Relay for Life a success

OLD TOWN – The 11th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life, held May 14-15 at Old Town High School, raised more than $170,000 for cancer research and patient services after more than 1,500 volunteers walked at the high school track.

“Area residents really showed their spirit this weekend,” said Mike Hart, community executive for the American Cancer Society. “Many cancer survivors showed up to participate as well. It was very touching and emotional for all of us.”

The top individual fund-raiser was Estelle Levesque, who brought in $2,248; her company, Orono Commons, raised $4,859.

More than 1,500 people participated and were split into 79 teams. The teams represented area businesses, clubs and organizations.

Carla Bommarito said that money raised in the 2004 Relay For Life will be used to speed up the search for new weapons to fight cancer.

“Cancer will soon become the number one killer in America as baby boomers grow older,” Bommarito said. “In order to expand our patient services in Penobscot County and research new ways to treat patients, we’ve got to channel more public attention and money into this problem.”

American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Old Town was made possible by ABC-7, Adelphia, Dead River, Dysarts, Fox 22, Georgia-Pacific, Hannaford, Sam’s Club and Z-107.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.

Family golf lessons

BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA is offering lessons for families to learn how to golf together this summer with its Family Golf Lessons, held at two separate times for one hour, each on four Tuesday sessions in July. The cost is $75 per three-person family or $50 per two-person family and all lessons will be held at Hermon Meadow Golf Club Driving Range.

Taught by certified teaching professional Thea Davis, adults can participate with a son, daughter, niece or nephew who is age 10 or older. Families will be instructed on fundamentals of grip, stance and posture with woods, long and short irons. Chipping, pitching and putting will be covered, as well as course etiquette and rules. Golf clubs will be provided for those who do not have clubs. All balls are provided but transportation is not.

Each family will include at least one person over the age of 18 with no more than a total of three in one family. There will be a minimum of three families and a maximum of five families per session. The dates and times for each session are as follows: 1-2 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays, July 13, July 20, July 27 and August 3.

Register early as there is limited space in this program. The Bangor YMCA would like to thank the Greater Bangor Open Golf Committee for its generous and continued support of this program.

For more information, contact Lance Cote, recreational sports director, or Joelene Snelling, assistant recreational sports director, at the Bangor YMCA at 941-2815.

Family camping

BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA invites families to take part in the summer camp experience at Camp Jordan by spending the weekend together at Family Camp, Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20. The camp begins at 9 a.m. on June 19 and ends at 10 a.m. on June 20. The cost is $150 for a family of four and $15 per each additional person.

At Camp Jordan, located on 200 acres on Branch Lake in Ellsworth, families may stay in a cabin or arrange to share a cabin with friends. They also will receive three meals – lunch, dinner and breakfast – prepared camp-style and served by Jeff’s Catering.

Families may spend the day participating in swimming, canoeing, fishing, softball, tennis, arts and crafts, low ropes, songs around the campfire and eating marshmallow treats.

To obtain more information, call Jim Bentley, Camp Jordan director, at 941-2815, or e-mail camp@bangorymca.org.

Special Olympics

BANGOR – More than 1,000 members of Maine law enforcement and Irving Oil employees are supporting the achievements of Special Olympic athletes by raising awareness of the program and by raising funds for it.

Officers throughout Maine will pump gas and wash windshields from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at 50 Irving Mainway locations in support of Special Olympics. Officers and Irving employees will hold raffles and sell hot dogs, T-shirts and balloons. Many locations will have bounce houses and dunk tanks. Special Olympians will be on hand at all 50 locations. Some stores will be considered party sites.

Irving stores will donate 5 cents for every gallon of gas sold Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Bangor area officers participating in the fund-raising event at local Irving stores are: Cathy Rumsey, Broadway, Bangor; Sgt. Paul Kenison, Odlin Road, Bangor; Officer Nelson Feero, Brewer; Officer James Ryan, Hampden; Officer Colin Cougle, Holden; and Officer Josh Ewing, Orono.