Perhaps, in light of the frequent automobile accidents that all too often claim the lives of our high school students this time of year, it is becoming more painfully obvious than ever before that there is a definite need to offer young people safe opportunities to celebrate life’s joyful occasions.

Brewer High School Project Graduation 2002 needs to raise $15,000 to ensure that this year’s graduating seniors can have a safe and drug-free celebration after their June 2 graduation.

In speaking with BHS Project Graduation committee member Kathy Gray, you can well understand the need to raise enough money to make this event possible.

“There are lots of costs involved,” she said of the amount of money it takes to offer the seniors this opportunity.

The committee, under the leadership of co-chairwomen Teresa Maybury and Bonnie Randall, is working hard to raise enough money so it can rent facilities at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, transport the students to the site and provide them with food, entertainment and prizes.

To help raise some of those much-needed funds, BHS Project Graduation 2002 is holding a business fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in the cafeteria at Brewer High School, 79 Parkway South in Brewer.

Gray told me that representatives of 13 businesses “will be on hand to sell their products and take orders.” Those businesses include Creative Memories, At Home America, Southern Living at Home, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Home and Garden, Discovery Toys and Longaberger Baskets. Also taking part will be representatives for Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Usborne Books, Stampin’ Up, Friendly Flowing Flags and More, and Party Lite Candles.

Gray said BHS Project Graduation benefits from the business fair in that the business representatives “donate a percentage of what they sell to Project Graduation.”

Other BHS Project Graduation 2002 fund-raisers are in the works, and Gray said tickets for the basket bingo, featuring Longaberger baskets, will be available for purchase at the business fair.

That event is planned for Sunday, May 12, and tickets can be ordered by calling 989-4551.

And Gray wants readers to know that only a limited number of basket bingo tickets will be sold, so you better get them while you can!

You also should understand that your participation in these events is appreciated greatly by all who are associated with Brewer High School Project Graduation.

If you are unable to support any of these fund-raising activities by attending them, but wish to help make it possible for graduating Brewer High School seniors to safely celebrate this significant life event, send a check to Brewer High School Project Graduation, BHS, 79 Parkway South, Brewer 04412.

According to chairwoman Reggie Murray, tickets are selling very fast and the show is expected to be a sellout, so if you don’t have your tickets for the first-ever Northern Maine Medical Center variety show, you better get them now.

The NMMC variety show, featuring up to 20 acts, begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Fox Auditorium on the campus of the University of Maine in Fort Kent.

The show promises something for everyone, as performers with a connection to NMMC showcase their talents to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the variety show.

Acts are expected to feature NMMC physicians and nurses as well as traditional and nontraditional musical and dance performances.

Admission to the family-oriented show is $5 for adults and $3 for people under the age of 18.

Tickets can be purchased in the NMMC administration or human resources office or at any other NMMC location including the Madawaska Outpatient Center, Acadia Family Health Center, Long Lake Regional Health Center, Forest Hill Manor and the St. Francis Health Center.

The golfers are out at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, and Pat Martin wants to know if any women are “interested in joining a Women’s Golf League.”

She reports that the Bangor Women’s Golf Club invites anyone interested in weekly play “to come and join us” at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

If you wish more information about this opportunity, call Martin at 990-1514, or the Bangor Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse at 941-0232.

The Belfast Area 2002

“WalkAmerica” to benefit the March of Dimes begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. and the walk at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 28, at the Waldo County YMCA, 157 Lincolnville Ave., Belfast.

Cyndi Dalton is coordinating the event in that area.

She invites individuals or businesses to sponsor a team or walker, buy a mile marker, make a donation or participate in the walk to assist the March of Dimes in its continuing effort to ensure that all babies are born healthy.

If you have questions about how to take part in this fund-raiser for the March of Dimes, call Dalton at 388-4598.

Although limited seating is available and you must make a reservation to attend, you are invited to attend the presentation “A Forest of New Ideas,” offered by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences and Dr. Jerry F. Franklin, a world leader in forest ecosystem research and management.

This event was rescheduled from Sept. 11, 2001, and will be offered at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, at the DeLorme corporate headquarters in Yarmouth.

The event is open to the public for a $10-per-person donation, and reservations can be made by calling (888)-231-3345 or visiting www.manomet.org.

The event is co-sponsored by the Chewonki Foundation; New England Forestry Foundation; College of Natural Sciences, Forestry & Agriculture, University of Maine; Maine Forest Products Council; The Nature Conservancy; Maine Audubon Society; and the National Resources Council of Maine.

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