Queen City Big Band seeking new members

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Two years ago, under the leadership of Brian Nadeau, the Bangor-based Queen City Big Band was formed.

The community band performs “a variety of music from old standards to more contemporary,” explained band volunteer Dan Francey, who called to report the band is seeking new members.

“We’ve lost a bunch, between health reasons and some going to college,” he said of the group that ranges in age from high school students to retirees.

The band rehearses 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Brewer Middle School, but not each week.

“It’s only about 16 rehearsals a year,” Francey said. “We’re not heavy duty, because we end up performing maybe four or five times a year.”

The band has performed, for example, at the Bangor State Fair and the summer-ending Cascade Park events, “and we do the Summer Delight series on the Bangor waterfront,” Francey added.

The nonprofit band is seeking musicians “who are advance high-school level or even better,” he explained, and will conduct an open rehearsal beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Brewer Middle School.

“If people are interested, and they can’t attend the audition, they can call me, anytime with questions,” Francey said. “We hope some people will come in and keep this thing going for a few more years.”

For more information about the Queen City Big Band, call Francey at 941-8896.

The annual Exeter Historical Society Fall Trash & Treasures Sale and Bake Sale is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Masonic Hall at Exeter Corners Village.

There you will find yard sale items and a variety of baked goods along with postcards, note cards, envelopes and souvenir place mats.

The event benefits the Exeter Historical Society, and its members also will accept your returnable bottles and cans during the sale as a donation to the society.

If you have questions about this event, or how you can help, call Deanna Wetzler, 379-2449, or Stewart Bean, 285-7903.

Janet Henry, president of the Maine Philanthropy Center, invites the public to hear Kresge Foundation President and CEO John E. Marshall III during a program titled “Capital Campaigns and Challenge Grants.”

The workshop is 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at the Augusta Civic Center, and advance registration is necessary because space is limited.

The 78-year-old Kresge Foundation is an independent, private foundation created by the founder of S.S. Kresge Co., now know as Kmart, and is the 20th largest foundation in the country.

Among Maine organizations that are past recipients of Kresge challenge grants are The Nature Conservancy, Jackson Laboratory, Natural Resources Council of Maine and University of Maine at Machias.

For registration information, visit www.megrants.org or call MPC at 780-5039. Additionally, Henry wants you to be aware of two other workshops in our area on “Funding Tools & Resources.”

The first workshop is 2-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle.

Featured speakers include Henry, Karin Anderson of the Maine Women’s Fund; Deb Felder, Maine Initiatives; David Rappaport, Maine Health Access Foundation; and Andrea Perry, Maine Community Foundation.

The second workshop on the same topic is 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the University of Maine in Machias.

It features the same speakers except that Myrna Bouchey of Maine Women’s Fund will replace Anderson.

Registration is required. The workshop is free for MPC members or $15 for nonmembers.

To register, visit www.megrants.org/register.html or call Michelle Fontaine, 780-5039, or mgic@megrants.org.

Eastern Agency on Aging is again offering the AARP 55 Alive Safe Driving Program from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Friday, Sept. 27, at their office at 450 Essex St., Bangor.

The course addresses physical changes that could affect the driving ability of those ages 55 and older.

There will be no driving or written test, and those who complete the course will receive a two-year certificate that may allow for automobile insurance discounts.

The fee is $10, and participation is limited to 25 people age 50 and older.

To register, call Eastern Agency at 941-2865 or (800) 432-7812.

For more information, call Sylvia Smith, 942-4579.

You are invited to spend an afternoon “Hunting and Fishing in Maine” with Dr. Frank P. Gilley of Brewer at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, in the Riverview Room at the Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State St.

The native Mainer, avid outdoorsman, author of “Reflections of Salmon Flies and Gun Powder,” and many young people’s favorite orthodontist will present a slide show and talk covering his outdoor experiences.

For more information about library activities, call 667-6363.

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

990-8288.