When you receive two pages of handwritten information from 94-year-old Clara Swan of Hampden, it not only makes you smile, it makes you appreciate how many lives she has touched over the years.

Clara wrote to ask that I inform our readers one of our local nonprofit organizations, Altrusa International of Greater Bangor, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Clara has been a member of Altrusa for 45 of those years, she told me.

According to its Web site, “Altrusa International is an international association of professional women and men who volunteer their energies and expertise in projects dedicated to community betterment.

“Altrusa is also a community service organization that espouses volunteerism, service and fights for literacy and against AIDS.

“Assistance is given to projects emphasizing literacy through the Altrusa International Foundation, Inc.”

In recognition of the local association’s 50th anniversary, Clara wrote, Bangor City Council chairman Richard Greene declared Thursday, Nov. 17, Altrusa International Day.

“At a special ceremony,” she continued, “members were honored for their devotion to the community,” and past presidents were recognized as well.

Among the many activities that have been part of this year-long anniversary celebration, Clara said, is the donation of $50 to each of “five deserving organizations”: Spruce Run Agency, Ronald McDonald House, Manna Ministries, Good Samaritan Agency and the Bangor Humane Society.

“In addition,” she continued, “the town of Glenburn is starting a library, and 50 new books, donated by the Altrusans, will be presented at a later date.”

She also informs us that Altrusa International of Greater Bangor’s “major project has grown from one scholarship to three scholarships” for students attending local colleges.

Other community activities in which Altrusans participate have included supporting the Terry Fox Run, Make A Difference Day, The Salvation Army Angel Tree program and the Fairmount Boarding House Christmas Party.

Members are also busy each month, she wrote, as they “plan, purchase the food, cook and serve a dinner for those currently living at Ronald McDonald House” in Bangor.

And one final bit of information concerns the local organization’s new, legal name change from Altrusa International of Bangor to Altrusa International of Greater Bangor.

Clara said that change was necessitated by the fact that Altrusa’s membership now represents several communities, including Bangor, Brewer, Glenburn, Hampden, Eddington, Hermon, Carmel, Orrington, Veazie, Levant, Corinth, Holden and Howland.

Congratulations, Altrusans, on your 50th anniversary of service to residents of the Greater Bangor.

Keep up the good work!

With no pun intended, here’s a heartfelt, public expression of gratitude written by Charlotte Ross of Hampden.

Ross extends a “special thank you” to Alice Page, who is coordinator for WomenHeart in the Bangor Area.

Page helped found the local organization affiliated with the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease a few years ago.

In early December, Ross wrote, Page organized “a terrific night out for 28 of us Heart Sisters.”

The group was transported in two white stretch limousines, which was a first for many of them, Ross wrote, on a “mystery ride” which took them first to the Bangor Mall.

After each received a rose, the women were escorted to the JC Penney Beauty Salon, which was “decorated with red balloons and even a manikin dressed in red,” Ross wrote.

The women “were all treated to a shampoo and set” by the employees, whom Ross described as being “very cordial, and treated us like queens.”

Each woman received small, red gift bags with cosmetics.

Then they got back into the limousines and were off for dinner at the Olive Garden, where they found representatives of WABI-TV waiting for them.

“We were televised a couple of times during the news,” Ross wrote.

The women were also visited by a representative of Macy’s, who presented them gift bags and gift certificates.

Ross wrote that “Alice and her elves did a super job,” that their limousine drivers “were such good sports” and that “a good time was had by all.”

Ross thanks everyone from Page to the “lady with the roses” for a wonderful evening out, and she recommends this support group to any woman who has heart or vascular problems.

“There is something new to learn, each day, and those in charge are very knowledgeable and helpful,” Ross wrote.

WomenHeart meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Sunbury Village, 922 Ohio St., Bangor.

For more information, e-mail Bangor@womenheart.org or call 285-7592.

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