(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Nov. 24, 1995

BANGOR – Stefan Ivanov says the people of his country would like to give the way many Americans do, but because of their meager means they simply are unable to meet the pressing needs of many of their countrymen.

The 23-year-old Ivanov, who hails from Sofia, Bulgaria, and his friend Vladimir Mikhailov of Moscow, got an up-close and personal look at the act of giving on Thanksgiving Day, volunteering the few hours they were going to spend in Bangor to feed less fortunate people at Captain Nick’s restaurant on Union Street.

Ivanov learned the art of giving courtesy of an American, Jeff Harris of Pittsfield. The former resident director of American University of Bulgaria, from which Ivanov graduated a year ago, put his name forward as the guarantor of Ivanov’s student loan. That loan has allowed Ivanov to continue his studies at Cornell, where he is seeking a master’s degree in business administration.

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BANGOR – It had been more than 21/2 months since Andy Davis had seen the man who sat across the airport terminal. Once Davis spotted him, he walked across the terminal to greet him – first with a hearty handshake, then with a deep-rooted embrace .

“We did it,” Davis said quietly.

“You did it,” replied Dr. Stephen Butterfield, an associate professor of education and special education at the University of Maine who also heads up the school’s National Sports Youth Program.

A cross-country trek from Kittery to San Diego, Calif. – that’s what Davis and his friend Jim Presbrey did. Davis traversed the route by mountain bike, Presbrey by in-line skates.

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ORONO – By the time Jeff Paul reads this, he might regret what he did yesterday. Which isn’t to say he won’t do it again next year. But if it’s Thanksgiving Day in America, the guys have gotta play football.

For a group of former Orono High School players, Thanksgiving Day football comes complete with a name and a time-honored tradition that dates to before some of the players were born.

The Turkey Bowl, played at the Orono High School football field in whatever weather Mother Nature dishes out, continued yesterday. No one knows the origin, but rumor has it that the Turkey Bowl is now a generation old.

25 years ago – Nov. 24, 1980

BANGOR – Mae West, who died Saturday at the age of 87, appeared in Maine theaters on at least two occasions before and after the peak of her film career in the 1930s.

The first engagement was at Bangor’s Bijou Theater probably in the late teens or early 1920, when the actress toured the vaudeville circuit in shows that established her as an aggressive, highly sensual performer with a heart of gold.

“She was a mere wisp of a gal when she played the Bijou,” the late Harold Moon, Bangor’s “Mr. Theater” and a 41-year resident of that city’s Penobscot Exchange Hotel, recalled in a 1968 interview, “but she really has the fellows intrigued. She sang and played the violin.”

Mae West was an aging, but by then legendary, film siren when she played the Camden Hills Summer Theater in July 1956. Appearing in “Come On Up, Ring Twice,” a comedy she adapted to her own suggestive style, Miss West caused a stir in the seacoast community, arriving in a chauffeur-driven Cadillac with her personal secretary, male hairdresser and female companion in tow.

50 years ago – Nov. 24, 1955

ORONO – The Orono-Old Town Kiwanis Club held a Father-Daughter Banquet at the Orono Community House. Francis Hamabe of Blue Hill presented a puppet show for the 41 young ladies, ranging from a little over 2 years old to high school students, and to the 37 Kiwanians who were present for the special event.

Corsages of yellow pom-poms were presented to the girls.

Edward O. Merrill was song leader for the event, with Frank Harlow as the pianist. A roast beef dinner was served by Ralph Grant.

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The Bangor-Brewer Lions Club celebrated its annual Thanksgiving meeting with reverence and music when members met at the Penobscot Hotel.

The Rev. E. Charles Dartnell paused in his introductions of the speakers to pay tribute to the late Albert J. Cole, a former club member.

The Rev. Peter P. Gorham of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rabbi A.H. Freedman of the Congregation Beth Israel and the Rev. William Wright of the First Methodist Church addressed members on the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Gorham sang “Danny Boy” and Dartnell sang “I Believe.” The two clergymen joined in a duet to sing “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.”

Gordon Kelly reported that the Lions Milk Fund Drive netted $3,379.03 for the children’s school milk program.

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BANGOR – The Bangor stores are hung with Christmas greens and other holiday decor and are ready with an array of holiday merchandise to help customers purchase their gifts before the last minute rush.

From an array of toys to the more practical gifts of clothing and household furnishings, there isn’t a thing on your shopping list that isn’t available.

From now until Christmas, Yuletide music will be in the air in the Bangor shopping center, and people will be rushing around trying to be ready for Santa in advance of Dec. 25. It is the smart woman or man who plans to have the purchases made and the gifts wrapped a few days in advance of the holiday – then they just sit back and enjoy the holiday and its attendant festivities.

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BANGOR – A crowd estimated at about 2,000 attended the 71st annual Concert and Ball sponsored by the Bangor Firemen’s Relief Association held at the old auditorium.

The traditional Thanksgiving Eve event featured five outstanding acts of professional vaudeville, which were enthusiastically received by the audience. Dancing until midnight followed the program of entertainment with music by Paul Dinsmore and the Rhythmaires.

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BANGOR – Girl Scout Troop 41 held its fifth birthday party at Mary Snow School. Carolee Fraser and Ann Higgins were presented tenderfoot pins by Leaders Ellen Nason and Katherine Higgins.

An exhibition of stuffed monkeys was next on the program, with Principal Ernest Wardwell called in to act as judge. Carolee Fraser was awarded the prize for the funniest, and Dorothy Davis received a prize for having done the best handiwork.

During the musical program, Susan Munce played a piano selection; Eileen O’Brien, Marie Adams, Barbara Smith and Andrea Eaton sang “Red River Valley” accompanied by Susan Munce; Marie Adams played two flute solos; Sherry Morse gave a humorous reading; Peggy Nason played two selections on the accordion; and Ann Higgins sang a duet with leader Katherine Higgins.

100 years – Nov. 24, 1905

PROSPECT – Samuel Batchelder spent several days opening his quarry on the side of Daniel French’s Farm, just below Prospect Ferry. He and his brother, Francis Batchelder, removed the dirt and uncovered large sheets of coarse granite and also found some nice pink granite.

The quarry is on the highway from Prospect Ferry to Sandy Point and Belfast, and is less than a half-mile away from tide water, which never freezes. There is a grade of about 10 degrees from the water to the quarry, so that cars will run to the shore by their own gravitation. Mr. Batchelder says his quarry holds millions of feet of the best granite in Maine, which can be quarried and transported to the water very cheaply, and which will hold a good edge under hammer and chisel.

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BUCKSPORT – Capt. William Lowell left for Winterport, where he is to finish repairing and putting in shape for the winter the wharf recently purchased by Capt. Ben Arey and known as the Eveleth wharf.

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BUCKSPORT – The Grand Army Hall has been repaired and improved. Four stone and brick piers have been placed under the corners and a stone wall has been laid under the sills. The work has been done under the supervision of Commander Fred Wood.

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BUCKSPORT – A stereopticon lecture will be given in the Methodist church. The subject will be “Among the Sons of Ham.” Tickets are 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin