Bangor

Fusion Family Fun Day

Families looking for something to do are invited to the Fusion Family Fun Day 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Parkside Children’s Learning Center, 107 Maine Ave. Activities will include arts and crafts, exploring firetrucks, pirate ship and planes, juggling, music and more.

The Parkside Children’s Learning Center, along with the Challenger Learning Center, Children’s Discovery Museum and Maine Air Museum, are sponsoring the family day.

Also featured will be ice cream, a scavenger hunt, tours of the Parkside Center, the Challenger Learning Center and the Maine Air Museum, and more.

For more information, visit www.bangorregion.com.

A 24-foot pirate ship will be christened at Parkside with more than 80 “junior” pirates and Mayor Richard Greene participating at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9.

Ballet exchange with France

Twenty dancers from Bangor Ballet will begin a cultural exchange with dancers from Vendome, France, in April 2008. Bangor ballet dancers will perform an adaptation of Hans Christen Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid” in Vendome with dancers from an area dance school. Later on, dance students from Vendome will travel to Bangor to perform and visit.

Dancers will stay with host families in Vendome and experience French culture. In addition, Bangor Ballet dancers will visit Paris to learn about ballet, history and art while visiting the well-known attractions.

Heinrick Snyder, associate choreographer for Bangor Ballet, envisioned “The Little Mermaid” ballet three years ago. “The Little Mermaid” was performed in Bangor and Deer Isle-Stonington in June 2006. It was an entertaining and moving ballet that was well received by audiences.

Jane Bragg, president of Bangor Ballet, had been considering an exchange program with dancers for some time and said that “The Little Mermaid” would be a good choice for French audiences.

Bragg’s daughter is a dance teacher at the Vendome studio and will teach her dancers parts of the ballet. In France, Bangor Ballet and the Vendome dancers will rehearse and perform “The Little Mermaid.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Bangor Ballet dancers,” said Bonny Black, a Bangor Ballet board member and grandmother of a Bangor Ballet dancer. “Many of these dancers would not be able to experience France without this opportunity. Plus, how many dancers can say they performed in France?”

In addition to performing in France, Bangor Ballet will perform “The Little Mermaid” in Dover-Foxcroft and a second venue. Dancers may audition for area performances even if they are unable to join the company in France.

Dancers will begin fundraising for the trip to France by holding a yard sale 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at 56 West Broadway. Items for sale will include furniture, toys, clothing, books and sporting equipment. Future fundraisers will include bottle drives, car washes and product sales.

Those interested in supporting Bangor Ballet’s trip to France may call Jane Bragg at 945-3457.

The Common Corner

The Common Corner is available on the table inside the entrance to the children’s department at Bangor Public Library.

The newsletter about Bangor “written by its youth” features photos by Amber Hathaway and Jessica Brophy on the front of the July issue.

The project is part of a Community Outreach Partnership Centers program grant funded by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Community partners include the Powerhouse Teen Center, Bangor Public Library and the Bangor Daily News.

Ballet audition and dance workshop

Robinson Ballet will hold an audition and dance workshop geared toward pre-pointe, intermediate dancers 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 13 and 14, at 107 Union St. In addition to a ballet class each day, dancers will learn acting, choreography, dance etiquette, hair and makeup tips, and presentation.

The workshop will help the dancer to prepare for “The Nutcracker” auditions in September, as well as other storybook ballets and summer dance camps.

Cost for the workshop is $90. Participation does not guarantee a role in “The Nutcracker,” nor is the workshop required for the audition.

Robinson Ballet will hold auditions for “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 107 Union St. Dancers are welcome to attend Company Class from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Dancers age 12 through adult will audition from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and ages 9-11 will audition from 2 to 3 p.m.

“The Nutcracker” will be performed in Machias, Caribou, Ellsworth and Berlin, N.H., as well as a suite version in the new Bangor Symphony Orchestra show, “Spirit of Bangor.”

For more information on the workshop or auditions, call 989-7226 or visit www.robinsonballet.org.

Youth war protest

The youth of the Bangor area will protest the war in Iraq at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, in Broadway Park.

Speakers will be Steven Gerrish, 16, of Rockland; and Hazel Stark, 18, of Winterport.

Representing the group to the press at the event will be Miriam Kates-Goldman, 17, of Bangor; Stark; and Cassandra Alley, 18, of Glenburn.

Those wearing a green armband at the rally also will be available to speak to the press.

Organizers of the rally support the withdrawal of U.S. military involvement in the Middle East and want to promote the mental, spiritual and physical health and safety of the nation’s youth.

Bangor Community Theater

Bangor Community Theater will hold auditions for “Annie Get Your Gun” 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, and Thursday, Aug. 30, at Columbia Street Baptist Church, 63 Columbia St.

Both adult and children’s roles need to be cast. Auditioners are asked to come prepared with one song and sheet music. Some may be asked to script read and-or dance.

Rehearsals for the show are set to begin Wednesday, Sept. 5. The show will run Oct. 12-14 at Peakes Auditorium in Bangor. For more information, contact Nancy Dymond, 942-3148; Stephanie Erb, 884-8114.

Race dialogues

The Bangor Community Race Dialogues will be held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Peace and Justice Center, 170 Park St. The first meeting was held April 29. Organizers said the meeting was well-attended and that many stories about race were exchanged. The focus of the Aug. 16 meeting will be improving diversity in the community. For more information, call Assata Sherrill at 941-0987.

Photography exhibit

Photographs by Perham artist Susan Clark will be on display during August at the Robert E. White Art Gallery, Peabody Hall, Husson College. Gallery hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 941-7129.

Workshop for nonprofits

The Institute for Civic Leadership will present the workshop The Core Responsibility of Nonprofit Boards 8 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Dyke Center for Family Business, Husson College, 1 College Circle. A continental breakfast will be available at 7:30 a.m.

The workshop is designed to give prospective and current board members, and nonprofit executive staff, an overview of nonprofit board service. It will explore the key roles and responsibilities of board members.

To register, call Wayne at 773-3254, Ext. 100, or e-mail wgriffin@civicleadership.org.

The fee is $70 for the first person from an organization; $55 for each additional member from the same organization.

Symphony auditions

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Bangor High School.

Positions available are principal viola horn 3, contracted seats in the violin, viola and cello sections, and substitute positions in all sections.

Contracted musicians are paid on a per service basis, with mileage and housing arrangements included. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra season includes six classical concerts, the Spirit of Bangor holiday event, three youth concerts, summer POPS and other special events.

For audition requirements, location and information, call Scott Burditt, personnel manager, at 944-0929, or the Bangor Symphony office, 942-5555 or 800-639.3221, or e-mail symphony@bangorsymphony.com.

Hudson

Community Days

The town of Hudson will hold its Community Days celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Sept 8-9. The schedule is:

Friday, Sept. 7

. Booth set up, 7-9 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 8

. House and yard beautiful contest judging, 8:30 a.m.

. Line up for the parade – antique and classic cars and motorcycles, bands, decorated bicycles and tricycles, floats, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Hudson Fire Department and G&H ambulance, 8:30 a.m.

. Concessions open, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

. Games, 1-4 p.m.

. Karaoke, 1-6 p.m.

. Booth takedown, 4 p.m.

. New England baked bean supper, 6-7 p.m. Tickets in advance $6, $10 at the door. More information, 327-1303.

Sunday, Sept. 9

. Community services at the church, 9-11 a.m.

. Games, prizes and contest awards, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

. Pig roast, 1-2 p.m. Tickets in advance $6, $10 at the door. For more information, call 327-1303.

Holden

Nature writing workshop

A nature writing workshop will be offered for adult writers of all skill levels 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden. Writers will have the option of reading their work aloud on Sept. 1.

Workshop leaders are Kathryn Miles, director of writing at Unity College; and Holly Twining, Audubon naturalist. Miles will focus on writing exercises and technique and Twining will point out late summer wonders on a nature walk.

Images and ideas will be gathered on the walk and developed into a short story or essay. Time will be offered for free writing, then the group will work on their writing samples. Bring a notebook and pencil for note-taking on the trail, bug spray and sun block.

The cost is $18 for Audubon members, $22 others. Preregistration is required. Call 989-2591 or e-mail htwining@maineaudubon.org for more information.

Orono

Canning workshops

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension will hold canning workshops 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, and 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, in Hitchner Hall on the University of Maine campus. Participants will use pressure canners and water bath canners for this hands-on workshop.

The fee is $12. The extension office in Bangor will provide fresh produce and the canning jars. Instructor is Louise O. Kirkland, Extension educator.

Call the office at 942-7396 or 800-287-1485 to register. There are a limited number of spaces in the workshop.

Stetson

Retired fire officer

Andrew Gray has retired from the Stetson Volunteer Fire Department after 24 years of service, including several years as fire chief.

Caitlyn Matthews has enrolled in Eastern Maine Community College’s two-year fire science program.

The Stetson Public Library newsletter lists these officers as elected on July 1: Kim Tracy, fire chief; Joseph Wertz, assistant chief; David Emerson, lieutenant; Krystal Tracy, secretary and treasurer; Bev Tracy, EMS chief.

Sarah Bouska is the 2007 graduate winner of the Stetson Scholarship. She will attend Central Maine Community College to study culinary arts and hospitality.

The Buda Belly charity beneficiaries are: June, Stetson Fire Department; July, Stetson Brownie Troop 741 and August, Stetson Elementary School.