Reservations are required by Monday, Jan. 9, for those who plan to attend the Curran Homestead annual meeting and recognition dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Oriental Jade Restaurant on Bangor Mall Boulevard.

Sponsored by Bangor Letter Shop, there is no charge for members who pay their 2006 dues, in advance or at the door, for donors or honored guests.

For all others, admission is $15 for adults, $7 for children.

Dinner reservations can be made by calling Carroll Adams, 989-2430, or Irv Marsters, 945-9311; faxing Marsters at 942-9914, or e-mailing irv@bangorlettershop.com.

Board president Karen Marsters invites you to celebrate what has been “a banner year” for the turn-of-the-century living history farm and museum at Fields Pond in Orrington, and she hopes you will join her in ushering in the organization’s 15th anniversary year.

You have until Tuesday, Jan. 31, to become a charter owner of a fence picket, post or rail for the new picket fence in front of the museum.

For complete information about that project or any museum details, call the museum at 945-9311 or write the Curran Homestead Living History Farm & Museum, P.O. Box 107, Fields Pond Road, Orrington 04474.

Listen up folks, and you can help young people in our area be winners in more ways than one.

You can help them win a fun time for themselves and one of their friends, and you can help them help young families throughout the country.

All you have to do is give when they ask.

Gene Staffiere, northern Maine director of the March of Dimes, has announced that the March of Dimes, radio station Z107.3 and area high schools are participating in the March of Dimes national pre-maturity campaign, the “Dime Drive.”

The fundraiser begins Sunday, Jan. 1, and continues through month’s end.

The middle or high school students raising the most money will be able to have a Z107.3 disc jockey at a school dance, and can choose one student to be a Z107.3 DJ for a Day. They are allowed to raise funds in any way they wish, and are encouraged to visit during live, remote Z107.3 broadcasts, Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, at the Bangor Mall.

All funds have to be turned in to the March of Dimes by Monday, Feb. 6.

Participants include students of Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, Katahdin High School in Stacyville, Penquis Valley High School in Milo, and Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford.

Also competing in the “Dime Drive” are students at Jonesport-Beals High School, Hampden Academy, Hermon High School, Bangor High School, Woodland Junior-Senior High School, Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft and Lubec Consolidated School.

All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes national effort, which is a five-year $75 million research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies.

If students at your school are interested in participating in this fundraiser, call Staffiere at (800) 287-6346 or 989-3376.

Deb LaVoie of Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area reports several Curves facilities in Maine are conducting a members workout pledge drive in January to help provide scholarships to grieving children and their families to attend the Camp Ray of Hope weekend retreat.

Camp Ray of Hope, she wrote, is a statewide, nonprofit program that offers attendees an opportunity to network with others who are in the midst of transition from loss by death.

Children and adults participate with peers in support groups and workshops; fish and canoe; and take advantage of free sessions offered by massage therapists, Reiki practitioners and reflexologists.

Camp Ray of Hope celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

For information about Camp Ray of Hope, call Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area at 873-3615 or visit www.hvwa.org.

To participate in the Curves pledge drive, contact a Curves center near you.

Representatives of any Curves centers not participating but who would like to be included can call the number above.

Carquest of Bangor distribution center associates “stepped up to the plate” during the holidays and enabled operations manager John Weinmann to proudly present a $1,000 donation to Bill Rae, executive director of Manna Ministries Inc. of Bangor.

The funds were to be used to purchase assorted food goods for those in need who come to Manna for assistance during the holiday season.

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