Community news

loading...

Bangor

Maine Supreme Court

Gov. John Baldacci has nominated Justice Andrew M. Mead of Bangor, a 1973 graduate of the University of Maine, to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

“Justice Mead is a respected, bright, and hardworking individual with an impressive resume and an outstanding reputation,” said Baldacci. “I have no doubt that his experience, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to serve him and the people of Maine well on the Supreme Court.”

Judge Mead became the first judge to preside over the Penobscot Tribal Court where he served as Chief Judge. He held that position from 1979 to 1990.

Mead was appointed by Gov. John McKernan to the Maine District Court in 1990. Two years later he was appointed to the Maine Superior Court. After being reappointed for a second term in 1999 by Gov. Angus King, Justice Mead served as Chief Justice, 1999-2001, and Regional Presiding Justice, 2004-2006. Baldacci reappointed Mead to the Superior Court last spring.

Mead served as a partner at Mitchell & Stearns 1981-1990 and practiced at Paine, Lynch & Weatherbee 1976-1981. He served as president of the Maine State Bar Association in 1990, and chaired the Medical Malpractice Screening Committee 1987-1990.

Mead has been active in the Bangor community. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the Bangor Youth Ballet. He has been an assistant coach for Bangor Youth Hockey and has volunteered at the YMCA Camp Jordan Youth Leaders School.

Mead, 55, earned his law degree from New York Law School.

Judicial nominees must be confirmed by the Judiciary Committee and the full Senate before being appointed.

Literacy Volunteers

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor is offering English Language Learners Tutor Training for volunteers interested in helping adults speak English and understand American culture and customs. The 20 hours of training is set for 6-9 p.m. on the following days:

. Wednesday, March 28.

. Monday, April 2.

. Wednesday, April 4.

. Monday, April 9.

. Wednesday, April 11.

. Monday, April 23.

. Wednesday, April 25.

The training sessions will be held at United Technologies Center, 200 Hogan Road.

Those interested must call LV-Bangor at 947-8451 to register. Course materials are $25. Some scholarships are available.

LV-Bangor links volunteer tutors with adults who want to improve their literacy skills, which include learning English. In particular, adults who have moved to this area from countries in Asia, Africa and Central America are in need of English language services. Last year, LV-Bangor volunteers donated more than 11,300 hours of service.

LV-Bangor is accepting applications from adults who want to improve their English speaking skills. They may call LV-Bangor at 947-8451 for more information.

Flower show

Flower show chairwoman Sally Mowbray invites local gardeners to bring examples of their horticulture to the Bangor Garden Show March 22-25 at the Bangor Auditorium.

When we have generous amounts of horticulture, our show is more in tune with what the judges want to see, said Mowbray.

Those who buy a ticket for the Bangor Garden Show will be admitted free to the standard flower show sponsored by the Penobscot District Garden Clubs. This year’s theme is “Fairy Tales.”

Growers who have questions about classes or examples of horticulture should call Carol Smith, horticulture chairwoman, at 989-1083.

Flower show trip

The Bangor Garden Club is accepting reservations for a bus trip to the New England Flower Show in Boston on March 20. Tickets are $70 and include transportation and show admission. Arrangements can be made to accommodate those who wish to board the bus in Newport or Waterville. The trip includes stops for coffee and dinner. To make reservations, call Caroline Tully at 945-3807.

Mime, dance, improv

Karen Hurll Montanaro, principal dancer with Portland Ballet Company who has collaborated and performed with well-known mime the late Tony Montanaro, will offer two workshops using the vocabulary of mime, dance and improvisation on Sunday, March 18, at Thomas School of Dance.

The 1-2:30 p.m. workshop is for children age 8 to 11. The 1-3:30 p.m. workshop is for children age 12 and older. Preregistration is suggested. Call 945-3457 to register or to obtain further information.

‘Music Off Broadway’

As a special fundraiser to support a variety of community programs, the Bangor Rotary Club will present its second annual “Music Off Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School, 885 Broadway. The show will feature the talents of many familiar faces for an evening of singing and entertainment.

Rotary member Roger George is producing the event with music director Josh Schmersal. The show celebrates Broadway composers from the 1940s to the present. A cast of more than 30 chorus members and soloists, including a group of high school students, will sing many popular show tunes.

“Based on the overwhelming success of last year’s show, we are excited to present an even bigger event this year,” George said. “Many of the singers from last year will perform again by popular demand.”

Funds raised from the event will go to support groups and organizations in Bangor, including those that serve the homeless, the hungry and middle school children. And because many of the cast members are part of Bangor Community Theatre, a part of the proceeds will go to that organization.

Tickets for “Music Off Broadway” are $15, $10 children under 18, $40 family. Tickets may be purchased at the Grasshopper Shop and BookMarc’s Bookstore in downtown Bangor, and at Patrick’s Hallmark Shop in the Broadway Shopping Center.

Offering children hope

Join the fun of offering children hope. We are seeking grandmothers and others to help create fundraising projects for African GoGo Grannies raising grandchildren, whose parents have died from AIDS. Meet 9-10:30 a.m. Saturdays. For more information, call Sherrill at 941-0987.

Louisiana kitchen

The public is invited to an evening of fun and food with Chef Larry Grieco at 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, at the Ronald McDonald House. Grieco will whip up some Louisiana-style Cajun and Creole cooking. The menu includes red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, chicken and sausage jamalaya, pina colada bread pudding and caramelized pecans. Participants will learn, cook and eat.

The cost is $20 per person and includes the class, meals and recipes. Spice and sauces will be available for purchase. The event benefits the Ronald McDonald House.

For more information or to register, call Dina at 942-9003.

Brewer

Family Read Aloud

Brewer Public Library announced that its fourth annual Family Read Aloud program began March 1.

The program is designed for parents to read aloud to their children, or have children read aloud to them, 30 minutes three times a week during each week in March. The first 30 families to complete the program will receive a Border’s gift certificate. All families participating in the program will receive a free paperback book.

The special events in the program at Brewer Public Library are:

. “Stranger in the Woods,” a story-time special, noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 17.

. Mr. Harley, a children’s singer and songwriter, 6-7 p.m. Friday, March 23.

. Final party, 10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, prizes and refreshments.

Family Read Aloud, once again, is made possible through the generosity of the Brewer Kiwanis Club.

Medleys, marches and more

The Brewer Hometown Band will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at the Brewer Auditorium.

The concert will be unique, said band director, Janice Cox. All the music titles will begin with the letter M. The band will play medleys, marches and more, including a new march by Brewer resident Ed Kalish. Kalish composed the march specifically for the Brewer Hometown Band and he will conduct his march at the concert.

In keeping with the “M” theme, M&M’s and other munchies will be offered at intermission. Band decorations and uniform badges will be maroon.

Cox hopes that many friends attend the concert to hear the marvelous music in March. For more information, call Jan Cox at 989-5391.

Kiwanis Club news

At the last meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, Vice President Jessica Tilton welcomed an Interclub from Hampden Kiwanis consisting of Leslie Edwards, Dana Edwards, Amy Morrill and New England District Division 3 Lt. Governor Bud Bruns.

She introduced Brewer Kiwanis’ newest members, Brad Roseberry, Brewer Wal-Mart manager, and Eva Howlett, certified public accountant at of Roy & Associates. Prospective members Fred Morey and Orion Breen also were also introduced.

Speaker chairman Herb Hopkins introduced Lt. Governor Bud Bruns, who gave an update as to what is happening on the district level of Kiwanis.

Debbie Roy presented information on the Brewer Kiwanis Talent Show, to be held on Saturday, May 19, at Brewer High School. Watch for application tryouts and book your act now.

Anyone can submit an application for a tryout. For further information about the talent show, call President Kathleen Harding-Heber at 825-4477.

Come visit Brewer Kiwanis at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, and see what Kiwanis is all about.

Castine

Global warming lecture

The Maine Maritime Academy Department of Arts and Sciences will serve as host for a lecture given by Dr. Kristina Dahl at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the college’s Delano Auditorium. Her topic will be global warming.

Dahl’s perspective is based on 10 years of study and research on climate change at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California, and Woods Hole Oceanic Institute in Massachusetts. In 2005, she received a Ph.D. in climate science from the MIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, where she researched Earth’s climate history and worked with global climate models.

Last year, Dahl was selected to be part of a program instituted by Al Gore to raise awareness and encourage public discussion of global warming.

The presentation will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a question and answer period. The lecture is presented free of charge and open to the public. Guests who are unfamiliar with the Maine Maritime Academy campus are invited to acquire driving directions to the campus and a campus map online at www.mainemaritime.edu.

For more information, call Michael Schaab, associate professor of physics, Maine Maritime Academy, 326-2341.

Corinth

Benefit supper

A spaghetti supper will be held 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Corinth United Methodist Church. Admission is by donation. The menu includes spaghetti, rolls, salads and desserts. The event will benefit Andy Frace, who was severely injured recently in a sledding accident. For more information, call the church at 285-3557.

Dixmont

Church auction

The Dixmont United Methodist Church will hold its second annual auction at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the Dixmont Snowmobile Clubhouse. The auction will feature items donated from local businesses, handcrafted items and baked goods.

A portion of the church’s new roof and well were the result of generous donations for the first auction last year. Proceeds from this year’s event are earmarked for a bathroom and a meeting room addition.

The snowmobile kitchen will be open all day so that attendees may view the auction items, have lunch and register for the auction. For more information, call Robin Vile at 234-2451.

Hampden

Life and career coaching

A free workshop on life and career coaching, “Creativity: The Art of Living on Purpose,” will be led by Dr. Michael P. McCauley of High Tide Coaching in Bangor.

The workshop takes place 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the Edythe L. Dyer Community Library, 269 Main Road North.

McCauley’s workshop, heavy on audience participation, will help attendees take hold of a “personal steering wheel” and drive toward the authentic life they are meant to live.

With probing questions and discussion, group interaction and hands-on exercises, the workshop is designed to help participants uncover deeply held values, see how life matches up with those values and take simple, concrete steps toward fulfilling their dreams.

McCauley said that High Tide Coaching helps clients realize their highest, most creative potential through focused listening, values clarification and concrete plans to unlock the success that lies within everyone. For more information, call the library at 862-3550.

Ice show trip

The Hampden Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a bus trip to see the “Disney on Ice” show at the Cumberland Civic Center in Portland on Saturday, April 7.

The bus will be parked at 7:30 a.m. and will leave at 8 a.m. from the Ramada Inn parking lot, Odlin Road, Bangor. The ice show begins at 11 a.m. After the show the group will go to the Village Cafe in Portland and return to Bangor in the early evening.

Fourteen-ounce prime rib aujus, chicken parmigiana, beverages and dessert of cheesecake or vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce will be available for purchase at the restaurant.

To obtain more information or to make a reservation, call Emma Holt at 862-3126. The deadline for reservations and payment for the trip is Saturday, March 10.