Mrs. Daigle celebrates her special day on Easter Sunday, April 15.

She is the widow of Oscar Daigle, who died Jan. 14, 1997, at age 97. The Daigles had celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary the previous June.

A lifelong homemaker who enjoyed hunting and fishing, Mrs. Daigle and her husband were able to spend time at their camp in the Allagash until they were in their 80s.

The mother of five, grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother of 22, Mrs. Daigle now resides at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Frenchville, where she continues to be a very active lady.

According to information provided to the NEWS, Mrs. Daigle enjoys television, music, telephoning members of her family every day, playing her small keyboard, bingo, cribbage, charlemagne and visiting with her family.

Congratulations and best wishes, Mrs. Daigle, and welcome to that very select group of people who share the distinction of being known as centenarians.

Nominations are being accepted by the Maine Women’s Fund for the 11th annual Evening to Honor Maine Women and Girls, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

The Maine Women’s Fund was organized in 1988 by and for Maine women to help fund programs that serve and promote the well-being of women and girls in our state.

The October awards ceremony will honor four Maine individuals who make positive contributions in their communities, with particular focus on the efforts of those working to eliminate gender barriers.

Each of the four award recipients will have the opportunity to direct a $500 grant to a nonprofit organization of her choice that works to improve the lives of women and girls in Maine.

The organization particularly encourages nominations of girls between ages 14 and 20. The nomination deadline is Friday, May 25.

To obtain a nomination form, call 774-5513; e-mail women@mainewomensfund.org; or visit the Web site www.mainewomensfund.org.

Here’s a reminder that cancer patients, cancer survivors, their families, businesses, civic organizations and members of the public are invited to take part in a Relay for Life running from 6 p.m. Friday, May 18, to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Old Town High School.

The family oriented fund-raiser supports the work of the American Cancer Society.

During Relay for Life, participants run or walk, relay-style, in half-hour shifts around a track for 24 hours.

The festive atmosphere includes tents for team members to camp around the track and enjoy activities such as dancing, contests, live entertainment and events for children.

Individuals and teams – representing companies, churches, organizations, hospitals and schools – collect donations and vie for individual and team prizes for their efforts.

Last year’s event raised more than $95,000 for the ACS.

Information on how to form a team or become involved in the event may be obtained by calling the ACS at (800)-464-3102, Ext. 300, or Mike Hart in Brewer, who is the regional executive for special events of ACS New England division. His number is 989-0332.

To the family of our former colleague, George Birckhead of Ellsworth, who died unexpectedly on Monday, April 9, at age 55, we extend our most sincere condolences.

George worked for the NEWS for 17 years, both in our Bangor office and in our Ellsworth office, before joining the staff of The Ellsworth American in 1998.

George was a kind, considerate man.

A true son of the South, he was the friendly co-worker I will remember as one who never lost his Southern charm or his soft Southern accent.

To his wife, Jane, his children Joseph and Dianna, and all George’s family, our deepest sympathies at his untimely passing.

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