Orrington girl raises funds in quest for dog’s vest

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Sixteen months ago, Anna Schwarcz of Orrington was trying to raise money to obtain bulletproof vests for two dogs in the Bangor Police Department Canine Unit.

She was successful in that attempt, and now is working to raise funds to obtain the same piece of equipment for Caine, a 2-year-old black German shepherd who works with Deputy Kate Fleury of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Schwarcz, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Center Drive School in Orrington, has joined the Hancock County 4-H as an independent member.

As part of that organization, she learned about Caine through an extension educator.

“He is trained in a lot of different areas,” Schwarcz said of the department’s police dog. “He does search and rescue work, tracking and narcotics.”

Fleury and Caine have been recognized for outstanding patrol work by the U.S. Police Canine Association in Region 9, which has approximately 50 members in Maine, New Hampshire and New Brunswick, Canada.

The USPCA is a nonprofit organization of police canine handlers, trainers and administrators from the United States and Canada. Its mission is to promote the use of police dogs and to improve their training.

The bulletproof vests for dogs cost $650 each, Schwarcz said, “and we have $286 toward it.”

Schwarcz is getting assistance from her fellow 4-H members and will be staffing a booth at the Blue Hill Fair from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31 through Sunday, Sept. 2, “next to the horse tent,” she said.

At the booth, Schwarcz and her friends “will be selling homemade dog biscuits, bandanas, doggie bow ties and treat bags.”

Throughout the fund raiser, Schwarcz has had the help and cooperation of many people, such as 4-H leader Terry Swazey of Orland, the Pine Cone Rider 4-H Club and members of many of the 17 other Hancock County 4-H clubs.

“Different ones have helped me with things, and let me set up booths next to theirs,” at various functions, Schwarcz said.

If you visit her booth at the Blue Hill Fair, you can help protect Caine by making a purchase or placing a donation in a canister that will be available.

Schwarcz said all proceeds from the purchase of items at the booth “will be going toward the vest.”

Her hope is to have the money raised “before school starts,” which, as you know, is coming right up.

If you can’t get to the Blue Hill Fair, and want to help raise funds for Caine’s vest, call Schwarcz at 825-8922.

The last major push by friends and family of 31/2-year-old Miranda Pomerleau to raise funds to help defray expenses incurred by repeated surgeries and continuing treatment for arterial venous malformation, takes place this weekend.

“We’ve been working hard, and we have lots of great items for our auction,” said her great-aunt Debbie Emrich of Plymouth.

The benefit supper and auction for Miranda Pomerleau begins with the meal at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at Penquis Valley High School in Milo.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under the age of 12. However, any and all contributions more than those amounts would be most welcome.

The benefit auction, with state Sen. Paul Davis wielding the gavel, begins at 7 p.m.

The latest update on Miranda’s condition is that she is doing very well, Emrich said.

“She has her next checkup on Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Boston,” Emrich said. “And Miranda will be at the supper on Saturday.”

Organizers of the benefit are very pleased with the response they have received, she said.

“Sam’s Club did a tremendous amount for us,” she said. “Sam’s Club donated two microwave ovens, a canopy, and lots of spices for the auction, and donated coffee and sugar for the supper.”

Another major item on the auction block is a pearl necklace, donated by G. M. Pollock, which is valued at $212.

“We have a solid oak file cabinet from Davis Brothers in Guilford and a curio cabinet donated by J & S Furniture in Milo,” she said.

Attendees also can bid on a “beautiful antique replica sled donated by Moosehead Manufacturing in Monson, and Irving Oil has been really good to us,” Emrich added of items and gift certificates you will be able to bid on.

“We have a nice variety of homemade, wood crafts and we have homemade quilts and a variety of gift candles,” Emrich said.

Support for the benefit, and for the family of Shawn and Melanie Pomerleau, has come from near and far.

“The businesses around Newport and Bangor, like Channel 5, have been wonderful,” Emrich said. “They’ve been super.”

Signs will be posted around town, inviting the public to attend. Emrich hopes people will look at this benefit as a great way to end a Labor Day weekend Saturday.

“It will be quite an evening,” she said.

If you cannot attend, but would like to help the family, you can made a donation to the Miranda Pomerleau Fund, BARCO Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 447, Milo 04463.

A small but enthusiastic group of individuals representing the North Brewer-Eddington United Methodist Church participated in the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Wheels for Life Bike-A-Thon.

Riding in the benefit last month on the Flood’s Pond Road in Eddington were Rev. Joan DeSanctis, Julio DeSanctis III, Dr. Doug Gardner, Lisa Gardner, Charlie Gardner, Adam Lufkin, Nathan Brown, Ryan Brown, Austin Lufkin, Selina Lufkin and Dottie Boynton.

The riders raised more than $500 for the children’s hospital, and offer their public thanks to the Bangor Water District for use of the Floods Pond Road for this special event.

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