Bangor

Movie screening, discussion

BANGOR – “The Quiet American,” a film based on the Graham Greene novel, will be the focus of a special screening and panel-led discussion at 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Movie City 8, in partnership with the River City Cinema Society. The film stars Sir Michael Caine in a romantic triangle interwoven with political events of the time.

Leading the panel will be Nancy MacKnight, who served for many years on the faculty of the University of Maine department of English, later becoming UM vice chancellor for academic affairs. She is a frequent facilitator of Let’s Talk About It, a Maine Humanities Council reading program in libraries statewide, and has participated in the council’s literature and medicine project.

Panel member Robert Whelan served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Special Forces and continues to be active in veterans’ affairs. He is a lecturer in English and associate chairman of the UM English department. He teaches a course on literature from the Vietnam War and begins his course with Greene’s novel. Whelan brings firsthand knowledge of Vietnam as well as an academic perspective to the discussion. He will give an overview of the book.

Peter Davis, recently returned from visiting Vietnam, is an author and documentary filmmaker. His Academy Award-winning film, “Hearts and Minds,” is about the Vietnam War. Now a resident of Castine, Davis has made many films and is the author of several nonfiction books. He will address the challenge of transforming Greene’s story into a movie.

Screen Actor’s Guild member Colleene Frashure is administrative and casting director for the Penobscot Theatre Company & Maine Shakespeare Festival. She has worked with multimedia organizations and has appeared in Lifetime’s “Unsolved Mysteries” and independent films. Frasure will speak from an actor’s perspective on Caine’s personal struggle to get the film released in the United States.

“The Quiet American” is scheduled to run for a week. Tickets are $10. Refreshments will be served. Tickets for other River City screenings are $6.

Community funding

BANGOR – Organizations seeking to improve the health and welfare of the Greater Bangor community are encouraged to apply for funding from the Maine Community Foundation’s Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund.

The deadline is May 15. Only nonprofit and public organizations with 501C3 status are eligible. The fund’s advisory committee, which reviews proposals, is interested in supporting efforts to address overlooked health needs of the community, especially physical and mental health needs of youth. Priority will be given to proposals that involve the targeted population in the design, implementation and evaluation of the project, draw upon the strengths of the community, and foster collaboration.

In 2002, the PVHA Fund awarded more than $80,000 to projects in Bangor. Teen Recovery, Bangor Family Literacy Program, WAR Against Isolation, Penobscot Dental Coalition and My Friend’s Place were among the recipients.

A statewide public foundation with offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation makes grants and provides leadership to strengthen Maine communities. The foundation is celebrating 20 years of philanthropic service. For information, call toll free at (877) 700-6800.

Apple pruning demo

BANGOR – The Penobscot and Piscataquis offices of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension will sponsor an apple pruning demonstration 3-5 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Olmstead Orchard on Route 15 in Charleston.

Participants will learn how to prune apple trees of various ages. There will be a short session on apple pests and their control. The demonstration is free and preregistration is not required. For information or directions to the orchard, call the Penobscot County office at 942-7396.

Orono

Sheep farm visits

ORONO – Maine sheep breeders and others interested in learning about sheep raising in rural Quebec may take a three-day tour, May 16-18. University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Sheep Breeders Association are organizing the tour, which is open to all. It will leave from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Farmington at noon May 16, with visits to at least six farms.

The tour is designed for sheep producers to learn about efficient sheep production and gather ideas. Each stop will feature aspects such as facilities, marketing, wool production, crossbreeding, dairy sheep, guard animals and equipment. Shepherd David Mastine, from Ste. Felix-deKingsey, Quebec, will serve as guide.

The transportation and registration fee is $65 for the first person from a Maine farm and $55 for each additional person. The fee for members of MSBA is $55. Participants will pay for their own food and lodging. Total cost is estimated to be about $180 in U.S. currency.

For information, call the Cumberland County Extension office at (800) 287-1471, or www.umaine.edu/livestock.