Bangor

Paws on Parade

The 14th annual Paws on Parade will be held, rain or shine, on Saturday, Sept. 29, on the Bangor Waterfront off Front Street.

Those who love animals will be out in force to help the animals of the Bangor Humane Society once again.

Put your best paw forward and sign up those sponsors, which are so important to the success of Paws on Parade. The more you get, the more money you help raise. Collect names, addresses and donations during the weeks before the big event and turn them in with your form when you register or sign in on Sept. 29. Get the most sponsors and win big prizes.

The event will help the Bangor Humane Society care for more than 5,000 animals that come through its doors yearly.

Preregister by mail or in person at 693 Mount Hope Ave. For $20, you and your canine friend are ready to walk. Add a friend, family member or another pup for just $10 each. The deadline for preregistration is Saturday, Sept. 1.

Participants also may sign up the morning of the event between 9 and 9:45 a.m. Same-day registration fee is $25, plus $10 for each additional person or pup.

Join fellow dog lovers on this day of dogs. Prizes will be awarded for most money raised both individually and as a group, best costume, look-a-likes with owner and dog dressing the same, and biggest, smallest, youngest, oldest, longest tail and farthest distance traveled.

There will be many activities and pet-related vendors on hand, as well.

Participating dogs must be 4 months old or older with up-to-date vaccinations and licenses.

Children 12 or under must register with, and be accompanied by, an adult.

All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and be on their best behavior.

It’s our responsibility to keep the walk route clean, organizers said. Please pick up after your dog – bags will be provided. The person with the most dog refuse collected at the end of the walk will get a prize.

For information or registration, call Dani at 942-8902, Ext. 110, or e-mail dani@bangorhumane.org.

‘Flattest Bike Ride in Maine’

BANGOR – The public is invited to participate in the first “The Flattest Bike Ride in Maine” bicycle ride – 100-mile, 50-mile and 25-mile rides – on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The 100-mile ride begins at 7:30 a.m. The 50-mile ride begins 9:30 a.m. The 25-mile ride begins 11 a.m.

The ride will begin and end at Cascade Park in Bangor, across the road from Shaw House Waterworks Housing Project, and proceed north along a route that parallels, more or less, the Penobscot River. Riders should register at least 30 minutes before their event.

Proceeds will go to Shaw House programs which provide services to homeless and at-risk adolescents in central and northern Maine. Entry fees are $25 per rider or $40 per family. The event is supported with food, drinks, sweep vehicles, communication and maps with route directions.

For information, e-mail Jonathan Siegel at jsieg@verizon.net, or call him at 942-2627; or e-mail Dave Atwood at Stillwater Recumbents, dcatwood72@gmail.com, or call him at 827-6461.

Helmets are required. Children must be accompanied by a parent who will be responsible for them at all times.

Book talk on self-awareness

Maine author Wil Langford will speak at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library.

The author’s interest in Christianity, Siddha Yoga, hypnotherapy and meditation led him to write his first book, “Your Loved Ones, Your Self: Finding and Raising the Family Within.”

The author will share his observations and experiences as methods to achieve enhanced self-awareness and better communication with families and loved ones. Langford’s book will be available for purchase and signing.

‘The Marriage Course’

Neighborhood Church, 262 Texas Ave., will offer “The Marriage Course,” an internationally recognized course created in England in the 1990s, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6. The course runs eight consecutive Thursdays through Oct. 25. The program begins with a candlelight supper.

A different topic will be featured each week, as well as opportunities to discuss the topic as a couple. Privacy is respected and no group discussion about the topic takes place.

The cost is $80 per couple for the course, which includes dinner and course materials. Seating is limited to 12 couples.

“The Marriage Course” is for any married couple wanting to build a strong and lasting relationship, and helpful for anyone with or without a Christian faith or background.

For information, call Brian Haggerty at the Neighborhood Church at 945-9937; or Bill Benysh at 942-0099.

Land trust activities

The Bangor Land Trust will sponsor these events:

. Walkers Group, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16. Meet at Epic Sports on Center Street.

. Bike training ride, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. Land trust board member Dick Andren will lead cyclists of all levels on an hour-long ride along Essex Street to Forest Avenue. Learn safe riding habits for the road while preparing for the 20-mile fundraising road ride in October. Meet at Essex Woods parking lot off Watchmaker Street.

. Starry, starry skies of Bangor, 9 p.m.-midnight, Saturday, Aug. 25. Penobscot Valley Stargazers and Bangor Land Trust will host an evening of stargazing and astronomy for all ages at West Penjajawoc Grasslands. Telescopes will be provided. Meet at the kiosk at the end of Fox Hollow Lane. Rain date, Sunday, Aug. 26.

For information, call Chandra McGee at 942-1010 or visit www.bangorlandtrust.org.

Children’s choir auditions

The Bangor Area Children’s Choir, a nonprofit, nonsectarian community organization, will hold auditions in September for youngsters with treble voices and unchanged voices. Those trying out must be no younger than 9 as of Dec. 1, and no older than 16 as of Oct. 1.

Auditions for new members are a two-day process: singers who pass an initial individual audition return the next day for a group choral audition. Each singer does the same audition to evaluate listening skills, rhythmic ability, pitch and voice quality.

Individual auditions will be held 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex St., Bangor. Call backs will be contacted between 7:30 and 9 p.m. that evening.

Those contacted for the call back will attend a group audition 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Redeemer Lutheran. The group audition will evaluate each singer’s ability to sing in a group, blend, hold a pitch and focus on the conductor. Children who successfully complete the call back audition will join the returning singers for the 2007-2008 season.

Older singers, age 12-18, who have had experience singing in choirs and are interested in trying out for the advanced treble ensemble, the Youth Chorale, may contact Michele Bremner Hall, BACC artistic director, for a private audition, at 947-2023 or michelehall@bangorareachildrenschoir.com

For a broader picture of BACC, visit the Web site, www.bangorareachildrenschoir.com

Bradley

Logging museum

“Lumbering in the Maine Woods: Men and Their Machines,” will take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Leonard’s Mills, Route 178, the site of the Maine Forest and Logging Museum’s Living History Museum. Logging and lumbering machinery from the past and present will be featured.

The public is invited to reminisce, share stories and learn about forest heritage. Bean-hole beans will be available for sampling. Call 581-2871 to obtain more information.

Brewer

Kiwanis Club news

At the last meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, Vice President Jessica Tilton welcomed new member Cathy Maher.

There was discussion about the upcoming Brewer Days events on Saturday, Sept. 8. Brewer Kiwanis will participate by having a French Toast Breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m., and will run a concession stand in the afternoon.

Charles “Dusty” Fisher introduced the speaker for the evening, Tanya Pereira, economic specialist for the city of Brewer, where she works on business attraction and retention efforts.

In the professional district the city has Brewer Professional Center, Cianchette Building, MIGHT and the proposed CancerCenter of Maine. Even though retail and professional businesses are important, it is critical to be diverse. The next step for future development is working on the 400-acre interlocal agreement between Brewer and Orrington for a Brewer-Orrington Business Park.

Shoreline stabilization is under way as well as a Children’s Garden, now open to the public. A number of developers are interested in the downtown-waterfront area.

The next Kiwanis meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant. The group is always looking for new members.

Auction for swing set

Do you need a new swing set? Or do you know a friend who is talking about getting one? How about your local school or daycare?

The March of Dimes is holding a pre-event silent auction for a CedarWorks of Rockport swing set that features the classic climber three-swing ladder and 8-foot-high box tower. It is valued at more than $3,000 including tax, and will be delivered anywhere in Maine. The minimum bid is $1,800.

The auction is open to everyone. The item can be viewed at www.CedarWorks.com.

Silent, online bidding ends Saturday, Sept. 1. Bids may be sent directly to cault@marchofdimes.com or call 989-3376 or 800-287-6346.

The sixth annual March of Dimes dinner auction will take place Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Bangor Elks Club, Odlin Road.

For information, call 989-3376 or 800-287-6346.

Castine

Art exhibit at MMA

Italian artist Letizia Mancino will display works focusing on architecture and landscapes at Maine Maritime Academy in the Bath Iron Works Center for Advanced Technology.

The exhibit will be on display 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 17-Oct. 17, with a free public reception set for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 17, in the lobby of the center.

The exhibit focuses on the artist’s interpretation of the mystery of light and water.

Mancino utilizes a contemporary application of classic Flemish technique. She is a professionally trained architect who studied at the University of “La Sapienza” in Rome and at the UNESCO International Center for Conservation and Restoration of Monuments in Rome.

After a sojourn to the United States in 1983, Mancino moved to Heidelberg, Germany, with her husband, Dr. Christoph Cremer, an adjunct scientist at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor and pioneer of the 4pi Microscope.

To learn more about the artist or to see samples of her work, visit her Web site at www.letizia-mancino.com.

For information about the exhibit, contact Kaveh Haghkerdar, exhibit coordinator and professor at MMA, at 632-4555; or Susan Loomis, chairman of the arts and sciences division, 326-4706.

Arts and crafts fair

The Castine Women’s Club will hold its annual Bagaduce Summer Fair 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Emerson Hall, Court Street.

Twenty-five local artists and artisans will show a variety of handmade items including hooked rugs, bags, quilts, jewelry, pottery, paintings and photographs. For information, call Charleen Wiseman at 326-4105; or Kathy Eaton, 326-4916.

Clifton

Singspiraton

The public is invited to attend Singspiration, a cookout and ice cream social, 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at Clifton United Baptist Church. Music will be provided by singers, bagpipers, piano players, a choir and more. The event is to raise funds for the purchase of a new stove for the church.

Dixmont

Bicentennial Week

The Dixmont United Methodist Church has planned several events as part of Dixmont Bicentennial Week.

The church will sponsor its monthly public fellowship breakfast 7-9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Gold Crest Riders Clubhouse on the Cates Road. The breakfast buffet includes pie for dessert.

Church pastor Chuck Langbein will participate in Bicentennial Week opening ceremonies at noon Sunday, Aug. 19. The church at Dixmont Corner will be open to the public daily for tours during Bicentennial Week.

As part of the celebration, the church will sponsor a Modern Day Jeremiah concert 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the church. Modern Day Jeremiah is a Christian rock band from East Orrington Congregational Church. Also featured will be the Skyliners, a jazz and big band dance orchestra. The event is free. Refreshments will be served.

Hermon

Climate change lecture

The Bangor Nature Club invites the public to attend a free lecture, “The Effects of Climate Change on Maine Gardens,” with Stephanie Burnett at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Ecotat Gardens, 2699 Route 2. Parking is in the Annis Road lot.

Burnett is a University of Maine professor of horticulture in the department of plant, soil and environmental sciences. Her talk is part of the Climate Change series sponsored by the Bangor Nature Club and Ecotat Gardens.

Burnett teaches the floriculture courses “Herbaceous Landscape Plants,” “Greenhouse Management” and “Environmental Horticulture” at UMaine. She conducts research on irrigation and fertility production problems in commercial greenhouses that focus on improving the sustainability of greenhouse production.

For information, call Sheila Michaud, 990-3665.

Holden

Garage sale

Do you know what’s happening at Aunt Nellie’s Attic and Annex? Stop in at Aunt Nellie’s Garage Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, on the Bar Harbor Road in Holden. Look for the totem pole.

In addition to a variety of merchandise at low, low prices, there will be Maine red hot dogs and cold beverages for sale. As always, the popcorn is free inside Aunt Nellie’s.

Fun and exciting things are always happening at Aunt Nellie’s. You can find an abundance of housewares, small appliances, books, gift ideas and party goods. The annex features gently used furniture, unique costumes, new giftware, clothing, novelty items, travel aids, electronics and much more. The variety of new and previously loved merchandise in both buildings is constantly changing.

Proceeds from both stores and the garage sale support Hammond Street Senior Center in Bangor, which provides more than 1,600 area senior citizens with fitness programs, classes and activities in a welcoming and pleasant setting.

As for the stores themselves, they offer “a unique shopping experience in the greater Bangor area,” said Melanie Haleluk, staff liaison from Hammond Street Senior Center. “They are light, they are bright and they are vibrant! You can expect seasonal displays and new ideas all the time. Most of the volunteers who staff both stores are members of HSSC. They come here with their energy, enthusiasm, dedication and imaginations. They grew up knowing ‘customer service’ and that’s what they like to provide.”

The volunteers are eager to help the nonprofit agency, which relies on community donations and fundraising efforts for support. Donations of sellable merchandise, except clothing, are accepted. For information or directions, call 262-5532 or 989-3631.

Orono

Canning workshop

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. Participants will use pressure canners and water bath canners during the hands-on workshop.

The workshop fee is $12. The Extension office will provide fresh produce and canning jars. Louise O. Kirkland, Extension educator, will be the instructor.

To register for the workshop, call the Extension office at 942-7396 or 800-287-1485.

Dance class registration

The Mary Drew School of Dance, in cooperation with Orono Parks and Recreation, will begin classes the last week of September.

Preregistration will held 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Keith Anderson Community House, 19 Bennoch Road, Orono. For information, call 866-3832 or e-mail psdrewmk@aol.com.

Orrington

Book sale

The Orrington Public Library will conduct a book sale during regular library hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday through Sept. 19 at the library, 15 School St., in the Center Drive School complex. Book prices range from 10 cents to $2. For information, call 825-4938.