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Bangor

Two friars from Bangor, Brother Don and Brother Kenneth, will be making a return trip to Isla Mujeres, a Mexican island off the coast of the Yucatan.

Through Jan. 6 the men are collecting medical supplies for the American Red Cross clinic on the island and school supplies for the Little Yellow Schoolhouse, a school for children with special needs. They will leave Bangor on Jan. 6 and will return Jan. 27.

For information about assisting the people of Isla Mujeres, visit the Friars’ Bakehouse Wednesday through Saturday at 21 Central St., or call 947-3770 on those days. On Mondays and Tuesdays call 989-5814. Those interested in sending checks may make them payable to the Friars Bakehouse, with a “Mexico” notation, and send them to 21 Central St., Bangor, 04401.

Husson Business Breakfast

The next Husson Business Breakfast, “The Little Engine That Could,” will be held at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Dickerman Dining Commons, Husson College.

Toni Casey, director of intergovernmental affairs for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will speak at the breakfast. She will discuss how important small businesses are to economic development and promote new strategies the Small Business Administration has for helping small businesses.

The cost is $6 and reservations are required. To obtain information or to make a reservation, call 973-1036.

‘Peace Bus’ deadline

The deadline for reservations on several “Peace Buses” from Maine for the Jan. 18 National March in Washington, D.C., to say “No War on Iraq” has been extended until Jan. 8.

Peace Action is coordinating buses from Portland (call 772-0680), and the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine (942-9343) is coordinating a bus from Bangor. The cost is $70, but some scholarship money may be available.

The Bangor bus will leave from Bangor Theological Seminary at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, arriving in Washington, D.C., Saturday morning and leaving that evening to return to Bangor Sunday morning, Jan. 19.

For information, check www.InternationalANSWER.org; or www.VoteNoWar.org.

South Pole

Ever wonder what it would be like to explore the South Pole? Find out 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Maine Discovery Museum when staff will help visitors talk directly, via satellite phone, to the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition team, on expedition at the South Pole

Museum visitors will be able to ask the team questions and hear about the research they are doing.

The museum will have on hand the videotape of last year’s expedition and will show some of the gear used for surviving the harsh conditions at the southernmost place on Earth.

The event is free with museum admission. For in formation, call 262-7200.

Merger

Miriam Miller Black announced that the marketing firm she founded seven years ago, The Blackwell Group in Benton, will join forces with Wentworth Associates, a Bangor business management firm led by Dr. James Kenney.

The formation of the new company, The Blackwell-Wentworth Group, is expected to be complete early in 2003.

Existing offices in Bangor and Benton will be used to serve businesses and nonprofit organizations in central Maine.

Learn to Skate

Bangor Parks and Recreation will once again offer a session of Learn to Skate at Sawyer Arena. The program will run 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 5 to Feb. 9, under the direction of Katherine Perry.

The program is for beginner skaters of all types, ages 4 and older. The fee is $60 for Bangor residents, $65 for nonresidents. Each session includes a half-hour of instruction and a half-hour of supervised free skating.

Registrations are being accepted at Sawyer Arena on 13th Street. For information, call the arena at 947-0071.

Carmel

Thermal imaging camera

A raffle held earlier this year has helped pay for a thermal imaging camera for Carmel firefighters, while sending a Pittsfield man to the Caribbean.

Considered an invaluable tool for fire departments, the thermal imaging camera allows firefighters to see hot spots behind walls, ceilings and other places where fire or smoldering flames might not at first be located. It can also help find people inside buildings darkened by smoke.

But they come at a high price for many communities. Food sales and other fund-raisers had gone a long way to cover the $18,000 price tag for the camera, but until recently the fire department was a little short.

In stepped Richard and Brenda Arnold, who operate a travel agency specializing in cruises. They raffled off a seven-day cruise to the eastern Caribbean and at $5 a ticket raised $3,300 to top off the cost for the camera. William Holmes of Pittsfield was the winner of the cruise.

Hampden

Ski, snowboard lessons

The Hampden Recreation Department, in conjunction with Hermon Mountain Ski Area, is offering ski and snowboard lessons for children in grades one to 12 for four weeks beginning Feb. 10. The program is open to residents and nonresidents. Registration deadline is Jan. 27. For information, call 862-6451.

Hermon

Town office schedule change

The town offices will be closed to the public Jan. 6-7 as part of a state training program for the computerized motor vehicle registration system.

Because the town recently switched to a new computer operating system town officials are required to be retrained in the motor vehicles registration operations and the state needs to retest the system in place at the town offices, Hermon officials said. Town manager Clint Deschene said that residents needing to do town business should plan ahead and do their business in the week before the town offices are to be closed.

Old Town

Auction to benefit accident victims

The families of four high school seniors recently involved in motor vehicle accidents will share the proceeds of a benefit auction to be held Jan. 25 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Gilman Falls Avenue. Organizers Evey Niles and Norman Russell are requesting donations from community members and area businesses. Niles said the auction is a way for the community to show its concern and support for the families of Stephen Gomm, Gabriel Wood, Nathan Gates and Sean Kinch.

Niles said she’ll be calling on businesses soon to solicit merchandise, services and gift certificates. Area residents are encouraged to donate furniture, sporting goods, tools, dishware, services, food and other saleable items. Cash donations will also be accepted and deposited into an account at Bangor Savings Bank. All proceeds will be divided evenly between the four families to be used for whatever they choose.

Schoolmates of the four boys will pick up donated items and help with the work of the auction. Lakeview Auctions will donate on-site storage, and Russell, who runs a local bingo game, will be the auctioneer. For more information or to volunteer or make a donation, call Evey Niles at 827-4614 or Norman Russell at 827-5032.

Orono

Credit union promotions

University Credit Union has announced the promotions of two of its senior management team. Matthew J. Walsh, certified professional accountant, recently was promoted to senior vice president for finance and technology. He is a graduate of the University of Maine and Husson College with degrees in business management and accounting. Walsh has been with the credit union since 1997.

Joseph R. Gervais recently was promoted to senior vice president for the southern division. Gervais has been employed by the credit union’s Portland office since March 2000 and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College. He also serves as a liaison between the University of Southern Maine Alumni Association and USM Corporate Partners. In addition to his position at UCU, Gervais is the president and CEO of Primary Mortgage Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of University Credit Union.

Firefighter training

Firefighter Scott Luciano on Dec. 20 completed the National Fire Academy’s Challeges for Local Training Officers course in Emmitsburg, Md. The course is designed to give students the skills to coordinate training in a small local fire-emergency medical services organization. A training function in a smaller department typically may include conducting training drills and coordinating training with a nearby larger city or state training function.

Through programs offered by the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy and the Emergency Management Institute, the Federal Emergency Management Agency promotes the professional development of emergency professionals in the United States. FEMA’s training goals are to enhance the capability at the community level, and to better prepare for emergencies by improving technical competence and public policy perspective of key emergency managers and staff.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin