Starting on Sunday, July 2, and continuing through Monday, July 17, year-round and summer residents and visitors can, when they eat out, help the less fortunate of Hancock County.

The second annual “Dine, Donate and Support” fundraiser for Emmaus Homeless Shelter in Ellsworth is being supported by 20 Ellsworth and 27 Bar Harbor restaurants.

The owners have agreed either to give a one-time donation, to donate a percentage of their sales for a specific period, to use the Dine and Donate Bucket at their cash registers, or to leave the Dine and Donate Bucket on display for a specific period of time.

Administrator Sister Lucille MacDonald reminds readers that Emmaus is “the only individual and family shelter in Hancock County,” and that it “is presently being challenged with the reality that residents’ needs are constantly on the rise” at the same time the organization is facing state and federal funding cuts that now cover just 30 percent of its annual budget.

The 2006 fundraising goal for this event is $5,000, which if reached would double the amount raised last year.

The second goal is to raise awareness by reminding people “that homelessness does exist in affluent Downeast Maine,” Sister Lucille wrote. “In 2005, the Shelter provided a home to 440 individuals and families with 5,517 bed nights and served 18,877 individuals with nonresidential services.”

She also reminds you that, each day, the Ellsworth shelter encounters individuals and families who are homeless, hungry, cold because of the high cost of fuel, unable to get to work because of the high cost of gas, and often going without medicine in order to pay other necessities such as rent.

For 14 years, Emmaus has supported the belief that “to live is to hope,” which is why Sister Lucille hopes everyone who visits the participating restaurants during this fundraiser will “make a sincere and conscious effort to make a Drop-in-the Bucket.”

Donations can also be sent to Emmaus Homeless Shelter, P.O. Box 811, Ellsworth 04605.

The second in the SummerKeys’ Mary Potterton Memorial Concert series will feature Washington County violinist Trond Saeverud and pianist Gregory Biss.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, at the Lubec Congregational Christian Church.

Admission is free, but donations for the church’s piano tuning fund are always appreciated.

This week, Ruta Jordans from Tours of Lubec and Cobscook will provide the intermission refreshments that will be available in the Fellowship Hall.

Those who would like to make reservations for the round-trip Eastport-Lubec Concert Boat, can do so by calling 853-2500.

Daniel Williams of Bangor, president of the Howard Foundation, has announced that the Charlie Howard Memorial Walk begins with church services at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, at Hammond Street Congregational Church on the corner of High and Hammond streets in Bangor.

The walk follows the service, beginning at 7:15 p.m., in front of the church.

Walk participants, who are asked to bring a flower, will proceed down Hammond Street to State Street Bridge where a brief memorial service will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Donations for the Charlie Howard Scholarship Fund will be appreciated.

For more information, call Williams at 942-9319.

Last February, I wrote about a request from June Ranta Wilcox of Winterport and Steve Gifford of Brewer for information about the involvement of Finnish-Americans with the blueberry industry in midcoast Maine.

That information was to be used for a summer exhibit at the Finnish Heritage House in South Thomaston.

I recently received a bilingual thank-you for assisting in this effort that also included directions to the facility and its hours of operation.

The Finnish Heritage House is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays now through Sept. 30.

It is located off Route 1 on River Road, Route 131, in South Thomaston.

More information about this organization is available at www.finnishhouse.org.

Elinor Goldberg of Maine Children’s Alliance reports nominations are being accepted for its 2006 Giraffe Awards.

Since 1995, MCA has been recognizing Maine people who “stick out their necks for kids.”

The award recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations making a difference in the lives of Maine children.

To request a Giraffe Award nomination form, write MCA, 303 State St., Augusta 04330; call 623-1868, ext. 202; e-mail mainekids@mekids.org; or visit www.mekids.org.

Nominations must be received by Sept. 15.

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