Sports briefs

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New archery facility

OLD TOWN – The Old Town Archery Shop and Range is now open for business at 300 Main St., Old Town. The shop’s motto is: “Archery for all archers by archers.” Shop owners Bob and Sue Wengrznek say they welcome all shooting styles and will encourage family and youth involvement in archery.

The shop has several National Field Archery Association member volunteers who assist with store operations. The shop is being managed as a not-for-profit cooperative, owned by Village Business Associates LLC. Other co-op volunteer archers, who enjoy working with new shooters and youth, are being sought.

Shop owners encourage membership in the Maine Bow Hunters Association and the National Field Archery Association.

The Archery Shop and Range will cater to the newly formed NFAA affiliate, the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, the region’s youth and other archery organizations.

Special bow hunting and target archery seminars will be scheduled.

The archery range includes 12 20-yard indoor lanes and a separate video technology shoot-hunt. A separate indoor 4,000-square-foot 3-D range, up to 30 yards, is in the planning stages, and construction is expected to begin next March, the owners said. The 3-D range will be located on the lower level and will double as an additional dozen 20-yard lanes during tournaments.

The Archery Shop and Range is at the same location as Archer’s Edge, but the new shop has no affiliation with Archer’s Edge. Remodeling of the facility is now under way.

The Archery Shop and Range hours are: 5-8 p.m. Monday, noon-8 p.m. (or as long as archers want to shoot) Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment for groups and instruction.

To learn more, call 827-9489.

Hike-athon to reduce famine

BREWER – Former Peace Corps volunteers Jessica Bulloch of Brewer and Stacie Haines of Portland are planning a hike-a-thon Saturday, Sept. 3, in the Bigelow Mountain Range to raise awareness and funds for a famine in the West African country of Niger.

Currently 2.5 million people, including 1 million children, are suffering from severe hunger and could die of starvation soon in the sub-Saharan country. Little rain, followed by a swarm of locusts this year, wiped out most of the crops needed to feed the subsistence-level farming communities.

“We were welcomed with great hospitality and care during the two years that we lived with the people of Niger in remote villages accessible only by boat,” said Bulloch. “It’s a critical time for our Nigerian friends, and we hope to raise funds to help them.”

The women chose a hike-a-thon to raise funds because they are passionate about the outdoors and want to raise money quickly and creatively. The route they will hike winds 12 miles along the Bigelow Mountain Range.

Bulloch and Haines are seeking corporate and individual donations or pledges for each mile they plan to hike.

Donations may be made online at www.mercycorps.org, called in at (800) 292-3355, or mailed to Niger Fund, Mercy Corps, Dept W, 3015 SW First, Portland, OR 97201.

Those who make a donation are asked to e-mail Haines and Bulloch at hikeforniger@yahoo.com.

Bass fishing tournament

BANGOR – The Bangor Bass Club and Ken’s Yamaha of Norway are sponsoring Ken’s Yamaha Skeeter Open bass tournament to benefit the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, on China Lake. Organizers plan to hold the event annually. Registration begins at 5:30 a.m.

To obtain more information and to download a registration form, visit www.bangorbass.com.

Fall soccer

The Orono Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for its fall soccer program open to children in kindergarten to grade six. Teams practice will be held one day per week and play on Saturday mornings. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 6. The fee is $20 for Orono residents, $30 for others.

The rec department is seeking volunteer coaches and referees. To volunteer or to obtain more information, call 866-5065.

Youth football

The Orono Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registrations for its youth football program. The program is open to area youth in grades one to six.

Children in grades one and two will play flag football; grades three and four will play flag with equipment; and grades five and six will play full contact in league play. Equipment is supplied.

Call the rec department at 866-5065 to obtain more information.

Run for Hope

BANGOR – Bangor will continue its tradition of the Run for Hope at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Best Western White House Inn, behind Dysart’s in Hermon.

This is the event’s 23rd year, and the public is invited to join in. Proceeds support cancer research and help fund cancer prevention and clinical trials at Eastern Maine Medical Center’s CancerCare of Maine.

Run for Hope is a 5K walk and run. Entry fees are $12 for individuals, or $15 on race day. The cost for a family is $35. T-shirts are available to the first 200 registrants for an additional cost of $5. Refreshments and door prizes will be available.

Donations may be sent to: Run for Hope, c/o Best Western White House Inn, 155 Littlefield Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. For more information, call 862-8008 or visit www.runforhope.org.

Glenburn field hockey

GLENBURN – Glenburn Recreation will hold registration and the first practice for field hockey 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22.

The sport is for girls in grades six through eight. The fee is $20, and players must provide their own stick and guards.

Glenburn soccer

GLENBURN – Glenburn Recreation will hold soccer registration for one night only, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The sport is for youngsters in kindergarten through grade six, Glenburn residents only.

The fee is $15 for kindergarten and first grade, $20 for the older pupils. Players must provide their own guards.

Soccer referee class

GLENBURN – Glenburn Recreation will offer a class in soccer refereeing 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Glenburn School. The class is for youths in grade seven and up.