Last December, pupils at Hancock Grammar School were participating in a special holiday project: Collecting “Coins for Katrina’s Kids.”

Those funds were matched by John Hancock Insurance Co. to benefit another Hancock County school, in hurricane-ravaged Mississippi.

“Fast forward to April,” wrote Julie Grindle, and folks at HGS are trying to raise more funds, this time to help send “a fantastic group” of pupils to the Destination Imagination Global Finals at the end of May, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

“This means that we have about six weeks” to raise between $8,000 and $9,000, explained Grindle, the DI school coordinator.

The middle-school team earned the right to represent Maine in a challenge titled “Inside Dimension,” which required them to build two structures of wood and glue, one to fit inside the other, weighing no more than 14 grams.

When tested during competition to see how much weight it would hold, the result was 130 pounds.

In addition, the pupils researched an architect and created a play to integrate their knowledge of that person.

Team members are sixth-grader Melissa Wells, seventh-grader Brooke Butterwick and eighth-graders Clarissa Westleigh, Kelsey Jipson and Jeff Servetas.

Team managers are Anne and Bruce Jipson.

Donations can be made to HGS DI Team, P.O. Box 37, Hancock 04640.

On behalf of everyone working to get these pupils to Tennessee for the DI Global Finals, Grindle thanks you, “in advance, for any help you can provide.”

Bobbi Henkel wrote that the Robbinston Historical Society “will kick off its Annual Meeting” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, “at its Visitors Center on Route 1” in that community.

“Everyone is invited to bring a friend, a covered dish and a wrapped item,” she continued.

Officers for the coming year will be elected after the potluck supper, and the meeting will conclude with an auction of the wrapped items.

Henkel hopes you will “come see our newly completed center,” and she will provide more information if you call her at 454-2782.

Janice Labonte is captain of a Relay for Life Team at Interface Fabrics in Newport.

She wrote the team has donated a queen-size quilt, made by Margaret Bucca of Pittsfield, to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society fundraiser.

Labonte wrote the quilt is of the Log Cabin design, with green signifying renewal, pink for breast cancer, and white for hope and faith.

The quilt is 100 percent cotton, she added, “and the material is quest-for-a-cure fabric.”

Donations are one ticket for $5 or three for $10, with the winning ticket being drawn at noon Friday, May 5, at Interface Fabrics.

If you would like to purchase tickets, contact any team member, visit the business and ask for Labonte or Sharon Dearborn, or call Interface Fabrics at 368-4351, ext. 334.

Heather Hathorn of Blackbear United Football Club has announced the organization is hosting a Spring Vacation Day Camp April 17-20 at Mahaney Dome on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

The soccer camp, for boys and girls 6-14, is 9-11:30 a.m., and tuition is $150.

For more information, or to register, e-mail camps@blackbearunited.com, visit www.blackbearunited.com or call 862-4154, ext. 2.

Blackbear United camps are “Camp Bangor” approved.

Area artists are invited to submit their work for the 26th annual Open Juried Art Show sponsored by the Bangor Art Society and offering $2,300 in cash prizes.

Artists can enter up to two works for this show, which is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 6, at the Bangor Public Library.

For more information, call Becky Rivers, 338-4463, or e-mail legetch@adelphia.net for information and-or an application.

Pamela Turner, president of the Maine Library Association, reports that now through Saturday, April 29, many of our local libraries are raising funds to assist rebuilding libraries in the South devastated by hurricanes.

To register your library, or to contribute, e-mail pturner@baxtermemorial.lib.me.us.

Be sure to include your name, the library or Friends’ group name, and what type of an event you are planning for this fundraiser.

Turner wants you to know the purpose of the project is to collect money only.

The money will be divided between the Louisiana Library Association Hurricane Relief Fund and the Mississippi Library Association Hurricane Relief Fund.

For more information, e-mail Turner at the above address or call her at 839-5031.

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