Bangor Band Christmas Concert this Sunday

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People who attend the annual Christmas Concert of our historic Bangor Band, which is nearing the end of its 146th year, will welcome its new conductor, Dr. Fred Goldrich of Trenton.

The Bangor Band Christmas Concert is 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Bangor Civic Center and, band president Bob Pentland promises, “Santa Claus will be there.”

The concert is free and open to the public.

Having conducted symphony and chamber orchestras in the New York City area, “as well as musical theater both in that area and in Maine,” Pentland informed me, Goldrich has prepared a very entertaining and enjoyable selection of holiday music for this special concert.

You will hear many familiar holiday selections that will please both young and old, and “a little brass ensemble” will be playing “some snazzy, jazzy Christmas music” as you pass through the lobby headed for your seats.

Once again, Pentland added, Bangor city officials have graciously given “permission” for Santa and his sleigh to light atop the civic center and avoid the snarl of holiday traffic, but Pentland requests no oats be thrown to the reindeer on the roof.

Serving with Pentland on the Bangor Band board of directors for the upcoming season are vice president Dale Brownie, Stetson; secretary Dianna Wyman, Fairfield; treasurer Richard Starke, Castine; and at-large members Don Menninghaus, Bangor, and Michelle Share, Old Town.

The band has openings for clarinet, saxophone and French horn players.

For more information, call Goldrich at 667-0153, Pentland at 667-4874, or Menninghaus at 942-1295.

Kathryn Braggins, e-mailing on behalf of the Hudson Museum, wants the public to know about a special raffle taking place during the 11th annual Maine Indian Basketmakers Sale and Demonstration, which is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Museum in the Maine Center for the Arts on the University of Maine campus in Orono.

Braggins wrote that the Museum “has commissioned a Passamaquoddy fancy basket by Jeremy Fray to be raffled off that day.”

“The basket is absolutely beautiful,” Braggins added.

It can be seen at the museum shop, or you will find a picture and a brief write-up about it at www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/index.php.

Raffle tickets are available at the Museum Gift Shop for $5 each.

More than 30 Maine Indian basket makers will be selling their unique ash splint and sweet grass baskets. If you wish to be an “early bird,” you can do so beginning at 9 a.m. for a $10 fee.

Throughout the day, traditional foods, storytelling and music, children’s workshops and demonstrations will be offered.

More information about the Basketmakers Sale can be found at www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/even.php.

Santa Claus will be one of the special guests for the sixth annual Woodlawn Museum Candlelight Evening at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Woodlawn on Surry Road in Ellsworth.

Underwritten by Union Trust Co., festivities include music by the Fletcher’s Landing Philharmonic band, a bonfire, caroling, tours of the museum, hot chocolate and cookies served by members of the Key Club, and lighting of the luminarias along the driveway by local Boy Scouts.

Santa concludes the event at 6:30 p.m. with a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, which features decorations made by participants of the Downeast Family Child Care program.

Admission is $5 per car, plus an additional $5 for adults and $1 per child for those who want to visit the museum and view the Christmas Trees of Woodlawn display.

From Nancy Grant we learn that doors open for the AFS 28th Annual Auction at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, in the cafeteria of Orono High School.

Your $5 admission includes a dinner of chili, corn bread, dessert and beverage. A vegetarian chili also will be available.

The silent auction is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and closes promptly, in preparation for the live auction from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring guest auctioneer Dave Ames.

Up for bid, this year, is everything from a boat ride down the Penobscot River and sailing into Penobscot Bay to an authentic raccoon coat, a flag that’s been flown over the U.S. Capitol, gift certificates, and OHS all-sports passes.

The AFS “We are the World” quilt, currently on display at Merrill Merchants Bank in Orono, is this year’s raffle item.

As always, all proceeds benefit the Orono AFS Intercultural Programs Scholarship Fund.

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