Play ball! That happy cry can be heard throughout the area next month as youngsters doff their winter hats in exchange for spring caps and an opportunity to play the all-American sport of baseball.

Today, unlike years ago, girls get to play along with boys in Little League programs throughout the country.

Much closer to home, children who are physically or mentally challenged also have a chance to play, thanks to the Glenburn Little League Challenger Division.

Inaugurated nationally in 1988, the LL Web site describes the Challenger Division as one “designed to give all children 5 to 18 years old a chance to play, regardless of limitations.”

On behalf of the Glenburn Little League Challenger Division, Tracey Allen invites children with physical and developmental disabilities, who aren’t able to participate on a regular team, to become part of this wonderful program, now in its third season.

“We have the equipment for the kids,” she said, “and it’s set up just like regular Little League, other than the fact the children have disabilities.

“When the children are playing, parents usually come, brothers and sisters will play, and the parents always stay and help us out,” Allen said. “It’s all very informal. We have no umpires at this point. Basically, we have one team of children and all the ages play on it. The kids just have a really great time. We have kids who are autistic, kids who have Down syndrome, kids with walkers. We have lots of different things going on with kids of lots of different ages.”

Registration for the Glenburn LL Challenger Division is 6 p.m. Monday, March 18, at the Glenburn School, 991 Hudson Road in Glenburn.

The registration fee is $15 per person and birth certificates must be presented at the time of registration.

It is essential to understand three facts, however.

First: Any child unable to meet the $15 fee can obtain a scholarship to play ball.

“If money is a problem, we will make sure the child plays,” Allen said.

Second: This league is open to any child in the area.

You do not need to be a resident of Glenburn or attend Glenburn schools to participate. The league welcomes baseball players from any city or town.

Third: If you and your family are unable to attend the registration on Monday night, you may register by calling 942-8758, which is the Allens’ business phone.

“It’s really a fun time,” Allen said, “and we have a wonderful coach, Dennis Morrisey.”

She said the season begins with Opening Day activities on Saturday, April 27. “We have a big parade that day, team photos, and lots of fun,” Allen said.

The Allen family business, Allenfarm Fence Co. of Bangor, sponsors the team and for the Opening Day parade, provides a truck on which the team can ride.

“It was really neat last year to see how the kids improved at the end of the season,” Allen said. “They played in an exhibition game and some went from hitting off the tee to being pitched to. It was so nice.”

The league “adapts for whatever the situation,” she explained, “so if they need to use the hitting tee they use it.”

While Allen encourages all families of children with special needs to become part of this program, she also encourages people in other areas to start their own LL Challenger Division programs.

“It would be great to have other teams to play against,” she said.

“I’d love to see this program expand, because there are so many kids around who need this type of thing.”

For those who might be interested in what Little League has to offer youngsters with special needs, Allen suggests you visit its Web site at www.littleleauge.org/divisions/chall.htm.

But, in the meantime, anyone interested in becoming part of this organization is more than welcome to do so.

Remember that registration is Monday night and Opening Day is not that far away!

Once again Meals for Me, which is sponsored by Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor, is participating in the Feinstein Foundation Challenge.

Since 1998, Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein, has pledged through his foundation to match up to $1 million in donations made to food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the country during a specific time period.

Donations for this year’s challenge to participating organizations must be dated between Friday, March 1, and Tuesday, April 30, to be eligible for the matching program.

Organizations receive a matching amount of money raised during that time.

Meals for Me provides 200,000 hot meals each year to individuals age 60 and over through home delivery and dining room sites in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties.

To help Meals for Me benefit as much as possible from this challenge, donations may be sent to Meals for Me, 450 Essex St., Bangor 04401.

If you have questions about this program, call Carol Higgins at 941-2865 or (800) 432-7812.

Here is a notice sent to us by Mary Quinn of North Weymouth, Mass., which might be of interest to some very special women in our circulation area.

Quinn writes that The Army Nurse Corps Association is holding its 13th Biennial Convention May 24-26 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston.

More information on this event, or the organization, may be obtained by calling Quinn at (781) 337-7419 or writing Mary Quinn, ANCA, P.O. Box 569, Grafton, Mass., 01519.

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