Camp Rainbow plans 20th anniversary party

Everyone who has ever been associated with Camp Rainbow is cordially invited to attend its 20th anniversary party at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Bangor Y Camp Jordan facilities on Branch Lake in Ellsworth.

For two wonderful decades, Camp Rainbow has been offering children from 4 through high school age, who are affected by cancer, a traditional summer camping experience.

This year, Camp Rainbow runs from June 17 through 23.

I heard recently from Sue Clifford of the American Cancer Society in Topsham, who asked me to help “spread the word” about this event.

“Former campers, family of former campers, and past camp counselors are invited to attend,” Clifford wrote.

The celebration features a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Bangor Breakfast Rotary, and there will be cake and ice cream sundaes for all who attend.

The festivities also include a slide show of photos from the last 20 years, Clifford added.

If you are interested in attending Camp Rainbow’s 20th anniversary party, you are asked to call Cheryl Tucker at the ACS, 373-3709, for more information and to register.

Rob and Joanne Reeves and their two daughters are part of a 70-member mission team from All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor leaving Tuesday, June 19, for Honduras.

The group is raising $25,000 “to dig a well and install cistern pipes for the village of Montasano,” according to an e-mail, explaining that “lack of clean water causes the vast majority of illnesses” in small Honduran villages.

The group seeks $10 donations (hoping for 2,500 of them) to finance the project and asks you to write a check for that amount, or more, made out to All Souls Congregational Church with The Well on the memo line, and send it to All Souls, 10 Broadway, Bangor 04401.

Joanne Reeves explained that the well-building project is part of “a joint funding venture with Rotary International and Church World Service.”

While in Honduras, the group will build three homes, establish a medical clinic, conduct a vacation Bible school and work on the well, she added.

The group thanks you for your generosity.

For “the officers, directors and members of Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club,” Eileen Lafland of Holden wrote to the BDN to express gratitude to the individuals and public servants who came to their aid last month, when the club “suffered damage from a fire that started outside at the back of the building.”

And while that event “caused significant damage to the building,” Lafland wrote, “the spirit of its members is still strong, and we will return.”

The facility was built in 1970 and “except for minor renovations, has stood the test of time, and will again,” she wrote.

EMSC thanks everyone who helped fight the fire, including neighbors Donald and Jane Goodness, who discovered it, “reported it, and even attempted” to stop it with their garden hose, Lafland explained.

Of the fire departments of Brewer, Holden, Eddington and Dedham who sent crews to the fire, Lafland wrote that “their tremendous efforts and mutual aid agreements saved a good portion of the building,” for which everyone is most grateful.

They “made sure the fire was completely out before leaving,” she wrote, and some “even helped secure the building after allowing us to remove items that were not damaged from the water and flames.”

“Without the efforts of all these trained professionals, this fire would have been much worse. Everyone at EMSC thanks you all.”

On behalf of Bangor Region Junior Achievement, chair Irv Marsters thanks “all those who helped to make our Junior Achievement Taste of Spring fundraiser such a success,” including those who participated in the event and those who attended it.

“The results from all the efforts of our volunteers, in planning and presenting the program and auction, have made it possible to respond to 15 area teacher requests for economic education programs in their classrooms,” he wrote.

Marsters extends “special thanks to Ric Tyler and our event sponsors, Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor Sam’s Club, Quality Jewelers, Bangor Wal-Mart, Merrill Bank and Brewer Wal-Mart Supercenter for their commitment to JA “programs for kids in this region.”

Winners of the People’s Choice Taste Award for their gulf shrimp contribution were Victor and Lillian Lo of Oriental Jade Restaurant.

Marsters thanks all the restaurateurs who “prepared food and drink delicacies for tasting,” and the business owners and organizations for donating auction items.

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