Community News

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Bangor

City employees

Tracy Willette, recreation superintendent, recently was elected vice president of the Maine Recreation and Park Association.

Cindy Kenny, transit driver, is a new employee with BAT.

Leah Williams, account clerk and cashier in the treasurer’s office, was transferred from temporary to permanent employment.

Art at the library

Amicus artists Sabra Lynn Ravenscraft and Jill Marie Raciek will show their work in the Lecture Hall during August at Bangor Public Library. In a return visit to the library, Ravenscraft will exhibit oils, and Raciek will show a monoprint series, screenprints and photographs.

Bangor photographer Page Eastman specializes in nature and still-life photography. Her work has been displayed at the Fields Pond Audubon Center and area bistros, and her photographs are available commercially on note cards and as prints. Eastman’s work will be shown in the Stairwell Gallery and extension.

A special Meet the Artists event is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26. For information, call 947-8336, ext. 139.

West Market Square

A new vision for West Market Square was well-received recently by a small but vocal audience who came to City Hall for their first peek at concept plans for the small but key space that has figured heavily into community affairs for decades.

Plans for the small triangle of land, bordered by Main and Broad streets and a row of historic commercial buildings, were drawn up by Steven Ribble, a landscape architect with Ames A/E, a Bangor-based architectural and engineering firm headquartered just up Main Street from the square.

The design concepts were unveiled July 20 at City Hall, during public meetings at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. To make sure all who want to sit in are able to, two additional meetings are set for Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the same times and place.

Adoption information

The Bangor office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services will hold a public informational meeting about adoption and foster care at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, in Bangor. To learn the location of the meeting, call A Family For ME at (877) 505-0545.

BHS class reunion

Bangor High School class of 1960 will hold its 45th reunion at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Penobscot Valley Country Club, 366 Main Road, Orono. To make reservations, call Fred Rice, 947-7627, or Marcia Lieberman, 942-5644.

Bucksport

Band concert, scholarships

The Downeast Center Ring Circus Band performed in concert led by Professor Gene Nichols July 15 at Elm Street Congregational Church.

Nichols led 50 musicians through thrilling marches such as “Vanguard of Democracy,” “Them Basses,” melodies from Victor Herbert’s “The Red Mill,” the waltz “Sweet and Low,” “Dizzy Fingers” and “Lassus Trombone.”

The program provided all sections with an opportunity to shine, including the euphoniums’ performance of “The Melody Shop,” with its nonstop eight note runs in double time.

As the last strains of “Vienna Forever,” and “God Bless America” faded away, and with absolute quiet in the house for a brief moment, the audience rose to give the musicians a two-minute standing ovation. The cheering and applause just didn’t stop.

Jason Black, a scholarship winner and Bucksport High School graduate, demonstrated his skills in the percussion section.

Gene Nichols has a genuine circus background, having served as music director for both the Clyde Beatty Circus and Wildwest Show, and the Cole Bros. Circus, which used to play in Bangor regularly.

Participants included community band conductors from the Bangor Band, the Dover-Foxcroft Band, the Castine Band, the Machias Band and the Bath Municipal Band. Players from those bands, the Brewer Band and several other bands contributed their talents.

Passing the hat raised $1,000. Eighteen $100 scholarships were awarded:

. Bucksport High School: Jason Black, Jane Hunt, Tyler McAllian and Seth McKeen, Bucksport; David Cooper, Prospect. Mark Neslusan is the music mentor for those students.

. Bangor High School: Mackenzie Gass, Bangor; music mentor Charles Kadyk; and Mary Grattan, Bangor; music mentor, Scott Burditt.

. Brewer High School: Dylan Guy, Brewer; music mentor, Brady Harris.

. Ellsworth High School: Cassandra Engstrom, Lamoine; music mentor, William Whitener; Abby Jordan, Ellsworth; music mentor, Robert Frazier.

. George Stevens Academy: Ross Bell, Hannah Elliott, Ross Gallagher, Blue Hill; Sara Griffth, Surry. Their music mentor is Steven Orlofsky.

. Hichborn Middle School: Matthew Proudlove, Enfield; music mentor, Amanda Cushman.

. Penobscot Valley High School: Patricia Jipson, Passadumkeag; music mentor: Amanda Cushman.

. Winthrop High School: Erin Burns, Winthrop; music mentor, Shianne Wheeler.

. University of Maine: Stephanie Handzel, Orland; music mentor, Betty Coubert.

Riverbend Players

The Riverbend Players of Bucksport will present its second performance since organizing in March. A vaudeville show with a “modern twist” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Alamo Theatre on Main Street. Admission is free, with donations graciously accepted and appreciated.

The event is a family show, with audience participation strongly encouraged. The lineup includes headliners from Maine and beyond, such as a professional magician, a barbershop quartet, some “old soft shoe,” award-winning baton twirlers, top hat and tails, dance and song of all manner and form, and local area talent from ages five to 60-plus.

For information, call Suzi Leeman at 469-5885 or e-mail sflmedtran@adelphia.net.

Eddington

End of Summer barbecue

A Western-style community barbecue, with games for kids young and old, is scheduled for the noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, and all Eddington residents are invited to attend.

The second annual End of Summer barbecue is funded by local residents, who wish to remain anonymous, as a way to get townspeople together to have fun and fellowship.

“The food is the same as last year, and we’ll have games for kids,” said Shawna Hinkley, town clerk, who has the job of organizing the event.

A frying pan toss, water balloon toss and sack races are some of the games scheduled, she added. New to this year’s event is the opportunity for locals to showcase their talents, Hinkley said.

“People are more than welcome to bring an instrument and perform or sing,” she said.

Town staffers are organizing the event, which last year included barbecued baby back ribs dripping with sauce, cheeseburgers, iced lemonade and watermelon.

Local band Never Too Late will return this year to entertain residents.

“If there are people who would like to volunteer, we can use volunteers to set up tables and chairs,” Hinkley said.

To ensure there is enough food to go around, residents need to let the Town Office know the number of people who will attend the free event by Friday, Aug. 12.

In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Aug. 28. To sign up, call the Town Office at 843-5233.

Hermon

Concert in the gardens

The Penobscot Wind Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, at Ecotat Gardens, located on the corner of Route 2 and Annis Road. Bring a lawn chair. To learn more about Ecotat Gardens, its programs and summer concert series, call Gaynor Reynolds at 848-4084.

Old Town

Art exhibit

Photographer Liz Grandmaison will be the featured artist at Old Town Public Library until Aug. 15.

Grandmaison is a photographic technician at Bangor Photo and member of the Eastern Maine Camera Club. Her images have earned many club and inter-club awards. Recently, she received a commission from Matthew Dunlap, Maine’s Secretary of State, for a group of prints to be displayed in his offices.

Grandmaison said she began her photographic exploration with nature images, focusing on the more intimate details of a forest path or garden plot. Her current interest is in structures, both the forms built by humans and the organic structure of natural objects.

This show is an opportunity to share my fascination with the subjects that move me, she said.

For many years, Grandmaison worked in marketing and design. The notion of designing a layout still informs my photographic compositions, she said.

Old Town Museum

The Old Town Museum will present a program on Native American Lore with Jackie Currey and friends at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the museum, 353 Main St. Discussion will focus on native music and musical instruments.

Museum hours are 1-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The museum is handicap accessible, and there is no admission charge. To obtain more information, call 827-7256.