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Bangor

Discovery Museum director

Andrea Stark, director of education and exhibits at the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor, has been named the museum’s executive director. Stark had been the facility’s acting head since earlier this year.

“The museum and the community are fortunate that someone of Andrea’s professionalism and ability is eager to accept this responsibility,” said Layne Dixon, chairman of the MDM board of trustees.

In making the announcement, Dixon said, “Andrea has been with the museum from the

beginning and has earned the respect of its staff and the board. She knows this region and understands the value of the museum as a place of excitement, discovery and education for Maine children.”

Stark, a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the New York University (Tisch) School of the Arts, called the museum “a pillar in the new economy of downtown Bangor. Its mission is to encourage creativity, nurture a sense of wonder and challenge all to learn in new and creative ways. The staff and I are committed to building its presence in the downtown as an institution in which all of Maine can take pride.”

The new director said she believes that “the many individuals and businesses who came together to build this world-class children’s museum can appreciate that their sustaining support is needed to assure its future.” She emphasized that the commitment would keep the museum on solid financial footing, enabling MDM to plan exhibits and programs two to three years into the future.

Stark said the museum staff has taken steps to respond to economic realities, working to help increase revenue and reduce expenses. Changes in memberships are being considered to reflect the different needs of museum visitors, and new marketing initiatives are being planned. She said a recent decision to work with a professional firm in marketing and development is evidence that the board and staff recognize the challenges MDM faces in the current economy.

As a school board member in SAD 3, Stark understands constraints on school budgets.

“Our staff will explore ways to work more closely with our schools,” she said. “We’ll expand our outreach programs, resource materials and our Web site to help teachers in and out of the classroom. We are an educational resource for the community, and visits to Maine Discovery Museum can be an important component of curriculum planning.”

Stark said she has set as her mission “to make Maine Discovery Museum as important a part of the community as the library, the Ys, and the schools. Adults say over and over again about MDM, ‘If only this had been here when my children were younger!’ I would say to them that the museum is here now, for this generation of children and adults, and it’s our responsibility to ensure it continues to be a financially sound and exciting community institution for years to come.”

Maine Discovery Museum welcomes inquiries about its programs. For information, call the museum at 262-7200.

Summer music season

BANGOR – The melody lingers on as Arcady Music Festival tunes up for this summer’s season of music. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Minsky Hall on the University of Maine at Orono campus.

The music begins with the Arcady Ragtime Revue, July 21, and continues with classical programming with the Avalon String Quartet, July 28; the Zapolski String Quartet, Aug. 4; the Forte String Quartet, Aug. 11; Western Wind a capella voice ensemble, Aug. 18; and East Meets West, Aug. 25.

Tickets are $13, $7 for students. Children 18 and under are admitted free. To obtain information, call 288-2141.

Summer celebration

The Bangor Police Athletic League and the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department will hold their fourth annual Summer Celebration 11 a.m-3 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the PAL Center on Watchmaker Street. There is no cost.

Activities include climbing a rock wall, kickball, basketball, whiffle ball and a bounce house. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be served. The party is on, rain or shine.

To learn more, call the PAL Center at 942-6181 or Parks and Recreation at 947-1018.

Hampden

Bronze moose sculpture

Well-known sculptor Forest Hart has given a bronze moose sculpture to help the Hampden Historical Society raise funds through a raffle. Tickets are $10 each and must be purchased by Aug. 1 to qualify for the Sept. 22 drawing.

Hart is the artist who created the bronze bronco in front of Hampden Academy, and several wildlife pieces at the Hudson Museum at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

To get tickets for chances to win the bronze moose, send a check to the Hampden Historical Society, P.O. 456, Hampden 04444, or call Jerry Stanhope at 862-3463.

Old Town

Paul Harris Fellow

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International named Les Myers of Old Town, a member of the Bangor Area Rotary Club and its newsletter editor, a Paul Harris Fellow at the club’s annual dinner June 19.

Myers, a 10-year member of the club, is director of the Maine Audio Information and Reading Service, a reading service for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Maine AIRS is a program of The Iris Network.

The Paul Harris Award is given in appreciation of tangible and significant contributions promoting better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world.

Antique tools lecture

Art Gall will present a program titled “Recognizing and Using Antique Tools” at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at the Old Town Museum. He will demonstrate rare or relatively uncommon tools from his collection. The program is free. For information, call 827-7256.

Orono

On uncles, nephews

How do uncles distinctively contribute to their nephews’ development? And why has it taken so long for family scholars to ask the question? Robert Milardo, University of Maine professor of human development, hopes to find out through the first in-depth study of uncle and nephew relationships.

“Uncles can provide unique contributions to the development of their nephews,” said Milardo. “This project will help us understand the important role uncles can play in the lives of children and young adults.”

In the project’s first stage, uncles and nephews were interviewed in Wellington, New Zealand. In the second stage, uncles and nephews are being interviewed in Maine. Nephews should be between 15 and 30.

“We are finding that many uncles report close relationships with their nephews,” said Milardo. “Uncles can be mentors, they frequently provide advice on career and personal issues, and they often act as family historians by giving nephews a perspective of their parents that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Milardo is looking for volunteers for the study in Greater Bangor. The informal interviews will take one hour or less. For information, call Milardo at 581-3128 or e-mail RHD360@maine.edu.

Winterport

Concert of young singers

The Special Edition vocal ensemble will perform at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Winterport Meeting House. The cost of the concert is $8.

The 10 young singers of Special Edition, ages 13 to 21, are from Wales, Arizona, North Carolina, Vermont, Maine and New Jersey. Led by vocalist-composer Moira Smiley, they share musicality, skill and love of folk and world music vocal styles.

The performances by Special Edition are mostly a cappella, with body and hand percussion. Assistant leaders are Naomi Dalglish and Daniel Suter.

Moira Smiley specializes in new music, jazz, blues, gospel and traditional music of the Appalachians, Ireland and the Balkans. She has appeared at New York City’s Lincoln Center, the Knitting Factory, Indy Jazz Festival and BBC Radio and Television. She is featured on more than 30 CDs.

To learn more about the concert , call 223-4921.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin