Community college plans first homecoming

Along with a new name has come a decision to host a new event that should become an annual tradition for Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

Formerly known as Eastern Maine Technical College and, before that, as Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, EMCC is planning its first-ever homecoming.

Elizabeth Umphrey of EMCC reports homecoming is Saturday, Sept. 18, and organizers are trying to locate and inform all alumni about it.

Umphrey wrote that “initial plans for the event” include an alumni recognition and welcoming ceremony, “opportunities to socialize, a craft fair, barbecue and soccer game, capped off with a dinner.”

Homecoming planners are especially interested in learning what its graduates are up to, Umphrey wrote, so their successes can be shared. Additionally, EMCC would like to hear from any graduates who might be interested in helping organize the event and-or serve on the Alumni Association board, Umphrey explained.

She encourages all EMVTI and EMTC alumni to call Terri Adam at 974-4691 or e-mail tadam@emcc.edu to provide a current mailing address and indicate if they would like to join the homecoming organizational team.

Great things are happening on our community college campuses, and this is just one of them.

It should be a wonderful experience for all who attend, especially those who have not visited the campus lately. So, don’t wait, EMVTI and EMTC alums, get in touch with your alma mater now!

Laurie Fogelman invites you to the Chocolate Feast and Silent Auction from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at White Birches in Ellsworth to benefit The Next Step Domestic Violence Project.

Donations at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

BJ Bangs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Maine Chapter Bangor Outreach Office reports that organization will offer “Write-On: A Tool for Emotional Health,” from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 9, at the local Outreach Office, 735 Main Road North in Hampden.

The program is free, and features presenter Mary Moore describing the use of “journaling” as a way to reduce stress.

To register, or to find out more about MS, which is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, call (800) 273-4730 or 942-8604 or visit www.msmaine.org.

With the recent announcement that Eastern Fine Paper in Brewer may not reopen, Brewer Director of Economic Development Drew Sachs reported the cities of Brewer and Bangor have initiated “an effort to collect nonperishable food and cash donations for company employees who are out of work.”

The idea of Brewer Mayor Michael Celli is to help those employees needing assistance “make ends meet,” Sachs wrote.

While the cities will serve as collection sites for food and donations, PACE Local 1-0403 will distribute the donations to Eastern employees in need.

Individuals and business representatives may drop off nonperishable food items during regular business hours at Brewer Auditorium on Wilson Street, Brewer City Hall on North Main Street, Bangor City Hall on Harlow Street or Bangor Parks and Recreation on Main Street.

Cash or check contributions made out to PACE Local 403 may be delivered or mailed to Brewer City Hall, 80 North Main St., Brewer 04412.

Displaced millworkers may call Jim Dinardo, 561-4016 or 862-2243; Peter Copa, 234-2096; or Manley DeBeck, 989-7608, to be considered for assistance.

As part of the Bangor and Brewer collection effort for Eastern Fine Paper employees, Don Emmons of Bangor Wal-Mart and Carol Lackedy of Brewer Wal-Mart have announced that their respective stores will serve as additional collection sites.

Nonperishable food items and monetary donations for the displaced workers may be left in drop-off boxes at the exits of each store.

President Misty Twilley and members of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4298 in Dexter will be accepting donations for care packages for troops of the 619th Transportation Company of the U.S. Army Reserve, which is based in Auburn and has a detachment in Dexter.

Last fall, the Auxiliary “adopted” the unit that has been mobilized for deployment in the Middle East.

Donations will be accepted from 2 to 6 p.m. today at the VFW Hall in Dexter, or can be dropped off at Babcock’s Collectibles and Gifts on Main Street in Dexter.

At the VFW Hall, a sheet will be available for those who wish to sign it as a show of support for our troops.

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