Bangor

Genealogical talk

Dale Mower, president of the Penobscot County Genealogical Society, will present “The Search for Sarah – Finding Answers in Military Pension Files: A Case Study” during the next society meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library.

Mower, who also is second vice president of the Maine Genealogical Society, will take the audience on a journey to find information on Sarah Shannon, Irish immigrant and great-great-grandmother of Mower’s wife, Patti.

He will explain the process of obtaining copies from the National Archives and Records Administration and share excerpts from the files of Mexican War soldier James McMullen and Civil War soldier James Logan.

‘The Garden of Martyrs’

Michael White, author of “The Garden of Martyrs,” will talk about his latest work at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Bangor Public Library.

The book is a historical novel based on a real murder case and set in Boston in the early 1800s.

In fact, Boston men Dominic Daley and James Halligan were executed for a murder they did not commit. Another character in the novel is Father Cheverus, in what is a plausible weaving of fact and fiction that reveals the difficulties of being Irish and Catholic in the early 19th century.

White’s first novel, “My Brother’s Blood,” was nominated for an Edgar Award.

Soup and Sermon for Lent

A Lenten drama and monologue based on the Prodigal Son will be the focus of the Soup and Sermon lecture series at 5 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 13, 20, 27 and March 6 and 13, at First Baptist Church, 56 Center St.

The church is handicapped accessible. For information, call 945-9694.

City employees

The city of Bangor has announced two promotions:

. John Russell to building construction foreman at Public Works.

. Tim Hoover to ramp attendant supervisor at Bangor International Airport.

New city employees are:

. Steven Saucier, dispatcher, Bangor Police Department.

. Cheri Sikes, administrative assistant, engineering.

. Lisa Casterline, secretary, Code Enforcement.

. Thomas Ronayne, transit driver, BAT.

. William Gusoski, passenger service agent, Bangor International Airport.

. Peter Inman, passenger service agent, Bangor International Airport.

. Karen Marsters, secretary, city manager’s office.

. Wendy Warren, environmental compliance and training officer, compliance.

Powers photographic exhibit

From the coast to The County, self-taught photographer Don Powers has been taking pictures off and on for 25 years.

His work will be on display until April 1 at the Old Town Public Library.

A member of the Eastern Maine Camera Club, Powers has won numerous intra-club competitions. Other awards include “Best of Show” in both color and black and white at last year’s Bangor State Fair competition, two first-place ribbons at the Bangor Flower Show, and first place for black and white at the “All Maine” competition for 2004.

Powers shoots primarily scenic images, but hopes to concentrate on portraits and wedding photography in the near future.

Valentine thrift shop sale

Ofelia’s Community Thrift Store will host a “Will You Be My Valentine?” sale at $1 a bag 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, beginning Feb. 12, in the parking lot at 1372 Union St.

Bring nonperishable items and receive a further discount. Ofelia’s is staffed by volunteers, and benefits stay in the Bangor area.

New youth directors

Sara and Todd Morris have been appointed youth directors at Glad Tidings Church on Broadway. The group is called YOUth, emphasizing that the program centers on you.

Those between the ages of 13 and 19 are invited to join YOUth at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Teen Edge Room. For information, call Sara Morris at 947-0324 before 3 p.m., or e-mail gtc28@juno.com.

Pastor Ron Morris offers a Bible study in “The Revelation” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 16, in the sanctuary. For information, call Dixie at 947-0324 before 3 p.m.

Crisis hotline training

Rape Response Services will offer free volunteer training for the 24-hour crisis hotline Feb. 24-April 4.

Upon completion of the training, volunteers take shifts on the crisis hotline. The agency is seeking volunteers who are good listeners and enjoy helping people.

For information or an application, call the office at 941-2980, or e-mail rrscsc@raperesponseservices.com.

Agency volunteers have been providing services for 17 years to those affected by sexual assault in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

Program on COMBAT

John Supranovich, founder and executive director of Northeast COMBAT, will speak to the Downeast Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

The luncheon meeting begins at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Miller’s Restaurant.

COMBAT, Consumers of Maine Bringing Action Together, is a nonprofit organization which helps individuals and small businesses with consumer problems regarding purchases from companies which may have acted fraudulently, unethically or unresponsively.

For information, call Dottie Laber at 843-7563.

Brewer

Winterfest snow creations

The city of Brewer is gearing up for the Penobscot River Winterfest to be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19.

The committee is looking for individuals and team members to build snow creations. The contest will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Doyle Field.

The contest will include cash prizes.

For information and pre-registration, contact the Brewer Auditorium at 989-5199.

Levant

Honor for legislator

State Rep. Christian Greeley of Levant has been awarded the Certificate of Economic Excellence by the Maine Economic Research Institute.

The award is given for outstanding performance and lasting contribution to Maine’s economic future.

Old Town

Chocolate Lovers’ Sunday

The annual Chocolate Lovers’ Sunday will be sponsored by the United Methodist Church noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at the church at 744 Stillwater Ave.

The luncheon will include sandwiches and a hot fudge sundae. The cost is $3.50 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

Various chocolate desserts available for purchase to take home.

Proceeds will help college students in need pay for books.

Orono

Antique show, box social

An antique show and box social will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in the Orono High School cafeteria.

The Orono High School music parents are sponsoring the event to help raise funds to send members of the band and concert choir to New York City in April to attend the opera and a Broadway musical.

Box lunches prepared by famous Orono cooks and local restaurants will be auctioned at 2 p.m.

Thrift shop sale

The Orono Thrift Shop and Boutique will hold its end-of-winter sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 16 through March 5, in the Birch Street School building off Pine Street.

Fill a bag for $1 in the thrift shop, and get items in the boutique for half-price.

The thrift shop will be closed March 6-22 for cleaning and restocking and will reopen at 9 a.m. March 23. For information, contact Marlene Doucette at 866-2597.

Open casting call

ORONO – Students in a University of Maine film class are holding an open casting call 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, for their next production. Auditions will be held on the second floor of Alumni Hall on the Orono campus.

Currently titled “The Stream,” the movie is scheduled to be shot entirely on weekends this month. The entire production is being run by students of the Year in Film class.

This will be the sixth film made and produced by the class since Year in Film was introduced two years ago.

The production group created by Year in Film students, 3-Legged Dog Productions, is looking for two men and two women between the ages of 18 and 30.

Interested parties are encouraged, but not required, to prepare a one-minute monologue for the audition. No appointment is required.

Questions should be directed to Andrew Eldridge at 581-8590 or e-mail Andrew.Eldridge@umit.maine.edu.

Last year the class-produced film “Float” was selected for screening at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.

Stetson

Library’s ‘no fines’ month

February is “No Fines” month at Stetson Public Library. Patrons are asked to check their children’s bookcases to see whether there are library books that need to be returned. In particular, the library would like to get back its Garfield collection, which has been checked out for a long time.

Winterport

Special town meeting

The Winterport Board of Selectmen has scheduled a special town meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, in the lower level of the Victoria Grant Civic Center at 40 Park Drive.

Warrant articles will ask voters to approve:

. An additional $20,000 for sand and salt.

. The sum of $1,500 for heating oil.

. The sum of $2,400 to replace a 16-year-old furnace that failed repeatedly during the recent cold period.

The three articles are the result of project over-runs for winter expenses.