Between 1941 and 1945, more than 30,000 people worked at the New England Shipbuilding Corp. yards, constructing more than 250 Liberty ships.

The work drew men and women to the South Portland area from all over Maine.

Now, Portland Harbor Museum and WMPG-FM are conducting interviews with World War II shipyard workers and former residents of the Ferry Village neighborhood where the shipyards were located.

The program is funded by a 2005 Partnership for a Nation of Learners grant and jointly funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Known as the South Portland Shipyard Oral History Project: Homefront Veterans & Liberty Ships, people working on the project recognize many of the workers are in their 80s, so it is essential to record their stories now.

“We’re still looking for more people to interview, and would really like to reach people in the Bangor area, northern Maine and Down East,” wrote Stephanie Philbrick of WMPG.

WMPG and PHM will be working with two Cape Elizabeth High School 11th-grade classes to record a number of the interviews, and the stories will be presented in five short documentary pieces in December 2006.

PHM will offer an exhibition on the South Portland shipyards, and the interviews will be a key element.

PHM also will create a small kiosk exhibit that will travel to libraries throughout the area.

Anyone who knows of former workers willing to be interviewed is asked to call 799-6337, or e-mail curator@portland

harbormuseum.org.

Laura Mitchell of United Way of Eastern Maine reminds us February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.

That is why UWEM and Clear Channel are focusing their February Acts of Kindness effort on collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste and other dental supplies for low-income children in eastern Maine.

Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste or dental floss can be dropped off at any Hannaford store in Penobscot, Hancock, Waldo or Washington counties.

The dental supplies will be distributed throughout eastern Maine by Penquis CAP, Washington-Hancock Community Agency, and Waldo Community Action Partners.

To help illustrate the need for improved oral care, Bangor dentist Dr. Jonathan Shenkin has provided pictures of local children’s teeth, which you can view at www.wvomfm.com/

main.html.

I can assure you that, if you visit the Web site, you’ll understand the need.

And while we’re discussing National Children’s Dental Health Month, we thank Katahdin Valley Health Center director of dental services Dr. Lisa Jacob and dental hygienists Nancy Bears, Cathy Gross, Vicky Perz and Jennifer Cassio who, as part of their community service commitment, visited children this month in schools in East Millinocket, Houlton, Island Falls, Medway, Millinocket and Stacyville.

KVHC also is conducting a Master Moose healthy teeth coloring contest for KVHC dental patients ages 3 to 6.

The contest ends Tuesday, Feb. 28, and prizes, which include spin toothbrushes, children’s books about healthy teeth, and stickers with a sticker book, will be awarded in March.

If your child has not entered, check with your KVHC office in Houlton, Island Falls, Millinocket or Patten.

As hard as it may be to believe, Debbi Melnikas, assistant director of the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, has announced that organizers of the 2006 Festival, which will be held Aug. 25-27, are now accepting applications for volunteers. An estimated 800 volunteers are needed to help with the festival.

Duties can include everything from being a member of the bucket brigade to collecting donations from willing festival attendees or serving as a backstage hospitality volunteer.

“Volunteers play an essential role in the success of the festival,” Melnikas wrote.

For more information, or to become an American Folk Festival volunteer, call the festival office at 992-2630 or visit www.americanfolkfestival.com.

Melnikas reminds everyone (especially those of us who are past volunteers and recently received our volunteer invitations in the mail) that the sooner we register, the better are our chances of being scheduled in the area, or areas, that most interest us!

Guess it’s time to fill out that form!

The incorrect date for the upcoming United Artists for Hope benefit for the United Cerebral Palsy of Maine Camp CaPella Campaign, appeared in my column Thursday due to an editing error. The event begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

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