Thanks to the stellar efforts of the sponsoring Citizens for Quality Education, residents of Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh still have a chance to dine with, and meet, one of their most famous Hampden Academy graduates, Baltimore Orioles baseball star Mike Bordick.

Citizens for Quality Education will hold Mike Bordick Day on Friday, Nov. 15, with several activities to honor the national record-holding shortstop.

The day’s activities include Bordick addressing assemblies at Hampden Academy, Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden and Wagner Middle School in Winterport; lunching with Leroy H. Smith Elementary School pupils in Winterport and finally the Mike Bordick Celebration banquet and dance.

And while the original plans of CQE were to limit the attendance at the banquet to 500, I have been told that number has been expanded to 750, with 200 seats remaining as of Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Since time does not permit reservations by mail, interested residents and students of Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh can fill out a reservation form and make payment, by check or money order, no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at Schacht’s in Hampden, Winterport Pizza or Dysart’s in Newburgh.

A spaghetti dinner will be served to tritown residents at 6 p.m. at the Hampden Academy gymnasium.

The cost of the dinner is $6 for adults, $3 for students, $20 for a family of more than four and $5 for seniors.

More information can be obtained by calling CQE at 223-5255.

The tribute to Bordick, who grew up in Winterport and graduated from Hampden Academy in 1983, includes a dance with the Hampden Academy Jazz Band and Brian Catell & Jump City Jazz.

Now with 100 members, CQE was formed earlier this year to help develop short- and long-term goals and programs to enhance SAD 22 students’ curriculum, character development, performing and fine arts skills, as well as athletics and recreation.

What wonderful information came in the mail from Ellie Bertolaccini of Orrington.

She wrote that “the Brewer Community Service Council is an ecumenical group that has been in existence since 1926. Every year, we prepare Thanksgiving baskets for people in the Greater Brewer area who meet the criteria of need.”

Anyone interested in receiving a basket should call 843-7494 by Friday, Nov. 15.

The historic Friends Church Museum will be the site of a very special musical performance, “From Abolition to Freedom,” featuring singer-composer-actor Charles Kennedy Jr., at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the church on Route 1A in Fort Fairfield.

Kennedy will appear in costume, acting the role of Hamilton Waters.

Born a slave, Waters secured his freedom, married and moved to Erie, Pa., where he was a founder of St. James Church and an active abolitionist who worked on the Underground Railroad, of which Friends Church was the last Maine station.

Through song and drama, Kennedy will provide insights into the period of the Underground Railroad, celebrating the lives of ordinary Americans as well as more notables such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

The public is invited to attend.

There is no admission, but a freewill offering will be graciously accepted.

Sylvia Noyes and members of the United Methodist Women of the Franklin United Methodist Church invite you to a Christmas Tea and Sale at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the church in Franklin.

The sale features home-baked food and Christmas items including decorations to gifts.

Proceeds help with church insurance and operating costs as well as its mission obligation.

The good citizens of Otis are, once again, coming to the aid of one of their own.

Rick Roy, 54, “has been out of work a couple of months” while receiving medical care “at the West Roxbury, Mass., VA Hospital,” explained Joyce Wasson.

And although he has now returned home, he is suffering from major heart problems.

“Only one vessel in his heart is working,” Wasson said.

Community members will hold a potluck supper for Roy beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Beech Hill School in Otis.

Admission is by donation, and you are asked to bring a covered dish to share.

“Everything else will be provided,” Wasson said.

She told me Roy is very well known in this part of eastern Maine through his work in the construction field.

Wasson is personally familiar with generosity of the residents of her town, who were there for her when she needed them so, for this community effort, she said, “I’m going to get brave and raffle off one of my paintings!”

Relatively new to this avocation, Wasson works in watercolors, oils and acrylics.

If you are unable to attend the fund-raiser but want to help Roy, Wasson said you can make out a check, in his name, and mail it to the Otis Town Office, RR 4, Box 167AA, Otis 04605.

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