Newport fair to feature items from Third World

Here is an event with something quite different you might want to check out.

Jean Plummer of Plymouth has written that the Holiday Bazaar, sponsored by Peoples United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Nov. 2, at the church in Newport, “will feature merchandise from Ten Thousand Villages.”

According to the flier Plummer provided, Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of the Mennonite Central Committee that “provides vital, fair income to Third World artisans by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America.”

“We do not make a profit on the TTV items,” Plummer explained. “The money goes back to the artisans in economically underdeveloped countries.” Sponsored by the United Methodist Women’s Group of the church, the Holiday Bazaar also offers craft tables, plants, luncheon, a bake sale, attic treasures and a Kid’s Corner.

But the highlight may well be finding the handcrafted gifts and home decor items from 30 Third World countries that include jewelry, toys, musical instruments and holiday decorations.

Certainly this is an unusual holiday event, and one where the profits will not only be put to good use right here at home, but elsewhere, as Ten Thousand Villages provides income that will help pay for food, education, health care or housing in Third World countries.

This year’s annual Country-Western Benefit Show sponsored by Arbutus Grange No. 450 will benefit 68-year-old cancer patient Ronald Smith of Ellsworth.

The show is 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Arbutus Grange Hall on Route 172 in Surry. Donations at the door are $6 for adults with children age 12 and under being admitted free.

The event will include door prizes, a 50-50 drawing and raffles, and refreshments, including John Ellingwood’s famous steamed hot dogs.

That’s the word from Arbutus Grange secretary June Curtis of Surry, who reports that “Ronnie, as he is known to most, is well-known around Ellsworth, where he worked at both the Ellsworth Fire Department and Fortier Electric Co. for 33 years.”

After he retired from those jobs, she added, “he worked another seven years at the Union Trust Bank.”

Music will be provided by yodeling Wade Dow and the Low Key Band. Smith and his wife, Pat, have four children and six grandsons. He has been traveling to Boston for treatment, and will be returning there in December.

If you cannot attend, but would like to help the Smiths, donations can be sent to John Ellingwood Sr., treasurer, Ronald Smith Fund, 103 Loggin Road, Frankfort 04438.

Karen Benson from Amicus in Bangor wrote saying that “we are once again preparing for our annual craft fair” and your help is needed.

Amicus is a nonprofit agency serving the needs of adults with disabilities. The Amicus Craft Fair is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Amicus, 96 Thirteenth St., Bangor. “We welcome the community to join us for this festive occasion,” Benson wrote, as well as welcoming “donations of handmade craft items and small items for our white elephant table.”

She does request, however, that there be no donations of food items. “We will also have a Wish Tree for items that are needed, if people would like to help,” Benson added. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase adaptive equipment to benefit Amicus program participants. If you can help by donating an item, or need more information about Amicus services, call the Multiple Handicap Center at 941-2890.

Former Glenburn resident Henry Megquier will celebrate his 96th birthday on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Megquier has two daughters and two grandchildren. Daughter Reta Shaw of Bangor said her father would enjoy receiving cards from friends old and new for this special day.

Megquier currently resides at Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and he’s the one “always sitting by the door,” Shaw said. “He likes to meet people and talk with them when they come in.”

Alert and interested in all that is going on, a shower of greetings would certainly make this birthday special for him. Cards can be sent to Megquier at BNRC, 103 Texas Avenue, Bangor 04401.

Ken Ferland and Jim Evans wrote recently “to thank the many people for their cooperation” in bringing two World War II planes to Bangor International Airport last month.

The Collings Foundation’s B-17 Flying Fortress and A B-24 Liberator were here for four days to honor American patriotism and courage. Ferland and Evans thank those who helped make the visit possible. They wrote of “the airport management, General Aviation staff, the Air National Guard, Darling’s Rent-a-Car, Enterprise Rental, Econo Lodge, Mike Cornett from the Air Museum, and the Bangor Daily News for such wonderful coverage. “You made two old B-24 veterans proud to see so many people come out to view these planes.”

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