Bangor

Hunger relief campaign

Hannaford Bros. Co. opened its annual Have A Heart for Hunger campaign on Feb. 5. The program provides food to hunger relief organizations in five states. Shoppers at Hannaford stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts have the opportunity to help fight hunger in their communities by contributing to the campaign. The program, now in its third year, has raised more than $185,000 for America’s Second Harvest agencies since its inception.

Under the terms of the program, which runs until Saturday, March 4, customers make donations as part of their food bill. Stores have coupons in $2 and $5 denominations at all checkouts. All funds raised will be donated to local food banks.

In launching the campaign, Hannaford contributed $5,000. Money raised in the campaign will be split among 10 participating hunger-relief agencies. In Maine, the participating hunger relief agencies are Good Shepherd Food Bank and Wayside Soup Kitchen.

Winter Walk

The Bangor Land Trust will serve as the host for a winter walk at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning off Tripp Avenue in the Bangor City Forest. Host Dick Andren will discuss the strategies that plant and animals use to cope with winter conditions. Those interested in going on the walk should call Lyndsey Monroe, 942-6389, ext. 3219, for more information.

Adoption awareness training

Maine Adoption Placement Service will offer “Understanding Infant Adoption,” a training program that is part of the Infant Adoption Awareness Initiative and Children’s Health Act, passed by Congress in 2000.

The law requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement programs to train staff at federally funded health centers and clinics to provide adoption information and referrals to pregnant women on an equal basis with other alternatives. MAPS has been awarded a grant to serve as lead training agency for the state of Maine.

The training program curriculum is based on the belief that in the situation of unplanned pregnancy, women should be provided equal information and counseling regarding all options in a nondirective, noncoersive manner in order to make an informed decision.

The training program validates the health care provider’s role in educating patients and clients and provides opportunities for participants to assess their own strengths and resources to determine their need for further information.

The program is grant-sponsored and free to eligible attendees. Continuing education credits and contact hours will be awarded based on the length of the selected training. The curriculum is designed as a full day of training, but may be modified to meet the individual demands. Each participant will be provided with a comprehensive training manual, a state resource guide and complimentary breakfast or lunch.

MAPS is scheduling training sessions across the state and will offer sessions 8:30 a.m.-noon Fridays, March 10, March 17 and March 24, at its offices, 181 State St.

For more information and a schedule of training sessions, visit www.iaatp.com. Online registration is available. For more information, call Melissa Huston at 941-9500 or e-mail melissah@mapsadopt.org.

Blood drive

A blood drive will be held 2-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at First Baptist Church, 56 Center St., in honor of church member Donna Holyoke, and to support those in the community who need blood. Walk-in donors are welcome. Snacks will be provided. For more information, call the church at 945-9694.

Pet nutrition seminar

A seminar on pet nutrition, to benefit the Bangor Humane Society and Emily Fund, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union St. If the first session is filled, a second session will be held at 1 p.m.

The seminar will focus on nutrition as the foundation of good health for pits. It will examine the advantages, disadvantages and costs of the various types of pet diets – homemade, home-prepared raw, commercial raw, commercial dry and commercial canned.

Seating is limited, and preregistration is recommended. There is no charge for the seminar, but those attending are asked to reserve a seat with a minimum $5 donation to the Bangor Humane Society and Emily Fund. Checks may be sent to Green Acres, which will forward them after the seminar.

Brewer

Kiwanis news

Laura England spoke to the Brewer Kiwanis Club recently about the Brewer Public Library’s third annual Family Read Aloud Program.

The program is designed for parents to read aloud to their children, or have their children read aloud to them, for 30 minutes three times a week during March.

Kiwanis treasurer Debbie Roy presented England with a check to help with the program.

Barney Thompson presented the club with a Certificate of Commendation from the Brewer City Council for participating in the 2005 Streamside Cleanup Program.

Members of Brewer Kiwanis Club will participate in the Penobscot River Winterfest by serving a pancake breakfast Saturday at the Brewer Auditorium.

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

Hampden

Art show

Local artist Norman Sterns will exhibit “Oil Paintings of Maine,” consisting of 35 paintings, during February at the Edythe Dyer Library, Route 1A. To obtain more information about the exhibit, call Sterns at 862-5577.

Hermon

Basket bingo

Basket Bingo to benefit the Hermon High School softball team will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Hermon Middle School gym. The cost is $10 for 15 games and two blackouts.

Door prizes will be awarded and items will be raffled. For tickets, e-mail bibersteins@hermon.net or call 848-4000, ext. 114 or Vonnie Colpitts, 884-7959.

Old Town

Chocolate Lover’s Sundae

The Old Town Methodist Church will serve as the host for Chocolate Lover’s Sundae and Sandwich Luncheon, noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at the church, 744 Stillwater Ave.

For a cost of $3.50, patrons can dine on sandwiches, chips, pickles and hot fudge sundaes. The cost for the sundae only is $1.50. Other chocolate treats such as bars, candies, cookies, fudge and brownies will be available to eat in or take out, each priced differently. Proceeds will benefit Crossroads Ministries.

Orono

International Dance Festival

The University of Maine will sponsor the second annual International Dance Festival at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Maine Center for the Arts. The event is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy the heritage of the many cultures and countries represented on campus. The festival will feature dances from more than a dozen different regions of the world performed by University of Maine students.

The festival is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Office of International Programs at 581-2905.

Symphony and chocolate

Mmmm, chocolate and music. Now that’s provocative. Want to indulge those passions for an evening? Never been to a classical concert? Can’t tell Bach from Beethoven? This concert was made for you.

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li, will present an evening to please the palate and soothe the soul. A special rehearsal concert will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Maine Center for the Arts. It will be followed by a decadent chocolate and champagne reception.

Savor romantic moments and light a fire in your imagination as you listen to selections from Myerbeer’s “Le Prophete: Coronation March,” Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.” Then meet Maestro Li, guest soloist Christel Lee and BSO musicians during the chocolate and champagne reception.

Have you ever wondered: What does the conductor do in his spare time? Why can’t I clap when the music moves me? What the heck is a forte? Maestro Li will answer those questions during the intermission, moderated by Alicia Anstead of the Bangor Daily News.

Engage your desires and treat your senses for an evening of sparkling champagne, decadent chocolate and passionate music.

The evening is sponsored by UnitedKingfield Bank, WKIT radio and Bangor Metro Magazine, and supported by Fusion:Bangor.

Catering will be done by Creative Catering and University of Maine Catering Services.

Tickets are $22, $16 and $8 and may be reserved online at bangorsymphony.com or by calling the Bangor Symphony Orchestra box office at 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221. More information is available at bangorsymphony.com.

Disabilities studies readings

University of Maine professors and professional staff members Tony Brinkley, Liz Depoy, Stephen Gilson and Tina Passman will present readings and discussion, “Atypical Bodies: An Exploration of Disability Writing and Culture,” 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Special Collections, Fogler Library, University of Maine.

The event is part of the Works in Progress series and is co-sponsored by the interdisciplinary studies academic committee and the Center for Community Inclusion. To obtain more information, call Gretchen Gfeller at 581-1696.

Veazie

Supper to Keep ME Warm

State Rep. Mike Dunn will host an old-fashioned baked bean supper to raise money and awareness for the Keep ME Warm Fund, a public and private partnership to help those most in need with the rising cost of home heating fuel.

The supper will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the John Graham Senior Center, 3 Flagg St. The suggested donation is $6, $4 for children, and all money raised will be earmarked to help those in local communities.

“We have an opportunity to support families in our communities and provide heating assistance to local families,” said Dunn, who represents part of Bangor, Veazie and part of Orono. “Winters in Maine tend to be long and hard, and we have a responsibility to our community to try to help.”

The Legislature’s first order of business was covering the federal shortfall for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, in response to the decision by Congress to send less money to Maine for home heating assistance than last year. Without the added state funds, heating assistance from LIHEAP was expected to run out by mid-January.

Local businesses are sponsoring the event by donating food and other supplies. Frank’s Bakery in Bangor has volunteered to contribute baked beans, and W.A. Bean & Sons in Bangor will donate hot dogs for the dinner.

Maine story-teller Gary Crocker will be on hand to tell a tale or two during the event.

Gov. John Baldacci established the Keep ME Warm Fund, challenging Maine people to raise $5 million to provide heating assistance through the LIHEAP program.

Those interested in volunteering, providing entertainment or making a contribution to help sponsor the event so that all donations go to heating assistance, may call Dunn at 945-3392.