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Bangor

Program on the Congo

Alexander Petroff will present a talk and slideshow, “Addressing the Challenge in Congo: Notes from the Field,” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Bangor Public Library.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a nation in transition after an eight-year conflict, which Madeleine Albright termed “Africa’s First World War,” caused the deaths of 4 million Congolese. With the first democratic elections in 40 years scheduled for this summer, Congo needs help to rebuild lives, homes and jobs.

Petroff founded Working Villages in 2005 to help address those needs. He recently returned from Congo where, together with a Congolese friend, he was able to get approval from the Congolese government and launch a program in the Ruzizi Valley at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika.

“In my college field study on economic development in east Africa, I’ve seen how charities can undermine the vitality of a people by creating a culture of dependency. We want to avoid that pitfall in our efforts to help. While I was in Congo, I saw villagers at our project create a half-mile-long road in just three days, using only hoes and shovels. We want to improve the standard of living by building on the local culture of enthusiasm and hard work. By providing the funding, training and small-scale technology, we can magnify the productivity of their efforts, while keeping it within the boundaries of ecologically sound development,” Petroff said.

Petroff received a diploma from Hampshire College this spring only a week after returning from his work in Congo. He is joined by Hampshire College graduates Elizabeth Swardlick and Laura Kahn.

“What inspires me,” said Kahn, “is that this is not a project where you keep giving and giving to the same people. The idea is to create a small unit of self-sufficient community and then move on to the next community. Once people are on their feet, they can also help others, so the effect of your work is doubled.”

For more information on Working Villages International visit www.workingvillages.org.

Walking group

The public is invited to join the first outing of the Bangor Walking Group at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. Volunteer Leslie Forstadt will lead walkers along the trails at Prentiss Woods. Walkers will meet at Epic Sports on Central Street in Bangor and carpool to the trails. For more information, call Lynsey Monroe at 942-6389, Ext. 3219.

Public survey

The city of Bangor is seeking the opinions of the public about culture in the region.

City officials announced that, with grant support from the Maine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a survey is being conducted to identify the city’s cultural resources.

To participate visit www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=136302801E69942.

For more information, e-mail Christina Piazza, bangorarts@hotmail.com.

Stargazing

Penobscot Valley Stargazers and Bangor Land Trust will be the hosts for an evening of stargazing and astronomy for all ages 9 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Aug. 19, at the west Penjajawoc grasslands. Telescopes will be provided.

Those who wish to participate should meet at the WPG kiosk at the end of Fox Hollow. The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 26. For more information, call Lyndsey Monroe at 942-6389, Ext. 3219.

Home-buying basics

MaineStream Finance is offering a free 12-hour certified training course that helps potential buyers make prudent home purchasing decisions. The class will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Aug. 14-17, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St.

The course uses a qualified trainer and discusses the roles of various professionals involved in the home buying process, such as attorneys, real estate agents, lenders, insurance agents and home inspectors. Components of the course are budget and debt management counseling and credit counseling. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Call MaineStream Finance at 973-3557 or (800) 215-4942 for more information or to register.

Concert with Tim Sample, Noel Paul Stookey

Humorist Tim Sample and folk singer Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary will give a benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at the Bangor Civic Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit United Cerebral Palsy’s efforts to reopen Camp CaPella and provide camping and recreational opportunities to children with special needs.

A silent auction will take place at 6 p.m. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

Tickets in advance are $22, or $26 the day of the concert. To obtain tickets, call the Bangor Civic Center box office at 990-4444, or Ticketmaster.

Voices in Reading

Penquis Community Action Program recently received a Maine Family Literacy Initiative award to support Voices in Reading, a free reading program for families with young children.

Penquis CAP is working collaboratively with Literacy Volunteers of Bangor as well as Raising Readers, the Maine Discovery Museum and the Bangor Public Library on this yearlong program to promote family literacy. Families in the Bangor area with children ages infant to 5 years are especially encouraged to participate.

The Maine Family Literacy Initiative award was one of 10 winning grants of approximately $25,000 each funded by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. As with all of the programs funded under the initiative, Voices in Reading will provide family literacy services that include adult literacy tutoring, early childhood literacy, child development information and activities, and parent and child time for reading together.

Voices in Reading is offering free children’s books and learning materials, opportunities to improve reading skills and fun family events to help families grow and learn together. For more information, call the Literacy Volunteers of Bangor at 947-8451.

Class reunion

The Bangor High School Class of 1956 is planning its 50th reunion, which will take place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 1-3. Organizers have been unable to locate these class members: Robert Boulier, Ruel Bragg, Terry Foster, Ellen Bennett Grutchfield, Barbara Pearson Hamilton, Lenore Hersey, George Hurst, James Mansfield, Richard McCarthy, Barbara Parks McCauley, Diane McGinn, Gertrude Fowler Murray, Carol Rideout Prince, Nona Weaver Ring, Robert Robinson, Nina Webster Shelton, Dana Fenner Thurlow, John Turner, Diane Harding Wheeler, Jerome Weiss and Frances Wood.

If readers know how any of these people may be contacted, call Sandra Berry McKay at 947-8510, or Marlene Stockwell Coleman at 843-5332.

Brewer

Kiwanis news

At a recent meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, Debbie Roy, speaker chairwoman, introduced Dr. Mark Jackson of Mind Body Medicine of Maine.

Frank Foley attended the meeting as the guest of member Jim Pooler.

The next Brewer Kiwanis Club meeting will be held 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Brewer. Guest speaker will be Mark Hall of E-Vest Co.

‘Coffee and Constituents’

State Sen. Richard Rosen will meet with interested citizens in Brewer on Tuesday, Aug. 8. He will be at Ron’s Intown Cafe, 518 South Main St., 8:30-10 a.m.; and at the Coach House Restaurant, 457 Wilson St., from noon to 1:30 p.m.

“I am interested in hearing directly from the citizens I represent,” Rosen said. “I want to meet with residents in a relaxed atmosphere where we can discuss state issues over a cup of coffee.”

Rosen said he plans to schedule more “coffee and constituent” hours throughout his district. Rosen represents Bradley, Brewer, Burlington, Clifton, East Central Penobscot Twp., Eddington, Holden, Lowell, Milford, Orrington, Amherst, Aurora, Bucksport, Castine, Dedham, Mariaville, Northwest Hancock, Orland, Otis, Penobscot and Verona.

Talk on Dalian, China

Jun Zhu lives with his wife and daughter in Dalian, a vital and beautiful port city at the end of the Liaodong Peninsula in northeast China. In an illustrated talk at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Wilson Museum, Jun Zhu will acquaint the audience with his city and discuss the changes in the city and region that he has witnessed in his more than 20 years as a resident.

Although its economic-technology and export-processing zones have spurred rapid economic growth, the city can still boast of open space for its people and visitors with 42 percent green space within its 100 parks, along with its beaches and nearby mountains.

Jun Zhu holds a master’s degree in engineering from Dalian Marine College and is an associate professor at Dalian Maritime University. He also is a visiting professor at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.

Levant

Economic champion

State Rep. Chris Greeley of Levant has been selected by the Maine Economic Research Institute as one of its 2006 Champions of Maine’s Economy. He was recognized for his “outstanding performance during the 122nd Maine Legislature dealing often with extremely difficult economic policies affecting the state.”

Penobscot County

Missing person database

Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross announced the installation of a new missing person database at the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office on July 27.

The event also marked the official launch of the children’s identification and location database, also known as The Child Project. The project is a secure network and registry using iris recognition biometric technology, the quickest and most accurate identification technology available, officials said. The system will help law enforcement officials quickly and positively identify missing children and adults.

“Today marks the official beginning of this important project in Maine,” said Sheriff Ross. “This new technology will help us identify and locate missing children, as well as seniors who may wander due to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.”

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office is the first in Maine to install the new technology and database.

Holden

Nature programs

Maine Audubon is offering two programs designed for children as young as age 8 and for adults. The programs will be held at the Fields Pond Audubon Center and led by Ruth Perry, also known as the Maine Science Lady. The cost to attend each program is $10.

The Secret Life of Blossoms will be held 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. Participants will locate, identify and collect pollen samples from common meadow flowers, and enjoy the beauty of plants as seen through a microscope. Perry will discuss the different propagation strategies of flowers.

The Frog Pond Scavenger Hunt will be held 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24. Participants will collect samples from the frog pond and look at them under microscopes to observe tiny plants and animals. Discussion will center on facts about wetland food webs.

To register for either or both programs, call Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road, at 989-2591.

Orono

Pet show

The Orono Public Library will present a pet show at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Webster Park. The celebration is for children ages 3 to 16. Each child may bring one pet on a leash or in a container. There will be a special category for stuffed toy animals. Everyone who participates will receive an award.

Preregistration is suggested and may be done at the library. Those who register by Tuesday, Aug. 15, will earn another chance to win the end-of-summer grand prize. Registration will be taken the day of the event beginning at noon.

At the event, the Friends of the Library will provide refreshments for four-legged and two-legged participants.

If it rains, the event will be held in the breezeway at the Asa Adams School. For more information, call the library at 866-5060.