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Bangor

Thanksgiving radio specials

Thoughtful reflection, musical delights and whimsical humor will be served up when Maine Public Radio features four Thanksgiving specials on Nov. 27.

“A Feast for the Ears 2003” begins at 10 a.m. and is a two-hour mix of orchestral, chamber and vocal music. At 12:30 p.m., “Tough Turkey in the Big City” follows the comic blunders of Tom Turkey, who leaves the farm to try his luck in the big city. “Let’s Eat,” at 1 p.m., is a feast of stories about eating, turkey farms and cookbooks.

Returning to the reflective part of the holiday, Maine Public Radio will offer at 2 p.m. “Giving Thanks 2003: A Celebration of Fall, Food and Gratitude.” The two-hour program features classical music and readings of the holiday season.

The grand finale at 7 p.m. is John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” produced by L.A. Theatre Works. “The Grapes of Wrath” tells the story of the Joads, a displaced family whose journey takes them from the dust bowl of Oklahoma to the fertile, but futile, fields of California in the early 1930s. The feature stars Shirley Knight, Francis Guinan and Jeffrey Donovan.

Clean Clothes pamphlet

Two days before Thanksgiving, the Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign launched a Holiday Season of Conscience campaign to raise awareness of child labor and sweatshop working conditions, and to let people know about simple steps they may take to make a difference during the holiday shopping season. Highlighting the campaign is a colorful Holiday Season of Conscience poster created by Kirsten Reberg-Horton.

The Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign will distribute a free Holiday Season of Conscience pamphlet that outlines resources to help people take action to end sweatshops and child labor, including a list of stores participating in the Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign.

To receive a Holiday Season of Conscience pamphlet, or to obtain information, call the Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign at 947-4203.

Chance to reign

The Junior League of Bangor will crown a king or queen for a year in January.

The winner will receive at least one gift a week during 2004, a total gift package valued at more than $4,500. The year’s winnings include gift certificates for car detailing, restaurant meals, massages, flowers, furniture, shopping at the Bangor Mall, guided fishing tours and much more.

Tickets went on sale Nov. 4, and the winner will be drawn Dec. 26. The cost for tickets is $20 each, three for $50 or 10 for $125. In addition to a chance to win gifts valued at thousands of dollars, each ticket stub entitles the holder to either a free lunch buffet or $5 off a dinner item at the Oriental Jade restaurant.

Tickets may be purchased at Chez Renee, Oriental Jade, Quirk Auto Park or Stonington Furniture, or by calling 990-2436. Junior League members also will sell tickets at the Bangor Mall community booth Wednesdays, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10.

The Junior League acknowledges the generous support of local businesses and community members who have helped make the fund-raiser possible. Proceeds from the raffle enable the organization to continue to build a better community.

The Junior League urges women committed to gaining new skills and serving the community to call 990-2436 for more information.

Holiday marketplace

The Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine will sponsor a holiday marketplace 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Union Street Brick Church.

Local artisans, musicians and vendors will sell wares such as hand-painted glassware, photography, note cards, videos, cassettes, CDs, fiber art, quilted work, art, clothing, jewelry, African imports, handmade peace products and crafts.

Admission is free, and refreshments will be available. For information, contact Roxanne Munksgaard, 947-6424, or the Peace and Justice Center, 942-9343.

Adoption information

The Bangor office of the Department of Human Services will hold a public informational meeting about adoption and foster care 1-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. To learn the meeting location, call A Family For ME at (877) 505-0545.

Those considering adoption or foster care through the Maine Department of Human Services are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Art at the library

Two Maine artists will show their work in December at Bangor Public Library.

Diana Young will show “Crossing the Line,” acrylic and egg tempera paintings, in the Lecture Hall. She is a native of Bangor and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Brenda Ferguson of Dixmont will exhibit pastels, “Reflections,” in the Stairwell Gallery and extension.

An opening reception will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. An original work by Brenda Ferguson will be given away as a door prize at 4 p.m.

‘Bible Alive’

Pastor Ron Morris of Glad Tidings Church has written “Bible Alive,” a course for children ages 5 to 12, which is presented as Children’s Church each Sunday. Children will learn about the burning bush, Mount Sinai and the Ten Commandments. The course includes crafts, puppets and snacks. To learn more, call Dixie at the church at 947-0324.

My Friend’s Place

My Friend’s Place, an adult day care center, is offering an opportunity for caregivers to leave their loved ones long enough to do holiday shopping. Loved ones may be left from one to four hours, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 2 and 23, and Wednesdays, Dec. 10 and 17, in the Fireside Room of First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St. The cost is $7 per hour and includes refreshments.

My Friend’s Place is an activity program for people coping with memory loss or confusion, who cannot be left alone. The program benefits caregivers by giving them a chance to shop, have lunch with a friend, take a nap, do errands, schedule appointments or have leisure time.

The facility features a ratio of one staff member or volunteer to every two participants; safety, security and supervision; and activities and games of interest to adults. Call 945-0122 to learn more.

Photo contest winners

Bangor Center Corp.’s third annual Downtown Photo Show is on exhibit at the University of Maine Museum of Art on Harlow Street until Jan. 17.

Prize winners, selected by jurors Bob DeLong, Alan Stubbs and Bill Kuykendall were named at the opening reception Nov. 21. They are:

. Kenton Williams, first place.

. Michael Alpert, second place.

. Kathleen Wall, third place.

. Buffy Parker, Spiros Polemis and Kristofor Broski, honorable mention.

Brewer

Holiday food drive

The city of Brewer has begun its annual holiday food drive. Drew Sachs of Brewer Economic Development has been working with the school department to organize a citywide food drive to help meet the needs of Brewer and area residents.

“Many of the food cupboards in the region have experienced an increase of between 50 percent and 100 percent in demand for emergency food supplies this year,” Sachs said. “It is my hope that we can help keep the shelves from becoming bare so that those in need can get the food they need during hard times.”

Most foodstuffs collected this year will go to the Brewer Food Cupboard to restock their shelves for the few months after the holidays – when donations are low. A portion will go to the Brewer Community Service Council to provide holiday baskets for families who don’t have enough food.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 18. Collection containers are available at the Brewer Auditorium, City Hall, library, public works, public safety, and the wastewater treatment facility. Individual schools also are collecting food.

Non-perishable foodstuffs are encouraged. Those interested may also write out a check to the city of Brewer with a notation on the check, “Holiday Food Drive,” or provide a cash donation to the city in care of Drew Sachs at City Hall, 80 North Main St.

More than 7,000 food items were collected last year, Sachs said.

Girl Scout travel fund-raiser

The Girl Scouts will hold a holiday extravaganza craft and food sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at the Abnaki Girl Scout Council Carriage House Conference Center, 156 North Main St.

Girl Scouts who will travel to Switzerland in 2005 and girls who plan trips through Studio 2B Destinations program will offer crafts, wreaths and food for sale to raise money to pay trip expenses.

The Girl Guide World Center in Adelboden, Switzerland, opens its doors to Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world in an effort to promote friendship and world peace. Twelve girls and three adults from Abnaki Girl Scout Council will visit the World Center for 10 days the summer of 2005.

The Destinations 2B program offers travel opportunities through the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and hundreds of girls travel worldwide each year. This year eight girls from Abnaki Girl Scout Council have applied for the opportunity.

Parallel roadway

After nearly three years of design and permitting work, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued the final permit needed by the city of Brewer for a planned roadway to run roughly parallel to Interstate 395 and Wilson Street. This clears the way for construction to begin on the 1.6-mile roadway this winter.

“The importance of this permit approval to the city of Brewer cannot be overstated,” said Brewer Mayor Michael Celli. “This new roadway will alleviate significant traffic issues along Wilson Street that currently exist as well as protect the capacity of that corridor for the future. It also will provide us with opportunities for more growth.”

Since then, Brewer officials have worked with CES Inc., a Brewer design and engineering firm, and with Eaton Peabody, a Bangor law firm, to develop permit materials, plans and construction diagrams for the project. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued its approval for the project earlier this year.

The parallel road project will be put out to bid late this month or in early December, with construction expected to begin in January.

“We will do the site work all winter long if we need to, which will allow us to move the project along more quickly,” said Frank Higgins, Brewer city engineer. The road is expected to be completed by next fall.

Hampden

Breakfast with Santa

The Dollars for Scholars organization at Hampden Academy is sponsoring a Breakfast with Santa and Holly Jolly bake sale 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Reeds Brook Middle School cafeteria. The cost of the pancake breakfast is $2.50, $10 for a family. Photos with Santa also will be available for $2.

All of the money raised goes for college scholarships for students who are involved in the organization and who donate their time at fund-raisers. The hours they work equal scholarship money at graduation.

To learn more about Dollars for Scholars, call Cindy Greenacre at 862-3914.

Orono

Old-Fashioned Holiday Party

The Page Farm and Home Museum will hold its annual Old-Fashioned Holiday Party at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. at the museum on the University of Maine campus. Activities include singing carols, making tree ornaments, decorating gingerbread people and trimming a tree. To learn more about the party, call the museum at 581-4100.

Red Cross annual meeting

The public is invited to attend the annual meeting of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono. To learn more about the meeting and the mission of the Red Cross, call 941-2903.