Founded in 1992 as a nonprofit, nonsectarian community organization, the Bangor Area Children’s Choirs, under the direction of Michele Hall of Bangor, is composed of the Treble Choir and Youth Chorale.

This year’s auditions should be very exciting, since Hall has reported that the Treble Choir is expanding from 30 to 40 voices.

“Due to that expansion,” she explained, “we have 24 openings … which is 10 to 12 more than any previous years, except our first!”

Individual auditions for the choirs will be 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at All Souls Congregational Church on the corner of State Street and Broadway in Bangor.

Singers who are invited for callbacks will be contacted between 7:30 and 9 p.m. that evening.

Hall explained that BACC auditions are a two-day process.

“Singers who pass an initial, individual audition, must return the next day for a group chorale audition.”

Singers are asked not to prepare any music, since each performs the same audition “to evaluate listening skills, rhythmic ability, pitch and voice quality.”

BACC accepts qualified candidates regardless of race, creed, national origin or religion, and its repertoire often reflects that cultural diversity.

For the Treble Choir, a singer can be no younger than 9 and no older than 16 as of October 1, and must sing in the treble voice range to audition for the choir.

Last year’s BACC membership represented 12 towns and 17 schools in the Greater Bangor area. The yearly tuition, paid by each singer, is $200 for the Treble Choir and $250 for the Youth Chorale.

No child is excluded from membership for financial reasons, however, since tuition scholarships are available.

The goals of BACC are to offer enriching choral experiences and a commitment to challenging choral repertoire for specially talented young people who meet audition requirements.

For further information, including rehearsal and concert attendance requirements and a tentative schedule for the 2002-2003 season, call Hall at 947-2023 or attend the audition.

Want to enter a Scarecrow Contest, have a chance to win a prize, and help a worthy cause?

Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum of Hermon will judge its first Scarecrow Contest on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Your $5 entry fee must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in one of five categories to compete for a number of prizes, including the People’s Choice Award of $50 from Hermon Motors.

After the judging, the scarecrows can be donated to Ecotat for display and sale at Sprague’s Nursery on Union Street in Bangor. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum.

Kathryn McCatherin reports individuals, groups and businesses are welcome to erect a scarecrow to be set up at Ecotat Gardens between 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, or no later than 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

The public is invited to view the creations and vote for their favorite by 4 p.m. Saturday, and all awards will be announced at 5 p.m.

The scarecrows will continue to be available for viewing by the public on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Entry forms, and a list of contest rules, can be obtained at area businesses, at the Bangor Mall, by calling 848-3700, or by visiting www.ecotat.org.

“A Conversation on Research Evening” will be hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Maine Chapter from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at the Black Bear Inn in Orono.

The evening features Dr. Jack Burks, who founded Rocky Mountain MS Center in Englewood, Colo., in 1978. The facility is one of the country’s first comprehensive MS Centers.

Currently, Dr. Burks is medical director of the Washoe Institute for Neurosciences in Reno, Nev. and clinical professor of neurology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

For more information about the event, call the MS Society Bangor Outreach Office at 942-8604.

Congratulations to Crossroads Ministries, which will celebrate 10 years of service during its annual meeting and volunteer recognition ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the Old Town United Methodist Church.

Mary Montville is chairwoman of the board of directors for Crossroads, which serves people in need who reside in and around Old Town, Orono, Alton, Argyle, Greenbush, Greenfield, LaGrange, Bradley, Milford, Cardville, Passadumkeag, Olamon and Hudson.

Volunteer and financial support for the work of Crossroads Ministries is provided by residents of this area, and you are invited to join in celebrating this anniversary with a meal and good fellowship.

If you wish to attend, you are asked to respond by Friday, Sept. 13, by calling 394-4655.

Crossroads provides not only food for those in need, but assistance with job training, transportation, job-specific clothing, parenting and other necessities for those who need help obtaining services available to them.

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