Ton of Pasta campaign to kick off on Saturday

Last week, Chris Popper of Cumulus Radio called to remind readers that its four local stations are teaming up to broadcast, live, from four Hannaford Supermarkets for its Fourth annual Ton of Pasta campaign.

During this four-hour event, the broadcasters try to collect, at each location, a minimum of 2,000 boxes of pasta.

With each box of pasta weighing one pound, that’s a ton of pasta for each location. Popper wrote that last year the campaign, with your help, reached its goal and collected four tons of pasta.

This year, the Ton of Pasta campaign will be broadcast between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, by the following radio stations at the following locations: WQCB Q106.5, at Hannaford’s in Brewer; WEZQ 92.9, at Hannaford’s in the Airport Mall in Bangor; WWMJ 95.7, at Hannaford’s in Ellsworth; and WBZN Z107.3, at Hannaford’s in Old Town.

Popper reminds you that one box of pasta can easily feed a family of four, and he is encouraging you to not only donate a box of pasta, but add a plastic jar of sauce as well, to complete the meal.

He also reminds you that “there is no organized food drive in the area” until the National Association of Letter Carriers Food drive next May.

Also, Popper points out, “With heating prices at record highs,” many people find themselves facing the difficult choice of paying for fuel or food, so this contribution, at this time, is essential for those in need living among us.

All of the food is donated to local food cupboards and shelters.

While on the subject of providing food for those in need, Ellie Bertolaccini, president of the Brewer Community Service Council, extends thanks to Darcy Main-Boynton, the Brewer director of economic development, “for spearheading the annual Christmas food drive in Brewer.”

Bertolaccini noted that Brewer residents, schoolchildren, and representatives of local organizations “did a marvelous job collecting nonperishable food,” and “the results were overwhelming” as baskets were prepared for 94 needy families. Other food “was shared with the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard, whose food supply was getting low.”

From food storage to delivery to the housebound by employees of the Brewer Recreation Department, to the collection of food at the Brewer Hometown Band concert, Bertolaccini pointed out “it was truly a community effort and appreciated by all.”

On behalf of Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor, Karen Foley was one of those who went public with a request for volunteers to assist with its plans to entertain children and families during Bangor’s Downtown Countdown on New Year’s Eve.

You responded in fine form, as did others throughout the city at other venues, and Foley was quick with her gratitude, as many of us found her thank-you letter in our e-mails when we returned to work Tuesday morning.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make last night’s event so successful,” Foley wrote on New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1.

“Whether you donated supplies or funds, volunteered for the event, or baked us treats, we couldn’t have done it without you.”

And, she added, everyone planning that event was overjoyed and surprised by the turnout, which was estimated at more than 150 people.

One special part of the event was a “community mural” where “all of the kids who attended left their messages … which we hope to hang for everyone to see.”

Foley said their message “included everything from ‘to pass Pre-Calculus’ to ‘for my brother to come home, safe, from Iraq.'”

Again, Foley thanks everyone for helping with this special event.

And I extend kudos to Sally Bates of Downtown Bangor Corp., and every single individual, from business owners to members of churches and organizations who, in any way, contributed to the tremendous success of this year’s New Year’s Celebration.

Of course, without Bangor lawyer Steve Smith and his original “beach ball drop” a few years ago from his apartment rooftop in West Market Square, none of this might have come about.

This year, the entertainment choices for all ages were many; we were blessed with balmy weather; and there were smiling faces everywhere, some familiar, some not so familiar.

All in all, it couldn’t have been a better way to welcome in the New Year.

On behalf of all of us who participated in Bangor’s Downtown Countdown, our thanks to those who organized this most enjoyable event.

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