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Bangor

Annual Christmas dinner

The St. John’s Episcopal Church Youth Fellowship will host its third annual Christmas Dinner starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the Undercroft-basement of the church at 225 French St., behind John Bapst High School. The dinner is for the Bangor community, and is free. Setup and preparations will begin around noon.

To offer help, or to obtain information, call Stephen Dass at the parish office at 947-0156, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday, or e-mail stjohns@midmaine.com, or go to www.geocities.com/stjohnyouthfellowship.

National Folk Festival

BANGOR – It’s still eight months away, but the 66th National Folk Festival is accepting applications for food vendors and artisans for the Folk Arts Marketplace.

The 2004 festival, scheduled for Aug. 27-29, will be the third consecutive year with Bangor as the host. Last year’s festival drew an audience of more than 100,000 to the city’s waterfront.

Festival organizers are looking for food vendors to sell everything from traditional fair foods to ethnic and regional selections, and also are seeking folk art vendors to reflect the cultures of the region through authentic traditional art forms.

Applications may be requested by writing: The National Folk Festival, 30 Main St., Suite 220, Bangor 04401. Completed applications must be received by Feb. 5.

Historical local art

During the month of December the Bangor Public Library is holding a historical local art exhibit in the Lecture Hall. A variety of mediums used to create art on paper are being featured, including a selection of watercolors, prints and photographs.

Those who visit the exhibit will have the opportunity to learn what a heliotype is, what the difference is between an engraving and an etching, how to identify an albumen print, how Bangor got its name, the name of Paul Revere’s most famous engraving, and more.

For information, contact the library at 947-8336.

Santa Claus back on TV

Santa is coming to WABI-TV Channel 5 in Bangor. The television station wraps up its 50 Years of Great TV celebration this month and will present a new edition of a classic children’s local television show that was a regular part of the station’s holiday programming during the 1950s and 1960s.

“Santa and His Friends” will take children on an exciting journey to Santa’s North Pole headquarters, where they will meet Santa, talented elves and Santa’s friend, Rudley, the Real Orange Reindeer.

Local children’s choirs add to the entertainment, performing holiday songs and interacting with Santa.

The new “Santa and His Friends” airs the three days before Christmas at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 22-24.

TV5 also will offer an encore showing of the award-winning retrospective program, “50 Years of Great TV,” which takes a look back at the station’s five decades of local service. The program features nostalgic film clips and interviews with past TV5 personalities. It will air 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Acadia Recovery Community

The Acadia Recovery Community, a program of The Acadia Hospital, has received $30,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. The Acadia Recovery Community provides emergency shelter and transitional housing programs for individuals living with chemical dependency.

The Acadia Recovery Community, formerly known as Hope House, serves more than 1,300 individuals each year.

Santa’s Toy Drive

Hampton Inn, 10 Bangor Mall Blvd., has set up a Santa’s Toy Drive at the hotel to collect toys until Dec. 23.

The toys will be donated to Kid’s Peace, a nonprofit organization which assists foster children and their families. Those wishing to donate a toy should bring a new, unwrapped gift to be placed under the Christmas tree in the hotel’s lobby. To learn more about the toy drive, call the hotel at 990-4400.

Brewer

Kiwanis news

Elise Adams, Brewer Library director, was the guest speaker at a recent Kiwanis Club meeting. She talked about projects that are available to children, including the production of “Double Vision.”

Brewer Kiwanis has planned the annual Head Start Christmas party, which will feature a visit from Santa Claus who will give out gifts.

To learn more about Brewer Kiwanis or to join the organization, call President Jane Newberry at 945-0745.

Eddington

Firefighters grant

Eddington Fire Department has received $36,000 in the 25th round of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The town was one of three in Maine, and one of 177 nationwide to receive a grant.

The grant will help fund purchase of firefighter equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs and conduct fire prevention and safety programs.

Winterport

Nativity Pageant

The community of Winterport will be celebrating their 36th annual live Nativity Pageant at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Union Meeting House, in the center of the village.

The event is an ecumenical celebration of the Christmas spirit. All who are interested are invited to attend.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin