Once again, the Business Studies Department of Washington County Community College in Calais offers you the opportunity to help college students heading out into the business world and this year, for the first time, to help members of the public as well.

WCCC instructor Rhonda French reports that the college’s fifth annual Dressing for Success event will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, and Thursday, April 26, in the Assembly Room on the WCCC campus.

It is requested that donations be dropped off no later than Friday, April 20.

The purpose of Dressing for Success, she wrote, “is to help students nearing graduation who will be going out on business cooperative and-or job interviews.”

She reminds readers that “many students do not have the means to buy that business suit necessary for the job interviews, or a new wardrobe for the first week or so on the job.”

And that is why Dressing for Success needs your donations of used or new “business-type clothing” French emphasized, “as well as medical scrubs for our nursing and medical assisting students.”

French wants readers to know “this has been a very popular event at our college for the past four years,” and that this year “we are opening it up to the public on the second day” of the event.

Donated items can include clothing of all sizes for both men and women, such as business suits, dresses, skirts, suit jackets, blazers, ties, shoes and accessories.

“Since we have a number of nursing and medical assisting students,” French wrote, “scrubs are also welcome.”

She reminds you “all items should be clean and not in need of repair,” and that, “if possible, items on coat hangers would be a great help.”

Anyone who has looked for a job knows, as French points out, that “first impressions are critical.”

“The first thing a potential employer sees, when greeting a person, is his or her attire,” she wrote.

“Although dressing properly will not guarantee a person’s getting the job, it will give him or her a competitive edge and [make] a positive first impression.”

If you can contribute to Dressing for Success, call French at 454-1058 or write her at WCCC, 1 Calais Drive, Calais 04619.

People in the Ellsworth area who regularly participate in the March of Dimes Foundation WalkAmerica event in that community should know the fundraiser’s date and location has been changed.

Gene Staffiere of the Northern Maine March of Dimes office in Brewer has announced the Ellsworth WalkAmerica is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Life and Praise Church, 321 State St., Ellsworth.

Staffiere also announced that other dates and sites for the Northern Maine March of Dimes WalkAmerica events are Sunday, April 29, in Rockland and Belfast; Sunday, May 6, in Bangor, Newport and the Penquis region, which includes Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter and Greenville; and Sunday, May 20, in Presque Isle and Houlton.

Proceeds from these events benefit March of Dimes research for and in support of babies and families affected by premature birth, which is the No. 1 cause of newborn death.

If you want to participate in WalkAmerica, or would like to become a WalkAmerica volunteer, call Staffiere at 989-3376 or e-mail him at gstaffiere@marchofdimes.com.

If you cannot participate, but would like to make a donation to support this fundraiser, contributions can be sent to the March of Dimes Foundation, 12 Acme Road, Brewer 04412.

This letter came to us neatly printed on triple-lined paper from a youngster in Ohio.

Cameron Foss wrote that his “second grade class at Furry Elementary School is learning about the United States. I need your help with a special project we are doing called Picture America.”

Cameron wrote he and his classmates are trying to collect postcards from each state.

“If you would like to help me with this class project,” he continued, “please send me a postcard showing an interesting or important feature of your state.

“Thank you for helping me.”

Maine postcards can be sent to Cameron Foss, Furry Elementary School, 310 Douglas Drive, Sandusky, Ohio 44870.

Jack and Lois Hartford will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, April 6.

The Hartfords certainly would enjoy hearing from friends and relatives who can mail their best wishes to the couple at P.O. Box 1409, Ellsworth 04605.

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