Ellsworth Rotary breakfast kicks off day of fun

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Now in its 42nd year, the Ellsworth Rotary Club’s Pancake Breakfast is one of the most popular events for locals and visitors to the city that considers itself “your Downeast place to be.”

The all-you-can-eat-event is 7-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, under a large tent next to City Hall in downtown Ellsworth rain or shine.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Your delicious breakfast includes locally grown wild Maine blueberries in pancakes slathered with butter and real Maine maple syrup, coffee, orange juice and milk.

Rotarian Terry Carlisle wrote “it is estimated that as many as 350 Rotarians have slaved over the hot pancake griddles” in those 42 years, “to serve up to 410,000 blueberry pancakes to more than 68,000 hungry patrons.”

And, in her letter to me about this wonderful event that benefits the Rotary Club’s high school scholarship fund and local charitable organizations, she was sure to mention three other events taking place about the same time on that day in her community.

“Across the street” from the Rotary tent, she wrote, “the women of the First Congregational Church will hold one of Ellsworth’s oldest fairs, where they feature handmade items, plants, baked goods and white elephants” as they have been doing for 124 years.

Two more traditional events – the Ellsworth Public Library’s book sale and downtown merchants’ sidewalk sales up and down Main Street – round out a morning of fun.

Perhaps unlike other pancake breakfasts you’ve attended, this one also includes live entertainment provided by the Fletcher’s Landing Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Hancock County District Attorney Michael Povich.

For those who do not recognize the locale of this orchestra, Carlisle reminds you that “Fletcher’s Landing is another name for Plantation 8, a little plot of ground on Graham Lake between Ellsworth and Waltham.”

And, for the little ones, “Petunia the Clown” will be giving out balloons and KidCare ID photo passports for children age 12 and under.

Rain or shine, everything’s sure to be fine in Ellsworth this Saturday.

Colleen Robbins of the American Red Cross Bangor Donor Center reports “our blood supplies are extremely low at this time,” and hopes you will give the gift of life by participating in BLOODSTOCK from noon to 7 p.m. today at the center, 900B Hammond Street in Bangor.

BLOODSTOCK is the Center’s way of celebrating the 35th anniversary of Woodstock and Robbins encourages donors to dress in 1969 styles.

She reminds you that Woodstock was known by the terms, “summer of love, flower children, and peace, love and happiness.

“Wear your bell bottoms, tie-dye shirts and come to our summer of love,” she said.

Prizes will be awarded to those in costume, and they will participate in a raffle for a $100 gas gift card.

All donors will receive Ben and Jerry’s Peace Pops.

BOO!

Well, maybe YEAH is a more appropriate expression but, in any case, both will be acceptable when you attend the Bangor Lumberjacks baseball game and participate in the first Halloween Night at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, at Winkin Field on the Husson College campus in Bangor.

This special event will include a silent auction of autographed, game-worn player jerseys and bats, several drawings for local business gift certificates and a 50/50 drawing.

Carol Lackedy reports proceeds from these events will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare.

Additionally, any fan bringing a bag of nonperishable food will receive 2-for-1 admission and all the food will be donated to the Brewer Food Cupboard to support workers of the former Eastern Fine Paper Co.

And daring fans who show up for the game wearing their favorite Halloween costume will be admitted free and can enter special games to win even more prizes.

For more information, or to volunteer for this benefit, call Lackedy at 848-7317.

Carol Beagan of Old Town writes that the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition has received its “new, redesigned and updated Maine Breast Cancer Resource Guides, designed by Beagan Design of Needham, Mass.

“All of the work was donated to the MBCC,” she added.

The guides are free.

To receive your copy, call (800) 928-2644 or write MBCC, P.O. Box 540, Old Town 04468.

If you have questions about the guides, or MBCC, call Beagan at 827-3187.

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