One year ago, Doris Seger of The River Coalition contacted me about “Welcome Baby Boxes” that were being made for newborn babies whose families live in the area served by that organization.

Working with two youth groups sponsored by the Old Town Public Library, Girls Talk and the Chin Wag Society, the boxes were made for the newest residents of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Indian Island, Milford and Old Town.

Seger has contacted me again to inform our readers that this year the two groups, “along with their adult mentors,” are continuing to prepare and distribute the baby boxes.

But, now, they’ve expanded their project “to include a gift box for 6-month-old babies and another gift box” for when the child reaches the age of 1.

On behalf of the River Coalition and the two library youth groups, Seger has registered the project with Make A Difference Day 2002.

Sponsored by USA Weekend magazine, Saturday, Oct. 26 will be the 12th Make A Difference Day.

“Last year, in the April 19-31 USA Weekend magazine,” Seger wrote, “our participants were recognized as Local Heroes through the Bangor Daily News.”

To help make this now-expanded project a success, the baby-box makers need your help with contributions to fill those gift boxes.

Donations of “baby quilts, baby blankets, bibs, board books, bottles, baby lotion and wash, or any new baby items” can be delivered to the Old Town Public Library on Brunswick Street.

Additionally, anyone who would like to volunteer with this project is welcome to participate.

For more information about this special Make a Difference Day event, call Seger at 827-2829 or the library at 827-4542.

Gene Staffiere, Northern Maine drector of the March of Dimes, reminds readers that October is paper pumpkin month for the March of Dimes.

Shaw’s Supermarkets throughout Maine are selling paper pumpkins at their checkout registers now through Saturday, Nov. 2.

A $1 donation will be accepted for each paper pumpkin, and the money raised will be used by the March of Dimes to fund research to help find the causes of premature birth and birth defects.

The 17th Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Program Maryann Hartman Awards for 2002-2003 will be presented to Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell, Valerie Osborne and Jean Symonds during ceremonies from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, on the second floor of Wells Conference Center at the University of Maine in Orono.

The facility is handicapped-accessible.

Mitchell will be recognized for her political leadership in the legislature and beyond; Osborne for her innovative library work and advocacy for girls; and Symonds for her leadership ranging from women’s health issues to the Maine lobstering community.

The recipient of the second Young Women’s Social Justice Award is Alicia McConkey, a 2002 graduate of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris.

If you would like information about attending this event, e-ail Mazie.Hough@umit.Maine.edu or call the Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Program office at 581-1228.

Martha Tod Dudman of Northeast Harbor is chairwoman of the Charitable Giving Committee of the Rotary Club of Bangor, and she has some important information for representatives of local nonprofits and those working on community projects who are seeking funding sources for their activities.

Dudman wrote that the “Noontime Rotary Club is currently accepting requests for funding for specific projects, particularly those that will benefit youth and children in the Bangor area.”

Dudman reported that “last year, we donated nearly $30,000” to such organizations and projects “including $5,000 to Acadia Hospital” for its Challenge Day event, and “$11,751 to the Challenger Learning Center of Maine.”

The deadline for applications for the Rotary grants is Wednesday, Nov. 20.

“In addition, we consider smaller amounts, in the $100-$500 range, through March 15, 2003,” Dudman added.

Requests should be in writing and include a brief description of the project and how it will benefit children of our community, she concluded.

Application can be made by writing Charitable Giving Committee, c/o Rotary Club of Bangor, Maine, Box 2787, Bangor 04402-2787.

President Betsy Chapman and members of the Hampden Business Association invite you to attend a “Hot Topics” forum with your elected officials from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, in the community room in the new addition of the Hampden Municipal Building on Western Avenue

Refreshments will be served and, because some officials are able to participate only one hour, the session will start promptly at 8 a.m.

The forum is designed for causal discussion about suggestions and concerns of businesses in Hampden. For more information, call Chapman at 944-3264.

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