Community News

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Bangor

Jambo Africa!

Jambo Africa! Learn about the fascinating and beautiful countries of Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Morocco, Egypt and South Africa.

Ever wonder where the word “safari” comes from? Want to learn how to count to 10 in Swahili? Did you know that all the cows in the world belong to the Maasai? Learn all of this and more during Family Geography Day, Africa in 3D! 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Maine Discovery Museum.

Sally Christ, owner of Tamu Safaris, a small private safari company, will present a slide show. Participants also will hear live music by Gaston Jean-Baptiste, known as Bonga, who has performed and studied traditional Haitian music and dance since the age of 7. Artist Brigitte N. Nyada will invite participants to try on authentic African clothes and learn African dance steps.

A choice of craft activities will be available, including mask making and printing.

The program for all ages is free with museum admission of $6.50. Museum members and babies under 1 are admitted free of charge.

Family Geography Day, Africa in 3D! is sponsored in part by Maine Geographic Alliance and Newspapers in Education.

For more information, visit www.mainediscoverymuseum.org.

Program on micro-lending

A key to world peace? An end to poverty? At 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14, Dr. Susmita Chatterjee, an economist and professor at the University of Maine, will present a program on “Micro-lending” in the Lecture Hall at the Bangor Public Library.

Chatterjee has been following the work of a fellow South Asian, Muhammad Yunus, that seems to hold the promise of achieving these lofty goals. And now that Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen [Village] Bank have been awarded the Nobel Prize, many are becoming advocates for Dr. Yunus and his idea of “micro-lending.”

The public is invited to learn more about this inspiring economic revolution.

History tours, classes

The Bangor Museum and Center for History will launch its seasonal series of tours and classes in May. The schedule is:

. Mount Hope Cemetery tours, 5 p.m. Fridays.

. Ghostlamp tours, 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

. Gravestone rubbing classes, 10 a.m. Saturdays.

Last year the Mt. Hope Cemetery tour attracted more than 150 people for its October excursion, the last tour of the season. The cemetery tour is filled with figures and tales from Bangor’s past, including Fan Jones, Al Brady, Louise Thompson Baldwin Bell and Mary Brady.

To obtain more information or to volunteer to play one of many colorful characters from Bangor’s past, call 942-1910.

Global warming rally

A StepItUp rally urging action to fight global warming will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Pickering Square. Shawn Mercer and the Boondock Blues Band will provide music. Speakers will urge Congress to reduce carbon emission by 80 percent by the year 2050.

The films “Everything’s Cool” and “An Inconvenient Truth” will be shown at 3 p.m. at the Bangor Opera House on Main Street.

Toyota and Honda dealerships will display hybrid cars.

The rally will be held in conjunction with hundreds of StepItUp rallies nationwide in a grassroots effort to transform concern into action. Sponsors of the rally include the Cool Bangor Coalition, BACORD, Maine Chapter of Citizens for Global Solutions, the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, the social justice committee of the Unitarian-Universalist Society, SEED and the Maine Sierra Club.

National Poetry Month

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Borders will be the host for readings at 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, April 17-19. Nine featured poets, including Maine Poet Laureate Betsy Sholl, will share their voices.

April 17: Adrian Blevins, George VanDeventer and Ira Sadoff. Reading of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Christina Diebold.

April 18: April Ossman, Jeff Thompson and Christian Barter. Reading of Constance Hunting by Burt Hatlen.

April 19: Lillian Baker Kennedy, Michael Macklin and Besty Sholl. Reading of Longfellow by David Brainerd.

Each night will conclude with a public open mike. For more information, call Troy Casa at 990-3300.

Eating local food

“Local Food in a Global Context,” a talk by Bob St. Peter, has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, 170 Park St.

St. Peter, a native of Caribou, is director of the Good Life Center, which works to “perpetuate the philosophies and life ways promoted and exemplified by Helen and Scott Nearing, two of America’s most inspirational practitioners of simple, frugal and purposeful living.”

In 2005, St. Peter founded the Independent Food Project to promote community food security and raise awareness about the negative social, economic and ecological effects of the industrialized food system.

IFP has recently merged with GE Free Maine to become the umbrella group Food for Maine’s Future, where St. Peter serves as a board member and the volunteer Food Independence Campaign coordinator.

His talk will be the first in a monthly series of educational events organized by PICA’s Comida Justa y Local/Fair and Local Food committee.

Brewer

Grange open house

Old Town Riverside Grange 273 will hold an open house to observe Grange Month at 6 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Grange Hall, 1266 North Main St.

Daniel Dean of the Old Town Fire Department will present the Hazard House, which teaches adults and children how to fight fire and save lives.

Coffee, punch and cookies will be served.

David Mallett concert

It’s a sure sign of spring when Brewer Youth Theatre presents legendary Maine singer-songwriter David Mallet in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Brewer Middle School, 5 Somerset St.

The annual Brewer show has become a must-see event for Mallett fans, offering them the opportunity to hear this Maine original in the intimate setting of the historic Brewer Middle School Auditorium.

Mallett’s concert features acclaimed musicians Michael Burd on bass and Susan Crippen on violin and viola.

“Midnight On The Water,” Mallett’s fifth CD on his on North Road Records label, was released recently and is made up of live performances from his 2005 tour, including many of his most loved songs.

Tickets for An Evening With David Mallett are $15 and available at The Grasshopper Shop, Brewer Middle School and at the door. Proceeds will benefit Brewer Youth Theatre programs. Call 989-8640 for more information.

Bucksport

DAR grave marking

The Maine State Organization, with Donna Hoffmann of Bucksport state regent, and Lady Knox Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will mark the grave of Gen. Henry Knox at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 26, at the cemetery on Erin Street in Thomaston.

The Maine Sons of the American Revolution will provide the color guard, and the eulogy will be given by DAR National Historian General Cindy Phillips. Preparations are being made by State Chaplain Barbara Maloy.

A luncheon will be held at noon at the Rockland Country Club. Past National Vice President General Ann Thomas of Augusta will speak on the connection between the DAR and Montpelier, the replica of the Knox home.

Tickets to the buffet are $15, sent to Laura Kwon, Box 191, Anson 04911 before April 22.

After the luncheon, participants will have a tour of Montpelier from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Rooms have been reserved for the DAR at the Hampton Inn Suites, 190 New County Road, Thomaston, for the evening of April 25. Reservations are required by April 21 by calling 594-6644 or (800) 426-7866.

Guests for the grave marking ceremony include National Treasurer General Bea Dalton from New Hampshire, Vice President General C. Elizabeth Candas from Rhode Island, Massachusetts State Regent Mary Andrews, Connecticut State Regent Caroline Taylor and Mexico State Regent Karen Vestel Mather.

Hampden

Children’s Day parade

The Hampden Children’s Day Committee invites the public to attend the 28th annual Hampden Children’s Day parade at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.

The committee has issued a challenge to businesses and organizations to enter their creative float in the parade. The theme, which allows for a wide variety of possibilities, is “The World of Music.”

The theme was the creative idea of a Weatherbee School pupil and then was voted on by the Hampden Children’s Day committee.

Be a part of the community while promoting your business or organization. Prizes will be awarded for various categories.

Entry forms are available. The form asks for entry name, sponsoring group or business, contact person, home and business phone numbers, e-mail address, mailing address, description of entry and category – whether antique-classic auto, commercial entry, musical unit, nonprofit or public safety.

Musical units are asked to note the type of music they perform and the number of members. Those who wish to enter a motorized vehicle should be prepared to provide proof of insurance coverage.

Those who will need a flatbed trailer should notify Amy at 433-0887 as soon as possible.

The entry deadline is July 28.

Children’s Day will be filled with fun, food, entertainment and activities.

Parade participants will assemble at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Reeds Brook Middle School on Main Road South. The parade will end at Main Road and Western Avenue.

Rain date is Aug. 19. Parade entrants should note whether they are available to participate on Aug. 19 if necessary.

Parade applications should be sent to Hampden Children’s Day, P.O. Box 322, Hampden 04444-0322.

Writing workshop

The workshop, Writing for Self-Discovery and Fun, will be held 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Edythe Dyer Library, 269 Main Road North. Instructor will be Lee F. White.

The workshop will use guided writing exercises to spark creativity in poetry and prose. Participants may share their writing, if they desire. No writing experience is necessary. Bring a pen and notebook or journal. The program is open to age 18 and up. Sign up at the library. For more information, call Lee F. White at 862-5448.

Holden

Earth Day Celebration

An Earth Day Celebration will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Fields Pond Audubon Center. Bring a favorite dish to share and test your nature knowledge in a trivia game. RSVP by calling 989-2591.

Earth Day clean-up

Fields Pond Audubon Center will sponsor an Earth Day clean-up 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Volunteers meet at Borders, Staples or Hannaford’s near the Bangor Mall to help clean litter from the area before it blows into the Penjajawoc Stream, an important wildlife corridor in the area. Bald eagles often are spotted overhead during the clean-up, organizers said.

Orono

History Fun Day for kids

ORONO – Learning about history can be fun and long-lasting, particularly if the process is an immersive, hands-on experience. That’s exactly what the Page Farm and Home Museum hopes its annual History Fun Day will be, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, April 19.

The public event is geared for children from kindergarten through grade five and is timed over April vacation to provide educational activities of a different nature in a venue that replicates the environment of the period preserved through the university’s farm and home museum’s exhibits and educational programs.

Children can roll up their sleeves and participate in historically significant activities in vogue from 1865 through 1940, the time period kept alive throughout the year by museum director Patricia Henner, her staff and volunteers.

History Fun Day activities include food preservation, ice cream making, fiber arts and weaving, papermaking, maple sugaring and raising poultry.

A $4 per child fee covers the cost of Fun Day materials.

The nonprofit Page Farm and Home Museum is in the last original agricultural building on the UM campus. The museum houses a large collection of farm implements and household items, 1865-1940. Exhibits include ice harvesting, a blacksmith shop, a Victorian parlor, a one-room schoolhouse and a haying exhibit, complete with a hayrick and restored John Deere tractor.

Advance registration is requested. Call the museum at 581-4100. The museum is accessible to those with disabilities.

‘Pixie Ball’ for children

The Orono Public Library will host a “Pixie Ball” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at the Penobscot Valley Country Club.

The event is a fundraiser for the new library building campaign and is for children 3 and up and their parents.

Attendees are invited to dress as an elf, fairy or other magical woodland creature for an enchanted hour of food, fun and a stroll down “Pixie Promenade.”

Tickets are $10 per pixie (or parent) and $15 for two, and are available at the Orono Public Library, The Store/Ampersand and Briar Patch Book Store.

The event is sponsored in part by the Orono Public Library Foundation and the Penobscot Valley Country Club. For additional Information, contact the library at 866-5060.

Volunteer fair

Dirigo Pines Retirement Community will hold a Volunteer Fair 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the media center at the Dirigo Pines Inn. The public is invited to visit with more than a dozen local community groups that will have information booths and staff on hand to discuss their services and volunteer opportunities.

Participating groups include Eastern Maine Medical Center, RSVP, American Cancer Society, Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, Eastern Agency on Aging, Triad, Bangor Chamber of Commerce, Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, Orono Library, United Way, Orono Health Association, Bangor Senior Day Care and Dirigo Pines.

“Volunteers are the helping hands who make strong communities, from those who volunteer at schools and senior centers to those who organize park cleanups,” said Dirigo Pines Activities Director Dianne Conroe.

The Volunteer Fair is free and door prizes will be drawn frequently. A raffle will benefit the Orono Public Library Foundation’s building fund.

Town history lecture

By popular demand, the Orono Historical Society will present the first of a new series of public lectures at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Orono Town Council chamber. The topic of the lecture will be “Oldies by Goodies,” a visual presentation about 25 of the town’s older buildings – homes, businesses and churches that are landmarks to those familiar with the town or just driving through.

Before the university was located in Orono, the town was a thriving business community and agricultural and wood processing center. The lecture information comes from the historical society’s archives.

There is no cost to attend the lecture. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Marlene Doucette, 866-2597.

Annual meeting

The Friends of the Orono Public Library will hold the annual meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at the Orono Community Center, Bennoch Road. The meeting will feature William S. Yellow Robe Jr., a member of the Assiniboine-Sioux tribe.

He will discuss and read selections from his plays, which address issues of American Indian identity in modern culture. He is a native of Fort Peck, Mont., and is a visiting faculty member at the University of Maine. His talk will be followed by a brief business meeting. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Women’s Symposium

The University of Maine will host its second Women’s Symposium 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28. This year’s symposium, “Tipping the Scales, A Balance Between Career and Family,” is intended to inspire discussion about the obstacles women overcome as mothers, wives and professionals and to honor women for their strength and dedication.

Donna Gormley, the 5 and 6 p.m. news anchor for WLBZ 2 will be the keynote speaker. Last year’s keynote speaker, state Rep. Meredith Burgess, a UM graduate and CEO of Burgess Advertising in Portland, will return to address the group again this year.

Other session speakers include Orono Town Manager Catherine Conlow and Elaine Clark, UM associate vice president for administration and finance, along with several other speakers and panelists.

Sponsored by the Deans of Students Office, the symposium is open to men and women in and outside the university community. To register, visit www.umaine.edu/sold/events/event.asp?event=11. For more information, call Caitlin Sanborn at caitlin.sanborn@umit.maine.edu.

Orrington

Spaghetti supper benefit

A spaghetti supper benefit will be held noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Center Drive School.

The supper will benefit Jessie Messina of Orrington, a 29-year-old married mother of two young children at the school. She has been diagnosed with a very serious form of leukemia with a poor outcome, and the treatment is presenting many challenges for her and her family.

Tickets to the supper are $5, $3 for children under 12, and $15 for a family. Donations also can be made through the Bangor Federal Credit Union.

For information, contact Center Drive School at 825-3310.

Winterport

Sewing group news

The Winterport Clippers have had a busy winter. Members of the sewing group made quilts for the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor and delivered them just before Christmas. Members are working on additional quilts for the veterans’ home.

During the winter months, member Nancy Ronco conducted three workshops showing how to make a carry-all for a cutting board and ironing pad, a thread catcher and quilt-as-you-go lap quilt.

Khris LaChance taught a class on paper piecing and several other members taught mini- classes in various quilting techniques.

The group is making a “Home of the Brave” quilt. Pieces were cut out by Fay Cunningham and Khris LaChance and members have been making the 121/2-inch squares. Area 6 representative Ginny Waldo and Shelley May Gay attended a recent meeting and helped finish the squares. Others working on them are Annie Robinson, Winnie Soule, Joanne Horn, Suzan Howard, Jean Beaumont, Carol Glefke, Sandy Horn, Nancy Ronco, Hope Bartlett and a guest from New Jersey, Deborah Follansbee.

The 23-member group meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays at the Victoria Grant Center in Winterport. Members come from Searsport, Belfast, Monroe, Winterport, Frankfort and Hampden. Newcomers are welcome to join. Call Sandy Horn, 525-4433, for information.