Cards and letters of encouragement would be most appropriate at this time for the family of 9-year-old Cheyenne Morrell of Wayland, Mass.

Cheyenne is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for a very rare type of cancer, synovial sarcoma.

She is the daughter of Staff Sgt. Steven Morrell and Patricia Morrell, and the younger sister of Ashley Morrell.

Their dad, who is currently serving with the military stateside, is a graduate of Hampden Academy, and their mom is a graduate of Central High School in Corinth.

According to the Internet, synovial sarcoma is a type of soft-tissue sarcoma most often occurring in young adults. Soft-tissue sarcomas are cancers of the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels or other supporting tissue of the body.

Cheyenne is the granddaughter of Steve and Sherrill Morrell of Hampden and John and Wanita Meehan of Orrington and the niece of Christy Everhart of Hampden and Denise Morrill of Orrington. The family also has several other relatives in the area.

To help lift the spirits of this young family during this difficult time, you can send your heartfelt expressions to them at 1 Launcher Way, Wayland, Mass. 01778.

Now through Friday, Dec. 22, you can participate in the Mount Desert Island Hospital Auxiliary Star Project to benefit the Breast Center at MDI Hospital.

Last year’s program raised $1,150 for the project, said Charlotte Skiff.

The stars are $5 each and will be displayed in the hospital’s reception area.

Each star includes the name of the person being honored or remembered and the person who purchased the star. Star acknowledgments can also be sent to family members.

For more information about this project, call 288-5081 or write 10 Wyman Lane, P.O. Box 8, Bar Harbor 04609-0008.

Have you ever thought of stuffing a stocking with a pot of gold?

If not, here’s your chance!

Carole Sprague reports Downeast Community Hospital Auxiliary is conducting a Pot of Gold cash raffle to raise $20,000 for the facility.

Raffle tickets are $100 each, and only 300 will be sold.

The winning ticket, worth $10,000, will be drawn during the Down East Health Trust 2nd Annual International Food Festival and Auction, Saturday, Feb. 24, in the dining commons at the University of Maine in Machias.

What a great stocking stuffer this would make and, the Auxiliary suggests, if you can’t afford $100 yourself, get a group together to purchase one and share the ticket!

Remember, pots of gold come in many sizes, and by participating you’ll be supporting a very worthy cause.

Pot of Gold raffle tickets are available from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days at Washington Academy in East Machias, and at the DECH Auxiliary Gift Shop at the hospital in Machias.

For more ticket information, call Down East Health Trust, 255-0244; Sprague at 255-3660; Leona MacBride of Lubec, 733-4315; Ruth Leubecker of East Machias, 255-0915 or the DECH Gift Shop, 255-0487.

The 26th annual Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Maine High School Concerto Competition application deadline has been extended to Monday, Jan 1. Applications must be postmarked prior to midnight to qualify for review.

The competition is Saturday, Feb. 24, at the University of Maine in Orono, free and open to the public.

Musicians playing flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion, enrolled in grades nine through 12 at the time of the application deadline, are eligible.

You can view entrance requirements, eligibility and procedure information at bangorsymphony.com and download an application from the Schedule>Competitions page.

The winner will perform with the BSO in the spring of 2008 and work directly with Maestro Xiao-Lu Li.

For information, call Suyra Mitchell at the BSO, (800) 639-3221 or 942-5555, email surya@bangorsymphony.com or visit bangorsymphony.com.

Marjorie Phillips of Bangor wrote this week asking that readers “remember the Bangor Humane Society for all that they do for so many animals” when they are going over holiday gift lists.

“All anyone needs to do is visit” the BHS “to understand what they do for so many mistreated and abandoned animals,” she wrote, adding that “all one needs to do is read the Bangor Daily News to learn the plight of these animals.”

Contributions to the Humane Society can be mailed to 693 Mount Hope Ave., Bangor 04401.

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