Brewer Middle School has been a Community of Caring school for 11 years, and is now on the verge of a remarkable achievement: raising $50,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

According to history teacher Marilyn Cyr, “This may be a landmark year” for the school, which has 350 pupils in grades six to eight.

To date, the pupils have raised $43,400 for MDA.

The donations all stay in Maine, Cyr wrote, helping those who receive services from MDA.

Today, Brewer Middle School pupils will receive their MDA collection envelopes and will begin asking for your contributions.

They will be raising funds through Friday, April 7, when they will bring their collection envelopes and turn them in at their super dance in the Brewer Middle School gymnasium.

At the dance, the youngsters have a chance to win raffle prizes “and dance the night away,” Cyr wrote.

She also pointed out that “many of the kids … are well aware that their older siblings, when they attended BMS, worked hard to raise funds for this cause, so this is a well-established tradition at BMS.”

So, if a Brewer Middle School pupil approaches you, we hope you’ll be generous and maybe, just maybe, this Community of Caring school will pass the $50,000 mark sooner than later!

Checks should be made payable to MDA or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

A benefit spaghetti supper, hosted by the Maine Central Institute football team, for the family of the late Joshua Sawyer, is 5:30-7:30 p.m. today at the Pittsfield Elks Club.

Admission is $5 per person or $15 for families.

All proceeds benefit the family of the popular MCI student from Pittsfield who was the victim of a shooting incident on March 19 in Norridgewock.

I’ll have much more detailed information in a later column about The KEEPERS of the Brooksville Baptist Church, but in the meantime, you need to know that they are hosting a bake sale from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Town House in Brooksville.

All proceeds will go toward the restoration of the church.

Fire destroyed the two-level Glenburn home of Patrick and Paula Daigle and their two children Monday morning, and an account has been established to assist the family through this difficult time.

The house was a complete loss.

Contributions can be made to the Daigle Family Fire Fund, TD BankNorth, 77 Exchange St., Bangor 04401.

Mary Marin Lyon, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, announced that in recognition of United Way of Eastern Maine and Clear Channel of Maine’s focus on literacy during March, her organization is offering a Basic Literacy Tutor Training course for volunteers who would like to help adults learn to read, or to improve their reading.

The next tutor training series will be held 6-9 p.m. on four Wednesdays: April 5, 12 and 26, and May 3, at United Technologies Center, Hogan Road, Bangor.

Registration must be made by Monday, April 3, by calling LV-Bangor at 947-8451.

Course materials are $20, and scholarships are available.

The seventh annual Bob Gagnon Cancer Fund Dinner and Auction begins with dinner at 5 p.m. followed by the auction at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the Elks Lodge on Rankin Street in Rockland.

Tickets at the door are $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.

Tickets can also be obtained from committee members.

Marlene Hall and the Bar Code Band will entertain guests, and $25 raffle tickets will be sold with the winners receiving $250.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Brenda Gagnon, 594-4259; Brenda Atkinson, 354-8756; Joni Hilt, 354-6405; Bill Benner, 594-4847; or Barbara Guy, 594-7225.

If you would like to donate items for the auction, and have them picked up by committee members, call 594-4259.

The event is open to members only, and seating is limited, for the National Red Hat Day Celebration Fashion Show sponsored by The Classy Ladies of Waterville.

The event, including a cocktail hour and buffet, begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 23, at John Martin’s Manor, 54 College Ave. in Waterville.

Tickets are $15, and reservations must be made by Monday, April 10.

One check from the head of each chapter, with names and the number of red hat ladies attending, should be sent to Linda Goldrup, 52 Victoria Drive, Waterville 04901.

For more information, call 873-2303.

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