Community News

loading...

Bangor

Literacy Volunteers

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor has moved to the United Technologies Center at 200 Hogan Road. Literacy Volunteers links trained tutors with adults who read at less than an eighth-grade level or who are learning to speak English. It is the only organization providing free tutoring for those with the lowest levels of literacy.

Funding constraints forced LV-Bangor’s board of directors to return to the organization’s initial mission of serving adults. The change meant that LV-Bangor would step away from a children-and-family literacy project that it had operated for seven years at Park Woods Transitional Housing. It also allowed the organization to explore new rent and partnership options.

“As a nonprofit with limited funding, we saw the benefit in aligning ourselves with a larger educational facility to help maximize resources,” said LV-Bangor Executive Director Mary Marin Lyon. “What we’ve also found is an extremely professional, positive and proactive learning environment. We hope to help segue our adult students from a world of literacy into opportunities for life-long learning that can start right here at UTC.”

LV-Bangor also will work with UTC high school students with reading difficulties in hopes of raising their reading levels.

“Our intent is to serve these young adults now while they’re in a supportive learning environment so that they won’t – hopefully – need our services as adults,” Lyon said.

Those interested in becoming LV-Bangor volunteers, in providing financial support, or in seeking reading and English-speaking skills may call 947-8451 for more information.

Pillar of the Community Award

In January, United Way of Eastern Maine awarded its 2004 Pillar of the Community Award to GE Energy Bangor for its longstanding commitment to the community and United Way. GE Energy of Bangor continued its generous record of giving by contributing $21,103.60 more to the United Way annual campaign. At the same time, the company donated three complete PC systems for United Way and partner agency use.

“We are so fortunate to have such dedicated community partners as the people of GE Energy Bangor,” said Carrie Elliott, campaign director for United Way of Eastern Maine. “They take every opportunity to support United Way, provide volunteers, campaign dollars, office equipment and whatever it takes to help us improve lives. They are such a wonderful group of caring people.”

This past year, GE Foundation also supported United Ways in 200 communities nationwide, with gifts of more than $9 million. In addition, their contributions often are “hands on,” with employees and retirees building playgrounds, working at food banks, assisting seniors and making other personal volunteer contributions.

United Way of Eastern Maine leads collaborative community initiatives, promotes volunteerism and supports 70 health and human service programs in partner agencies in Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties.

Mayflower Society

The Maine Society of Mayflower Descendants will hold an open meeting at noon Saturday, May 7, at Spectacular Event Center, Griffin Road.

Historian Judy Elfring will hold a workshop at 10 a.m. on proving descent from Mayflower ancestors.

To attend, send $21 for the luncheon by April 28 to Maine Society of Mayflower Descendants, Carol Gagnon, 189 Blanchard Road, Cumberland, ME 04021. No tickets at the door.

Beta Sigma Phi

Beta Sigma Phi, an international service sorority, will hold its Founders Day banquet Wednesday, April 27, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

In its 74-year history, the group has grown to more than 200,000 women in chapters around the world. The sorority was founded for the social, cultural and civic enrichment of its members.

Each year, members raise more than $3 million for local charities and volunteer more than 200,000 hours of their time. Each chapter determines its own service projects.

Members represent all ages and educational backgrounds.

Locally, there are Beta Sigma Phi chapters in Bangor, Brewer, Glenburn, Old Town and Orono.

Area chapters support the Junior Miss Pageant in Lincoln, the MS Walk, St. Andre’s Home, Crossroads, Relay for Life, Adoptive Foster Children of Maine, Mittens and Hats for local schools, Hats for Premies, fund-raisers for tsunami relief, beano night for senior citizens, fire victims, gift wrapping for the Red Cross, scholarships for Bangor Adult Education, Shaw House, Downeast School, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, National Folk Festival, Daffodil Days and the United Technologies Center.

Workshop on marketing

MaineStream Finance, a subsidiary of Penquis CAP, will offer a free workshop on marketing and advertising 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St.

“Think Like Your Customer” will teach advanced concepts in marketing for the small business. Participants will learn how to avoid common mistakes in marketing and how to advertise a business with the customer in mind.

The workshop is free, but registration is required. Call MainStream Finance at 973-3605.

Brewer

Golf lessons for women

Brewer Parks and Recreation and the Pine Hill Golf Club will offer Golf Fore Women, a series of lessons for women who want to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing or improve existing skills.

The four-week program will be held Wednesday evenings beginning May 18 at the Pine Hill Golf Club. Class size is limited to eight individuals per session. Registration fee is $35 for Brewer residents, $50 for others.

To obtain more information, call Brewer Parks and Recreation at 989-5199.

Bucksport

DAR spring conference

L. Donna Hoffmann, state regent and member of Ramassoc Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will preside at the spring conference of the Maine State Organization, DAR, April 29-May 1 in Waterville.

Esther Eayres Chapter, Orono, with Jane Whelden, regent, will be one of the hostess chapters for the event.

The guest of honor will be Shirley Miller Wagers of Gig Harbor, Wash., registrar general of the National Society DAR. She will lead a genealogy workshop on April 29.

Activities will include reports by chapter regents and state chairmen and presentation of awards to the Maine DAR Good Citizen, American History Essay Contest winners, Community Service Award winner, and state and divisional winners in the Junior American Citizen program.

Hermon

TV-Turnoff Week

Pupils at Hermon Elementary School have been invited to participate in a TV-Turnoff Week April 25-May 1. The pupils are challenged to limit their television viewing to four hours or fewer, and to use their time instead to pursue educational and fun activities.

With the support of Hermon PTA, Principal Barbara Libby and media specialist Kaline Goodrich have planned a number of evening events at the school:

. Monday, April 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m., potluck supper. Bring yourselves and a dish.

. Tuesday, April 26, 6:30-8 p.m., board games. Bring a game.

. Wednesday, April 27, 6-8 p.m., art show open house and ice cream social.

. Thursday, April 28, 6:30-7:30 p.m., family night with author Amy MacDonald.

. Friday, April 29, 4-6:30 p.m., book swap. Receive a ticket for every used book you donate, and choose a book for one ticket.

“The statistics related to TV viewing and its impact are astonishing, with more than 4,000 studies correlating more viewing with aggressive behavior, lower academic performance and childhood obesity,” Libby said. “HES hopes this week will encourage students and families to become aware of alternative activities that promote overall academic and physical well-being.”

Orono

Tatting demonstration

Tatting, knitting and sewing will be the focus of discussion and a demonstration at a brown bag lunch at noon, Wednesday, April 27, at the Page Farm and Home Museum on the University of Maine campus.

Viola Miller of Hampden, a veteran teacher of tatting, knitting and sewing, will be the guest speaker. The event is free and open to the public. Bring a lunch and beverage. To obtain more information, call 581-4100.

Hearing Expo 2005

The graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will hold Hearing Expo 2005 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the University of Maine.

Participants will be able to have their hearing screened, learn more about what’s new in hearing aid technologies, have their hearing aids checked and cleaned, determine whether they can be helped with amplification, find better ways of communicating with those who have hearing loss and learn how much noise is “too much noise.”

The activity is free, but registration is required. For registration and location, call 581-2009.