Nominations are being accepted for the Governor’s Service Awards, which will be presented by Gov. John Baldacci and first lady Karen Baldacci in April in Augusta, and the nomination deadline is Thursday, Feb. 15.

According to the www.VolunteerMaine.org Web site, “For more than 18 years, the Governor’s Service Awards have celebrated and recognized the exemplary work of Maine’s most dedicated citizens.

“This award program, founded by the Maine Volunteer Connection and administered, jointly, with the Maine Commission for Community Service, aims to honor and recognize the individual contributions of Maine’s extraordinary volunteers while inspiring others to follow their example.”

Irv Marsters of Glenburn is a member of the MVC board of directors, and also serves as a co-presenter of the annual awards.

Marsters has a very important message for our readers.

“There are so many people in eastern and northern Maine who are worthy of this award,” he said, “and, over the years, we have seen very few nominations from this area.”

Marsters believes “it would be great to see people using a rather simple process, which is not a lengthy one, to nominate people” for the Governor’s Service Awards.

The awards are presented in seven categories: Maine’s Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Small Business Volunteerism, Corporate Volunteerism, Outstanding Public Sector Volunteer, Excellence in Volunteer Administration and National Service Volunteer.

Additionally, the Governor’s Service Awards accepts nominations for the Roll of Honor, which recognizes volunteers who have donated 500 hours or more of service in the past year.

Irv Marsters knows, as do I, that many, many people in our readership area are most worthy of this honor, and I join him in asking you to either self-nominate or nominate someone you believe should be honored.

For official nomination forms, visit www.VolunteerMaine.org, scroll to the right and click on the blue, orange and green circular icon, or call Marsters at Bangor Letter Shop, 945-9311.

He will be very happy to provide you with all the information you need, as well as a nomination form.

Members of the community are invited to participate in a free blood pressure clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Belfast Public Health Nursing Association office, 119 Northport Ave., in Belfast.

Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointments are necessary.

If you want an influenza immunization at that time, it is available for $20 to help defray the cost of the vaccine.

No Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will be billed for the immunization but, if you request it, you will receive a receipt.

There are no age or risk requirements.

For more information, call Diane Whitten at BPH, 338-3368.

Medicine, Education and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere, a student club at the University of Maine in Orono, is hosting a MEDLIFE social 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at the Isaac Farrar Mansion, 17 Second St., Bangor.

The public is invited to attend the fundraiser, which includes appetizers, a cash bar, a silent auction and cash prizes.

Admission is $30 per person. Proceeds benefit the club’s three 2007 medical missions to Ecuador.

For more information, call Tony Smart at 941-0285.

Waldo Pierce Reading Room librarian Susan Rizza invites you to meet master violin maker Danny Danforth at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at the library in Frankfort.

Danforth will demonstrate his craft and display the tools and specialty woods used to create his violins.

Refreshments will be available. For more information, call Rizza at 223-4438.

You are invited to attend a Go Red for Women Benefit Concert and Dance beginning with dance lessons led by Morita Tapley at 7 p.m. and the dance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Morgan Hill Event Center on Route 2 in Hermon.

Morgan Hill general manager Paul Hilchey-Chandler reports “a portion of [the proceeds from] each ticket sold will be donated to the American Heart Association to support research and education efforts to fight women’s leading health threat: heart disease.”

Tickets are $35 for singles or $60 for couples and can be purchased by calling 848-7100.

Morgan Hill’s first benefit of 2007 features the live music of the Edith Jones Project, a 16-piece, all-female band; hot and cold hors d’oeuvres; and a cash bar.

You are encouraged to wear your best red outfit to be eligible for door prizes offered throughout the evening.

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