Satchels of Hope is a nonprofit organization that helps women in transition.

It began when two Maine friends were talking about the difficult transitions in their lives. The conversation evolved into dreams and visions for helping make the way easier for others in similar situations.

Their dream was one of women coming together to support, guide and encourage each other as they created a line of shoulder bags for retail sale.

The women believed each bag could give its maker hope for a better life through increased economic, emotional and social well-being.

Thus Satchels of Hope came to be.

Each satchel is created and constructed by a woman in transition moving toward a state of wholeness. Each bag is unique because it is made of donated fabrics.

Satchels of Hope was founded by friends Hope Buckner of Austin, Texas, (formerly Jeanne Hope Anderson of Winterport) and Jeannie Redmond of Windham.

Orono residents Joan Marks and Maria Baeza are the Maine coordinators of Satchels of Hope. The satchels are sold at The Grasshopper Shop outlets in Bangor, Ampersand in Orono, during the summer at The Village Emporium in Bar Harbor and, most recently, through Down East magazine.

Proceeds from the purchase of each satchel directly benefits “the needs and efforts of these women,” Marks said.

Marks and Baeza are requesting specialty buttons approximately 11/2 inches in diameter that can be attached at the shoulder of each bag.

The buttons make these one-of-a-kind bags even more unique because the buttons are so interesting, “particularly the older ones,” Marks said.

And the donated fabrics are of the highest quality, she added.

“The bags are really beautiful,” she said of the satchels that come in two versions, one for the summer and one for the winter.

And while current proceeds go “to the women in transition who are making the satchels,” Marks said, if the program begins to make a profit, all the profits “will go, directly, to organizations such as Spruce Run that help women in transition.”

If you have old buttons approximately 11/2 inches in diameter that you would be willing to donate to this worthwhile endeavor, mail them to Joan Marks, 96 Harlow St., Suite 1, Bangor 04401, or you can drop them off in the “Button Box” located at Suite 1.

If you would prefer to arrange for pickup of your donated buttons, call Marks at 942-9200.

Most people associate the word “incubator” with medicine.

According to information provided by the Eastern Maine Development Corp., however, “a traditional business incubator is a form of business development in which many small businesses share resources, receive business training, give each other support, network and share ideas to help each business learn and grow into the business it wants to be.”

While it is usual for most member businesses to be located in one space, that is not always possible in our part of the country.

So, several years ago, under the coordination of Debbie Neuman-Metzer of EMDC, five area agencies created the Eastern Maine Incubator Without Walls program, which is available to small-business owners throughout our area.

EMDC, Penquis Community Action Program, Waldo County Committee for Social Action, Coastal Community Action Program and the Washington-Hancock Community Agency invite the public to attend the second annual Eastern Maine Incubator Without Walls Trade Show from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Bangor Civic Center.

With its trade show sponsors, Fleet Bank and The Verizon Foundation, EMIWW invites you to “Shop Maine This Christmas” by attending this free event. You will find everything from candies to candles, and from soap to stitchery.

If you are one of those people especially eager to find Maine-made gifts this holiday season, this is the place!

For information about your local EMIWW program, call Neuman-Metzer at 942-6389 or (800) 339-6389, write EMIWW, EMDC, One Cumberland Place, Suite 300, Bangor 04401, or visit www.bizmaine.com.

I will miss the splendid entrances of Eleanor “Ellie” Higgins of Bangor, who died this week at the age of 88.

In my mind, Ellie was one of Bangor’s truly grand ladies.

Her style, grace and voice bespoke an air of gentility that few can replicate.

It was, quite simply, a pleasure to be in that lady’s company.

Ellie embraced the life of an Easterner – helping keep our area’s traditions and institutions intact – while never forgetting her Western roots and her family’s contribution to its development.

Through her, many of us learned more about Western history, particularly of Arizona and its founding families, than we might otherwise have known.

To her daughters, their families and her dearest friends, I extend my deepest sympathies.

She was a very lovely person. It was a delight to know her.

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