Bangor

‘Faerie Fancies’ show

Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Milo, Orrington, Sebasticook and Veazie garden clubs, all members of the Garden Club Federation of Maine, will present a Standard Flower Show April 10-13 at the Bangor Garden Show. The theme of the flower show is “Faerie Fancies.” An accredited panel of GCFM flower show judges will judge the show. The whimsical life of garden ‘faeries’ will be portrayed in the educational, horticultural and design classes of the show.

The Penobscot district’s life-size “Wizard of Oz” stand-ups used at last year’s flower show are available to be donated to any school or theater group that would like to have them.

To obtain information, call Linda Hansen at 989-3674.

Safe driving course

The Eastern Agency on Aging is offering the AAPR Safe Driving Course, formerly known as 55Alive, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1 and 2, in its offices at 450 Essex St, Bangor.

The eight-hour course addresses the physical changes that may affect driving ability when a person reaches 55 and older.

Participants will go over the current driving manual to refresh and update knowledge about driving regulations. They also will have an opportunity to talk about challenges they face when driving and learn how others deal with them.

There will be no driving or written test to pass. Those who complete the class will receive a two-year certificate that may allow for discounts from several automobile insurance companies.

Cost of the course is $10 and is limited to 25 participants age 50 and older. Register by calling the Eastern Agency on Aging at 941-2865 or (800) 432-7812. To obtain more information, call Sylvia Smith at 942-4579.

Updating records

Many cemeteries make an effort to keep its records on veterans up-to-date. Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery in Bangor is in the process of doing this.

If you know of a veteran buried there, officials would be pleased to have you notify them in writing – either in person or by mail. Include branch of service, years of service, and whether the veteran served in a war. The address is Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 449 Ohio St., Bangor 04401.

Holistic pet care seminars

Green Acres Kennel Shop will hold its second holistic pet care seminars for pet owners at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, at the Four Points Sheraton, Bangor International Airport. Net proceeds from the seminars will be donated to the Bangor Humane Society.

Steve Brown, creator of Charlee Bear treats and the founder of Steve’s Real Food for Pets, will give a talk, “See Spot Live Longer,” focusing on the benefits of feeding a pet a diet based on raw food. He will discuss the ancestral and modern diets of dogs and how diet affects their health.

Dr. Mark Hanks of the Veazie Veterinary Clinic will speak at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Hanks, a veterinarian and veterinary acupuncturist, will discuss how Chinese medicine and acupuncture can benefit pets.

The Sunday session begins at 9 a.m. with Dr. Drew Benson, a veterinarian and veterinary chiropractor at Broadway Veterinary Clinic. He will explain how chiropractic and physical therapy can benefit pets.

Sunday afternoon, certified pet dog trainer Don Hanson will discuss Bach Flower Remedies and their uses.

The cost for one seminar is $25, or $80 for all four. Preregistration is required. Call Green Acres Kennel at 945-6841.

‘1984’ book discussion

Bangor Public Library will hold a discussion of George Orwell’s classic “1984” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8.

The discussion will compare the book to today’s society, especially in light of the U.S. Patriot Act, John Poindexter’s proposal of a total information awareness plan and other government measures put into effect after Sept. 11, 2001.

The U.S. Patriot Act expands law enforcement’s surveillance and investigative powers in order to protect U.S. citizens. Topics include the line between privacy and safety, and the question of whether government can have too much information.

David Henry will lead the book discussion. Henry holds a doctorate from Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. He is the pastor of Lamoine Baptist Church.

A limited number of copies of “1984” are available at the circulation desk. For information, call the library at 947-8336, Ext. 139.

Birthday party for veterans

Members of Bangor Emblem Club 223 and Bangor Elks Lodge 244 sponsored a birthday party Feb. 26 at the Maine Veterans Home. They purchased gifts for the 10 residents whose birthdays were in February.

They also donated fruit baskets for all residents to enjoy. Club and lodge members served cake and punch and entertained attendees with a singalong. Assisting at the party were Joan Glans, Nina Leeman, Pat Stevenson, Ethel Pittman and Gisel Vafiades.

Tae kwon do winner

Sensei Crystal Jackins competed in tae kwon do at the Vermont Nationals in Brattleboro March 16 and won first place in fighting and third in kata in the women’s over age 35 black belt division.

She also won second in kata and second in fighting in Huard’s Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships in Winslow.

Brewer

Easter egg hunts

The Brewer Parks and Recreation Department will hold an Easter Egg hunt for 3- to 6-year-olds at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Brewer Auditorium. Participants will search for candy- and prize-filled eggs. They will receive free French fries from Burger King, prizes and the chance to win grand-prize bicycles.

The flashlight egg hunt for 7- to 10-year-olds will be held 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Brewer Auditorium. The children will search for prize- and candy-filled eggs on Doyle Field. One grand prize and several special prizes will be presented. Preregistration is required. Call 989-5199.

The Brewer Kiwanis Club, Brewer Burger King and the Brewer Parks and Recreation Department are sponsors of both events.

The Easter egg hunts are free to Brewer residents. The fee is $1 for others. For information, call 989-5199.

Greetings for Guard

Members of Teresa Kelly’s rubber-stamping class participated in making 140 greeting cards sent last week to members of the Maine Army National Guard’s 112th Medical Battalion who have been deployed to Kuwait.

“We did it as a morale booster,” said Kelly, 70. She got and her students got the idea to make the cards because Corey Scott of Hermon, the son of class member Laurie Scott, has been deployed to Kuwait with the 112th.

Kelly ran the idea by her son-in-law, Robert Sekera, a 33-year veteran of the Guard. He consulted Guard officials, then gave Kelly the go-ahead.

“We did the cards with a patriotic theme,” Kelly said, “with the flag, the Statue of Liberty and the American eagle. Inside the cards it says ‘God bless America,’ or ‘Proud to be American.’ Everyone signed the cards and wrote our own messages. If the troops are still over there – and we hope the aren’t – we’ll do Christmas cards.”

Kelly teaches rubber-stamping classes 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Fridays in Brewer. To learn more, call her at 989-7465.

Carmel

Pony Club games clinic

Northeast Region United States Pony Club will hold a games clinic, 9 a.m. Sunday, April 27, at Stepping Stone Farm. Instructor Betty Staten of Haverhill, Mass., has taught games for more than 20 years, with many of her teams winning Pony Club National Championships.

The clinic is open to members and others and is designed to teach beginners how the games are played and seasoned gamers to polish their skills. Those whose mounts are not short ponies may still play games and will learn a different way to play.

Skills will include bending, handing off, mounting, dismounting and vaulting. After lunch, participants will play games on teams.

Boots with heels, approved helmet and proof of rabies protection are required. Participants should bring lunch.

The cost of the games clinic is $25 for USPC members and $30 for others. Checks are payable to Northeast Region, USPC, c/o Sandy Porter-Bean, 34 Bean Lane, Cornville 04976, before April 15.

For information, call Sandy Porter-Bean, 474-7581, or Henrietta Beaufait, 437-2133.

Hampden

Hampden Academy book

To mark the 200th anniversary of Hampden Academy, Friends of Hamlin Inc. have published “Hampden Academy Bicentennial Alumni & History,” prepared by Richard M. Newcomb, Class of 1962, and daughter Suzanne C. Cole, Class of 1991.

From Anthony Abbondondola to Karista Zwicker, 80 pages of alphabetical listings tell who attended Hampden Academy and when, from 1951 to the present.

The 146-page book also includes a history of the school, listings of courses offered in different eras and pictures of the school over the years. There’s also a list of principals – Phineas Johnson was the first, 1807-1811, and Miss J. L. Elder 1874-1877 was the first woman principal. Future Vice President Hannibal Hamlin was at one time a trustee.

Friends of Hamlin Inc. will use profits to complete a documentary on the life of Hamlin, “Our Maine Man.”

The book is available for $20 at the Hampden town office, Newburgh town office, Village Miniatures in Hampden, or the office at Hampden Academy. For a mailed copy, send $25 to Friends of Hamlin, 205 Western Ave., Hampden 04444, or call 862-3633.

Orono

Egg hunt at night

Bring a flashlight for the Easter egg hunt, 7-7:15 p.m. for preschool and kindergarten children, and 7:15-7:30 p.m. for first- and third-grade children, Friday, April 18, at the Asa Adams ball field and gym.

The egg hunt features candy, prizes and a drawing. Photographer Sally Sinclair will be available to take children’s photos with the Easter bunny and Monty Moose from the University Credit Union. The fee for the photo session is $5.

Maine storytellers

“Performing Maine: Three Generations of Maine Storytellers” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Orono Public Library – the first program in the new series, “So You Think You Know Maine.”

Archivist Pamela Dean, of the University of Maine’s Maine Folklife Center, will talk about Rob Golding, a traditional Maine storyteller. She will trace his influence on Marshall Dodge of “Bert and I” fame, and through Dodge to Tim Sample, a nationally known Maine humorist.

Informal discussion and refreshments will follow.

After Dean’s presentation, the Friends of the Orono Public Library will hold their annual meeting. Those interested in the library are invited to stay for the meeting.

Prayer vigil

Members and friends of the Orono United Methodist Church, 36 Oak St., will participate in a prayer vigil at 8 p.m. Maundy Thursday, April 17. The vigil will continue through the night and end on at 3 p.m. Good Friday.

Those interested in participating in the vigil may sign up for half-hour or one-hour intervals to pray for world peace, personal spiritual needs or the needs of other people. Visual and printed resources will be available in the sanctuary. For information or to sign up, call the church at 866-4605.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin