Old Hermon Schoolhouse No. 5 celebrates 150th

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Several community groups, individuals and organizations have joined together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Old Hermon Schoolhouse No. 5, with activities beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in Hermon.

Events take place at the sponsoring Hermon Historical Society, which is located in the schoolhouse, on Billings Road at Hermon Corner, and Hermon Middle School, “all right in sight of each other, ” reports historical society vice president Rosanne Gray.

The day kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m. from Hermon High School to the middle school, and an open house at the historical society.

At the open house, you will find pies, commemorative bookmarks and tote bags for sale. The tote bags have a 150th logo of the society, Gray said.

You can also take a chance on a montage of Hermon, commissioned several years ago by the the historical society, which will be auctioned later in the day.

“We will be having a bounce house, a yard sale, bake sale and other foods,” Gray said. “You can have your blood pressures taken, and tests will be done for diabetes.”

A public supper is planned for 5-7 p.m. in the Middle School gymnasium, and an auction begins at 7:15 p.m.

“People might also be interested in attending the Scarecrow Contest from 10 a.m. to noon at Ecotat Gardens,” Gray added of the variety of events taking place in Hermon that day.

“We’ve got a great group, and we are going to try and make things happen” that will delight all who attend, Gray said of those who “are combining to help us celebrate our special year.”

Other organizations and groups taking part in the celebration are the Hermon Fire Department, the Hermon Rescue Squad, Hermon High School Boosters Club, Hermon Key Club and Hermon eighth-graders.

Anyone with questions about this special day is urged to call Gray at 848-3862.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Evangeline,” will be read at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, in the Eastport Arts Center.

Organized by Jonathan Sisson, admission to the reading is free, but donations to benefit the center will be graciously accepted.

The audience is invited to read, or just listen to Longfellow’s tragic tale of Evangeline and Gabriel, who were betrothed then separated in 1755 during the British expulsion of the French Acadians from their farms on the Bay of Fundy.

For more information about this event, or the EAC, call Sisson at 853-4574.

Walkers are encouraged to call and pre-register for the Presque Isle JDRF Walk, which begins at 10 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 22, at Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle.

The event is sponsored by the Maine Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

According to information provided by Patrick and Karen Farrell, the JDRF is the world’s leading, nonprofit, nongovernmental funding source for diabetes research.

Founded in 1970 by parents of children with juvenile diabetes, it has reportedly since its inception provided more than $600 million for diabetes research worldwide.

Approximately one million people have juvenile diabetes, which is also known as Type 1 diabetes. The disease requires daily insulin through a pump or injections and, while that medication supports life, it is not a cure for the disease.

The Presque Isle walk is 3 miles, and walkers are encouraged to call Karen Farrell at 325-8977 to register and receive their Walker Sponsor forms.

If you are unable to participate, but would like to make a donation, Farrell can arrange for that as well.

Nelson Durgin of Bangor is chairman of a public auction that includes a silent auction at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and a live auction at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Penobscot Job Corps Center on Union Street.

The event, which benefits Hammond Street Congregational Church, also features musical entertainment.

Admission is $15 per person, and tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at the church office.

Hammond Street Congregational Church is located on the corner of Hammond and High streets, and the church office is located at 28 High St.

For more information, call the church office at 942-4381.

Kim Taylor reports from the Muscular Dystrophy Association office in Portland that the first Great Walk to Benefit the MDA begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, rain or shine, at Chapin Park on Forest Avenue in Bangor.

Open to people of all ages, registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m.

To register, or be a team captain, call the MDA at 878-3749.

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