The program is “Eat and Play With Five a Day,” and its focus is promoting healthful eating, exercise and discouraging smoking.

But the truth is this free summer program for children in grades four, five and six is just plain fun!

“The title refers to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day,” explained Louise Kirkland, extension educator with the Penobscot County University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Bangor, which is sponsoring the program.

“We have sessions from 9 a.m. to noon, three mornings a week, in specific communities,” Kirkland said. “Some of the things we’ll be doing include outdoor activities, arts and crafts and other fun activities. Each day, we’ll have the kids preparing tasty snacks and foods to eat, and we will also have them going on a field trip.”

The field trips will be based on location sites and can include a farmers market, a supermarket or visiting the Extension’s Rogers Farm on the Bennoch Road in Orono.

Kirkland said the program was conducted “two summers ago, but with only two staff people. This year we have five nutrition aides and assistants who will be at the sites.

“This is not specific to income level, so any child can attend,” Kirkland said.

“All they have to do is call and sign up. They can register by calling our office in Bangor at (800) 287-1485 or 942-7396,” she said.

“And kids can register for one week, or multiple weeks.

“We’re hoping to get at least 15 youngsters at each site, and we want them to know it will be fun, fun, fun.”

The first session is July 9-11 at the Brewer Housing Authority, 1 Colonial Circle, and the Sebasticook Community Center, 81 North St. in Newport.

Other sessions are July 17-19 at the Penobscot County Extension office, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor; July 24-26 at the Center Drive School, Orrington; and July 31-Aug. 2 at the Bangor Housing Authority, 161 Davis Road, and Orono High School, 14 Goodrich Drive.

Sessions will also be held Aug. 7-9 at the Eddington United Methodist Church on North Main Street in Brewer and the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St. in Orono; Aug. 14-16 at the Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor; and Aug. 21-23 at the Holden School on the Bar Harbor Road.

“The kids had a wonderful time when we did it before,” Kirkland said.

“Some of them came to more than one site and the bottom line was they wanted us to have more mornings. What we had wasn’t enough!”

She said fliers have been issued to schools and community agencies, posters are going up, “and we’re trying to talk it up to get kids to come.”

Marjorie Ahlin of Machias wrote to report the two dinner theater benefits for the Downeast Community Hospital of Machias Endowment Fund last week at Helen’s Restaurant in Machias were sold out and net proceeds were more than $4,000.

“Everyone had a grand time,” she added. “The restaurant looked beautiful and all were raving about the dinner.”

Actors from the Downriver Theatre Company presented excerpts from their current production, “Man of La Mancha,” which accompanied the four-course meal.

Helen’s owners, Gary and Judy Hanscom, donated the facility; the wait staff volunteered their time and donated their tips; and much of the food was donated, which helped make the benefit a success.

“Man of La Mancha” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. tonight and at the same time Thursday, July 5; Friday, July 6; and Saturday, July 7, at Gay’s Wreath Building on the Marshfield Ridge Road in Marshfield.

Directed by Skip Cole, the production’s musical director is Christine Guy.

Bonnie Atkinson is the accompanist, with Karen Varian on the castanets.

For reservations, call 255-4997.

More than horse racing will be featured from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 1, at Bangor Raceway as that facility recognizes two children’s programs: The Maine Coalition for Safe Kids and Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children.

The festivities include a celebrity bike race beginning at 3 p.m., featuring such notables as Rep. John Baldacci, Bangor Mayor John Rohman and Mrs. Maine, Lori Barker.

Pat’s Bike Shop has donated three bicycles to be given away to some lucky youngsters; the Safe Kids coalition has donated three high-quality helmets that will be given to the winners of the bicycles; and a helmet-fitting booth will be set up in the grandstand area of the raceway.

Also making an appearance will be Sherry the Balloon Lady, and the Hal Wheeler Downeast Dixieland Band.

Jill Reynolds, development officer for Eastern Maine Charities, said EMH is “excited about this wonderful opportunity” that Bangor Raceway manager Fred Nichols “has given our two programs.”

Pathfinders is a counseling program for children ages 3 to 18 who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

The Maine Coalition of Safe Kids is a largely volunteer organization supplying information, education and training to assist in keeping children safe.

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