Winterport meal to aid pupil, honor late mother

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People in the Winterport area are invited to attend a community spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Samuel L. Wagner Middle School in Winterport to benefit the Brandon Johnson Educational Trust Fund. The snow date is Saturday, Feb. 7.

The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12 or $15 a family. If you wish, you can contribute more.

And while the event is planned as a benefit for Brandon, who is an eighth-grader at the school, it is also a loving tribute to his mother, Paula Johnson, who died of cancer in late November at the age of 42.

Paula Johnson was an integral member of the Winterport community, according to those who knew her.

When asked to describe what Johnson meant to the town and the people it serves, Karen Reynolds wrote, “Paula was a tremendous advocate for positive change in our local town government, particularly involving the reassessment of Winterport property taxes.”

She also was, according to Reynolds, “never afraid to tackle any issue with conviction and perseverance.”

Johnson led annual fund-raising events like the October Applefest celebration as a member of Partners In Education, and she was an active leader in local Cub Scout and Boy Scout activities, Reynolds said.

As a “devoted single mother,” after the death of her husband six years ago, Reynolds added, “Paula not only raised her son Brandon, but provided foster care for several other boys.

“Brandon’s sweet smile, quirky independence and well-rounded, easy-going approach to life are a tribute to his mother’s loving care and guidance,” Reynolds concluded.

“They are both well known and much-loved in our community,” which is why this event is really more than a benefit: It is a celebration of life.

If you cannot attend but would like to make a direct contribution, you can send a check to Brandon Johnson Educational Trust, c/o Bangor Savings Bank, P.O. Box 409, Searsport 04794.

If you have questions about contributions, call Joan Bowman at 223-8879 or Maureen Dillane at 223-5099.

Last fall, the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post No. 4298 in Dexter voted to participate in the Adopt-A-Unit Program, which recognizes military units and their contributions to protecting our peace and freedom, according to a recent release.

The auxiliary “adopted” the 619th Transportation Company of the U.S. Army Reserve, which has a detachment in Dexter and is based in Auburn.

The unit has been mobilized for deployment in the Middle East.

President Misty Twilley and members of the auxiliary will be accepting donations of items for care packages to be sent to the soldiers from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, and the same times on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the VFW Hall, 20 Cedar St., in Dexter.

During the week, you can drop off items or during regular business hours at Babcock’s Gifts and Collectables on Main Street in Dexter.

If you are wondering what type of items are appropriate, a list is available at Babcock’s or at the auxiliary Web site, www.geocities.com/ladiesaux4298.

When you make your donation, you also will be able to add your signature to a list of those supporting our troops overseas.

If you have questions, call Twilley at 876-1145.

From Sue Currie, client services coordinator for Rape Response Services, which has offices in Bangor, Millinocket, Dover-Foxcroft and Orono, comes word that the service is seeking people for its 24-hour volunteer hot line program.

Training will be offered in Bangor and begins Thursday, Feb. 5, and ends Thursday, Feb. 26.

The qualities needed for this volunteer opportunity are being a good listener and being a helpful person.

For 16 years, Rape Response Services and its volunteers have been providing services to individuals affected by sexual assault in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

If you are interested, call Rape Response Services at 941-2980, or e-mail rrscsc@raperesponseservices.com.

Lurline Webb of Prospect has quite a collection of greeting cards she would like to find a good home for.

“I have many and would like to donate them to someone who could put them to use,” she wrote.

She hopes someone will respond and believes “there are other people who would like this information, too.”

If you have an answer to her query, contact me and I will pass the information along to her and you.

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