Hearing from former colleagues is always a pleasant experience, especially when they’re volunteering for a worthy cause.

Former Bangor Daily News editors Cheryl Olson and Joan Smith are helping plan “Go Gala For Kids’ Sake,” which will be held 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 4, at Norumbega Hall, 2 Hammond St. in Bangor.

The gala features a taste-off competition among seven local restaurateurs plus culinary students from Penobscot Job Corps Center and Eastern Maine Community College.

The evening benefits For Kids’ Sake, a nonprofit resource for divorcing and separating families.

This is the first fund-raiser for this organization that was founded in 1998 by mental health and legal professionals.

It received initial funding through the Maine District Court Family Division and a one-year grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.

For Kids’ Sake holds classes from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second and third Saturdays of the month at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bangor.

But the gala features more than delicious food, Olson wrote.

In addition to a door prize of two round-trip tickets for anywhere in the continental United States, offered by Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines is offering a voucher for $200 off any published fare as another door prize.

Of the offerings for the taste-off, Olson wrote she has learned that “there will be some tempting, creative and impressive entries in the hors d’oeuvres” taste-off along with other food and beverages, plus dancing to the music of The Skyliners.

The event also features a silent and live auction in which you might win the opportunity to have pianist John Haskell play at your home, office or holiday party; enjoy lunch with Gov. John Baldacci at the Blaine House; or purchase works of art by Marian Allen, Ingrid Hansom or NEWS cartoonist George Danby.

Olson reminds you the gala “will be a great opportunity for Christmas shopping,” with “themed baskets for men, women, babies, wine lovers, chocolate lovers, and even one for pampered pets.”

WLBZ Channel 2 news anchor Ric Tyler will be master of ceremonies, Dick Cattelle will be the auctioneer, and first lady Karen Baldacci will join her husband as guests of honor.

Gov. Baldacci will offer brief remarks at 8 p.m. about the importance of parent education for divorcing families.

Tickets for the gala are $25 each and can be obtained by calling 942-0859.

The U.S. Postal Service District of Maine and the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program’s Penobscot Coalition will conduct a Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Wednesday, Oct. 1, featuring a special stamp cancellation at six area post offices.

Serious philatelists, as well as those who want to help support the work of this program that promotes early detection, prevention and treatment of breast and cervical disease among women, are encouraged to participate.

The special cancellation will be offered Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the following times and locations: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bangor post office; 8 a.m. to noon at the Hampden post office; and 9 a.m. to noon in the post offices in Orono, Old Town, Dover-Foxcroft and Lincoln.

The special cancellation will also be available at each of the post offices, by mail, through Friday, Oct. 31.

Requests by mail should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope inside a larger, stamped envelope, and be mailed to Breast Cancer Awareness Station, c/o Postmaster, P.O. Box 9998, at any of the post offices listed above.

Shirley Pagel is chairwoman of the annual rummage sale sponsored by the Pilgrim Daughters of the First Congregational Church of Lincoln, which will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the church.

Pagel reports that Friday will be Bag Day and that you will find “lots of great bargains for everyone in the family” at the sale.

There is still no replacement for the good old telephone when 3,000 miles separate families, especially when you are awaiting a grandchild’s birth!

I’m not sure of the exact number of calls son Steve made between Los Angeles and Bangor in the course of a 24-hour period, but it probably averaged one every two hours before he reported that Olivia Rae Averill was born just before noon Saturday, Sept. 27.

Mom Belinda and Olivia area doing well, and her Aunt Sue and I are eagerly looking forward to holding her when we fly to L.A. in a few weeks.

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