Bangor

Valentine’s dinner dance

Back Door Dance Studio will sponsor a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, a 1950s Dinner and Dance, to benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. The event will be held 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Elks Club on Odlin Road.

Participants are encouraged to wear 1950s-style costumes. Activities will include a Twist Contest, Hula Hoop Contest, raffles and a dinner at 10 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with a cash bar available.

Tickets are $15, and advance purchase is preferred. For tickets and information, call Back Door Dance Studio at 943-5638, e-mail swingtime34@aol.com or Becky Drake at bdrake1779@aol.com.

The Maine Children’s Cancer Program provides integrated, comprehensive cancer care for children throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Based in southern Maine, the program is under the umbrella of Maine Medical Center and the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.

The program currently serves 180 patients, with 55-60 new patients diagnosed each year.

The money raised for the program helps fund research-based care, charity care, outreach, advocacy, education, psychosocial services and new program initiatives not covered by insurance. Two full-time social workers provide lifetime support to the children and their families if requested.

BSO trip to China

Maestro Xiao-Lu Li invites the public to tour China with him June 12-27. Visit the maestro’s homeland and tour Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Suzhou, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Taste exotic food, have cake and tea with Xiao-Lu Li’s mother and father, experience fascinating cultural events, shop and more.

The tour will visit Tiananmen Square, the largest plaza in Asia; the Forbidden City; Summer Palace; the Great Wall of China; the fabled Gateway to the Silk Road; the Provincial and Shanghai museums; the paths and pavilions of Yuyuan Gardens; and the Children’s Palace. Spend an evening at the Shanghai Acrobatics Show, then savor the glorious lights of the city at night.

The 3rd Annual China Tour with Maestro Li is $4,295 per person, double occupancy, and includes international airfare – coach, three domestic flights, airport transfers and departure taxes, land tours and admissions, ground transportation, all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners, restaurant tips, five-star deluxe hotels, show and concert tickets.

Reserve space before March 31 with a $500 deposit. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.

A complete itinerary and further details are available at bangorsymphony.com.

For more information, call the Bangor Symphony Orchestra at 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221.

Career training class

A 12-week training course, Creating Your Future: Learn and Earn Your Way to Success, will be held 9 a.m.-noon Wednesdays, March 8-May 24, at Women, Work and Community. The course will cover career, educational and financial goals.

There is no cost for the class. Preregistration is required by calling 262-7842, or (800) 442-2092.

Spring Concert rehearsals

The Bangor Community Chorus is scheduled to begin rehearsals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St., to prepare for its Spring Concert.

Men and women of all ages and voice ranges are invited to join the chorus. It is not necessary to read music or be an accomplished singer to be a member of the chorus.

The Bangor Community Chorus has been entertaining audiences for nearly 40 years. Pianist Naomi Hall has served at the group’s accompanist since 1975.

Chorus conductor Joshua Schmersal is planning a varied and interesting concert. He will play the title role in the Maine Masque Theatre’s upcoming production, “Jesus Christ, Superstar.”

For more information about becoming a member of the chorus, call Carolyn McKinnon at 945-6752, or Joshua Schmersal at 669-2522.

Laugh-in

The Bangor Region Leadership Institute will sponsor the Leadership Laugh-in 6:30-midnight Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Spectacular Events Center.

The event will feature comedy from 8-10 p.m. and dancing until midnight. The cost is $25 per ticket.

Comedians who will participate in the event are:

. Steve Caouette. He has worked with Collin Quinn and Victoria Jackson of Saturday Night live, Bobcat Golthwait and Bill Bellamy. He has performed in venues in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and at more than 100 colleges and other public places. He has appeared in several movies, including “Boondock Saints” and Stephen King’s “The Langoliers.”

. Leslie Downs. She is an up and coming comedienne who has performed at colleges and universities throughout the United States, including the Comedy Connection in Portland.

. Chris Quimby. He will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening. He is a standup comedian from Brooks. He won the EMCC Amateur Comedy Competition for each of its two years. He also has performed at the Liquid Blue Club in Portland.

To obtain information or to purchase tickets, call Amanda at 947-0307, or stop by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

Brewer

Kiwanis news

Brewer Kiwanis members Herb Hopkins, Jane Newberry, Bill Newberry and Art Monk recently attended the first evening meeting of the Bangor Noon Kiwanis Club.

At the meeting, new members Stacey Brann and Kurtis Marsh were introduced.

Brewer Kiwanis and the Bangor Noon Kiwanis and other Division 3 clubs will hold a casino in April to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Brewer Kiwanis meets 6-7 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant.

Carmel

Library schedule

The Simpson Memorial Library lists its schedule as follows:

. Story Hour, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14.

. Family Story Time, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.

. Library Boosters meeting, 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays.

For more information, call 848-7145.

Eddington

Historical society meeting

The Eddington Historical Society will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the East Eddington Community Church. After a business meeting, the program will feature a speaker on nonprofit organizational procedures.

For more information, call Richard at 989-5792.

Old Town

Benefit supper

A benefit spaghetti supper will be held for the McCullagh family 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Old Town United Methodist Church, 744 Stillwater Ave., Old Town. The cost of the meal is $5, $3.50 children under 12 or $15 for a family of five.

Orono

Chocolate buffet

Chocolate desserts, candlelight and love songs will be the highlight of a Valentine’s Day chocolate buffet to held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St.

The event will benefit Crossroads Ministries, which feeds those in need.

Tickets for the buffet are $5 and available at the door, or by calling 866-2624.

Tribal history

James Sapier, chief of the Penobscot Nation, and James Francis, tribal historian, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Orono Town Council chambers.

The free public lecture, part of Orono’s yearlong Bicentennial Celebration, will cover the Penobscots’ place in the history of the lower Penobscot River area after the arrival of European people in this part of North America. It was significant that those who founded Orono in 1806 chose to name the town for the chief of the Penobscot Indians.

The program is part of a monthly lecture series sponsored by the Orono Historical Society and supported financially by the Maine Humanities Council.

Areawide

Scholarship program

High school seniors headed to college this fall may now apply online for scholarships awarded each year by TD Banknorth Maine as part of the bank’s TD Banknorth Promise program created to help Maine youth.

Scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to 10 Maine high school seniors from throughout the state.

Now in its eighth year, the scholarship program is designed to reward Maine students from low- to moderate-income households for academic excellence and to help offset higher education costs.

For more information or to obtain an application, visit www.mesfoundation.com, or call the MES Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that administers the scholarship program for TD Banknorth, at (800) 922-6352.

Awards are based on financial need, academic achievement, involvement in school activities, community volunteer activity, work experience, and a required essay. The application deadline is April 15. Scholarship recipients will be announced in June.

Scholarship recipients are offered an optional three-month paid internship with TD Banknorth after their first year of post-secondary education.