For 22 years, Evelyn Curtis has been serving residents and students of Carmel, Levant, Etna and Dixmont as secretary to the superintendent of SAD 23 and SAD 38.

Currently residing in Pittsfield, Curtis still commutes to her office despite periodic travelling to undergo treatment for breast cancer at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Just having completed her first round of chemotherapy, Curtis said she is now scheduled to have surgery on Friday, Oct. 5, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

The 42-year-old mother of a teen-age son, Curtis said she is “grateful, at this point, to still be able to come into the office,” because it keeps her mind occupied as she prepares for what lies ahead.

In the meantime, friends and community members are rallying in her support, and Louise Boutot of Carmel has written that the Golden Harvest Grange of Carmel will host a benefit supper for Curtis beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Golden Harvest Grange on Route 2 in Carmel.

Boutot wrote that those hosting the benefit are doing it “to show our support for this wonderful lady.”

The supper “lasts until the food is gone,” Boutot added, and the cost “is on a donation basis.”

Evelyn McKenzie Curtis is originally from Newport, and a 1976 graduate of Nokomis Regional High School.

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this event is an excellent way for local people to not only show their support for one of their favorite community members, but for all women affected by this disease.

If you would like to donate food for the supper, or help in any other way, call Boutot at 848-5339 or Pam Buck at 269-2943.

On behalf of Operation Heartbeat, Diane Galutia of St. Joseph Healthcare invites members of the public to attend a recognition ceremony for those whose efforts have helped raise $80,000 to purchase automated external defibrillators.

The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. today at Bangor Mall’s center court.

Automated external defibrilators assist people suffering from cardiac arrest.

Operation Heartbeat, a nonprofit group of emergency service medical professionals and healthcare professionals and organizations, worked to raise funds to provide the defibrilators for first responder agencies such as fire and police departments.

Forty-four defibrillators will be placed with 27 agencies within a 25-mile radius of Bangor.

Eastern Maine Charities offered a $40,000 grant to begin the fund-raising and Operation Heartbeat raised the remaining $40,000 with private donations from Guidant Foundation, Bangor Noon Lion’s Club, Northeast Cardiology Associates, St. Joseph Healthcare and other organizations.

Expected to participate in the recognition ceremony are city officials and representatives of the American Heart Association and Eastern Maine Charities.

Speaking of heart health, the 11th Heartwise Walk for Life begins with registration at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA in Dover-Foxcroft.

The 3.1-mile noncompetitive walk, which helps support the cardiac rehabilitation program at Mayo Regional Hospital, follows a loop through Dover-Foxcroft, beginning and ending at the YMCA.

Participants who raise $25 or more in pledges receive a T-shirt. Pledge forms are available from Heartwise in the Mayo Medical Office Building.

Last year, 72 walkers raised $10,700, which helped purchase exercise equipment and provide scholarships for Heartwise patients.

For more information about Heartwise programs or the Walk for Life, call Heartwise director Judy Gerrish at 564-4207.

Don’t forget to take part in the Seventh Annual Buddy Walk, with participants gathering at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, in Cascade Park on State Street in Bangor.

On behalf of United Cerebral Palsy of Northeast Maine and the National Down Syndrome Society, Tammy Ewing of Bangor invites you to help promote awareness for people with Down Syndrome.

Ewing reminds participants that “this is not a fundraiser.

“We will be walking for the sole purpose of promoting advocacy and awareness.”

The walk begins at 1 p.m., and the event promises an afternoon of fun activities with family and friends at Cascade Park.

If you have questions about the Buddy Walk, which Ewing hopes will eventually take place in all 50 states, call her at 942-3915, or write her at 3 Poplar St., Bangor 04401.

Barbara Fister of Hampden writes that reservations are now being accepted for a “Battle of the Bands Benefit Dance” planned for 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Elks Club in Old Town.

All proceeds benefit My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit adult day center that offers life-enriching social and recreational activities for people coping with memory loss or confusion.

Sponsored by Back Door Dance Studio, attendees will be offered free jitterbug lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. The event also includes a hula hoop and twist contest.

Tickets are $15 per person or $25 per couple.

Reservations can be made by calling 945-0122 or 843-5638.

Maine First Lady Mary Herman and News 13 WGME anchorwoman Kim Block are honorary chairwomen of the Maine Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk 2001.

The goal of the event, which will be conducted at 15 sites throughout the state on Saturday, Oct. 6, is to raise $300,000 for Maine people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

For information about walking in the event, making a contribution to it or volunteering at any of the walk sites, call (800) 660-2871.

For specific information about walk sites in the NEWS circulation area, call in Augusta, 626-1770; Bangor, 942-7336; Ellsworth, 667-9336; Fort Kent, 834-3915; Presque Isle, 764-3396; Rockland, 594-6800 or Skowhegan, 474-9686.

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