Quite a bit of excitement seems to be building in Sherman, where its residents are trying to decide what to do about a Civil War monument and cannons, known as the Soldiers Monument, that were placed in that community in 1883.

You can learn more about this topic by attending a meeting of the Soldiers Monument Committee at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Sherman Fire Department.

Colleen Guiggey, secretary of the Soldiers Monument Committee, explained that during the Civil War, Sherman “held the honor of being the greatest Banner Town, per capita, in the U.S.”

Of its 486 residents, there were 113 soldiers: 11 draftees and 102 volunteers.

Of those 113 Civil War soldiers, 35 died in battle or prison, leaving 42 children and 19 widows.

The monument, engraved with the names of the 35 deceased soldiers, was erected on July 4, 1883, in the town cemetery (since the town of Sherman, at the time, had no public park), and later two bronze Napoleon Civil War cannons were given to the town and placed on either side of the monument, Guiggey explained.

Washburn Memorial Church, owner of the present community park property, recently gave permission for the long-neglected monument and cannons (that are in great need of repair, Guiggey reports) to be placed in the park where they would be in close proximity to the other veterans monuments.

At Sherman’s annual town meeting, residents voted to move and repair the monuments, but Guiggey wrote, “an opposing group would like to have the monument placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which could prevent moving it,” and a petition has been made to the town not to move the monument and cannons. A special town meeting will decided the issue, Guiggey added.

Meanwhile, the monument committee is seeking any information available that would provide more details “about the monument and cannons at the time they were originally given to Sherman,” Guiggey wrote.

If you have access to any historical information that would be helpful to the committee, you are asked to call Guiggey, 365-4832; e-mail colleeng@nci2.net; or call John Cannon at 365-7230.

The public is invited to hear a talk by Toni Bingel Pied, ecologist and geographical information specialist with the Maine Natural Area Program, at 7 tonight at the Hancock County Cooperative Extension Office on Boggy Brook Road in Ellsworth.

Hosted by the Ellsworth Garden Club, Pied will discuss “Wild and Native Rare Plants of Downeast Maine and Hancock County.”

Here’s a final reminder that noted pediatrician, author and family advocate Dr. T. Berry Brazelton is returning to Bangor for two presentations: An evening for parents and a seminar for professionals.

Brazelton will address “Stresses and Supports for Today’s Families” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at the Maine Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono. Tickets are $10 at the MCA box office or by calling (800) 622-8499.

Scholarships are available, and information can be obtained by calling Marie Durant at Penquis Community Action Program at (888) 389-3610 or 973-3576.

Scheduling starts Tuesday, April 25, for a free public stroke screening hosted by Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at Vascular Care of Maine, accessible from level two of the EMMC parking garage.

Since screening is by appointment only, you must call 973-8193 to participate.

According to information provided by Lanie Colson of Eastern Maine Healthcare, stroke is the third leading cause of death among Americans, and Maine has one of the highest death rates from stroke in the country.

Colson reports VCM intends to offer 100 screenings on that day, so if you wish to be included, I suggest you register as soon as possible.

The Spring 2006 Professional Excellence in Geriatrics Series sponsored by the University of Maine Center on Aging is April 25-May 22 in Augusta, Bangor, Belfast, Orono, Presque Isle and Portland.

The series covers issues for those working with aging populations, and it is open to the public.

The general registration fee is $40, $35 for Maine Gerontological Society members and $20 for students. Discounts are available for all-day registrations, and walk-in registrations are welcome.

For more information, visit http://www.mainecenteronaging.org/ and, to the right, click on the first item under UMCoANews.

To register or receive more information, call 581-3617.

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