New exhibit explores Bangor’s cultural heritage

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Having visited the Bangor Museum and Center for History to view its first exhibit, and then attending the preview of its current exhibit, I know you will be delighted to see the changes that have taken place during the museum’s recent expansion and remodeling.

The second exhibit, “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage,” opens to the public at 10 a.m. today at 6 State St. in downtown Bangor.

The free opening-day celebration features ethnic music and food, horse-carriage rides and other activities.

The exhibit documents the earliest settlements in the Bangor area and the arrival of Irish, Jewish, Greek and other immigrant groups.

During the preview night, it was interesting to listen to those prompted by a certain photograph or display offering their personal memories of sites, locations and events of Bangor’s past.

The new exhibit features photographs, artifacts and other material from the Bangor Historical Society collection, the Bangor Public Library and memorabilia on loan from local residents.

Additionally, the museum now offers a lovely gift shop, which has been placed in the capable hands of well-known local businesswoman Sandra Bryant.

If you can’t make it today, plan to visit soon.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free.

For information, call 942-1900.

The annual yard sale sponsored by Altrusa International of Bangor is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today at 311 Wilson St. in Brewer, “across from the Brewer Auditorium,” reports member Margaret Brown.

The event, which benefits the work of this nonprofit women’s service organization and its charities, features “some excellent household and personal items in good working condition at a great price,” Brown added.

The Hill Family Gospel Singers will present a concert after the baked bean supper from 4:30 to 6 p.m. today at East Orrington Congregational Church, 38 Johnson Mill Road.

The menu includes homemade biscuits, pies, hot dishes and salads, and the admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

The word from organizer Judy Butler of Eddington is that plans are well under way for the 15th Bangor Flag Day celebration beginning with an opening ceremony at noon and closing with a flag-lowering ceremony at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, on the Bangor waterfront.

Next week, Butler will provide us with complete details, but she wants people to mark their calendars for Flag Day, and know that there will be entertainment throughout the afternoon along the waterfront.

“We have ‘Joshua Chamberlain’ and ‘his mother’ making an appearance,” Butler said, “but we’d also like to have a ‘George Washington’ and a ‘Ben Franklin’ here, too.”

Anyone interested in participating in the festivities honoring our grand old flag can call Butler at 989-6545.

As part of the Community Festival, wrote Cynthia Wells, the Stockton Spring Business Association is sponsoring its inaugural Main Street yard sale on Saturday, July 12.

The association, she explained, “is an organization formed to promote the town of Stockton Springs and the local businesses.”

The Community Festival includes a parade, fireman’s muster and brigade games, children’s events, an arts and crafts show, art demonstrations, fireman’s raffle, the Stockton Springs Community Library book and bake sale, a street dance and several vendors.

But what Wells really wants people to be aware of is that space is available on Main Street on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals and nonprofit organizations wishing to participate in the yard sale.

And you also might like to know that the rain date is the following day, Sunday, July 13.

For more information and yard sale space reservations, call Wells at 567-3923.

People with access to cable television might want to tune in and watch “Blood from a Stone” at 9 p.m. Monday, June 9, on the History Channel.

The two-hour television documentary tells the story of Israeli veteran and free-lance investigative journalist Yaron Svoray and his nearly 15-year search for 40 Nazi-looted diamonds discovered and later buried in World War II by U.S. military scouts Sam Nyer of Bangor and Thomas DeLion, an American Indian, during fierce fighting in France in February 1945.

DeLion died during the war.

Nyer, who returned home and became a very successful businessman, never made any attempt to retrieve the diamonds, which makes this story all the more remarkable, and a program you won’t want to miss.

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