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Bangor

Endowment fund in need

There was a time when the Bangor Public Library’s endowment fund was more than enough to meet the reading needs of city residents, but that time is long past.

In an effort to shore up the endowment and provide for library material needs, the library’s board of managers and trustees is asking local businesses to contribute to the library’s endowment and establish a named fund.

If a business makes a contribution of at least $1,000 this year – and the board hopes to continue this donation next year and every year thereafter – books or other library materials will be purchased with the income from that investment. The endowment and the named fund would go on in perpetuity.

Each book or book on tape, CD, or DVD would have a bookplate stating that it is a gift from the donor. The purchase might be a mix of books, periodicals, audios, videos and-or online resources. The choice is the donor’s. With the current rate for endowment funds, the income from a $1,000 donation would purchase four books for the children’s department or two books of nonfiction.

Bangor’s Wal-Mart has donated $1,000 to this campaign. The money will be used to purchase books for the children’s department. Allison Carson, speaking for the store, said Wal-Mart is pleased to invest in the future of the city.

For information about how to give to the library’s endowment funds, call the library at 947-8336.

Military student marchers

Jodi Kokoska of Bangor and Sarah Day of Porter spent March 21 in the New Mexico desert competing in a 26.2-mile road march. They placed third and first, respectively.

Kokoska and Porter, military students at North Georgia College & State University, were among 3,000 participants in the 15th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at the White Sands Missile Range. The event commemorates the military’s defense of the Philippine Islands during World War II.

Kokoska, a junior sociology major, and four teammates on the “lightweight coed” team, finished in six hours, placing third in the category.

Day, 21, won a gold medal for the “lightweight military female” category.

The women trained for the competition wearing Army rucksacks on their backs and were prepared to compete in any of the 17 team categories, excluding the all-male competitions. They put in several hundred hours training for the competition.

BSO auditions

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions for the 2004-2005 season at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 27, at Bangor High School, 885 Broadway. Available positions include assistant concertmaster, principal violin 2, viola, clarinet 2 and section strings. Substitutes are needed for all positions.

Contracted musicians are paid on per-service basis with mileage and housing arrangements included. The 2004-2005 season includes six classical concerts, one special event, three youth concerts, and three performances of “The Nutcracker” ballet.

To learn more about audition requirements, call Scott Burdett, orchestra manager, at 862-2711.

Meet the author

Martha Dudman, author of “Expecting to Fly,” will discuss her book at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at the Bangor Public Library in the Lecture Hall.

Author of the critically acclaimed memoir of parenting a rebellious teenage daughter, “Augusta Gone,” Dudman’s latest work is an unflinching view of her own tumultuous adolescence.

Concert for senior citizens

Bangor-area senior citizens are invited to a free preview performance of the annual Spring Concert performed by John Bapst musicians 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 14, at the John Bapst auditorium, 100 Broadway.

The concert band, chamber ensemble, concert choir and jazz band will perform. Seating is on the main floor with handicapped access. Seating begins at 11:30 a.m.

Free beverages will be provided by the Fine Arts Boosters. Questions may be directed to Carol Robb at the fine arts office, 947-0313.

Proclamation

The Bangor City Council issued a proclamation April 12 to recognize General Electric Energy for 35 years of operation in Bangor. The company was cited for its student intern program in partnership with Eastern Maine Community College, for expanding its number of employees from 50 in 1969 to 500 today, and for its efforts to reduce waste and recycle materials used in the process of manufacturing turbines.

Bangor Community Chorus

The Bangor Community Chorus, under the direction of Ronald Sherwin and accompanied by Sarah McQuarrie, will present its 36th spring concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St.

Sherwin, who has completed his doctorate in church music and education at the University of Maine, has been chorus conductor for two years. He also is conductor of the 90-member chorale at the university, and is minister of music at First Congregational Church in Brewer.

The theme for this year’s concert is “Songs from Around the World.”

The concert is free, but donations are welcome. The chorus also welcomes new members.

To learn more about Bangor Community Chorus, visit www.maineguide.com/Bangor/Chorus/index.html, or e-mail mckinnon@maineguide.com.

New art shows

The Clark House Gallery is presenting three new shows 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through June 18 in the gallery at 128 Hammond St.

Carolyn Caldwell expresses her artistic vision with bright, pastel paintings of Deer Isle.

Her “Fields of Light” was included by art critic Carl Little in his juried show “Small Works: Landscape Paintings,” held at Clark House in 2002. Caldwell studied at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Also on display will be “Jeffrey Becton: Photo Montage,” images made from photographs taken in Deer Isle. The works reflect his private, surreal vision of the world around him. Two pieces in the show were recently on display at the Portland Museum of Art.

The third show is “Contemporary Realism: Gallery Artists,” a salon-style show of recent work in landscape and still life. The artists’ reception will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at the gallery. For information, call 942-9162.

Live jazz

Maine Public Radio will air three live jazz performances as part of its “Friday Night Jazz with Rich Tozier” weekly program.

The Edith Jones Project, an all-woman big band, will play in the Bangor studio at 9 p.m. Friday, May 7.

Tozier will welcome guitarist Rick Nelson, trumpeter Don Stratton and saxophonist Tim O’Dell into the studio at 9 p.m. Friday, May 14.

Black Note Fever, a jazz combination from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, May 28. Directed by Steve Orlofsky, this is one of the hottest high school groups in the state.

The public is invited to attend any of the performances. Call Rich Tozier at (800) 884-1717, Ext. 3095, or e-mail rtozier@mpbc.org, to reserve seat.

Child care training

The Penquis Community Action Program Resource Development Center will offer “Caring for School Age Youth” training 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19 and 26, at the Maine Discovery Museum. Lunch is not provided.

The training covers the aspects of providing child care for 5- to 13-year-old children in a child care center or family child care setting. It adheres to the standards and practices outlined for child care and early education in the eight core knowledge areas.

The registration fee is $10. Current child care providers may apply for reimbursement. Call 973-3533 to register.

Book sale at library

The Friends of the Bangor Public Library will hold a book sale 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 8, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library.

Members of the Friends group and those who wish to join may attend a preview 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 7, and purchase up to 10 books per family.

Proceeds benefit the library for the purchase of tapes and CDs.

Those who would like to serve as volunteers for the book sale may call Maria at 947-8336, Ext. 128.

Book discussion

Dan Brown’s popular novel “The Da Vinci Code” plays with old themes revolving around the Holy Grail, the Knights Templar and royal bloodlines dating back to the time of Jesus. The author used famous, historical Europeans and modern-day conspiracy theories to make the book a best-selling novel.

The Rev. James Haddix of All Souls Church will discuss the book, the facts and the myths at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Bangor Public Library.

Gospel concert

The inaugural night of second Friday gospel concerts will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Essex Street Baptist Church. A free supper will be served at 6 p.m.

The Ecclesia Quartet and soloist Wes Linscott will provide music. To obtain more information, call Linscott at 942-1551, the church at 942-4177 or e-mail wes@mainegospel.com.

Adoption, foster care forum

The Bangor office of the Department of Human Services will hold a public informational meeting about adoption and foster care from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 17. To learn the location of the meeting, call A Family for ME at (877) 505-0545.

Hudson

Benefit supper

A public supper of beans and spaghetti to benefit the Jeff McIninch family will be held 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Hudson town hall.

Contributions also may be sent to the Jeff McIninch Fund through Hermon Baptist Church, 2496 Route 2, Hermon 04401.

Orono

Tasting Bee

The Orono Historical Society will hold its annual Tasting Bee 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 10, at the Asa Adams School gym.

Tables of food from local restaurants will be available for attendees to sample. Participating restaurants are The Muddy Rudder, Brewer; Sea Dog, Bangor; The Chocolate Grille, Old Town; and from Orono, Ampersand/The Store, Bear Brew Pub, Margarita’s and Pat’s Pizza. The Orono Pharmacy will provide ice cream for dessert.

Tickets for the event are $10, $5 for children 6-12 years old, and are available at The Pretty Woman, Ampersand/The Store, or by calling Marlene Doucette at 866-2597. Tickets also will be sold at the door. Door prizes will be awarded.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the restoration of the Civil War monument in Webster Park.

Orrington

Spring Fair

The Center Drive School Parent-Teacher Group will sponsor the annual Spring Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Center Drive School. Admission is free.

Highlights of the fair include the only area appearance of the State of Maine Fire Department Association’s demonstration trailer, courtesy of the Orrington Fire Department; two firetrucks, hosing, thermal imaging camera demonstrations and Sparky the Fire Dog.

Portland Glass will donate their services to fix dings in car windshields. The service is free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

Children may ride Copper, the horse from the Curran Homestead, meet Holly the Holstein, get fingerprinted by a sheriff, see a karate demonstration or visit with staff from Fields Pond Nature Center.

Raffle tickets for bicycles, toys, outings and services will be available. Other attractions include games and prizes, a bounce house and mazes, face painting, a bake sale, a plant sale, crafts, educational exhibits and gift vendors.

Areawide

Grant for writers

Maine writers seeking support for their writing endeavors may wish to apply for the Martin Dibner Fellowship for Maine Writers, a $500-$1,000 grant, administered by the Maine Community Foundation. Application deadline is May 15.

Applications will be accepted from promising Maine writers to allow them to further their writing skills and experience.

Attendance at writing workshops is the primary purpose for support, and secondarily for assistance with living expenses while finishing a writing project. Recipients will be selected in order of the following priorities: quality of prior work, stage of development as a writer and financial need. In even years the award will go to writers of fiction and in odd years to writers of poetry.

Applications should include the following:

. A one-sentence objective.

. A one-page summary of the project for which you are applying, including its relevance to your writing.

. Income and expense budget for the project.

. Resume, including previously published works.

. A writing sample consisting of five to seven single-sided, typed pages.

. A separate page listing name, address, phone and the title of your submission(s).

Applications must be mailed to: Martin Dibner Memorial Fellowship Fund Maine Community Foundation, 245 Main St. Ellsworth, ME 04605.

For information, e-mail Carl Little, clittle@mainecf.org, or call (877) 700-6800.