Historic Bangor Band performs at 7 tonight

Our historic Bangor Band, one of the oldest community bands in the country, has had a busy beginning for its 2007 season, and has another busy week ahead.

The band plays, for your pleasure, at 7 tonight at Fairmount Park in Bangor, appears in the Bangor Fourth of July Parade Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. and performs again at 7 p.m. that evening at the Bandstand in Paul Bunyan Park.

While the band is playing, you might appreciate knowing that one member is quite a bit happier than he or she might have been just a few days earlier.

I’ll let band treasurer and trumpet player Sue McKay tell the story.

“Bangor residents Liza Muth and her grandmother attended” the band’s concert June 26, McKay e-mailed me, “and noticed after everyone had gone that an instrument was left in the parking lot.

“Liza came to the rescue; took the clarinet home and tracked down the president of the Bangor Band, Bob Pentland,” who then “delivered the valuable woodwind” to McKay for safekeeping.

McKay contacted folks at the Sea Dog Brewing Co. and told them “the story of this good Samaritan,” which resulted in the Band being able to present Muth with a gift certificate for two “as a thank-you for being a great citizen.”

Depending on Muth’s work schedule, McKay explained, Muth will be presented the gift certificate at either tonight’s or tomorrow’s concert.

McKay explained “that a lot of equipment gets packed up in a hurry as the daylight fades” following the evening band concerts, “and this type of oversight isn’t surprising.

“Band instruments are very expensive, as well as often having a great sentimental value.

“Thanks to Liza, this instrument made its way home!”

If you’re visiting our area, or you didn’t “clip and save” this information I provided in an earlier column, here’s the remaining summer schedule for our wonderful community band, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary of continuous service in 2009: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, at the Bandstand; 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the Bandstand; 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Chapin Park; 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, on the Bangor Waterfront; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Bandstand; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Bandstand; and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Old Town Library.

And while we’re on the subject of how much and how often our city parks are in use during the summer, I’ll take this opportunity to get up on my “pooper scooper” soapbox and, as kindly as possible, remind readers that we do have a “pooper scooper law” in the city of Bangor.

I certainly hope that you, as do I, obey that law.

Those of you who visit Paul Bunyan Park on Main Street might just happen to notice that the Bangor Daily NEWS is located on the corner of Main and Buck streets, right across from that park.

If you look at our building, you might also just happen to notice that we have many, many windows facing the park.

And, guess what we can see when we glance out those windows? People with pets, NOT obeying Bangor’s pooper scooper law!

We also see many people of all ages and walks of life enjoying this special park, especially on summer evenings when the Bangor Band performs there.

So please, pet owners, be responsible citizens and pick up your pet’s waste.

Joshua Torrance, executive director of Woodland Museum-The Black House in Ellsworth, has been in frequent contact lately because his organization is in the midst of its busiest season.

Torrance e-mailed to remind readers that Woodland needs summer volunteers “to help with museum events and public programming.”

Thousands of people visit the museum from May 1 until Oct. 31, Torrance wrote, adding that “volunteers play an important role in giving visitors experiences that they will remember.”

All areas of operations need volunteers, from the museum store to the afternoon teas, its Shakespeare production of “As You Like It” on the grounds of the museum in August, and the Ellsworth Antiques Show and Appraisal Clinic that month at Woodland, as well as the regular museum lectures.

“All volunteers are given free admission to the events in thanks for their assistance,” Torrance added.

To learn more about becoming a Woodlawn Museum volunteer, call 667-8671 or write to Woodlawn Museum, P.O. Box 1478, Ellsworth 04605.

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