The curtain goes up on Dancing for Dollars, Singing for Non-Cents at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft.

Dr. David Frasz returns as master of ceremonies for the 11th annual variety show that benefits Pine Tree Hospice.

PTH of Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville provides volunteer services for residents of that area during the process of dying and bereavement, and this yearly event raises more than $6,000 for its general operating budget.

Singing, dancing, musical entertainment, plays, skits and humor are part of the program that stars members of the Mayo Regional Hospital medical staff, employees, families and friends.

As part of its activities and community outreach during Grange Month, members of Valley Grange No. 144 in Guilford will be selling refreshments during intermission in the lobby.

Tickets for the show are $6 for adults, $3 for children.

They can be purchased at the door or in advance at Mr. Paperback in Dover-Foxcroft.

The benefit also features a quilt raffle and the sale of PTH cookbooks.

For more information about this event, or the work and services of this nonprofit organization, call 564-4346.

Steve Hoekstra of the SAD 48 Music Boosters reports members of the Sebasticook Middle School Jazz Band “have a special treat in store” when they perform for the opening of the Maine Principals’ Association Spring Convention Thursday, April 28, at Samoset Resort in Rockport.

The student musicians in grades five through eight won this year’s Division III Maine State Championship at the Maine State Middle School Jazz Festival in Houlton.

And their high school counterparts are busy this week, as well.

The Nokomis Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Show Chorus and Jazz Chorus leave the previous day, Wednesday, April 27, to compete in the Apple Blossom Festival in Virginia.

Their trip includes a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Bangor MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is hosting a benefit stand-up comedy show, the Night of Laughs, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 29, in Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School on Broadway.

The entertainment features three professional comedians.

Tickets are $10 each and will be available at the door.

According to a press release, proceeds will help the chapter continue its mission to stop drunken driving, support victims of this violent crime and to stop underage drinking.

Two evenings of fun will help support Canoe Hullabaloo-2005, which Dottie deBruyne reminds you is “a weeklong festival in Old Town, honoring the roles that canoes have played in the history of Old Town area communities.”

Sponsored by The River Coalition and the Old Town Public Library, the second annual Canoe Hullabaloo Talent Show begins at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, and continues Saturday, April 30, at Old Town High School.

DeBruyne reports “there will be 15 to 20 acts” each night, and all proceeds “from these fun, family evenings” will benefit Canoe Hullabaloo-2005 July 10-16.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students and $1 for children under 6.

Adult admission for the two nights is $8.

How nice it was to learn that Blue Hill Memorial Hospital raised $10,865 in response to a matching grant challenge by Camilla Cochrane and Robert Strauss, who are summer residents of Brooksville, exceeding their $10,000 challenge.

The couple made the challenge to stimulate new or increased charitable donations to the hospital in memory of their friend, Dr. John Laurent, an internationally known neurosurgeon who also spent time in the area and who died last November at 58.

The grant doubled any new donor gift of $100 or, for donors who increased their gifts this year, the grant matched the amount of the increase.

In expressing the hospital’s gratitude “to these generous friends,” Lynn Boulger, BHMH director of development, reported the funds made “a huge impact on our ability to purchase state-of-the-art equipment” for many departments including the laboratory, nursery, diagnostic imaging and information technology.

“New computers were purchased for 20 percent of our work force, enabling us to increase productivity and efficiency.”

It also was reported the BHMH annual fund goal for the fiscal year April 1, 2004-March 31, 2005, is $700,000 and is just $19,000 shy of that mark.

To learn how you can help reach that goal, call Boulger at 374-3411, fax 374-3622, e-mail lynn.boulger@bhmh.org or visit www.bhmh.org.

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