Final preparations are well under way and volunteers are busily scurrying about to bring you and your little ones the wonderfully exciting 26th annual YWCA Bangor-Brewer Spring Fair.

Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center.

Presale tickets for adults and youths are $1 for those who purchase them at the YWCA on Second Street, BookMarc’s or Patrick’s Hallmark in Bangor, or at Ampersand in Orono.

Tickets are $2 for adults and youths at the door, while children under 12 are admitted free of charge.

For your financial planning purposes, however, you also should know ride tickets are 45 cents each or 20 tickets for $8, and you can expect anywhere from two to four tickets will be needed per ride.

You also might want to take advantage of two specials.

From 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, you will receive unlimited rides for $6.

Joining with the YWCA Bangor-Brewer to bring you this long-time spring favorite is sponsoring partner Bangor Savings Bank, with fair sponsors Eastern Maine Medical Center, WLBZ-2, Means Investment, Spectrum Medical Group and the Bangor Daily News.

With this being Palm Sunday weekend and with Easter the next weekend, the Spring Fair Committee chose the Easter Bunny as its theme.

Which is why you are invited to “hop on over” to the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center, where you will be greeted by “Beatrice and Peter Cottontail,” who, we understand, are coming to Bangor “straight from the bunny trail.”

In addition to the carnival rides, gifts, crafts and all kinds of different and delicious foods, the fair is famous for its varied entertainment.

Musicians, dancers and singers will entertain you throughout the fair, but you also can learn about the YWCA French class with Patricia Turcic at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, or YWCA children’s sign language with Mike McDonald at noon that day.

The audience will be invited to participate with Hugh Sadlier in hypno health at 5 p.m. Saturday, or join in with adult tappers at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Radio stations Z107 and 92.9 WEZQ will be broadcasting live from the fair, and even the littlest among us will enjoy a space just for them in the Elephant Room.

If you are new to the area, and want more information about this sure sign of spring that always warms everyone up just when we need it, call the YWCA at 941-2808, or visit its Web site at www.ywcabb.org.

The day is drawing nearer for the Hampden Academy Jazz Ensemble to make its national debut at The Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe during Walt Disney World’s Magic Music Days in April in Orlando, Fla.

You have the opportunity not only to help them financially get there, but help them by offering your encouragement and support as they and their many friends entertain you during the HA Jazz Ensemble “Coffee House” beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Hampden Academy Old Gym.

The event is an evening of eclectic entertainment suitable for all ages. You can pick up tickets at Schact’s True Value Hardware in Hampden, at Molly’s in Winterport, or from any HA jazz band member.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students or senior citizens age 60 and older, or $20 for a family of three or more. There is no charge for youngsters age 5 and younger, and refreshments are included in the cover charge.

In addition to its appearance at Disney World, the band will compete with other jazz bands from throughout the country at MusicFest in Orlando.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to help get the band to Florida, send your contributions to Deborah Dowling, Hampden Academy Music Association, P.O. Box 575, Hampden 04444.

Here is a reminder from the Altrusa Club of Bangor that it has applications for specific educational scholarships.

The Ruth Milan Altrusa Club of Bangor Scholarship is awarded annually to a student enrolled in the Eastern Maine Medical Center-Husson College nursing program.

Administered by the Maine Community Foundation, applications for this scholarship are available at the Husson College financial aid office and the nursing program office.

Altrusa of Bangor offers a $1,000 scholarship to a Maine woman enrolled in a degree-granting program with at least 15 credit hours earned who is attending the University of Maine in Orono, Beal College in Bangor, Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor or the University of Maine-Augusta at Bangor.

Altrusa also awards a $1,000 scholarship to a Maine woman enrolled in a degree-granting program at Husson College.

The Altrusa Scholarship Committee must receive applications for all three scholarships by Tuesday, April 30.

For more information, call Margaret Brown at 825-3178.

On Monday I wrote about the work of the Hodgdon Parent-Teacher Organization to raise funds for a new school playground.

That PTO is working through the Funding Factory of Erie, Pa., collecting used laser cartridges, ink jet cartridges and old cell phones.

An alert caller pointed out one number was missing from the telephone number I gave if you want to call PTO president Julie Chapla to help with this project.

The correct number for Chapla is 532-4041.

If you would rather make a direct donation to the Hodgdon PTO Playground Project, and help reach its $50,000 goal, mail your contribution to SAD 70 Hodgdon PTO, Attn: Julie Chapla, Hodgdon Mill Road, Hodgdon 04730.

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