Northeast COMBAT seeks more volunteer help

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The last time I heard about a community need from Alexandra Turallo of Hampden, it was three years ago, she reminded me in a recent letter.

A volunteer for Northeast COMBAT of Bangor, Turallo wrote that the organization is again seeking others, like her, who can work in assisting and protecting Maine consumers and small businesses.

COMBAT is a 30-year-old, grassroots organization that relies solely on unpaid volunteers to staff its mediation and education programs, which are available to every individual and business in Maine.

Those who have not had to take advantage of COMBAT’s services may be more familiar with the organization through the NEWS.

Appearing Mondays on our business page, Consumer Forum is a collaborative effort of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT. Anyone can send questions to Consumer Forum care of the Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.

COMBAT recently moved into new facilities at 109 State St. in Bangor, with onsite parking for volunteers and clients.

Besides the change in location, COMBAT is in the process of creating a full service, volunteer-driven Web site. To meet those needs, and to help with its work of fighting dishonest companies, COMBAT needs people.

Turallo wrote that the last time an appeal for COMBAT volunteers appeared in this column, “it yielded two awesome individuals.

“One served as our librarian, acquiring and organizing a vast resource of consumer information, until she moved from the area late last year.

“The other continues to be one of our most faithful and skilled caseworkers, and a joy to have in the office.”

Now, Turallo and the other volunteers need more of you to join in serving Maine consumers.

COMBAT’s special needs currently include caseworkers for dispute mediation, an administrative assistant to handle correspondence and database management, people to prepare bulk mailings, and people with advanced Web site design, construction and administrative experience.

There are also volunteer opportunities in COMBAT’s library services, public relations, research, writing, fund-raising and leadership roles.

The organization offers training and support for all positions, and you can offer your services during the day or evenings for just a few hours a month.

These volunteer positions give you the opportunity to help Mainers protect themselves from fraud.

If you are interested in becoming a COMBAT volunteer, joining the organization as a member for $10 a year, or learning more about the mission of COMBAT, call 947-3331.

Your last chance, this summer, to hear the Brewer Hometown Band is when conductor Jan Cox directs the “Final Concert” at 7 tonight at Doyle Field in Brewer.

Although the concert is free, donations to help support the band are always graciously accepted.

In case of rain, the concert will be held inside the Brewer Auditorium.

As young people head back to school, they might think about participating in the sixth year of the Fleet All-Stars Program.

Designed for youth and group leaders to develop projects that will meet community needs, youngsters have painted murals, restored playgrounds, planted gardens and improved playing fields.

Open to any youth-oriented organization or school in Maine, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania, the Fleet All-Stars program will award more than $400,000 to more than 80 winning organizations.

Winners in each of the nine regions will receive $15,000 with $7,500 going to the second-place finisher and $3,000 to various third-place finishers.

Winning groups receive not only charitable contributions for future community service projects, but also a visit from a Fleet All-star celebrity athlete.

To learn how your organization can become part of Fleet All-Stars in Maine, call Sarah Regan, 874-5348; write her at Fleet All-Stars, Maine Liaison, Two Portland Square, Portland 04141 or e-mail sarah b reagan@fleet.com.

You can also obtain information at www.fleet.com/allstars.com.

Terry Achorn of Glenburn wrote the NEWS that her mother’s dog, a Siberian Husky named Ashley, got off her run at 620 North Main St. in Brewer earlier this month, and the family is continuing to look for her, “especially now that she may be carrying puppies.”

Achorn wrote us to thank everyone who “put out the word of Ashley’s disappearance, and to those who have looked for her.”

She thanks the staff of WABI-TV and radio station WKIT for airing that information, and for providing her mother with daily updates.

Achorn’s thanks go out, as well, to Thompson Printing for donating copies of the lost-dog flier; to the letter carriers, “who kept that extra eye out for Ashley;” and the NEWS for printing the lost notice.

And she thanks all who have been watching for the dog and “calling with any news about Ashley. She is sorely missed.”

Despite not having found the dog, Achorn wrote that she and her family recognize “this is certainly a community full of caring people.”

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