The new Down East Fairgrounds on Route 1 in Machias is ready and waiting for the Down East Stampede and Down East Rodeo Days, with the rodeo starting at 3 p.m. both Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5.

If you plan to take your family to this event, you can save a few dollars by purchasing your tickets early.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children, but $10 for adults and $7 for children if purchased at the gate on the day of the event.

Advance tickets are available at Machias Savings Bank, Shop ‘n Save, Union Trust, Parlin’s, Bar Harbor Bank and The Office.

“We are the only rodeo in Maine this year,” reports Eleanor Sargent of East Machias, one of the event organizers. “In fact, we are the only rodeo in New England. This will be our first rodeo at the new fairgrounds, and we are excited and looking forward to a great turnout.”

The event is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“It’s the real cowboys that people watch on television,” Sargent explained.

Members of the PRCA have to enter a certain number of events, throughout their season, “in order to compete in the finals in Las Vegas,” Sargent added.

But there’s more to the Down East Stampede than just the rodeo.

Events for Saturday’s “Wrangler Jeans Day” begin at 8 a.m. with Roger Asselin and the Cowboy Church Concert, followed by a magic show, line dancing, and a pig scramble before the rodeo begins.

The day closes with a bluegrass concert from 6 to 9 p.m.

Your ticket stub is your admission to the concert, otherwise it’s $5 at the gate.

Asselin’s concert will be repeated at 8 a.m. Sunday, and will be followed by the magic show and pig scramble before the rodeo closes out the two-day event.

The kids will have a great time visiting the petting zoo, taking kiddie train and pony rides, or using up some of that extra energy at the bouncy house.

The event also includes a forestry demonstration and lots of food, drinks and snow cones.

And here’s a special reminder for smokers attending this event.

As was reported earlier in the Bangor Daily News, in partnership with Downeast Healthy Tomorrows, Down East Stampede Rodeo organizers have announced that this will be a smoke-free event, with smoking limited to a designated area only.

For more information about this event, call Sargent at 255-6003.

Quirk Auto Group, US Cellular and Cyr Bus Line are sponsoring the Bangor Cadillac Invitational, which will be played Monday, Aug. 13, at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

The event benefits the National Kidney Foundation of Maine, and the first 60 Cadillac test drivers receive one dozen Strata golf balls.

The $900 entry fee includes greens fees for a foursome, a hole sponsor sign, and the awards dinner.

The winning team receives round-trip tickets and the opportunity to play golf at Pebble Beach.

For more information about this event for the NKF, call Steve Mayberry at (800) 639-7220.

Hospice of Hancock County and Hancock County HomeCare and Hospice are presenting two workshops to help individuals working with people going through a period of mourning.

The workshops are sponsored by Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Homes and Jordan-Fernald Funeral Homes.

Rabbi Earl Grollman will present “The Forgotten Mourners: Healing our Losses,” in two separate sessions.

The first workshop, for clergy and church school providers, is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Ellsworth.

The registration fee for that workshop is $35. Lunch is included.

The second workshop, for health care professionals, educators, clergy, counselors and concerned individuals, is 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Holiday Inn, SunSpree Resort in Bar Harbor.

The registration fee for this workshop is $95, including lunch. However, after Thursday, Aug. 2, the registration fee rises to $110.

Grollman, a respected pioneer in end-of-life issues, will discuss the needs people in our communities face when they experience a loss in their lives.

Continuing education units and a certificate of attendance will be provided.

To register, or to receive more information, call Hospice of Hancock County at (888) 266-8035 or 667-2531.

Planners of the East Corinth Academy Class of 1966 35th reunion have done a pretty thorough job of locating their classmates.

Pam Roberts Clark of Exeter reports they are missing only three, and hopes our readers can help.

The ECA Class of ’66 reunion begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Spectacular Events Center on Griffin Road in Bangor.

Clark said all classmates, whether they graduated with the group or not, are cordially invited to attend.

However, the reunion committee would like to hear from anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Sheila Welch, Sarah Skillin or Gary Allen.

If you can help, call Clark at 379-4731 or Sandra McPherson Doody of East Corinth at 285-3507.

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