For many years, Bangor area residents have flocked to Cascade Park on State Street to celebrate the long Labor Day weekend.

Not so this year.

Bangor Parks and Recreation director Frank Comeau called recently to report the date for that summer-ending event has been changed.

“There are just too many things going on that weekend,” Comeau said of the variety of activities people have to choose from.

“So, along with our primary sponsor, Shop ‘n Save, we’re changing to the following weekend.”

Bangor’s Cascade Park Celebration is now set for 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the park on State Street across from the old Bangor Waterworks.

Comeau said that although the date is different, the activities will be pretty much the same as they have been in the past.

“We’ll have games and face painting for the kids,” he said. “There will be a climbing wall. We will have pony rides, and we’ll have ducks-on-the-pond and a bounce tent.”

To help lend a festive air to the event, there will be plenty of entertainment, Comeau added.

Leading off the day will be the barbershoppers, Maine-ly Music, at 10 a.m., followed by Late Edition at 11 a.m.

Students of Thomas School of Dance will entertain at noon, followed by the Queen City Big Band at 1 p.m.

The music of the Sentimental Journey Band will fill the air beginning at 2 p.m., and then it’s the sounds of the Twin City Cloggers at 3 p.m.

Closing out the event, musically, will be a concert by the Bangor Band, our nation’s second-oldest continually performing community orchestra.

Comeau said there is no admission to attend, and that a wide variety of foods will be available for purchase.

So, with a new date for this event, now you can choose from all those other Labor Day activities you’ve been thinking about, and still be part of Bangor’s Cascade Park Celebration the following weekend.

At its National Training

Seminar last month in Orlando, Fla., Jobs for America’s

Graduates recognized schools throughout the country for

hard work and dedication.

Congratulations are extended to Brewer Middle School for its Project Reach program, which received a “High Achievement” award in the area of community service hours.

Under the direction of BMS Project Reach specialist Shannon Greaney, the BMS pupils had a very busy December last year.

They gathered warm clothing for the Coats for Kids Program; collected material for tabletop Christmas trees for the elderly in a nearby residential facility; and spent time wrapping gifts at the Bangor Mall to help raise funds for the American Red Cross.

The accomplishments of that month were so satisfying to the pupils that they decided to participate in at least one major community service project each month for the remainder of the school year.

And, through another JMG effort at the school, pupils raised $400 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through a “Pennies for Patients” fund-raiser.

Tickets are now available for the fifth annual Fall Festival Auction and Awards Night held by Rape Response Services at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

Admission is just $5 per person, and you can obtain tickets at the door or, in advance, by calling RRS at 941-2980.

For more than 11 years, Rape Response Services of Bangor and Dover-Foxcroft has been providing support for people in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties who have been affected either directly or indirectly by rape, incest, childhood sexual abuse or sexual harassment.

This annual fund-raiser helps support the work of that organization, and many community-minded individuals and businesses continue to support this fund-raiser.

Executive director Kathy Walker reports that sculptor Forest Hart is one of those people. This year, Hart has donated a small bronze moose for the auction.

Portland author Monica Wood has contributed an autographed copy of “My Only Story,” and pottery has been donated by Monroe Salt Works.

Sue McKay will be back as the entertaining auctioneer for the evening that also features hors d’oeuvres, door prizes and a cash bar.

The annual Janet Badger Volunteer Award will be presented, and Kim Miller will provide musical entertainment.

Underwriting the cost of the evening are Pine Tree Landfill of Hampden, the Bangor Daily News and Charles Veeder & Christine Longtin, CPA’s, with printing services provided by Fast Forms.

Auction items can be viewed in advance by calling the number above, and absentee bids and credit card charges will be accepted.

Auto racing fans who have yet to see the Tide car driven in NASCAR races will have that opportunity during a United Way of Eastern Maine fund-raiser from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at the Airport Mall Shop ‘n Save on Union Street in Bangor.

Also appearing will be a yet-to-be-named NASCAR driver who will pose for photos with the kids. The car is scheduled to arrive at approximately 11 a.m.

The UWEM fund-raiser also features a go-cart obstacle course, hot dog and watermelon sales, prize drawings, kids games and a silent auction.

Among the silent auction items are two tickets to the New Hampshire 300 Race on Sunday, Sept. 16, at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon.

UWEM raises and distributes funds to health and human service agencies in Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties.

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