Blue Hill prepares for Fourth of July activities

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Recently, Maureen Rawding wrote to ask that I remind readers the community of Blue Hill has something special in store for you for the coming holiday.

As a member of Blue Hill’s “A Fourth to Remember” committee, Rawding wants you to know a Family Day has been planned for 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, in that delightful coastal community, “complete with fireworks,” she wrote.

The celebration opens “with the firing of the cannon” at the American Legion Hall and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

She explained the celebration activities include face painting, a pie-eating contest, a USO-style show, an appearance by the 195th Army Band, members of the town’s Board of Selectmen volunteering for the dunk tank, food at 1940 prices, displays including the “Liberty Bell,” military equipment “and, the climax of the day,” the fireworks.

What helps make this an extra-special occasion, I believe, is the consideration of the committee for people who want to participate in a variety of Fourth of July activities in this area of Downeast Maine.

Rawding explained that “the more than 20 members of the committee … planned the celebration and set the time … so as not to interfere with the long-standing tradition of Brooklin’s Fourth of July parade that has always taken place in the morning hours.”

For those visiting Blue Hill for this special afternoon and evening, Rawding wrote, you will find brochures “containing all the information about the day” that will include a map and a list of “supporters and contributors who made this event a reality.”

Parking arrangements have been made, there will be shuttle buses and portable toilets, she wrote.

And finally, Rawding explained, all proceeds “will benefit the Building Restoration Fund for the Duffy-Wescott Post 85, which is a tax-deductible, nonprofit organization.”

The First Baptist Church Youth Choir is completing a tour of the musical “Yes, I Believe,” and the public is invited to attend its final presentation at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, July 1, at the church, 56 Center St. in Bangor.

Church clerk Pam Levesque reports the choir, directed by Ned Salinas and Jim Dearing, has appeared throughout Maine and sings regularly at First Baptist.

The choir of “25 talented and energetic young people” in grades six through the first year of college began its six-stop tour in Waterville, then appeared in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. On tour, the choir is collecting donations for Kupenda.

Levesque explained that Kupenda (which means “to love” in Swahili) is a nonprofit, Christian charity that helps handicapped children in the developing world.

She reminds readers that in many African countries, “disabled people are still considered to be cursed,” and such children may be hidden, abandoned or suffer a worse fate.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Lona Gagnon is co-chairwoman of this year’s Hillcrest Ladies Invitational Golf Scramble, which is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Hillcrest Golf Course in Millinocket.

Registration (with coffee and muffins) is 7:30-8:30 a.m. The shotgun start is at 9 a.m.

The entry fee, including greens fees, cart and luncheon, is $30 per person, or $25 for members.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, July 25, for the event hosted by the Ladies League of Hillcrest Golf Course.

The women, along with their male counterparts, have been working for some time to pay off the mortgage to purchase the land upon which the club sits, and half the proceeds from this tournament will benefit that mortgage purchase fund.

For more information, or to enter, send your entry fee, handicap and course index to Gagnon, P.O. Box 364, Millinocket 04462, or call 723-4959.

Checks should be payable to HCG.

On behalf of the Bangor Band, board member Lori Wingo wrote to the BDN to announce the band has received a $4,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation.

The funds will be “used for upgrading our percussion instruments and securing travel cases,” Wingo explained.

The Bangor Band, one of the oldest community bands in the United States, “is enjoying an upsurge of interest and will be planning its 150th anniversary for 2009,” she wrote.

“The addition of percussion equipment will give the band greater flexibility in performance repertoire and, hopefully, encourage some new percussionists to join the band!

“The band gratefully acknowledges the support of the Davis family in making this project a reality,” Wingo concluded.

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