Before I left on vacation, I wrote I would have more information about a couple of coming events I am sure you are interested in, and here is that information.

Anne Gabbianelli O’Reilly of Hampden reports people in her community are working to keep the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program on track and not have it “fall victim to budget cuts or lack of belief,” that it “does make a difference” in the lives of young people.

To help in that two-pronged effort, you are invited to attend the D.A.R.E. Family Affair Spaghetti Supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at the Weatherbee School in Hampden.

O’Reilly emphasizes that “D.A.R.E.’s success depends on family support,” and wants you to know that you can feed your whole family for just $15, or $5 per adult and $2.50 per child.

You can purchase tickets in advance at Schacht’s True Value Hardware in Hampden or at the door Friday night.

O’Reilly also reminds community members that D.A.R.E. funds “have been drastically reduced throughout the area,” and that this local program, “is not funded by the school board” but rather by community fund-raisers.

She is “grateful to have a police department that provides education, and a parent committee that raises the funds to support this education,” as well as the “unending support of our dedicated principal, Dana Folsom.”

The 2002-03 goal of the Hampden D.A.R.E. Parent Committee is to raise $2,000 to purchase books, T-shirts and supplies for the 17-week program, and to help fund “a well-deserved” graduation, in June, “which will be a family celebration,” she wrote.

To date, the committee has raised nearly $500. If you cannot attend the D.A.R.E. Family Affair Spaghetti Supper, you can support the program by mailing donations to Hampden D.A.R.E. Parent Committee, P.O. Box 698, Hampden 04444-0698.

I was very pleased to hear from Ida Page, program director of Robert and Mary’s Place, an adult day care program in Ellsworth.

Through the generosity of the Hancock County Housing Foundation, which donated space for Robert and Mary’s Place at Meadow View housing facility, friends gather there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

However, some of those friends need transportation, and the program was unable to provide it, Page had told me.

So, through this column, she had asked for someone to donate a van for that purpose, and Sandy Sanzaro of Holden most graciously granted that request, Page said.

“We have a van, and it is finally on the road,” Page wrote of the vehicle that went into service Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Sanzaro donated a 1994 Lumina, “and the friends call it their car,” Page added. “It is so much easier [than the truck they had ridden in before] and the friends love it. They do tend to bicker over the front seat, but it is all in fun!”

Linda Gralenski of Pembroke is president of the board of directors for Down East Hospice, which is based in Calais and provides end-of-life services for people in that area.

DEH is host for its “Be Our Valentine” Dinner and Art Auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the American Legion Hall on Calais Avenue in Calais.

Catered by Alyce Butler, The Joyful Trio, featuring cellist Ken Pierce, will provide background music for the event.

Tickets are $20 per person. Reservations must be made before Saturday, Feb. 1, which you can do by calling Gralenski at 726-5837.

You can also receive more information, and preview the artwork, by visiting calaishospital.org and clicking on “Hospice Dinner.”

Gralenski wrote me this is the third such event for DEH, which conducts this particular fund-raiser every other year.

When she wrote me earlier this month, more than a dozen artists had already made commitments to participate, and more were expected.

As you browse and consider your bids, you will be viewing works by Martha Leister, Fred Knapp, Scottie Boyle, Roland LaVallee, Mary Livingstone and Fran McLean.

Also among the contributors will be Jim O’Neal, Donald Sutherland, Sharon Weir, Diana Young, Elizabeth Ostrander, Marie Murphy and Fred Hartman.

Funds raised through “Be Our Valentine” will be used by DEH to assist Washington County individuals and families who are facing terminal illness.

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