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Bangor

Bangor Garden Club

Bangor Garden Club will hold its regular meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, April 4, at Hannaford Training Center. The public is invited to attend.

Speaker Mike Pullen’s subject will be “Bangor’s Linking Trails System.” Pullen is an architect with WBRC Architects-Engineers of Bangor and a board member of Keep Bangor Beautiful. He is involved in the design and implementation of the linking of the green spaces in Bangor with a walkable trail system.

Tutor training

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor will offer “Basic Literacy Tutor Training” for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, or improve reading skills.

The training will be held 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, April 7, 14, 28, and May 5, at United Technologies Center, Hogan Road. Participants must register by April 4 by calling the Literacy Volunteers of Bangor office at 947-8451. Course materials are $20. Scholarships are available for those who can’t afford the fee. Refreshments will be provided.

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor links volunteer tutors with adults who want to improve reading skills, or who are learning English as a second language. Literacy Volunteers of Bangor is now located at 200 Hogan Road in the United Technologies Center. For information, call Literacy Volunteers at 947-8451.

Bowl For Kids’ Sake

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Maine is setting up pins for its seventh annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake fund-raising event. Participants form bowling teams and collect donations or pledges from friends, colleagues or neighbors. Then, they have fun at a bowling party. Locally, bowlers will gather 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Old Town Bowling Center in Old Town; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Family Fun Lanes in Bangor.

To form a team, call (800) 492-5550, ext. 230; e-mail bbbs1@downeasthealth.org; or visit www.downeastmentor.org.

Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and Bangor Public Library has planned events and activities.

Anthony Taylor Dunn, author of “Sunbathing at the Bottom of the Atlantic,” will moderate a discussion on the process of getting poetry published at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2. Dunn also will read from his book, which will be available for purchase.

Poets/Speak night, organized by poet Kathleen Ellis, will be held 5:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at the library. More than 30 poets will read from their works. Area high school poets will read their work and representatives from literary magazines will attend. As part of a special tribute to Indian Ocean and South Asian writers, African and Asian music will enliven the gathering.

For information about the event, call 947-8336.

Artisan’s Market

Bangor Center Corp. is organizing an outdoor Artisan’s Market and invites artisans and entertainers to participate. The market will be located on the west side of Kenduskeag Stream Canal downtown, between State and Washington streets.

Market dates have been set for June 16, 23 and 30, and July 7, 14 and 21. Setup time is 3-4 p.m. Closing time is 7-8 p.m.

Artisans who make Maine-made fine art and select crafts are sought for the market, including painters, printmakers, photographers, jewelry makers, stained glass artists and artisans who make functional items. A $60 fee covers the six-week market season.

Street musicians, jugglers, magicians, mimes and other performers are encouraged to apply. Performance space is offered free of charge.

Food vendors within the Bangor Center development district have been invited to sell food at the market; five food businesses already have indicated interest.

Guidelines for artisans and performers may be obtained by calling 992-4234, or e-mailing bangor.center.corp@bgrme.org. Applications must be received before June 1.

Child care training

The Penquis Community Action Program resource Development Center will offer six hours of training, Getting Started in Family Child Care, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, April 5 and 7, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St.

The training will cover aspects of opening a family child care business in the home, including state certification procedures, health and safety practices, working with families, child development, community and professional resources, and business and professional development. Registration fee is $15. Call 973-3533 to register.

Boot Camp for New Dads

Penquis CAP Parents Are Teachers, Too will offer Boot Camp for New Dads, a free workshop funded by the Maine Bureau of Health for first-time, expectant fathers. The next workshop will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St. A light supper will be provided.

Boot Camp for New Dads is a national program in which new fathers of two- to four-month-old babies help fathers-to-be become more familiar and comfortable with their new roles as fathers. The workshop is for men and babies only. Mothers are welcome to use the resource area while fathers and fathers-to-be meet. For information, call Wendy Pace at 973-3674, or (888) 389-3610.

Fashion show

The Zonta Club of Bangor will present “Image, Style and Fashion 2005” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Spectacular Events Center, 395 Griffin Road, Bangor.

The show will offer a multifaceted fashion fair consisting of a combination of information booths, brief presentations and informal modeling. The event is designed to help women of all ages recognize the grace and beauty they possess.

“We are very excited about this concept,” said Alex Turallo, co-chairman of the event. “We wanted to take a fresh approach and go beyond the usual fashion show. Participants may see the latest styles in clothing, active wear, shoes, jewelry, accessories, eyewear and sunglasses, makeup, herbal and beauty products. They also may touch the items, ask questions and make purchases. Vendors will address health issues, fitness, hair removal options, massage and more.”

Free presentations will be offered by Sharon Pelletier from WABI-TV Channel 5, Kristin Andresen, who is Bangor Daily News’ ShopGirl, and WLBZ-TV Channel 2. Topics include shopping for the latest styles, wardrobe coordination, nutrition and beauty, and the importance of self-image.

Cost of admission is $5.

Adoption information

The Bangor office of the Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public informational meeting about adoption and foster care at 1 p.m. Friday, April 8. Those who are considering adoption of foster care through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are encouraged to attend. To learn the location of the meeting and to participate, call A Family For ME at (877) 505-0545.

Brewer

Theater auditions

Ten Bucks Theatre Co. will hold auditions for its outdoor Shakespeare production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” this summer in Indian Trail Park.

Auditions will be held 1-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, and Saturday, April 9, at Brewer Middle School. Prepare one Shakespearean monologue.

Kiwanis news

At a recent meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, photographer Paula Baines spoke on “Eye of the Photographer.” She explained the basics of photography and said that a good photograph includes only the elements that draw the eye to the subject. That excludes or diminishes elements that may draw the eye away from the subject.

Members attending the Orono-Old Town inter-club meeting were Mike Pullen, June Paul, Fred Haley, Lori Smart and guest Amelia Davis of Brewer.

President Bill Newberry made donation presentations to Laura England, an employee of the Brewer Public Library, for a children’s program; and to Frank Page and Thomas Burby, representing Brewer Middle School, for the middle school science fair.

Brewer Kiwanis meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Brewer. Call 945-0746 for information.

Eddington

‘Sleeping Beauty’

“Sleeping Beauty,” a one-act play for children of all ages, will be presented by Rising Phoenix Players at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Comins Hall, 1387 Main Road. The cost is $2, $1 for children 3-12.

Rising Phoenix Players has been performing theater appropriate for families for three years. The group recently attained nonprofit status, and is looking for a “home.”

Officials at the Eddington-Clifton Civic Center said they hoped that “Sleeping Beauty” would be the first of many performances in Comins Hall.

The 45-minute play was adapted by Richard Davis Jr. and is directed by Ed Wiseman.

Cast members are: Elizabeth Lutz, Flora; Shauna Stratton Meier, Fauna; Diana Harper, Summer; Chris Roberts, August; Catherine Roberts, Maleficent; Sam Clark, Aurora; Sean Harper, Hero; and Stephanie D., Prince.

Going to the dogs

East Eddington Grange is going to the dogs. Actually, Penobscot Valley Kennel Club members will show their champions of lesser-known breeds during the Grange meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Comins Hall, 1387 Main Road.

The meeting will be preceded by a 6 p.m. potluck supper. The public is welcome to attend.

Hampden

Basket Bingo

A Basket Bingo to benefit Hampden Academy Project Graduation will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Hampden VFW Hall, Canoe Club Road.

The cost is $12 for 15 games, with two additional blackout games available for $5 each. Raffle tickets are 10 for $5.

For advance tickets, contact Judy Gamble, 862-4005; or Debbie Boss, 862-3212.

Children’s Day

The 26th annual Hampden Children’s Day parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. This year’s theme is Summer is Fun. Organizers challenge area businesses and organizations to enter floats in the parade. Prizes will be awarded for various categories. The parade will begin at the Reeds Brook Middle School and end at the junction of Route 9 and 202. Rain date for Children’s Day is Sunday, Aug. 21.

Kenduskeag

Postmaster retiring

A retirement party for Sally Pappas will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at the Kenduskeag Fire Department.

Pappas has served as postmaster in Kenduskeag for 31 years.

Orono

Planetarium shows

The University of Maine’s Jordan Planetarium will offer to public star shows throughout April. Admission is $3 per person.

“Sky Odyssey,” a presentation for families interested in the latest views of the universe, will be shown at 7 p.m. Fridays. A tour of the dark Maine sky will open the door to distant views through telescopes old and new. The most recent discoveries in the heavens will show how these instruments have shaped understanding of what is out there and how it all began.

At 2 p.m. Sundays, visitors ages 4 to 8 will enjoy “Our Sky Family.” A highlight of the program will be a chat with Father Sun and each of the planets, who will tell about their best features and their place in the sky. The planetarium star projector, Franklin, will be the guide, and the planetarium host will help everyone see the season’s planets and constellations as they look from a front porch.

For information, call 581-1341, or visit www.umainesky.com.