Want to be able to “talk turkey?” Here’s your opportunity.

Kathleen Buzzard, a master’s degree student in the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine in Orono, is seeking volunteers to taste-test ground turkey patties made with wild blueberry puree.

During a six-month period, participants will be asked to taste turkey patties that have been cooked and then frozen, Buzzard said.

“We want to see what effect the wild blueberry puree has on the flavor of the turkey patties after they’ve been frozen.”

Buzzard, who is working on the project with department professor Alfred Bushway, said all volunteers must be nonsmokers over the age of 18.

Her goal is that at least 30 people will volunteer for the project.

A brief screening meeting for potential volunteers will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in Room 335 of Merrill Hall on the Orono campus.

The purpose of that meeting will be to make sure that participants understand the testing procedures and meet criteria for the study.

Buzzard said the screening will focus on potential testers’ food preferences.

“We’ll be looking at what they like to eat and what they don’t like to eat,” she said.

She will then ask volunteers to attend three one-hour training sessions over a one-month period before they begin their six months of turkey taste-testing.

“We will need to see them about once a month during that time,” she said.

If you would like to volunteer to taste and talk turkey, call Buzzard at 581-1635 or contact her at kathleen buzzard@umit.Maine.edu.

This is a beautiful time of year to visit the Maine Forest and Logging Museum, located halfway between Brewer and Milford off Route 178 in Bradley.

The museum’s annual fall Blacksmiths’ Roundup is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, in Bradley.

The day features teaching and demonstrations by skilled blacksmiths who continue the museum’s work of passing along tools, techniques and the history of blacksmithing to help celebrate Maine Heritage Day.

Demonstrations of basic and fancy forging that will appeal to beginners as well as experts will be conducted during the afternoon, offering a chance for hands-on learning on portable forges.

Admission is free for this event which museum organizers say will particularly appeal to New England blacksmiths of all skill levels.

The Zonta Club of Bangor is proud to announce that its 11th annual Champagne Brunch will be held at noon Sunday, Sept. 23, at the new Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

Tickets are $25 each and can be obtained by calling 942-5117.

The Bangor club is one of 1,200 in 68 countries with more than 35,000 members, who support a variety of international service projects in addition to their local work.

In the Greater Bangor area, among other volunteer efforts, Zonta helps support organizations such as Spruce Run, Opportunity Housing, Bangor City Nursing Facility, UCP’s Camp Capella and Girls State.

University of Maine alumna Lynn Coutts of Mashpee, Mass., has sent information for readers who might like to play the Celebrity Golf Benefit beginning at noon Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

The event’s goal is to raise $20,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern Maine to help provide recreational opportunity for kids with disabilities in our area.

Golfers will have the opportunity to catch up with Maine native and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick, who will be playing in the tournament.

Tim Throckmorton, WABI-TV sportscaster, will be the tournament’s master of ceremonies.

The registration fee of $500 per foursome includes greens fees, cart, favors, awards, social hour, auction and dinner. The fee for additional guests for the social, auction and dinner is $35 per person.

For more information, or to register, write Celebrity Golf Benefit, attention Lynn Coutts, Tournament Director, 86 Polaris Drive, Mashpee, Mass. 02649, call her at 508-539-4739 or fax her at 508-563-1875.

It was slightly more than a year ago that 7-year-old Samuel Taylor died unexpectedly in Bangor.

His parents, Eric and Michelle Taylor, have written to say they “could not have made it through” that difficult time “without the tremendous support of family, friends and the community of Bangor.”

The couple extends their “heartfelt thanks to the Bangor Police Department and ambulance crew who responded to our call for help with courage and strength.”

They also are grateful to the staff of the Bangor YMCA “who generously offered us the use of Camp Jordan” for their son’s memorial service, and to “St. Joseph’s Hospital emergency room staff and clergy for their compassion.”

The Taylors extend special thanks to family, friends and neighbors who stayed with them the evening of their son’s death.

“We have been the recipients of countless good deeds, thoughts and wishes from hundreds of people,” the couple wrote.

“We thank each and every one of you.”

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