Some days, when writing this column, I just don’t know where to start.

I look at the information before me, shake my head, and sigh.

I am saddened by what is there, and by what I know.

But I am heartened, as well, knowing that by telling you this story, it might make life a little brighter, briefly, for the family about whom I write.

James Baird of Sebec is just 33 years old.

He and his wife, Kim, have two children, 12-year-old Dakota and 9-year-old Makayla.

James, the primary breadwinner for this family, was diagnosed with cancer in 2004.

And while everyone thought he had recovered, the cancer has returned.

He has undergone surgery and will be having chemotherapy treatments as soon as he is strong enough, but he has been told that his disease is terminal.

His sister-in-law, Veronica Burke, wrote to me that the James Baird Family Benefit Dinner and Auction is planned for 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Sebec Event Center, which is located at the intersection of Route 16 and Sebec Road in that community.

The storm time and date is noon Sunday, Jan. 14, at the same location.

Many of you may know James Baird as an outdoorsman who loves hunting and fishing, especially for bass.

Others may know him as someone who worked in construction; or you may remember the 1992 Foxcroft Academy of Dover-Foxcroft graduate who proudly wore No. 70 while playing football for the Ponies.

His wife, Kimberly Giles Baird, is a graduate of Dexter High School.

I am certain that anyone who knows the James Baird family will want to help them in any way you can through this most difficult time.

“We are in hopes that the benefit will boost them both financially and emotionally in the tough months ahead,” his sister-in-law wrote.

If you cannot attend the fundraiser but would like to help, call Burke at 278-8967 or Melodie Pleninger at 270-1480.

Anyone who has items to donate to the auction can call Pat Greenwald at 564-7379.

Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated by all who know and love the Baird family.

Veteran photographer Lee Sirabella of Brewer, whose photographs were on display the month of December at the Bangor Public Library, wrote to thank everyone who “called about the photographs and reminisced about the long time ago when the photographs were made.”

He had offered to give unframed prints to those who were the subjects of his work, or to family members of those subjects.

He has “retrieved the prints that were displayed” at the library and notes that “since we did have snowfall at that time,” only one person came “for the claimed prints with the stickers identifying persons in the photographs.”

Sirabella wants those who did not claim their photographs to know he now has them at his studio at 11 Washington St. in Brewer and that, after Thursday, Jan. 11, he “will give them to those people without charge.”

He asks that you call him at 989-4800 to set a time to pick up the photographs.

Sirabella added, “I do want to clear up any misunderstanding: Only the unframed prints previously made for display and exhibition that were shown at the Bangor Library will be given [away] at this time.”

Ordinary people certainly can do extraordinary things in times of crisis, and nothing serves to illustrate that example in our area better than the annual Real Heroes Breakfast.

The Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross and WABI-TV hosted the 2006 Real Heroes Breakfast in early November at the Bangor Civic Center.

It was an honor to be there and to be part of the celebration and recognition of those heroes for their valiant efforts in saving the lives of others.

Winners of the 2006 Real Heroes Awards were Michelle Knowlton of Sangerville, Bob and Dorothy Danforth of Troy, Peter Alley of Bar Harbor, Brian Webb of Hampden and Jim Dill of Old Town.

Wondering what to do with used printer cartridges or old cell phones?

The staff of Results Physical and Occupational Therapy encourages you to drop them off in the lobby of their facility at 890 Hammond St., Bangor.

Proceeds from this recycling project will benefit local schools and The Earth Organization.

For more information, call RPOT at 992-4042 or visit www.earthorganization.org.

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