Community News

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Bangor

Festival of Lights parade

The Bangor Rotary Club will hold its annual Festival of Lights Parade at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade will leave from Bass Park, proceed down Main Street, turn right onto State Street, then onto Exchange Street, where it will disband. Main Street will be closed until about 5:30 p.m. In case of extreme weather, the parade will be moved to Dec. 8.

‘The Nutcracker’

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra and Robinson Ballet Company will offer their 18th annual production of “The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

The production will be led by BSO Conductor Xiao-Lu Li. Long-time Robinson Ballet dancers, Ian Robinson and Rebecca Breau, will perform the leads of Cavalier and Sugar Plum Fairy. Breau’s sister, Sarah, plays the role of Clara and John Warren plays Fritz.

Joining the performance again this year is the Bangor Area Children’s Choir directed by Michele Bremner Hall.

Adult tickets range from $20 to $27. Youth tickets are half price. Senior and group discounts are available. To reserve tickets, call the BSO at 942-5555. Performances have sold out every year for 18 years.

Christmas concert

The Bangor Community Chorus, directed by Ronald Sherwin, will present its 34th Christmas concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St. The concert is free, but donations are accepted.

The program will include traditional and popular Christmas songs. Pianist Naomi Hall, who has been with the group since 1975, will serve as accompanist.

The chorus schedules performances in December and in the late spring, with other performances by request. The group will also perform Christmas music at the 3rd Bangor Creche Exhibit at noon, Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave.

Breakfast with Santa

The Bangor YMCA will hold a Breakfast with Santa 7:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in the upstairs Child Care Center at 127 Hammond St. Guests will enjoy a pancake breakfast and make holiday crafts while visiting with Santa Claus. Cost is $1 per person. For information call 941-2815.

Husson president on board

William Beardsley, president of Husson College, was named chairman of the Finance Authority of Maine’s board of directors at FAME’s annual meeting Nov. 14. Beardsley has served as president of Husson College since 1987. He also has served as vice president of Bangor Hydro, as a member of the governor’s Maine Blue Ribbon Task Force on health care costs and as president of the Maine Higher Education Council.

Extension beef conference

Getting to the Meat of the Matter, the 15th annual beef conference, will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Ramada Inn.

Dr. Brad Morgan of Oklahoma State University will be the keynote speaker. He holds a doctorate in animal science from Texas A&M University. Two beef producers also will make presentations. For information, call Extension educator Dee Potter at (800) 287-1421.

Proclamations

The Bangor City Council issued a Proclamation Nov. 25 citing the efforts of the Student Government Association of the Penobscot Job Corps. Students painted playground equipment at Little City, Fairmount and Stillwater parks. They raked and placed bark mulch at the Hayford Park playground, rebuilt a walk at Cascade Park, cleaned trails along Kenduskeag Stream, painted interior walls as part of the Sawyer Arena reconstruction project and planned, organized and operated children’s games at the Cascade Park celebration.

In another proclamation, the council recognized WBRC Architects/Engineers on their 100th anniversary. The council cited the firm for leaving “an indelible mark on the face of Maine through such diverse projects as Bangor’s Central Fire Station, the renovation of Bangor Savings Bank on State Street, the Bluenose Inn in Bar Harbor, buildings at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor and the Alumni House at the University of Maine.”

A hound for the holidays?

Bangor Humane Society would like pets in its care to receive a home this holiday season and encourages adopting one. Or if adoption is not an option, a donation to the animal shelter would go a long way toward keeping tails wagging and cats purring. For information about adopting a pet, call 942-8902.

Board certified

The National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences announces Wanda Creed of Dover-Foxcroft has completed the national competency examination. Passing the exam grants the hearing health professional the designation, board certified in hearing instrument sciences. Creed is one of only seven certified hearing instrument specialists in Maine. She is employed by Soulas Associates, Penquis Hearing Center, in Bangor.

Maine Elks Association

On Nov. 6, a delegation from the Maine Elks Association and members of several veterans organizations took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Togus VA Medical Center to dedicate a newly donated bus to the facility. The bus can carry up to 22 patients, including nine wheelchair patients.

Elks National President and Grand Exalted Ruler Roger True of Richland, Wash., took part. National dignitaries accompanied True, including Past Grand Exalted Ruler Dr. Leonard Bristol of Saranac Lake, N.Y.; Past Grand Trustee Amos McCallum of Saco; and current Grand Inner Guard Andrew Constantine of Bangor.

Landscape art exhibit

“The American Landscape,” an exhibit of small paintings juried by Carl Little, opens at the Clark House Gallery Dec. 2 and will run until Jan.31.

Little is an art critic and author of nine books, including “Art of the Maine Islands.” He also writes for Art in America and Art New England.

The exhibit features artists from fourteen states and works of varied landscapes from Maine to California, and from Louisiana to the Midwest. The maximum size of each painting is 16 by 20 inches, and many different painting mediums are represented, including oils, acrylics, watercolor, encaustic and gouache.

The opening reception is set for 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. During December, gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Regular hours resume in January. For info, call 942-9162.

Brewer

Financial planning training

Jonathan Solomon of Brewer, a Modern Woodmen of America district representative, has completed a five-day educational program at the fraternal life insurance society’s home office in Rock Island, Ill.

Old Town

Holiday events

The Old Town Recreation Department has scheduled holiday events to make the season merry. Christmas tree lighting ceremonies will be at the New Riverfront Park at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The Old Town High School and Leonard Middle School choral groups will lead the community in singing Christmas carols. Santa Claus will make an appearance.

Wreath making classes will be held at the French Island Community Center 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday and Monday, Dec. 5 and 9. Bring wire cutters and a wreath ring. Fir tips, instructions and decorations are provided. The cost is $5. Space is limited to 10 participants and early registration is advised.

Tea with Santa will be at the French Island Community Center 4:30-5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, for 5-year-olds and younger, and 5:15-6 p.m. for 6- to 8-year-olds. The free party includes time with Santa Claus, hot cocoa, cookies and time to make a holiday craft.

The Kringle Jingle program is back by popular demand. Santa Claus will call children to make sure he has all the final details to everyone’s satisfaction before Christmas Eve. Parents must call the recreation department for an application and return it by Dec. 11. Santa will call participating children Dec. 16-19.

Old Town Housing Authority residents are welcome to participate in the Door Decorating Contest. Participants will decorate their apartment doors following housing authority guidelines. Award categories are: most original, most creative, most colorful, best theme and most holiday spirit. The program is free. Judging will be 9-11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20. Prizes will be provided.

For information, call the Recreation Department at 827-3961 or e-mail otrec@old-town.org.

Orono

Giving tree

The office staff at the Katahdin Area Council Service Center at 90 Kelly Road has set up a “giving tree” to benefit a local food pantry. The public is invited to stop by, choose a gift tag from the tree and buy a gift for someone in need, or drop off a donation. Nonperishable food and personal hygiene items, hats, mittens, scarves and gloves are needed. The deadline is Dec. 19.

Orrington

Book covers for Christmas

The Orrington Public Library will feature “Covers for Christmas,” a special project during the holiday season.

Anyone giving a book as a Christmas gift is invited to bring it to the library during regular hours and staff members will put a free protective plastic cover on books with paper dust jackets. Library hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Dec. 2-19. During that time, the library will conduct a new and nearly new book sale. All books will cost $3. The library is located at 15 School St., off Center Drive. For information, call 825-4938.

Curran Homestead gathering

The Curran Homestead on the Fields Pond Road will hold a regional historical society and museum get together 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15.

Discussion will focus on fund raising, redoing the regional brochure and establishing a regional museum store where local historical societies could sell gifts and display information. A line of 1890s era farm products will be unveiled at the Bangor Mall Dec. 4-5.

Participants are asked to bring a holiday potluck dessert and an 1890s era decoration for the tree. For information, call Brian Higgins at 478-5021.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin