Last month, Penquis CAP Lynx volunteer drivers were honored for their willingness to put their free time to good use by providing those without transportation a ride to doctors’ appointments, dialysis, cancer treatments, counseling and many more services necessary to maintain health and life.

I was very impressed with the information provided by Lynx volunteer coordinator Beverly Larochelle, who said that last year, 90 Lynx drivers donated more than 100,000 hours, enabling 4,424 residents of Penobscot and Piscataquis counties to keep those lifesaving appointments.

Those are very impressive numbers, but even more amazing to me is the sheer magnitude of the transportation needs that exist in our area.

If you can help your neighbors keep these all-important appointments and would like to know more about becoming a Lynx volunteer driver, call Larochelle at 973-3627.

The fifth annual “Free the Z” Turkey Drive begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, and continues until 2,005 turkeys, or $15 per turkey, has been collected for Manna Ministries.

Z-107.3 Z-Morning Show co-host “Kid” and Z-107.3 afternoon host Dan Cashman will broadcast live from the Brewer Hannaford parking lot until the goal has been reached.

If you can’t drop off a turkey or a donation, call the Z-107.3 hot line, 991-9600, and the Thompson Printing Turkey Taxi will pick up your donation.

Bill Rae of Manna Ministries announced that now through Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24, Manna will accept turkeys, gift cards and financial contributions to purchase them.

The goal is to provide 4,000 turkeys for needy individuals and families in central Maine.

Donations can be delivered to Manna between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 629 Main St. in Bangor.

For more information, call Manna at 990-2870.

Belfast Public Health is offering flu shots for community members 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Waldo County General Hospital Education Center, 118 Northport Ave., Belfast.

The cost is $20, and Medicare and Medicaid coverage will not be accepted.

If you have questions, call Diane Whitten at BPH, 338-3368.

The public is invited to support the Penobscot Community Arts Center by attending a Benefit Concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Blue Goose, Route 1 in Northport.

The concert features performer-songwriter-folk artist Eric Bogle, whom PCAC treasurer Joanne McNally describes as “a wryly humorous and engaging concert performer … with a knack of cutting through to the heart of the matter with a few, well-crafted lines.”

Admission is $20 for adults and $14 for students.

Russ Page, co-chairman of the Dover-Foxcroft Center Theatre series Saturday Night in Dover-Foxcroft, hopes you have your tickets for the fifth in the six-concert series benefiting that organization and starring Blind Albert (Vince Gabriel) and the Blind Albert Blues Band.

That concert is Saturday, Nov. 19, and tickets are available at Mr. Paperback and the Moosehead Factory Outlet in Dover-Foxcroft, and the Moosehead Messenger in Greenville.

Blind Albert “has played with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians,” Page wrote, and has performed at the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland since its inception.

Since 1969, Pine Tree Society has offered holiday cards, featuring Maine artists, to support the organization’s program for Maine children and adults with disabilities, Erin Rice of PTS reports.

This year’s cards feature the work of Jeannine Staples of Topsham, whose offering is titled “Monhegan Island Sentinel.”

Gloria Gustafson of York painted a country Cape and red barn, complete with a swing hanging from the branch of a big, old tree.

Holiday cards can be ordered on the PTS Web site at www.pinetreesociety.org, by calling 443-3341, or visiting PTS at 149 Front St. in Bath.

The Greater Bangor community lost one of its truly good souls last week with the passing of Richard “Dick” Winship, a former Bangor resident and businessman who, more recently, called Orrington home.

He was a man of exceptionally good humor, and it gladdened the hearts of those bidding him a final farewell that we were reminded, so gently and comfortingly, of his deep love of family, friends and community but, most especially, his resilient good humor that knew no bounds.

Dick was one I consider a “smiler.”

It was always there, and we will always smile when we remember him.

To the love of his life, his wife, Jane, and their family, my deepest condolences.

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