Bangor

Family Christmas Party

The first annual Baldacci Family Christmas Party to benefit Dakin Pool will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at Momma Baldacci’s Italian Restaurant at 12 Alden St.

According to Mike Robinson of the Dakin Pool executive committee, the event will serve as a fundraiser to help pay for improvements needed to keep the east side swimming pool open.

The party will feature free hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, music, a display of blueprints and plans for coming improvements and an appearance by Santa Claus. While admission to the party is free, those who attend are encouraged to cast donations into a small wading pool that will be set up for the event.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Dec. 16 to Mike Robinson at 947-4382.

Bangor Reads

The Bangor City Council issued a proclamation on Dec. 12 proclaiming January 2006 “a time for Bangor Reads.” Bangor Reads is a program designed to involve everyone in the city in reading the same book at the same time and participating in discussions about it, the proclamation said.

This year’s selection for Bangor Reads is “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy” by Gary D. Schmidt, a book for young adults that has received the Printz Honor and Newbery Book awards. It was chosen to celebrate the library’s 100th year of service to the children of Bangor.

The novel, set in 1911 in the Maine town of Phippsburg, touches many themes, including racism, a controversial friendship between a preacher’s son and black woman, and the shameful destruction of Malaga Island, a poor community settled by former slaves that once existed off the Maine coast.

The proclamation urged the community to make a special effort to include young adults in this year’s Bangor Reads activities.

Railroad safety

Members of the several area law enforcement agencies recently completed a 16-hour course in response to railroad-related incidents.

The Grade Crossing Collision Investigation program was held recently in Bangor.

Those taking the course included Paul Colley and Douglas Moore of the Bangor Police Department; officers Michael Hashey and Stephen Boyd of the Old Town police; the Brewer Police Department’s Arden Jones and Edward Willey; Christopher Watson of the Orono police; Thomas Stewart of the Hampden Police Department; and Deputy Joshua Tibbetts of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department.

The GCCI course, approved by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy toward police officers’ annual required training, details how train-vehicle collisions are much different from vehicle-vehicle crashes.

Officers and sheriff’s deputies from the region learned about response to such incidents including contacting the railroad, securing the collision scene, being aware of hazardous materials, walking around railroad equipment, and interrogation of railroad personnel.

Besides having classroom time, officers also were familiarized with railroad signals, locomotives, and railroad cars during a hands-on session in Hermon courtesy of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway.

The instruction was provided by area railroad and Federal Railroad Administration officials. In addition to crossing collisions, law enforcement learned about state and federal law as it pertains to rail-related incidents, trespass enforcement and investigation of vandalism to railroad property and equipment.

There was no cost to police agencies or to the officers. The course was financed by Maine Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit education organization dedicated to reducing crashes at railroad crossings and trespass incidents along Maine’s 1,200 miles of active rail lines.

Holiday concert

The Bangor High School music department will host its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, in Peakes Auditorium at the school.

Performing will be the concert band, directed by Scott Burdin; the orchestra, directed by William Bell; and the chorus and chamber choir, directed by George Redman.

Oil paintings on display

Oil paintings by Sedgwick artist Louise Bourne will be on display through Jan. 12 at the Robert E. White Art Gallery at Husson College.

The White Gallery is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Dichroic glass art

A display of dichroic glass art at Metropolitan Soul on Main Street will help raise awareness and funds for the National CFIDS Foundation, which serves those with chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome.

Audrey Sparkes, the coordinator for the local CFIDS and myalgic encephalomyelitis support group, has three large pieces of glass art in the store windows, and several smaller and medium-sized pieces in the store.

Twenty percent of sales from the class art, and one-third of sales from her candleholders on sale at the store will go toward matching funds for research grants for CFIDS.

Sparkes, who lives with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also has glass art on display at Alpha One agency on Union Street.

The artist said she was encouraged that the media is giving more attention to the syndrome as researchers are getting closer to identifying a biomarker for the neurological disorder.

Quality child care

The State of Maine Office of Child Care and Head Start is working with eight Resource Development Centers in Maine to provide an opportunity for parents and providers to offer input and gain a better understanding of the Quality Rating System. The system acknowledges child care providers who work to improve the quality of care offered to families.

Each focus group will be no more than two hours long and will begin with a short introduction of the system. Parents and providers will be given an opportunity for comments and questions.

The focus group for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Penquis Community Action Program, 262 Harlow St., Bangor. Refreshments will be provided. To participate in the focus group, call Amy Ludwig at 973-3533.

Bangor Land Trust

Lyndsey Monroe of Hermon is the new program coordinator for the Bangor Land Trust.

A graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in wildlife ecology and a special interest in environmental ethics, Monroe is a native of Veazie.

She recently completed a service term with the Maine Conservation Corps, leading a Youth Action Team for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The “Buffer Brigade” installed vegetative buffers along lakefront properties in Penobscot, Hancock and Waldo counties and conducted education and outreach to reduce pollution in Maine’s water bodies.

In addition to implementing the half-time position of program coordinator, the land trust has secured office space downtown in Norumbega Hall as a new affiliate of Eastern Maine Development Corp. A newsletter and Web site are coming in the near future, along with educational programs and community events.

Bangor Land Trust is moving forward with its Caribou Bog-Penjajawoc Project and recently participated in the first meeting of the Penjajawoc Marsh-Bangor Mall Management Commission.

For information on the Bangor Land Trust, call Lyndsey Monroe at 942-6389, ext. 242, e-mail bgrlandtrust@emdc.org, or call Bangor Land Trust president Lucy Quimby at 945-3675 or 356-5954.

Bangor Land Trust’s mission is to protect in perpetuity for public benefit significant lands and waters and their natural, agricultural, scenic and traditional values and characteristics; promote general and scientific understanding of the region’s natural resources and the need for their preservation; and collaborate with organizations having related missions.

Storyteller John McDonald

John McDonald, author of the newly released “down the road a piece: A Storyteller’s Guide to Maine” and the humor book, “A Moose and Lobster Walk into a Bar,” will read from his new book and autograph copies of it 12:30-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Mr. Paperback, Airport Mall, 1129 Union St.

McDonald’s new book enlightens the reader with his version of Maine’s colorful history, his take on destinations not to be missed in the state, how to interpret Maine-speak, where to shop, and what unique Maine foods to eat. The book offers a mix of traditional Maine stories and new material.

The book was published by Islandport Press, based in New Gloucester. To obtain more information about the book signing, call Mr. Paperback at 942-9191.

Brewer

Chalila House

OHI in Hermon announced that the directors of the Maine Community Foundation have approved a grant of $3,500 to OHI for permanent housing for eight chronically homeless individuals with mental health disabilities.

The grant is made from the Maine Charity Foundation Fund at the recommendation of the advisers, and from the Wrendy Hayne Mental Health Fund at the recommendation of Janice and Donald S. Burns.

Grant dollars are targeted for the Chalila House located on North Main Street in Brewer. Chalila House will provide eight one-bedroom apartments for people who struggle with mental illness and homelessness – and who might well become homeless again without Chalila House.

Named in memory of MaryAnne Chalila, former director of the Bangor Department of Health and Welfare and a tireless advocate for people who are disenfranchised, Chalila House will provide exactly what MaryAnne envisioned – safe, affordable housing for people making the transition from homelessness, institutionalization or supported living to independence.

The Chalila House opened its doors to its first tenant on Nov. 30. OHI hopes to have all apartments full by early 2006.

Human Rights Day

A celebration of International Human Rights Day was held Dec. 10 at the Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council Solidarity Center in Brewer.

Activities included a rally and public action for workers’ rights, economic justice and health care for all; a workers’ rights forum, a dinner and live entertainment.

Since 1950, International Human Rights Day has been celebrated around the world honoring the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

The event in Brewer was co-sponsored by the GBA-CLC, the National and Maine AFL-CIO and Food AND Medicine, and was intended to support workers at Eastern Maine Medical Center who want to join a union.

In the past, Food AND Medicine has raised more than $50,000 to support laid off workers in the Eastern Maine region who have lost their jobs.

For the third year in a row, Food AND Medicine, a regional coalition of labor, religious and civic groups organizing for laid-off workers, economic justice and health care for all, led Solidarity Harvest to provide Thanksgiving dinners for laid-off workers and their families.

Working with Food AND Medicine were the Maine State Nurses Association Unit 1 and the GBA-CLC.

For information on Food AND Medicine, contact Rob Brown at 989-5860, or info@foodandmedicine.org.

Hometown Band concert

The Brewer Hometown Band will present a concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Brewer Auditorium. The concert is free, but the band invites concert attendees to bring nonperishable items for the Brewer Food Cupboard.

The musical program will be songs of the season. Door prizes will be awarded and refreshments will be served. Rumor has it that a visit from St. Nick is a definite possibility.

Eddington

Christmas cantata

The North Brewer-Eddington United Methodist Church choir will present a Christmas canatata, “Glorious Joy,” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the church on Route 9.

The concert is under the direction of Herbert Hopkins with narration by Edward Healy. Choir members are Anne Kenniston, Gail DeBeck, Marion Buck Hatt, the Rev. Dr. Tracy Reeves, Melva Kent, Molly Stevens, Kim Boyle, Donna Boyle, Judy Adams, Patti Ronco, Coralee Giles, Jessie Mellott, Roberta Domingo, Deanna Maxim, Cheryl Long, Pam Bull, Mike Strang, Robert Adams, Lin Lufkin, Don Pierce, Patrick Stevens, Roscoe Kent and Merrill Boynton.

Melva Kent and Mike Strang will sing solos.

Refreshments will be served after the concert. Child care will be provided.

Orland

Remembrance Tree

The Orland Fire Department once again has a Remembrance Tree outside the station for community members to place a ribbon or picture honoring a loved one, friend or soldier who is in Iraq or serving in some other location.

The tree is for everyone, no matter where they live. The station is across from H.O.M.E. Co-op on Orland Hill.

Orono

Public safety director

Cliff Wells, former Penobscot County Regional Dispatch director, has started in his new role as Orono’s public safety director.

Wells began working in Orono last week, and the council was expected to confirm his appointment and contract at Monday night’s meeting. Wells has been given a two-year contract with a salary of $65,000, plus benefits.

The new public safety director, who will oversee Orono’s fire and police departments, had been director of the county’s emergency dispatch center since 1998 and came to Maine after serving in several police agencies in New Jersey.

Women’s forum

Challenging issues confronting state legislatures were on the agenda when state Sen. Elizabeth M. Schneider, D- Penobscot, of Orono took part in the New England Forum for Women State Legislators on Nov. 17. The bipartisan forum, convened by the Center for American Women and Politics, brought together lawmakers from all six New England states and a dynamic group of experts to explore complex problems and to assess policy options.

The Center for American Women and Politics has taken on the multiple roles of catalyst and resource, provider of data and analyses, interpreter and guide. It raises and responds to emerging issues, working daily with women leaders, journalists, scholars, students, women’s groups, governmental agencies, civic organizations and political parties.

The panel included Madeleine Kunin, former governor of Vermont; Jeanne Shaheen, former governor of New Hampshire; and Jane Swift, for mer governor of Massachusetts.

Bicentennial cookbook

The Friends of the Orono Public Library have for sale a new cookbook, “Orono Cooks,” in honor of the town’s upcoming bicentennial celebration.

The cookbook contains more than 400 recipes from local contributors, historical notes, photos and cover art by local artists. The cookbook is available for $15 at the Orono Public Library. Specially sized shipping boxes are available for $1 each. A $2 per book discount will apply with the purchase of three or more copies of “Orono Cooks.” For more information, call the library at 866-5060.