Through Friday, Feb. 20, the Eastern Food and Fuel drive headed by the city of Brewer to assist displaced mill employees had received slightly more than $8,000, wrote Brewer Economic Development Director Drew Sachs.

Those contributions, collected on behalf of 240 millworkers who were displaced when Eastern Fine Paper Co. closed its doors recently, came from “many generous souls out there who dug deep and took the time to contribute,” Sachs wrote.

And while there is no “actual count of nonperishable food that’s been donated,” he explained, “we’ve been able to collect approximately a dozen truckloads of food for PACE Local 1-0403 to distribute.

“That’s quite an accomplishment, and it’s truly been needed.”

However, Sachs reminds readers, families of the millworkers continue to “have serious needs,” and the money “is going out as quickly as it’s being received.”

Sachs also says donations are going to the union “on a regular basis,” and the money is “not sitting in a city account, somewhere, unspent.”

Although it is getting a bit warmer outside and the days are getting longer, Sachs reminds us, “Winter isn’t yet over, so fuel assistance is still a significant and growing concern for the displaced workers,” and that “additional needs are starting to surface.”

Perhaps the most critical of those “is a need by some families for prescription medicine and medical treatment, which has become prohibitively expensive now that they no longer have health insurance,” he explained.

So, Sachs hopes, until the Eastern Fine Paper situation is resolved, people will remember there are those among us who are unemployed, and he hopes you will continue to offer them your support.

Individuals who can make financial contributions should send a check made out to PACE Local 403 and mail it to Eastern Employees Assistance Fund, c/o City of Brewer, 80 North Main St., Brewer 04412.

Nonperishable food donations can be delivered during regular business hours to Brewer Auditorium, Brewer City Hall, Bangor Parks & Recreation Department or Bangor City Hall.

Finally, Sachs wants to “pass along a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the many people who have already contributed food, money and other items and services to the displaced millworkers.”

Sachs recently spoke with union representatives and says “They are feeling a need to spread the word that the outpouring of support is greatly appreciated by the people who worked at the mill and their families.”

The benefit recital for Bangor Symphony Orchestra, featuring BSO music conductor and director Maestro Xiao-Lu Li on Sunday, Feb. 29, at Husson College in Bangor has been postponed with a new date to be determined.

Ticket holders will be contacted and informed about the new date.

Meanwhile, Li will be the featured speaker for the Bangor Region Leadership Institute’s Alumni Association Breakfast from 7:15 to 9 a.m. Thursday, March 4, at the Richard E. Dyke Center on the Husson College campus in Bangor.

Li, who was named the 2003 Dynamic Leader of the Year by the Maine Public Policy Institute, will be joined by John Rohman, CEO and president of WBRC Architects-Engineers of Bangor.

Rohman served two years as chairman of the National Folk Festival in Bangor and was recently appointed chairman of the Maine Arts Commission by Gov. John Baldacci.

For more information about the breakfast, call the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce at 947-0307 or visit brccevents@bangorregion.com.

Joe Kennedy reports he and Peter Clain are organizing Bucksport Community Theatre and hope anyone interested in being part of that group will attend a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 1, in the Bucksport town office.

The purpose of the meeting “is to gather more information on preparing for our summer production.”

A popular Broadway show that was made into a movie is planned to coincide with the Bucksport Bay Festival.

Catherine “Kae” Barrett of Bangor was 86 when she died this week in Bangor.

Kae was an intelligent, charming, caring, delightful woman who served her community admirably. She was one of those special people who just made you feel happy to be in her company.

She always had a story to tell, often including a bit of personal history that made it even more enjoyable.

Kae loved life and those around her, and it showed. How she could smile!

She will be missed, not only by her family and her dearest friends, but also by others who had the pleasure of knowing her.

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