Engraved plates to help fund SAD 3 arts center

With lots of visitors in our area attending the Bangor State Fair, or just enjoying Vacationland, Alicia Nichols wrote to report that “we’re asking Mount View High School alumni, staff, former staff, as well as residents and businesses” in the communities served by SAD 3 this question: “Got Your Seat Yet?”

With the construction of a new pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school under way in Thorndike that will serve the 11 communities of SAD 3, Nichols explained a volunteer, nonprofit group, FUTURE MSAD 3, is working to raise $575,000 to build a 300-seat performing arts center in the new facility.

With a matching challenge grant of $250,000 from the Unity Foundation, the campaign now needs to raise just $27,000 to meet its goal.

Contributors can have an engraved plate on a seat, or seats, in the name of their family, a teacher, coach, business, graduate or graduating class, explained Nichols, who is the FUTURE MSAD 3 campaign director.

Gift levels range from $150 to $2,500 depending on the row and location, and a seat form is required for each seat purchased.

That form is available, online, at www.futuremsad3.org, by writing FUTURE MSAD 3, P.O. Box 151, Unity 04988, by calling 948-6120 or by e-mail at futuremsad3@yahoo.com.

Obviously, everyone connected with this project would like to see it completed as soon as possible, and it certainly would be nice to reach that goal this summer.

Susan Soper and members of the Greater Ellsworth Elks No. 2743 invite you to a car show, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, at the Elks Lodge on Route 3 in that community.

The car show will have food booths along with raffles and prizes to be awarded, and proceeds benefit the Maine Elks Veterans Program.

Awards include the People’s Choice Award and the Best of Show Award.

Ione Rush of Dover-Foxcroft wrote that family members, neighbors and friends will be enjoying the annual Rush family reunion beginning with a potluck lunch at 12:30 p.m., today at the Rush Farm in Monticello.

Meanwhile, Nancy Sullivan of Old Town contacted me to let me know that members of the Lancaster family are preparing for their 94th annual reunion, which is planned for Sunday, Aug. 12, at Morgan’s Beach on Cold Stream Pond in Enfield.

What makes this reunion special will be the presence of Helen Lancaster Oakes, who at 94 is the oldest living Lancaster relative.

Festivities include a pie-judging contest, bean-hole beans and singing of the “Lancaster Clan song, written by Lila Decker,” Sullivan wrote.

On behalf of those raising funds for a Veterans Memorial in the town of Knox, Marilyn Schofield invites you to the Knox Street Dance from 8:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 10, at the Knox Sand Shed “on the Abbott Road, just off Route 137 in Knox. Look for the signs!” she wrote.

Admission is $5 for this rain-or-shine event that includes a 50-50 raffle, snacks and drinks available for purchase.

Music will be performed by No Warning, a “classic rock ‘n’ roll band,” Schofield wrote of the sounds you will hear from Alan Orcutt, Matt Littlefield, Rick Mooney and Ken White.

Hosted by the Knox Veteran’s Memorial Committee, of which Schofield is co-chair, all proceeds will benefit that project.

David Clark of Bangor called to spread the word, in case organizers missed someone, that any member of Bangor High School Class of 1982 is most welcome to attend its 25th reunion beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Society Hall Event Center on Exchange Street in Bangor.

You can call Clark for more information at 941-6390 or e-mail dclarkual@aol.com.

A mailing from the Maine Breast Health Cooperative in Topsham reminds readers the nomination deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 15, for its two Breast Health Leadership Awards, to be presented during the 10th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Silver Tea, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Blaine House in Augusta.

Individuals can be nominated in the professional or volunteer category.

The professional award is for “a health care professional whose efforts in the workplace go above and beyond what is expected.”

The volunteer award is “available to a person whose contributions as a volunteer, advocate or inspiration are noteworthy.”

For more information, or a nomination form, contact Susan Rowan, chair of the Breast Health Leadership Award Committee, 773-2533, or e-mail susan@mainecancer.org.

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