Hearing from Ben Blodget of Bucksport, representing the Buck Memorial Library in that community, is always good news because it ensures that a special event is still being held to benefit the library.

Blodget reports that the ninth annual Buck Memorial Benefit Jazz Concert is 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, at the Miles Lane School in Bucksport.

Featured in the concert organized by trumpeter Don Blodgett of Orland are the bands Tzena! Tzena!, Blodgett’s DownEast Jazz AllStars and The New Trad Trio.

Ben Blodget reports Tzena! Tzena!, a klezmer band, is composed of several musicians well-known in this area.

Members of that group, which takes an improvised approach to traditional local dance music and is making its first appearance at this concert, are Scott Rapaport, Scott Cleveland, Dave Simonds, Ellie May Shuro, Dave Halvorson, Jim Haddix, Don Menninghaus and Otho Knowles.

Don Blodgett, who has played in the Bangor and Brewer community bands, the Circus Band in Sarasota, Fla., and at events in our nation’s capital, originated the Buck Memorial Benefit Concert, which draws an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd every year.

Chris Harris and Jack Moser have led the New Trad (New Traditional) Band for some time. After several years at the Ice House Cafe in Herndon, Va., the two have generated quite a following since moving to Blue Hill.

“They are a popular event at the concert with banjo, clarinet, tenor sax and string bass,” Ben Blodget reports of the band that also has included Dick Knowles and Bob Haskell and is making a return appearance at this benefit.

Tickets are $7 each and available at the library, or at the door the night of the concert. Refreshments will be available at intermission.

Individuals who would like to be a sponsor for the event can leave a donation at the library.

Proceeds from the concert go to the library’s maintenance fund. Major work to be done this summer is the replacement of many slate roof shingles, preserving the traditional look of the historic facility.

While we have the attention of folks in the Greater Bucksport area, seniors there should mark their calendars and plan to attend a forum on health services.

The Senior Resource Health Planners of the Bucksport Community Health Advisory Committee will be host to a public forum on health service and benefit programs from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, June 12, at the Bucksport Senior Center on Outer Broadway.

New information about prescription drug programs will be provided by Owen Thomas of Eastern Agency on Aging.

Kathy Woods of Community Health and Counseling Services and Sue Davis of Hancock County Homecare will provide a summary of the range of home health services available to area residents, and Dottie VanHorn of Penobscot Nursing Home and Kathy Harley of Jed Prouty Assisted Living Residence will explain residential care options.

Valerie Sulya of Hospice of Hancock County will discuss that agency’s services.

And a review of transportation services available for medical appointments and other living necessities will be discussed by Linda Belfiore of Washington Hancock Community Agency and Mary Jane Bush of the town of Bucksport.

The program is free and refreshments will be served.

For information, call Bush at 469-7951.

In conjunction with the East Machias River Days, Lifespring Chapel, Church of God of East Machias, will sponsor a craft and art fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at the East Machias Municipal Building.

Proceeds from the event will help refurbish the church basement to make it more useful for church members and community activities.

Several well-known crafters and artists have already registered for the event from communities such as East Machias, Jonesboro, Charlotte, Jonesport, Machiasport, Winter Harbor, Lubec and Machias, but several tables are still available for those who want to participate in this popular event.

In addition to the crafts and artwork, Lifespring Chapel will sell baked goods, and Down East Hospital Auxiliary will offer goodies and drinks from the kitchen.

To reserve a table, obtain an application or receive more information, write Diane Watermolen, HCR 74, Box 111, Whiting 04691, or call her at 733-2923.

More details will appear in this column the last week of June, but you might want to make early reservations for the St. Croix Valley International Garden Tour, which will feature public tours of private gardens on both sides of the U.S-Canadian border, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 30, in the Lubec-Campobello, New Brunswick, area.

Advance tickets are $12 and admission is $15 the day of the tour. Reservations can be made by calling 726-5837.

Tickets and a program with directions to all gardens can be obtained, in advance, by sending a check for $12 per person to St. Croix Valley International Garden Club, c/o Linda Gralenski, 857 Leighton Point Road, Pembroke 04666.

Nancy Dysart, director of Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare, has announced that the 13th annual telethon for CMN of EMH, broadcast Sunday, June 3, on WABI-TV, raised a record-setting $439,000.

Dysart attributes the success to the “thousands of volunteers who work throughout the year on behalf of area children.”

During the event, Ruth Striar of Bangor was honored with the CMN 2001 Volunteer of the Year Award. Striar is the EMMC Hospital Auxiliary representative on the CMN steering committee.

Carol Lackedy of Hermon was honored as the CMN Sam’s Club Volunteer of the Year, and Louise Hynes of Bangor as the CMN Wal-Mart Volunteer of the Year.

Katie Leighton of Bar Harbor, a champion gymnast, jazz band drummer and cheerleader who has cystic fibrosis, was introduced during the telecast as the 2002-2003 CMN Champion who will represent CMN patients throughout the state.

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