How great to learn that folks in the Presque Isle area are going to have the opportunity to participate in a “community reads” program.

Marilyn Dean wrote that the Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle is sponsoring “Presque Isle Reads” from Saturday, March 1, through Tuesday, April 15.

The purpose of the program is for adults and young adults to share the joy of reading books by the same author at the same time and participate in related special events at the library.

A project of the library’s board of trustees and staff, it is hoped the event will “help chase away the winter doldrums and increase the library’s visibility in the community,” Dean wrote.

The group decided to read the five books of Eastport mystery author Sarah Graves, and readers can read all five or any one book.

The “Presque Isle Reads” kickoff gala is 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at the library on Second Street, and Joe Zubrick of Aroostook County CrimeStoppers will be the featured speaker.

Marilyn Clark and Florence Zettergren will lead the book discussions, and the schedule will be available at the kickoff, where participants can register for the program.

The event also includes “murder mystery evenings, Clue game competitions and videos and local sleuthing guest speakers,” Dean added.

Each participant will receive a button, and there is no charge to participate.

More information is available by calling the library at 764-2571, or visiting www.presqueisle.lib.me.us.

Heather Spaulding, president of the Orono Student Nurses Association at the University of Maine, reports that organization is “trying to raise money to help fund our trip to our National Student Convention” in April.

Part of the fund-raising effort is selling raffle tickets for an autographed UMaine white hockey jersey in an adult large size.

The raffle tickets are $2 each or $10 for six tickets.

The students will be selling raffle tickets Friday, Feb. 28, during the University of Maine hockey game in the Alfond Arena on the Orono campus.

Proceeds will help student nurses attend the annual convention April 23-27 in Phoenix.

More information about helping the students raise funds for this trip can be obtained by writing OSNA, 5724 Dunn Hall, University of Maine, Orono 04469.

Old Town High School 10th-grader Jacob Roeder has been accepted as a Maine People to People student ambassador this summer in Britain and Ireland.

Tuition for the 21-day program is nearly $4,800, which the ambassadors must raise themselves to cover transportation, accommodations, meals and educational activities.

Jacob would be grateful for any contribution you can make to help him take advantage of this wonderful international program.

Checks should be made payable to People to People Student Ambassador Program and sent to him at 510 Greenfield Road, Greenbush 04418.

Jacob thanks you, in advance, for your support.

On behalf of the Guilford United Methodist Church, Sharon O’Connell invites the public to attend a talent show at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, in the Fellowship Hall at GUMC on School Street.

Sponsored by the GUMC Church choir, admission and refreshments are by donation.

Attendees are promised “an afternoon filled with music and fun,” O’Connell wrote.

For more information, call the church office at 876-3372.

The National Kidney Foundation of Maine has planned two programs of special interest to area residents.

The first is an informal gathering for people who have had transplants to learn about Team Maine and competing in the June 2004 U.S. Transplant Games.

Team Maine has 22 transplant athletes, seven living donors and one donor family member.

Its goal is to have 25 transplant athletes by the June 2004 games.

This meeting is 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Unicel, 6 Telcom Drive (off Union Street) in Bangor.

For more information or to preregister, call Karen Burrell at (800) 639-7220.

The second meeting is “People Like Us, Live!” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8, in Mason Auditorium at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

This program is for people who have recently been diagnosed with kidney disease or have recently begun dialysis treatment. Family members are welcome.

Issues to be discussed include dialysis treatment options, transplantation, nutrition, coping, rehabilitation, lifestyle and finances. The meeting is a community service, and breakfast refreshments will be provided.

Again, for more information or to preregister, call Burrell at the above number.

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