Many activities surround the Gala Winter Carnival sponsored by the University of Maine-Machias Student Activities Board.

The carnival will be held Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 8, on the UMM campus in Machias.

And, reports UMM director of advancement Sue Palmer, you are welcome to attend many of those events.

Palmer called last week to report “we have a great Winter Carnival planned,” and said she hopes you will visit the campus and take part.

Palmer noted that “with winter as long as it is, it would be nice for the public to see beautiful fireworks on a winter sky.”

She’s also certain that you will enjoy the entertaining antics of UMM staff, students and faculty, as well as basketball games and a concert described as “a fusion of jazz, funk and rock.”

The carnival theme is “Winter Paradise.” It officially opens at noon Friday with the judging of a mural contest in the Galley of Kimball Hall on the UMM campus.

The 17th annual UMM Staff/Faculty Groundhog Day Extravaganza/Cabin Fever Follies/Whatever Night, organized by UMM’s great musical faculty member and entertainer Gene Nichols, is at 7 p.m. Friday in the Performing Arts Center on campus.

The event is free and, with everything from music to dance to readers’ theater, has the hallmarks of a terrifically fun night.

Both UMM Clipper basketball teams are in action this weekend, facing Lyndon State and St. Joseph’s College.

The women open against Lyndon at 1 p.m. followed by the men at 3 p.m. Saturday in Reynolds Center at UMM.

One of the entertainment highlights is the Winter Carnival Concert, featuring the professional groups Soulive and Jazz Mandolin Project, at 8 that night in the Performing Arts Center on campus.

Admission is free for UMM students with a valid campus identification. General admission is $10.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the coordinator of student activities, Peder More, who is also directing the carnival for the UMM Student Activities Board.

More can be reached at 255-1245.

Basketball continues with the women facing St. Joseph’s at noon, followed by the men at 2 p.m. Sunday in Reynolds Center.

This should be one terrific weekend for everyone associated with UMM and certainly worth a visit to Machias to join in the fun.

Today we extend happy 99th birthday wishes to Worth Noyes of Orrington, who holds that community’s Boston Post Cane as its oldest citizen.

Born in Danforth on Feb. 4, 1905, Noyes currently resides at Bangor Nursing and Rehab Center, 103 Texas Ave., Bangor 04401, for those who would like to send him birthday greetings.

The former head of the math department at Bangor High School has been married to Sarah Noyes for 56 years.

Together, they have five children; Worth Noyes is the proud father of a total of eight children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

His wife said “he really doesn’t like big celebrations,” but she knows he would enjoy receiving cards from friends and former students.

Loretha Huff, patient mentor of Aventis Pharmaceuticals, is the featured speaker for the St. Joseph Healthcare Diabetes Support Group meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Diabetes & Nutrition Center of Building 1 at St. Joseph Healthcare Park, 900 Broadway in Bangor.

Her topic is “Living a Full Life with Diabetes.”

The meeting is free. The group, which meets for one hour the first Thursday of each month, is open to individuals with diabetes and their family members.

More information can be obtained by calling 262-1836.

Judith Perkins, executive director of Keep Bangor Beautiful (which recently received national recognition when it was presented a Keep America Beautiful President’s Circle Award), reports it is time to be thinking about the 2004 Bangor Garden Show.

That delightful event is Friday, March 19, through Sunday, March 21, at the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center.

“It springs to mind that folks who may want to wiggle their toes in the grass, and delight in the palate and fragrance of spring, can do just that as a volunteer at this year’s show,” Perkins wrote me recently.

“They need only indicate their interest by calling Linette Poirier,” who is the Bangor Garden Show volunteer chairwoman.

You can offer your services as a garden show volunteer by calling Poirier at 947-0814 or e-mailing her at poirilm@kellyservices.com.

“Early contact is encouraged,” Perkins added.

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