Most of us probably believe that free house calls by anyone of any profession, from doctors to electricians, are a thing of the past.

But that’s not so in the Machias area, where Curtis Carver of Carver Computers has been making free house calls for low-income families who are having troubles with their computers. He will continue to help in this way through the end of January.

“I just charge for the parts,” Curtis said of his repairs.

To date, Carver said he has donated more than $1,000 of his time fixing and consulting with people about their computers. He plans to do as much as he can between now and Saturday, Jan. 31.

Carver said he’d travel from Meddybemps to the Addison area to Milbridge to help those who call him.

“And if they have any problems that just need technical support, I can talk them through most anything,” he added.

His business includes computer repair, sales, upgrades, some networking and building Web pages, he explained.

Having recently completed his best year ever, Carver said the communities have been good to him and that he wants to give something back.

Is he worried that he may get too many calls for help? Not a bit, he said.

“Most people are really nice. If I tell them I’m a little backed up, and that I’ll get to them as soon as I can, they’re OK.”

If you are a low-income individual or family in his service area and you need help arranging, setting up or fixing a computer system in your home, call Carver at 255-8220. He’ll be happy to help.

The Maine Gerontological Society, which was incorporated in 1990, has recently been reactivated, according to Deb Chapman of Eastern Area Agency of Bangor.

The society is a statewide consortium of professionals providing brokerage for resource sharing, educational forums, research agendas, advocacy and networking.

The nominating committee is currently accepting applications for a new board of directors, which will be composed of professionals interested in representing Maine’s geriatric population.

According to the original bylaws of the society, applicants must be members of the society.

A board member serves a two-year term with the organization that meets at least once a year in person.

Members of the board will be elected at the society’s annual meeting, 8-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan 29, at the Sheraton in South Portland.

The election immediately precedes the Elder Caregiving in Maine Conference at the same site.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Maine Gerontological Society, know of someone interested in serving on its board of directors or want to nominate yourself, call Chapman for details.

She can be reached at (800) 432-7812 or 941-2865. Her e-mail address is dchapman@eaa.org.

Completed nomination applications must be sent no later than Friday, Jan. 9, to Sharon Ann Berz, Aroostook Agency on Aging, P.O. Box 1288, Presque Isle 04769.

Congratulations to Gary Eckmann of Orrington, owner-operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Bangor, Brewer and Dover-Foxcroft, for receiving the Ronald Award from McDonald’s Corporation.

The award recognizes one McDonald’s owner-operator each year who made outstanding contributions to the development of the corporation’s image in areas of advertising, promotion and public relations.

Eckmann is well-known for his community commitments, particularly for his support of the Bangor Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

For 15 years, Eckmann has been the man behind the McDonald’s All-Star Basketball Games, which not only celebrate accomplishments of student-athletes throughout our state, but also raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine.

Last fall you read about the James Stanley family of Bangor facing an unimaginable situation in which two of the three Stanley children, high school students Jessica and Jason, were being treated for cancer.

James Stanley wrote the Bangor Daily News recently “to thank all of the people who have called or sent letters and prayers” for his children.

“They have remained strong through this whole past year,” Stanley said, “taking all the treatments, no matter how bad or how long a stay in the hospital.

“All of the support we have received from family, friends and many strangers, have helped Jason and Jessica very much,” he said.

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