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John Bapst Memorial High School

BANGOR – From the 18th to the 25th of October, the student body of John Bapst Memorial High School will increase by 10 as the first of two exchange groups from Dragonskolan in Umea, Sweden, comes to visit.

This visit, a continuation of an exchange program between the schools that began last year, will feature the development of a cooperative capstone project on the native cultures of Sweden and Maine. The Swedish students are also quite keen to witness firsthand a presidential election campaign in high gear and to sample autumn life in Maine.

The John Bapst “Swedish Connection” was initiated last year when former Orono resident Annika Bindler, currently Dragonskolan’s exchange program coordinator, and social studies department chairman Mark Tasker, who has studied and lived in Sweden, put together a weeklong visit to Bapst by two Dragonskolan teachers.

After that successful beginning, the next step was for some Bapst students to visit Umea. That was accomplished in August when Tasker’s Sweden expedition stopped in Umea for a four-day visit after a week hiking in the mountains. While in Umea, the Bapst students had a wonderful time seeing the sights and experiencing a brief glimpse of another culture. It is those students who will serve as hosts for the Swedish visitors.

While in Bangor, the Umea students will attend classes at Bapst, visit the Bangor Museum and Center for History and the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, play “brannboll” – a Swedish cousin of baseball – with their American friends, and take in an American football game.

In May, another group of Swedish students and teachers will experience Bapst and Bangor in the next phase of what is hoped will become an ongoing exchange of students, faculty and ideas between the countries and schools.

John Bapst, a non-denominational, college-preparatory, independent high school serving grades nine through 12, has almost 500 students this year from 50 Maine communities and several foreign countries.

The school’s mission, “to foster student growth in a challenging academic environment and promote respect for learning and for one another,” is supported and greatly enhanced by experiential educational offerings like this field expedition to the mountains of northwestern Sweden and its Swedish exchange program.

Dinner theater

BANGOR – The John Bapst Players will present a dinner theater production, “Murder Me Always,” by Lee Mueller, at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6, at the school at 100 Broadway.

During a very bad dinner theater performance put on by a below-average community-theater group, an actual murder takes place off-stage. The “fake” play comes to a screeching halt and a “real” murder mystery begins.

Enjoy a great meal and join Detective Joe Mamet as he and his cohorts investigate a shifty band of players to find the “real” murderers.

Tickets must be purchased in person and in advance at the school between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays. The price, including dinner, is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students.

National Young Leaders

BREWER – Ryan Nyer, a student at Brewer High School, has been selected to participate in the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington from Oct. 12 to Oct. 17.

The conference is a leadership development program for high school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and scholastic merit. Nyer will be one of about 400 students from around the country who will attend the conference.

Highlights of the conference will include welcoming remarks from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, a panel discussion with prominent journalists at the National Press Club and meetings with senators and representatives or appointed staff members to discuss important issues facing the nation.

Nyer also will participate in leadership skill-building activities and simulations.

Candidates night

HAMPDEN – Eighth-graders at Reeds Brook Middle School will host a Candidates Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in the cafeteria at the school. Don Colson will be the moderator.

Candidates for state representative, District 39, are Brian Duprey, Republican; and Mary Poulin, Democrat.

Candidates for state senate, District 33, are Jane Cronk, Democrat; and Deborah Plowman, Republican.

Bangor High School

BANGOR – Bangor High School guidance counselors will meet with juniors Monday-Friday Oct. 25-29 during English classes to begin the process of planning for the future beyond high school. Students will receive a Junior Planner as a guide to the process.

The counselors will meet individually with each junior throughout the rest of the year as they work towards making decisions about the future.

A workshop for parents of juniors is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the high school lecture hall.

Colleges

Eastern Maine Community College

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Community College Early Childhood Education Center announced its participation in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals are available at no separate charge to all enrolled participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap. To obtain more information, visit the Early Childhood Education Center at 354 Hogan Road in Bangor or call 974-4828.

Liberty University

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kristie Snyder of Bangor graduated recently from Liberty University. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology.