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Bangor

Candlelight vigil

A community candlelight vigil to remember victims of domestic violence will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Grace United Methodist Church. The Clothesline Project, a display of T-shirts created by women affected by domestic abuse, will be displayed.

The community vigil has been offered yearly in collaboration with Spruce Run, the Domestic Abuse Task Force, Grace United Methodist Church and the First Congregational Church, UCC, Brewer. During the vigil, members of the community reflect on those who experience abuse every day and are encouraged to work toward a climate of intolerance for violence in the community.

Don Winslow, chief of police in Bangor, and a task force member, said of the vigil, “It is important that individuals come together as a community to speak out against domestic abuse and offer a sign of encouragement to its victims.”

Information about Spruce Run, the domestic violence project in Bangor, will be available at the vigil. Spruce Run’s 24-hour hot line, (800) 863-9909, is available to anyone affected by domestic abuse. Volunteers will help the caller talk about the situation and explore options.

Boston Flower Show trip

The Bangor Garden Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Boston Flower Show Tuesday, March 18. The flower show theme this year is “The Garden Journey.”

Tickets cost $60 and include the cost of the bus trip and admission to the show. Meals are not included. Checks should be made payable to the Bangor Garden Club. No refunds will be made after Feb. 15.

The bus will leave the Broadway Shopping Center at 6:30 a.m. and return at approximately 9 p.m.

The trip is a fund-raiser for the Bangor Garden Club, which supports civic projects such as plantings at Bangor Public Library, the patio garden at Bangor City Nursing Facility and Bangor Mental Health Institute’s Circle of Senses.

To make a reservation, call Marion Syversen during business hours at 862-2952.

Symphony auditions

Auditions for the following positions in the Bangor Symphony Orchestra will be held Sunday, March 2, at Bangor High School:

. Principal second violin,

. Principal viola.

. First violin section, seats 3, 4, 7,

. Second violin section, seat 10;

. Cello section, seats 2, 3, 8;

. Bass section, seat 3;

. Trombone 3;

. Substitutes for all sections.

For audition requirements and information, call Scott Burditt, orchestra manager, at 862-2722, or e-mail sburditt@adelphia.net.

Wabanaki history

The sounds of drumming and ancient songs will be heard during a program for seniors at University College of Bangor’s Student Center 9 a.m.-noon Friday, Jan. 31, when John Bear Mitchell of the Penobscot Nation will give a program on Wabanaki history, language, song, dance and stories. The event is sponsored by Penobscot Valley Senior College, 105 Texas Ave., and is free to members of the college, prospective members and their friends.

Mitchell said his overview of Wabanaki history will focus on linking the past to the present.

The Penobscot Valley Senior College will offer a slate of 10 classes Fridays, March 7-April 11. PVSC will hold an open house 2-3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Jenness Hall on the UMaine campus. To obtain information, call 581-1947.

Boating safety classes

Boaters and prospective boaters are invited to attend the United States Power Squadrons boating course 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5-March 26, at Bangor High School. The course will provide information for all boaters, including inboard, outboard, sail and personal watercraft.

Attendees will learn boat handling, safety, seamanship, equipment, “rules of the road,” lines and knots, charts and aids to navigation, engine troubleshooting and boat trailering.

The boating course instruction is free, but there is a $30 charge for the manual and a $15 fee for dividers and plotters. Materials are for sale at the first class. To obtain information or to register for the course, call Bangor Adult Education at 941-6310.

Classes also will be held:

. Feb. 26-April 9 at Bucksport High School. Register with Bucksport Adult Ed at 469-2129.

. March 26-May 5 at Region 3 Vocational School in Lincoln. Register by calling Don Ramsay at 794-2969 or 794-3004, Ext. 11.

Fuel aid for Millinocket

Penquis CAP is accepting donations for the Good Neighbor Fund to help provide emergency fuel assistance to those affected by the shut down of Great Northern Paper Company’s mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket. As of last week, Penquis CAP had received some 100 calls for assistance.

Jennifer Giosia explained that although the agency has a fuel assistance program funded by the federal government, federal guidelines look at income received in the past three months, making many people who recently lost their jobs ineligible until March or April. Funds raised by the Good Neighbor Fund will provide immediate assistance to those in need.

To donate to the Good Neighbor Fund, make checks or money orders payable to the Good Neighbor Fund and mail to Good Neighbor Fund, Penquis CAP, PO Box 1162, Bangor, 04402-1162.

Brewer

Millinocket emergency outreach

The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has established the Millinocket Emergency Outreach Fund designed to help people affected by the bankruptcy filing and possible shutdown of Great Northern Paper. The program will provide vouchers for fuel oil, groceries and prescription drugs. St. Andrew’s Church in Millinocket plans to begin issuing vouchers after Thursday, Feb. 6.

In addition to the fund, Episcopal churches will collect non-perishable food items and essentials such as laundry soap, toilet paper, diapers, etc. on Sunday, Feb. 2. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, volunteers will pick up donations in Brewer before making their way to St. Andrew’s.

Donations to the Millinocket Emergency Outreach Fund may be made to the Diocese of Maine-Millinocket Outreach and sent to the Bishop’s Office, 143 State St., Portland, 04101. For information about the fund and food donation effort visit the diocesan Web site at www. diomaine.org. Donations of food and other items may be dropped off at local Episcopal churches.

Eddington

Housing repair grant

Eddington, Clifton and Bradley have completed a comprehensive housing needs assessment with funding from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The study shows a need for health, safety and energy related repairs to homes. Many properties require improvements to provide accessibility for people with disabilities. The needs identified by the study may be addressed with Community Development Block Grant funding. The three communities will submit a regional application with Eddington designated as the lead applicant. If the application is successful, up to $400,000 will be available to area residents in the form of housing grants. The funding may be used for improvements such as septic systems, wells, heating, roofing, replacement windows, siding or other needs. Grant money may also be used to help replace severely substandard homes.

If the application is successful, residents will be notified in March in town newsletters and the local newspaper. Then, application forms will be available. To obtain information about the program, residents should contact their local town offices or call the Community Development office at 947-8595.

Hampden

Open house

The Maine Outreach office of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold an open house 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, to celebrate their new headquarters and expansion at 735 Main Road North.

Glenburn

Developmental screening

A free developmental screening for all area 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as all 5-year-olds not yet eligible for kindergarten, will be held for Glenburn School Department 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Glenburn Elementary School, Hudson Road. To schedule an appointment, call 947-8493, Ext. 10 or 17.

Orono

Cures for Cabin Fever

Orono Public Library continues its “Cures for Cabin Fever Lecture Series” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, when Neil Comins, astronomy professor at the University of Maine, will speak on “Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions About the Real Nature of the Universe.”

Comins has given public talks on astronomy throughout North America, has been on more than 50 radio talk shows across the United States and has appeared on dozens of television shows to discuss issues about astronomy. He is the author of “What if the Moon Didn’t Exist?” and “Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions About the Real Nature of the Universe.” To obtain information, call the library at 866-5060.

Red Cross benefit art auction

The Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold an art exhibit and auction at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Black Bear Inn in Orono. The live auction will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The art, coordinated by Marlin of New York, will include contemporary and traditional works in all media and price ranges. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at Patrick’s in the Broadway Shopping Center, Studio 2000 at the Bangor Mall, the Grasshopper Shop in downtown Bangor, Ampersand-The Store in Orono and Boysenberries in Brewer. To obtain information about the art, visit the Web at marlinfundraising.com, or call the Red Cross at 941-2903.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin