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Bangor

Bangor Art Society

The Bangor Art Society will present a lecture by woodcarver Roland LaVallee 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the Bangor Public Library Lecture Hall.

LaVallee, who carves human figures, birds, animals, reptiles and whimsical driftwood pieces, moved the Eastport from Connecticut in 1977. He began carving seriously in 1982 and now produces art full time. He offers his work to the public through the Eastport Gallery and the Crow Tracks woodcarving studio. Most of the work he carves is small enough to fit on a window sill. To learn more about his work, visit www.crowtracks.com.

New mystery series

Maine author Kathy Lynn Emerson will launch a new book and a new series at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at Bangor Public Library. She is the author of historical mysteries, romance novels and books for children and young adults, including the “Face Down” Elizabethan mysteries.

Her newest book, “Deadlier than the Pen,” introduces Diana Spaulding, a daring Victorian-era reporter. In the novel, set in 1888, the action moves from New York City’s theatrical district into the middle of the infamous Blizzard of ’88, and finally into what was then as much a frontier as the Wild West – the Northern Maine wilderness.

Intrepid journalist Diana Spaulding is on the trail of a reclusive writer of horror stories. Books will be available for purchase.

YWCA Spring Fair

The YWCA Spring Fair will be held March 26-28 at the Bangor Civic Center and Auditorium.

There will be rides, games, entertainment, food and more.

The fair will be held 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 26-27; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, March 28.

Presale tickets are available at YWCA until March 26. For information, call 941-2808.

Adoption program

BANGOR – Care Development of Maine, a licensed, private, nonprofit agency specializing in special needs adoptions and therapeutic foster care from Westbrook to Fort Kent, has received a $5,000 grant from the Kenduskeag Foundation to support its special needs adoption program.

The special needs adoption program was established in 1998 and in the past seven years 65 children have been placed with adoptive families. The children referred to the adoption program are unable to return to their biological homes and have varying emotional, behavioral and developmental needs.

Care Development of Maine Executive Director Kathleen Davis said, “Fees do not begin to cover the expenses incurred by the program that matches special needs children with permanent adoptive families. The Kenduskeag Foundation grant will help us to find loving, adoptive homes for Maine foster children. We’re grateful for their support.”

To obtain more information on ways to support Care’s mission of serving children and families in need, call Alicia Nichols at 945-4240 or e-mail anichols@caredev.org.

Peace and Justice Center

Activists from Eastern Maine will hold a send-off rally at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at Cascade Park in Bangor before joining a carpool and caravan to Augusta to take part in a statewide Global Day of Action Against War and Occupation.

The caravan will join the March for Truth – Maine Still Says No to War! day which will begin with a rally at noon at the Capitol, to be followed by a march, special ceremonies commemorating those who have died in Iraq, speakers, music and an informational forum. The day of action is one of many organized around the world on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq.

The Bangor send-off rally is being organized by the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, a member of the statewide Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice, organizer of the statewide day of action.

To learn more about the rally, caravan and day of action, call 942-9334, visit www.marchfortruth.org, or www.unitedforpeace.org.

Rape Response Services

Rape Response Services will offer a free support group for women who have experienced rape, incest or child sexual abuse.

The six-week session begins April 5 and runs 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

For information, call Rape Response Services at 973-3661. Rape Response Services has provided services for 16 years to those who are affected by sexual assault in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

Fad diets

Katherine Musgrave, dietitian extraordinaire, will give a talk at 6 p.m. Monday, March 22, at Bangor Public Library. Her topic will be “Fad Diets – What to Believe.”

Musgrave has influenced generations of area citizens with her common sense approach to the ever-changing shifts in what we hear we should or should not be eating. Hers is a voice of reason amidst the clamor going on in the dietary wilderness.

Call the library at 947-8336 for more information about Musgrave’s talk.

Crisis intervention training

The Spruce Run Association, the domestic violence project serving Penobscot County, is looking for volunteers. Beginning May 3, the organization will provide a 43-hour training program for hotline volunteers.

Spruce Run also will offer children’s worker training, a 24-hour program that prepares volunteers to provide support to children affected by domestic violence.

Training session topics for both positions include the dynamics of domestic violence and crisis intervention skill development.

Work study and continuing education units are available. Call 945-5102 for more information.

Arnold’s march

Stephen Clark of Shapleigh will talk about his book, “Following Their Footsteps,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at Bangor Public Library.

Few historic events rival the drama of Benedict Arnold’s Revolutionary War march on Quebec. Clark’s book brings to life the doomed, yet daring trek made in 1775, across the Maine wilderness. The book also is a travel guide for following Arnold’s route by car, on foot or by canoe.

Brewer

Ten Bucks Theatre auditions

Auditions for “Taming of the Shrew,” the summer production of Ten Bucks Theatre Co. Inc., will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 26, and 2-4 p.m. Sunday April 4 at Brewer Middle School auditorium, 5 Somerset St.

Participants must be 18 or older, and prepare one Shakespearean monologue. For an appointment, call Sharon Zolper, 947-4892.

Orono

Orono Land Trust

The Orono Land Trust will hold its 18th annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, at the Orono Community Building. Dessert will be served until 7 p.m.

Laura Rose Day will discuss the Penobscot River restoration, fishing and generating electricity in Orono. A business meeting will follow.

Day of bingo

A day of bingo to benefit Orono High School’s Project Graduation will be offered at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at the American Legion on Park Street. There will be games, food, raffles and prizes.

Tickets are $11 at the door or from Anne Marie Smyth, 866-0091.

Winterport

‘Dearly Departed’

Winterport Open Stage will open its 10th anniversary season with “Dearly Departed.” Open auditions for the comedy will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, March 25-26, at Wagner Middle School. The public is invited to audition.

Reed Farrar, Open Stage artistic director, is seeking six men and six women for the play. High school students are urged to read for the parts.

“Dearly Departed” by David Bottrell follows the backwoods antics of the Turpin family, who prove that living and dying in the south are seldom tidy and always hilarious. They have a funeral to plan and between feuds, marital flings and macaroni and ham loaf surprise, it may escalate into a multiple-coffin memorial service.

The play will run May 14-15, and May 21-23.

Character descriptions, selected scenes and other information may be found at www.winterportopenstage.com.

Woman’s Club auction

The Winterport Woman’s Club will hold a community auction Friday, March 26, at Wagner Middle School. Preview and silent auction is 6:30-7 p.m. The live auction is 7-9 p.m. Proceeds benefit the club’s community service projects. Those who wish to donate items to the auction may call Julie Logan at 223-4693.