The fire that destroyed the rental home of Ann Ahearn of Trenton the first Friday in February not only left her homeless, it also took the lives of two pet cats and left Ahearn without her computer and software. Those items are essential to the woman, who works for Downeast Graphics in Ellsworth, her friend Jane Bradley of Gouldsboro told me.

Those are some of many reasons Bradley and other friends and community members hope to help Ahearn start over by holding a benefit supper from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6, in the Parish Hall of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on High Street in Ellsworth.

The public is invited, and admission is by donation.

Local business owners, including restaurateurs, friends and neighbors all have donated food for the supper that features casseroles, hot dogs and homemade pies.

“We will also be having a 50-50 raffle,” said Bradley, who is chairwoman of the benefit.

If you are unable to attend, and you would like to help Ahearn during this time of need, donations in her name can be mailed to Bar Harbor Banking & Trust, 137 High St., Ellsworth 04605, or brought to any branch of Bar Harbor Banking & Trust.

Bookstore owner Cathy Anderson of The Briar Patch, who sponsored a successful holiday Angel Tree fund-raiser for Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, is hosting another fund-raiser that is just a bit unusual.

Anderson wrote that author Lynn Plourde of Winthrop will read her newest book, “Pajama Day,” at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at The Briar Patch, 27 Central St., in Bangor.

“If people bring in a new pair of women’s or children’s pajamas, to be given to Spruce Run, they will get 10 percent off their purchases,” Anderson said.

Spruce Run Association is the domestic violence agency serving Penobscot County.

Allison Roy and Becky Blakely report that the Sherman Recreation Department, assisted by Sherman Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 2299 and its Ladies Auxiliary, will hold a welcome home ceremony for members of the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard.

The soldiers recently returned to Maine after a year of service in Iraq.

The ceremony begins with a potluck luncheon at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Sherman Recreation Department on School St. in Sherman, with the homecoming ceremony to begin at 2 p.m.

The event will include guest speakers, music and participation by members of the Junior Girls Unit of VFW Auxiliary No. 2299, the only VFW Auxiliary Junior Girls unit in the state.

In their e-mail, Roy and Blakely wrote, “Let’s show these men how proud we are of them by attending this very special event.”

For information, call Roy at 365-4263 or Blakely at 365-7288.

The American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days are nearly upon us, and you can order a fresh bouquet in advance for $7 by calling the society at (800) 464-3102 and pressing 3, or call 373-3701 by Friday, March 11.

Proceeds support ACS programs and services.

For our Bangor International Airport troop greeters, here is some high praise from one of our own.

Former Old Town resident Diane Faulkner now lives in South Carolina, where she volunteers with a youth group in her community, helping young people who face “challenging life experiences,” she wrote.

One of them is a young man who, after graduating from high school, enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Iraq.

On the flight home, Faulkner said, the young man’s plane landed at BIA.

“As the soldiers entered the airport, they were greeted by Bangor veterans and friends,” Faulkner wrote. “Their first experience, back on U.S. soil, was one of hugs, welcome, pats on the back, congratulations and more.”

Her young friend was offered the use of a cell phone, and “was immediately able to call his mom and tell her he was safely home, thus perpetuating the son’s joy,” Faulkner wrote.

When the young man’s mother “related this story of the ‘Angels in Maine,’ she didn’t realize she was discussing my home,” Faulkner added. “The blessing went on with the pride I felt for my home state.”

Faulkner hopes “the joy received in South Carolina will be returned, in a small way, through my sharing this heartfelt Thank You.”

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