Reservations are now being accepted for the 2006 New England Spring Flower Show bus trip sponsored by Bangor Garden Club.

Caroline Tully of Bangor reports it is time to mark your calendars and make your plans for this special event, which will be held Tuesday, March 14, in Boston.

“It should be an outstanding, enlightening event,” she said of the show that has as its theme “Welcome Home: Celebrate our Great New England Landscape.”

Tickets, which include transportation and admission to the show, are $70 each and can be reserved by calling Tully at 945-3807.

If you can’t go but know someone who would like to, or if you want to give the trip as a gift to a friend or a loved one, gift certificates are available.

Boarding begins at 6 a.m. and the bus leaves at 6:30 a.m. from Broadway Shopping Center in Bangor, and Tully said arrangements can be made for those wishing to join the tour in Newport or Waterville.

“We always have riders from there,” she explained.

The evening meal, on your own, will be a stop at Newick’s Seafood Restaurant in South Portland.

BGC has reserved two buses for this trip, but last year, due to such a great response, a third bus was added, so you better make your reservations early if you want to ensure your seat!

Congratulations to the Maine McDonald’s owner-operators and all their patrons who helped raise more than $18,500 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine to aid in last fall’s hurricane relief effort.

Those funds were raised through a canister collection conducted at McDonald’s restaurants owned by Heidi and Daryl Abbotoni, Joe and Joan Breisacher, Ed and Dawn Degenhardt, Gary and Beth Eckmann, Jim and Patty Garrett, Steve and Teri Goble, David and Janice Hamilton, and George and Edie Lydick.

Other McDonald’s patrons contributed to the hurricane relief effort at restaurants owned by Ron and Cyndi Lydick, John and Anne Maragus, Peter and Denise Napoli, Jack and Margaret Nygren, James Nygren, Bob and Laraine Ortins, Sheila Peabody, and Doug and Linda Quagliaroli.

The funds will be used to help rebuild the Ronald McDonald House in Greater New Orleans, which was destroyed by the high winds and floods of Hurricane Katrina.

McDonald’s Corp. donated $3 million for hurricane relief efforts, in addition to the $2 million it contributed to match canister donations at U.S. restaurants.

Our local Aubuchon Hardware store managers are participating in the stores’ fifth annual Community Appreciation Day, which will be conducted during regular store hours, Saturday, Jan. 14, at three stores in our area.

On that day, Aubuchon will donate a portion of its proceeds to a local charity or organization chosen by the local store manager.

Aubuchon Hardware CEO William Aubuchon III stated in a recent release that “we have always believed that the success of our stores is due to the support from our community, and our annual Community Appreciation Day is just a small token of gratitude to our hometown customers.”

Proceeds from Community Appreciation Day at the Brewer store will benefit the Brewer High School Key Club; proceeds from the fundraiser at the Old Town store will benefit Old Town Little League; and proceeds from Community Appreciation Day at Aubuchon Hardware in Newport will benefit the Newport Fire Department.

Last year, $50,000 was raised throughout the New England and New York region.

The event has been more successful each year it has been put on, so this year’s goal is to exceed last year’s total.

Writing on behalf of all associated with Shaw House in Bangor, which provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, a drop-in day program, and street outreach and case management support services for young people ages 10 to 18, as well as outreach services for young adults up to age 24, Kerry Sack expresses gratitude for your efforts to help improve the lives of those using that facility.

“Shaw House wishes to thank the community for responding, with abundant generosity, making the holidays brighter for homeless children and young adults,” she wrote.

“The donated food, clothing, toiletries and hygiene items have helped to make a difference for those in need. … This past December, Shaw House has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeless and at-risk youth and young adults,” she wrote.

For information about Shaw House, its services or its needs, call 941-2874, or e-mail shawhouse@prexar.com.

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