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Bangor

30th anniversary for WIC

First lady Karen Baldacci led the 30th anniversary celebration of the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program Oct. 12 in Bangor.

Some 50 people joined her at the Bangor WIC office to mark the anniversary and recognize partners in the project, including Eastern Maine Medical Center and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

The WIC program, administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Bangor Department of Health and Welfare, provides food, nutrition counseling and health care services to low-income women and children.

WIC contracts with nine private health and social service agencies at some 110 sites in Maine.

Candidates forum

The Bangor Public Library will hold a candidates forum Thursday, Oct. 21, in the library’s Lecture Hall. Candidates for the School Committee will speak from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. City council candidates will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library during the break.

In a year when it seems that the race for the presidency and statewide referendum questions are overshadowing local elections, library officials want to offer an open forum where voters have a chance to hear local candidates’ positions.

In its role as an information provider, the library has displays with books and other materials available to help voters locate both current and historical information on the issues being debated in this election year. More information for voters may be found on the library’s Election 2004 Blog www.bpl.lib.me.us/

Kiwanis charity auction

Bangor Noontime Kiwanis will hold its annual charity auction Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Bangor Motor Inn and Conference Center.

A silent auction will be held at noon. Bidding for the live auction begins at 1 p.m. There will be terrific bargains for all ages.

In addition, there will be dessert auction items from Frank’s Bakery, Governor’s, Coffee Break Bakery and Ambrosia Catering.

Proceeds benefit local children’s charities.

Halloween party

The Bangor Parks and Recreation Department will hold a Halloween party for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28. There will be games, prizes, a costume contest and a haunted house. For information, call 992-4490.

Enchanted Forest

Join Alice, the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter in a magical, fun-filled day in the Enchanted Forest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Sprague’s Nursery, outer Union Street, Bangor. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems.

The event is open to children under age 12 and their families. Games, prizes and treats will be provided. Activities include Halloween face tattoos, Halloween sun catchers and Halloween games.

City employees

New employees with the city of Bangor are Kathryn LaForest and James Riordan, transit drivers with the BAT.

Carey Small has been promoted to maintenance supervisor at Bass Park.

Transferred from temporary to permanent employees are Gayla Beecher, switchboard operator, City Hall; and Dale Lowe, immunization director.

Lowe is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Nursing and is a part-time clinical instructor at UM.

The city was represented by 28 employees at the United Way kickoff rally and walk on Sept. 15 at Bass Park.

Book signing

Maine author Ardeana Hamlin will read from her new book, “A Dream of Paris,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Bangor Public Library.

Readers will be introduced to a flock of colorful and unusual characters, including the artistic and ambitious heroine, Laura Dearborn. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Peace vigils

The third anniversary of peace vigils was held Oct. 19 in front of the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building on Harlow Street. A reception was held afterward at the Peace and Justice Center at 170 Park St.

Officials said that peace vigils around the state have focused on a peaceful resolution to conflict, on supporting the troops by bringing them home, on getting the United States out of Iraq while getting the United Nations in Iraq, on jobs and education rather than war, and on voting for peace.

For more information, call the Peace and Justice Center at 942-9343.

Slide exhibition

The Eastern Maine Camera Club will present a photographic tour of Denmark, Ireland, Nova Scotia and Maine at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at Bangor Public Library. The third annual International Slide Exhibition will include work by camera club photographers and members of sister clubs in Drogheda, Ireland; Midtfyn, Denmark; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

There is no cost to attend the lecture, but donations are accepted.

Hampden

Community challenge

The Help for Hampden Community Challenge, a part of national Make A Difference Day, is set for Saturday, Oct. 23.

Created by USA Weekend magazine in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, national Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place the fourth Saturday in October. It is designed to “put your cares on hold for one day to care for someone else.”

This year, five churches and the town of Hampden have organized a walkathon for Saturday, Oct. 23. Money raised from the walk will benefit the Help for Hampden fund, which was created two years ago to aid those in need of assistance with fuel, food, medicine or other basic necessities. Residents of Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh have utilized the fund at critical times in their lives.

Participants in the walk will collect pledges and walk either a 1.2-mile course, or the four-mile square in Hampden. The event begins at 7:45 a.m. with registration at Hampden Academy. The walk begins at 9 a.m.

The Hampden Food Cupboard has experienced a 108 percent increase in the number of families applying for assistance. Walk participants are urged to bring a personal care or nonperishable food item on the day of the walk to donate to the Hampden Food Cupboard and the Oasis Food Project.

Last year, more than three million people nationwide participated in Make A Difference Day.

Irish concert and supper

Hampden Congregational Church will offer an Irish music concert and public ham supper beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at 101 Main Road North. Proceeds will benefit the church capital campaign, which is raising funds to improve church facilities and expand its outreach and ministry in the community.

Two Old Friends, a duet from Kennebunk, will perform a variety of songs from Ireland, the mountains and the sea at a concert immediately following the supper. Mac McHale and Emery Hutchins have been playing together for 15 years and were the original founders of Northeast Winds. Their repertoire includes many favorite and traditional sea songs as well as picking instrumentals and singalongs.

The public supper menu will feature country baked ham with a full assortment of hearty side dishes and seasonal desserts.

Tickets for the 7 p.m. concert are $7, and the public supper is $6. A special price of $12 is available for those who plan to attend both events. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Tickets are available at the door, or may be reserved by calling the church office at 862-5248.

Old Town

Pumpkin carving

The Old Town Parks and Recreation Department will hold its first annual pumpkin carving from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at the Herbert Sargent School, Bennoch Road.

The program is open to families and will include hayrides, pumpkin carving, games and refreshments. The cost for the even is $5 per carver and is open to the first 50 carvers. Family members may attend to assist the carver, or to take part in the festivities.

Preregistration is required. Call 827-3961 to reserve a spot.

Orland

Logo design contest

WERU is seeking local artists to submit designs for the 2005 Full Circle Fair logo. The logo will be used on posters, publications and T-shirts. The theme for next year’s Full Circle Fair is Celebrating Community Radio. Entry deadline is Feb. 28, 2005.

To learn more about the contest, e-mail denis@weru.org, or write WERU-FM, P.O. Box 170, East Orland, ME 04431.

Orono

Area historical societies

The Orono Historical Society will serve as the host for a meeting of area historical societies from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at the Page Farm and Home Museum, University of Maine.

Patricia Henner, Page Museum director, will give a brief overview of the museum. Each participating historical society will have time to share news of its organization.

The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who wish to tour the museum’s four buildings. To obtain more information, call 947-8235, or 581-4100.

Orrington

Candidate rally

Margaret Brown, chairman of the Orrington Republican Committee, urges Orrington Republicans to attend a candidate rally at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer. This will be the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Republican candidates running in the district.

Veazie

Haunted house

The Eastern Maine School of Defense will sponsor a Haunted House at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 and 31, at 1005 Olive St. in Veazie.

Billed as “by far the largest and scariest haunted house in the area,” the event will offer free treats for those who survive the haunt, hot chocolate while you wait and door prizes.

Admission is $3 a person. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

A portion of proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Maine.

For information, call 990-9330.