Bangor

One-woman art show

Marilyn Dwelley of China will display 30 of her acrylic paintings in the Bangor Public Library’s lecture hall during November.

Dwelley has been painting professionally for more than 25 years and has won 360 art awards in Maine and New England. She specializes in Maine scenes and wildflowers.

Dwelley paints in a realistic style and uses a tiny brush to paint fine details. She uses many layers of paint to achieve the effect she wants.

An opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 6. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. For info, call 947-8336, Ext. 139.

Prize beans

Larry Smith of Bangor has tied with Mary Jones of Cumberland in a statewide baked beans contest.

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Slow Food Convivium celebrated Oct. 12 at the First Maine Food Festival at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, where the bean entries were tasted and judged.

Wireless towers

U.S. Cellular has recently added wireless towers in Bangor and Hampden.

“The addition of these new wireless towers will noticeably enhance the quality of service we offer our customers,” said Jim Holmes, U.S. Cellular sales director. The towers improve call quality and clarity, he said.

U.S. Cellular has nine towers in Penobscot County.

Governor’s Service Award

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department received a Governor’s Service Award Oct. 16. Under a program developed by Sheriff Edward Reynolds, who died in August, prison inmates performed more than $250,000 worth of community service to nonprofit agencies.

Kat Knaps donation

Dot Demyan and My Cat’s Choice have donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Kat Knaps rugs to Bangor Humane Society to be used for the cats’ care.

Demyan said she makes polar fleece braided rugs while she is caring for the pets at her business, Bed & Breakfast for Cats. The Old Town Animal Orphanage also will receive a donation from My Cat’s Choice.

Kat Knaps rugs are available from My Cat’s Choice, Route 9, Eddington. For information call 843-0729, or visit the Web at www.mycatschoice.com.

White Ribbon Campaign

A Family For ME, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, has initiated its White Ribbon Campaign for Adoption.

A Family For ME will place 211 white ribbons throughout communities in Maine to commemorate November as Adoption Awareness Month. Each ribbon will represent a child in Maine waiting to be adopted.

Community leaders and representatives from A Family For ME will participate in each ribbon placing ceremony. The Bangor ceremony is at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in Bass Park by the Paul Bunyan statue.

In Maine, 211 children of all ages are waiting for adoption. Adoption through the Department of Human Services is free. The adoption process takes about nine months. For information, call A Family For ME, toll free at (877) 505-0545.

Benefit auction

The Bangor YMCA benefit auction will be held 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Bangor Motor Inn and Conference Center on Hogan Road.

The live auction and buffet dinner will be preceded by a silent auction with hors d’oeuvres and raffle prizes. The auction will feature autographed sports memorabilia; round-trip passes on the Downeaster train from Portland to Boston; items donated by Stephen King, such as a limited-edition collector’s version of the author’s “Black House” and a signed author’s proof of “From a Buick 8”; a classic jukebox; ticket packages to University of Maine hockey and basketball games; gift certificates; car services and more.

The auction will raise money to provide Bangor YMCA scholarships and program support. Tickets are $18 and should be purchased before the event at the YMCA, 127 Hammond St., or by calling 941-2815.

Adoption agency reunion

Good Samaritan Agency will hold its 14th annual Adoption Reunion 11 a.m-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at 100 Ridgewood Drive.

Gov. Angus King has proclaimed November to be Adoptive Awareness Month in Maine. The proclamation urges people to celebrate adoption, recognize adoptive families and to focus attention on the many children waiting to be placed in a permanent, loving home with an adoptive family.

Reunion events and discussion groups for families will allow them to get to know one another and to learn about other aspects of adoption. Art projects for children will be offered, a speaker will share information about hair and skin care regimens for African-American children, a magician will perform and there will be story time. For information about the agency’s services, call 942-7211.

Decorated pumpkins

Bangor Mall merchants have put their creative minds to work and have decorated more than 40 pumpkins on display at the center court. Shoppers are invited to vote for their favorite pumpkin or pumpkins. Trick-or-treating at the mall is 5-7 p.m. Halloween night.

Brewer

Basketball league

The Brewer Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for the Middle School Basketball League, open to boys and girls in grades six-eight who are not participating on a school-sponsored basketball team this winter.

Games will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Practices will be held Saturday afternoons. The league features equal playing time for participants in a fun and instructional environment.

Team placements will be held at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Brewer Auditorium for new and returning players. The fee is $20 for Brewer residents, and $25 for nonresidents. For info, call 989-5199.

Winter walkers

Brewer Auditorium is now open for walking. Scheduled walking time is 7-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. There is no fee to use the auditorium for walking.

The Brewer Recreation Department also offers a challenge program for those who would like to register, or are looking for more of an incentive to walk this winter.

Participants will be challenged to walk for 2,500 minutes between Nov. 1 and April 1. Participants will be given daily progress logs and T-shirts. Other awards will be presented as walkers achieve new levels.

Community Wellness Service of Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Brewer Rehab & Living Center will provide blood pressure screenings and wellness information for participants. The fee for the program is $5 for Brewer residents, or $7 for nonresidents. Call 989-5199 for information.

Hampden

Activities program

Always Housing LLC, whose main office in Eddington, has established a new activities program for clients who are funded by the state Bureau of Mental Retardation. Founded in September 1998 with two group homes, the agency has grown to nine homes.

The day activities facility is located at 686 Main Road North in Hampden and is open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The activities program was established because other programs had no space available, or clients didn’t fit into the types of activities offered. The Always Housing activities program is designed to allow clients at all levels of skill to participate. Activities include arts and crafts, an exercise program, bowling and swimming.

Denise Dinsmore serves as the activities program administrator. She is assisted by Keely Lagassey, Sasha Bickford and Lisa McCarty.

Dinsmore has worked as a service provider for mentally retarded people in educational and residential environments. For the last 12 years, she also has operated an adult foster home in Hampden.

Dinsmore’s business partner, Sandra Noble, oversees administration and training for Always Housing staff. Always Housing seeks magazines, puzzles, games, arts and craft supplies, children’s books and greeting cards for its activities program. Items may be dropped off in Hampden, or call 941-0983 to arrange to have items picked up.

Kenduskeag

Haunted house

The annual Halloween haunted house is planned for 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, and 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, at Cole Memorial Field. A children’s show is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. Nov. 2. The cost is $3. For information, call Sandy at 884-7947.

Old Town

Instructional basketball

The Old Town Recreation Department is taking registration forms for the grades two-five instructional basketball league. The seven-week program runs from Sunday, Nov. 9-Dec. 22 at Old Town High School.

Grades two-three will play from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Grades four-five will play from 2:15 to 3:30p.m. The cost of the program is $20 for Old Town residents and $30 for nonresidents. For information, call 827-3961.

Orono

Promotions

University Credit Union has announced the promotion of a member of the senior management team. Matthew J. Walsh, certified public accountant, was recently promoted to senior vice president of finance and technology. He is a graduate of the University of Maine and Husson College with degrees in business management and accounting.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin