The Healthy Hancock 10-week weight loss challenge, “Lose and Win,” update e-mailed me by Iris Simon was so terrific it brought a smile to my face, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Simon wrote that “135 participants attended the Kick Off on a very snowy evening (Thursday, Jan. 6) to hear Dr. Erik Steele motivate the group.”

Then, she added, “Week 2 brought 130 people” to Mount Desert Island “on a foggy evening to hear Jill Goldthwait give many helpful hints for losing weight.”

Simon reported that, as of Sunday, Jan. 16, “396 participants represent 51 teams” in the program, and that those 396 individuals weigh a total of 77,412 pounds.

But here’s the best part.

“They lost a total of 893.45 pounds the first week,” Simon wrote.

Congratulations!

Claiming the “victory stick” for the first week were The Otis Optimistics, and the next six top-losing teams were Waisting A-Weigh, Treasure Hunters, Just You Weight, Loss Leaders, Schoodic Slims and Steeple People.

Simon wrote that this week, which is Week 3, the meeting is 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at Miles Lane School in Bucksport, where attendees will hear Joyce Kleffner, a Cooperative Extension educator, discussing “Shopping Sense.”

Additionally, Travis York of Down East Family YMCA will demonstrate strength training exercises.

General admission for each program, which is open to the public even if you’re not participating, is $2, while Lose and Win participants are admitted free when they wear their buttons.

A full schedule of programs can be viewed at mainehospital.org.

To those of you in Lose and Win, keep up the great work!

We’re all cheering you on!

Members of The Church of Universal Fellowship are hosting a public supper to benefit tsunami disaster relief at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at the church, 82 Main St. in Orono.

Organizers request anyone wishing to help to bring a large main dish or salad.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12.

A specialist from Doctors Without Borders will address the gathering.

Donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to tsunami relief organizations, and attendees can designate which relief organization they prefer.

For more information, call the church office, 866-3655.

Although the annual Orono Public Library Friends of the Library Used Book and Bake Sale is not until the end of the month, Kathy Marks-Molloy wrote that your donations of used books need to be made before Thursday, Jan. 20.

The library is located at Orono High School on Goodridge Drive.

The sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, with a snow date of Saturday, Feb. 5.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the library, with a special emphasis on children’s programming.

Roger George of Bangor has a “save the date” reminder on behalf of Boy Scout Troop 10, which is raising funds for an April trip to Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys.

“Show Tunes Off-Broadway,” featuring 30 singers from the Bangor area who are donating their time for the Scouts, will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School.

Tickets are $10 and can be obtained in Bangor at Patrick’s Hallmark Store in the Broadway Shopping Center and Rebecca’s on Main Street or by calling George at 942-3993.

Here’s an “oops” that, thankfully, wasn’t mine, but correcting it certainly makes my head spin!

Sally Sue Pearson of Guilford is one of the caring women with P.E.T.S., a local, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization in that area working to reduce pet overpopulation by assisting in spaying and neutering companion animals.

I wrote last week about this group, which is raising funds to help provide financial assistance to families and individuals who qualify for reduced-cost pet spaying and neutering.

Pearson left me a message, over the weekend, informing me that I had listed incorrect telephone numbers for two individuals you can call for more information.

As we talked, however, we discovered that three of four telephone numbers provided me were incorrect.

So, let’s start anew: Anyone interested in learning more about P.E.T.S., its programs and activities, is requested to call: Pearson, 876-2752; Phyllis Dyer, 564-8072; Sue Slate, 379-2809 or Mary Shapleigh, 564-8092.

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