Hello, Orono! Let them eat cake. Please!

That’s the request from Mary Jo Sanger, writing on behalf of the Orono Bicentennial Committee, which is planning its Bicentennial Birthday 200 Cakes Party from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at Asa Adams Elementary School in Orono.

Sanger wrote, “We do not yet have enough cakes” for the party, and “We hope that individuals and families will bring a commemorative cake to add to our display.

“We especially want to be sure that people come” to the event which, she emphasized “is for everyone, and it is free.”

The 200 Cakes Party will include special programs for all ages, and Gov. John Baldacci has accepted an invitation to extend the state’s greetings.

The event will include entertainment, featuring musicians from the community and the University of Maine.

Sanger reminds you that members of organizations, churches and groups are also asked to contribute a cake.

The cakes can be of any recipe, the shape and size of your choice, and decorated as you wish.

The committee has two requests, however: One is that each cake display a date of importance to you, such as when you or your family arrived in Orono, the birth of a special person, or the date your organization was founded.

The second is that you do not use candles, which will be added at the party.

You are asked to bring your cakes to the school by 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, where they will be on display until 2 p.m.

The cakes will be cut after the close of the planned activities.

Even if you don’t bring a cake, be sure to attend what should be a fun and delicious commemorative event celebrating Orono’s bicentennial year.

For more information about the Bicentennial Birthday 200 Cakes Party, call Marlene Doucette at 866-2597.

Members of the Orland Fire Department are conducting a Blood Drive from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the OFD, 91 School House Road in Orland.

“Our specialty Cowboy Baked Beans and Steamed Hot Dogs, as well as other goodies, will be available for donors,” wrote OFD member Kathie Conary.

She requests that you bring proper identification when you come to donate the gift of life.

If you have questions, call Conary at 469-2870.

If there is no answer, she requests you leave your name and a telephone number where you can be reached.

Here’s a reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday, March 8, is the last day to order your fresh daffodils to be delivered on Thursday, March 23.

The minimum order price for delivery is $35.

Daffodil Days benefit the American Cancer Society.

For information about ordering, call Mike Hart at the American Cancer Society Penobscot Unit, 989-0332.

Lose and Win, the 10-week team challenge based on the book, “The Town that Lost a Ton” and sponsored by Healthy Hancock, presents Tony Barnes at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Ellsworth VFW Hall, which is a change in location.

The meeting is open to the public and features Barnes, an individual who made lasting lifestyle changes to improve his health, lose weight and keep it off, which he will share with you.

Congratulations to all team members who, through Week No. 8, have an accumulated weight loss of 2,375.44 pounds.

Last week’s winning teams were The Happy Gems from the Hancock County Court House, followed by the Merry Melting Pots of Winter Harbor and the H.&E. Hustlers, a team of Ellsworth and Hancock residents.

Carol Higgins of Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor reminds you that a free Help Session with the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, or Medicare Part D program, is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Bangor High School, 885 Broadway.

Trained volunteers will work with you to help narrow down the drug plan options and find the ones best suited to you.

Beneficiaries or their caregivers are invited to attend, and pre-registration is not necessary.

Attendees, however, should bring a list of current medication with the correct spelling, dosage and frequency, price, name of the preferred pharmacy and a copy of any letter received from Social Security, the centers for Medicare and Medicaid or the state which is related to the prescription drug benefit.

For more information, call Val Sauda, EAA director of outreach, 992-0148.

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