The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter 12th annual Hike for the Homeless takes a new form this year, one that should appeal to a great number of caring individuals living in area communities.

Rather than climb a mountain, “this year’s event will bring the subject of homelessness from adjoining communities to the streets of Bangor, symbolizing that people become homeless in different communities and travel to Bangor for shelter,” homeless shelter Director Dennis Marble wrote.

Marble added that “homelessness is not a local issue, confined to just one town or another.”

The 12th annual Hike for the Homeless begins between 9 and 9:45 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at locations to be announced in Hampden, Veazie, Brewer and outer Broadway in Bangor, and ending at the Bangor Waterfront.

Each community group, carrying signs to raise awareness about homelessness, “will walk by or near the shelter on Main Street,” Marble explained.

The walk is expected to end around noon at the waterfront, where hot dogs will be served and a raffle conducted that includes a sea kayak and vacations at the Samoset Resort in Rockport and The Citadel in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Registration for the walk is just a $5 donation, and raffle tickets are $5 each or three for $10.

Individuals and businesses are encouraged to sponsor hikers or raffle tickets, and businesses are encouraged to form teams of employees to participate in the fundraiser.

“This hike, which is truly a march,” Marble wrote, “aims to increase awareness of this issue while ensuring people who need the shelter will find it available to them.”

Government funds less than a third of the cost of operating the BAHS, so “we remain clearly dependent on the good will and generosity of our local community” to keep the shelter up and running, Marble explained.

For more information about this event, to purchase raffle tickets, obtain pamphlets or registration forms, visit the shelter at 263 Main St. in Bangor, call Marble at 947-0092 or e-mail him at bahs@gwi.net.

You can register on the day of the event, but you should call in advance for details and directions.

“This is a terrific opportunity to get out in better weather, we hope, together, and say No to Homelessness,” Marble wrote, while extending the shelter’s thanks to its longtime corporate supporters, Trans-Tech Industries Inc. of Brewer, the Bangor Daily News, and WLBZ Newscenter2.

The Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau invites you to enjoy Round Two of its Ultimate Chef Competition, with dinners on Monday, April 23, and Monday, May 7.

Chefs at The Muddy Rudder and The Lucerne Inn square off in a four-course meal to face Opus Restaurant Chef Roger Gelis for the title of Bangor’s Ultimate Chef 2007.

The cost for both dinners is $90, and tickets are available at the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, 40 Harlow St., by calling 947-5205 or visiting www.bangorcvb.org.

After each meal, participating diners will rate the restaurants on originality, taste and presentation.

Families and Children Together reports the last session of a three-part series, Addiction: Understanding its Roots and Learning About its Effects, is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at FACT, 340B Hancock St., Bangor.

Sponsored by Maine Kids-Kin, a program of FACT, the focus of this session is Learning Disabilities and Behavior.

The presentation is free, but registration is required. By request, on-site child care is available. For more information, or to register, call Janelle Wuoristo, 941-2347 or (866) 298-0896.

The showing of the video, “Learning Disabilities and Discipline,” features noted teacher and consultant Richard Lavoie explaining his guide to improving the behavior of children with learning disabilities, according to FACT.

The program should be helpful for parenting all children, but especially children whose parents have addictions.

After the video presentation, licensed clinical professional counselor Susan Burgess will answer questions and lead a discussion.

Maine Kids-Kin assists extended family members who are caring for relatives’ children. Currently, more than 11,000 Maine children live with relatives who can obtain legal, education and financial information through Maine Kids-Kin.

Rape Response Services of Bangor Executive Director Kim Roberts-Fer reminds you April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and invites you to a Greenville public forum, National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Greenville High School.

The mission of RRS is “to end sexual violence in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties through prevention, intervention, support, education, training and advocacy.”

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