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Alton

Poker run

LA Sledders and Bradford Snow Blazers will sponsor the Two Club Poker Run 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Sign-up will be held at the LA Sledders clubhouse in Alton or the Bradford Town Hall. Activities include a silent auction, oil raffle, door prizes. Food will be available in Walter’s Kitchen at the Alton clubhouse. For information, call 394-2981.

Bangor

Grieving children program

The spring session of Hospice of Eastern Maine’s program, Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children, will meet 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 24-April 28 at Bangor Christian Schools.

Every year approximately one-third of the children in an average classroom experience some form of loss. Research suggests that the death of a parent may be the most traumatic single event to affect the well-being and health of the developing child.

Unresolved childhood grief can prompt misbehavior, poor school patterns, foster juvenile dependency and severely affect adult relationships. Thanks, in part, to a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network and United Way of Eastern Maine, Hospice of Eastern Maine is able to provide special bereavement support geared specifically for children and teens ages 3-18.

Founded by Maria Brountas and the late Barbara Eames, Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children provides a 10-week grief support group for children and families or caregivers experiencing the death of a loved one. Adults who accompany children meet in their own group.

Interested families are asked to arrange an interview with program coordinator, Deena Weinstein at 973-8269.

Facilitators are volunteers trained by Hospice of Eastern Maine. Current facilitators and those who want to be trained as a facilitator are asked to come to Hospice of Eastern Maine 2-4 p.m. Jan. 15 or 17. Training for new volunteers begins Jan. 27. For information, call 973-8269.

Program rescheduled

The Bangor Public Library has rescheduled the Bangor Reads! program with Zip Kellogg for 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in the lecture hall.

Kellogg, a University of Southern Maine librarian, Kenduskeag Stream canoeist and author, will share thoughts, slides and stories of Henry David Thoreau and the Maine woods, then and now.

For information, call 947-8336, Ext. 139.

Dance auditions

The Robinson Ballet Company will hold auditions for its Spring Concert for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12 and up at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at River City Dance Center. For information, call 947-0366, Ext. 451.

Exits, fire escapes

The Bangor Fire Department reminds all homeowners, apartment owners and businesses to clear all exits and fire escapes of snow and ice after snowstorms.

Fire codes in Maine dictate that all exits and fire escapes must be kept clear in order to prevent injury should a fire occur. For information, call 942-6335.

Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration

The Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine and the Bangor Theological Seminary will co-sponsor a Martin Luther King Jr. birthday commemoration 3-7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Bangor Theological Seminary, 300 Union St.

The commemoration, which is free and open to the public, will include a welcome by the Rev. Dr. William Imes, president of the seminary. His talk will be followed by a video, “At the River I Stand,” about the 1968 strike by black sanitation workers and how they gained support from unions and leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. Professor Douglas Allen will speak on “How Would Martin Luther King Jr. View the War on Terrorism?”

A discussion and potluck supper will follow the presentations. Tickets will sold to the NAACP annual Martin Luther King Breakfast, set for 8:30-10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan.20, at Wells Commons at the University of Maine, Orono.

For information about the commemoration, call 942-9343; about the breakfast, 827-4493.

Brewer

Underground Railroad

Actress Melissa Thibodeaux of Houston, Texas, will portray Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Brewer Auditorium. The event kicks off the Brewer Historical Society’s campaign to place a statue of Harriet Tubman in Brewer’s Chamberlain Park, located on the corner of State and North Main streets. Tubman helped slaves flee to freedom in the north in the 1860s.

For information, call Brian Higgins, executive director of Brewer Historical Society, at 478-5021.

Carmel

Town manager contract

Town selectmen extended the contract of the town manager last week and approved the nomination of a fire chief.

The selectmen continued for another year the contract of Thomas Richmond, who has been the town manager since 1999. The selectmen approved the recommendation of the Fire Department to have Joseph Pelletier as its fire chief.

Eddington

Super Bowl subs

The Eddington Fire Auxiliary will hold its Super Bowl Sub Sandwich fund-raiser Jan. 26 at the Eddington Fire Station. At a cost of $4 each the subs are foot-long with choice of ham or salami. Subs may be picked up at the Eddington fire station from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, Jan. 26.

Orders must be placed by Jan. 22. Delivery may be arranged locally. Profits go toward helping firefighters purchase pieces of equipment. To obtain information or to place an order, call Stephanie at 843-7388.

Town hall photos

The Eddington Historical Society will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Eddington Bend United Methodist Church. The society seeks photos of the old town hall, which was located on what is now Hill Street. Attendees are reminded to bring old photos of Eddington.

Hampden

Items for prizes

Always Housing LLC, a day program for special needs adults, is seeking items that may be used as prizes for weekly bingo games. Items may be dropped off at 686 Main Road North or call to arrange to have them picked up.

Always Housings also seeks a Girl Scout or Brownie Troop to help out with projects. For information, call 941-0983.

Poker run

Snowmobile clubs in Carmel, Glenburn, Hampden, Hermon and Levant are sponsoring the fourth annual 5 Club Poker Run Saturday Jan. 18. Check-in time is 8-11 a.m. at any one of the five clubs. The event will benefit the Pine Tree Children’s Camp, which will receive 100 percent of the net proceeds.

Each club will offer breakfast, lunch or supper. The run may be made by snowmobile or by vehicle. For information, call Bill Hall at 862-2062.

Nomination papers

Nomination papers to fill a vacated seat on the Hampden Town Council are now available. A special election will be held Feb. 11.

William Gamble was elected to the council in November, but the council learned recently that he will not be able to fulfill his duties on the council for health reasons. Nomination papers with the required signatures are due Jan. 24.

Holden

Snowmobile Safety Week

As part of the events for International Snowmobile Safety Week, the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club, Levenseller Road, will hold a snowmobile safety presentation 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, free to the public. Activities include a snowmobile trail safety check, demonstrations of signs used for safety and videos about safety.

Snowmobile owners, operators and riders of all ages are encouraged to attend. The clubhouse is accessible by car or snowmobile. For information, call 989-6472.

Milford

Preschool screening

A free developmental screening for all area 3- and 4-year-old children, and for all 5-year-olds not yet eligible for kindergarten in Union 90 towns – Milford, Bradley, Alton, Olamon, Costigan, Greenfield and Greenbush – will be held 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Jan 30, at the Lewis S. Libby Elementary School, 8 County Road, Milford. To make an appointment, call 947-8493, Ext. 10 or 17.

Orono

Starting Over support group

Starting Over, a support group for those who have experienced divorce, separation or the death of a loved one, meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Orono United Methodist Church on Oak Street.

Topics include loneliness, depression, self-esteem, building new relationships and other issues. The nondenominational group is not a dating service or counseling center, one member explained, but rather “people who have suffered the same losses, and our experiences may give others hope and direction.”

In addition to meetings, there are social activities such as dancing, movies, theater, dinner out or potluck meals at members’ homes. Members also have done cross-country skiing, white-water rafting, ocean kayaking, horseback riding, hiking and biking.

An open meeting will be held Jan. 22, while the Jan. 29 topic will be “Four Essential Elements Every Relationship Needs Daily to Succeed and Grow.” For information, call 866-4605 or 723-3118.

Orrington

Winter carnival, sleigh rally

The Curran Homestead will hold a turn-of-the-century winter carnival, Fields Pond family ice fishing derby and the third annual Currier & Ives Sleigh Rally on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The festivities will include snow sculpting, sleigh rides, food and live music.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin