Recently released after receiving treatment at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, 15-year-old Cassandra Tripp is now resting at home in Palmyra.

The daughter of Richard Tripp has been diagnosed with leukemia, and her friends and family, under the sponsorship of the St. Albans Volunteer Fire Department, are hosting a benefit to assist the Tripps with the expenses incurred by her illness.

The Maine Country Legends Show headlines the benefit, which is from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Nokomis Regional High School, 266 Williams Road in Newport.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and free for youngsters under 5.

The benefit includes a silent auction, raffle, 50-50 tickets, door prizes, refreshments for sale and “four hours of entertainment,” reported her aunt, Irene Alton of Palmyra, who also told me her niece is “currently in remission, and she is gaining weight,” which is very encouraging.

If you cannot attend the benefit, but would like to help the family at this time, donations can be made at any Merrill Bank location.

It was nice to hear the voice of an old college friend, Jim Sherburne, who left a message and mailed information about the inaugural Dexter Muni Egg Scramble.

The event begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at the course in that Piscataquis County community.

The entry fee is $30 per player, and includes a home-cooked breakfast and “wicked good” net prizes, a 50-50 raffle and door prizes.

Sponsored by the Dexter Muni advisory board, Jim explained the event will benefit course improvements.

However, if you wish to participate in this benefit, you must register your foursome by Friday, Sept. 28, by calling the clubhouse at 924-6477.

Terri Swanson reports Maine Coast Memorial Hospital volunteers are hosting their sixth annual Craft Fair & Chinese Auction from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, “under a big tent at the hospital,” 50 Union St. in Ellsworth.

Swanson wrote 45 crafters will be “displaying their fine products” and that “the Chinese Auction will consist of 100 quality items” donated by local businesses “and friends.”

The event also includes a pumpkin painting contest for youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade, and she hopes that you will bring the family, and “enjoy Autumn Gold Weekend with us.”

Proceeds benefit the Maine Coast Lifeline Scholarship program.

While readers’ attention is focused on Ellsworth, this is the perfect opportunity to tell you that Meals for Me, a program of Eastern Agency on Aging, really needs drivers in that area to deliver hot, noontime meals to elderly shut-ins.

Jody Vail-Speck, director of human resources for EAA, reminds you “every older person who needs a meal should have access to one. However, without adequate volunteers, this becomes impossible.”

The volunteer time frame is just 1-11/2 hours; training is provided; mileage is reimbursed; volunteer time is very flexible and volunteers need only commit to “an hour or two a week or month,” Vail-Speck reports.

In addition to drivers, Meals for Me also needs people to help setting up, serving and cleaning up at its community dining rooms.

If you can help older residents living in the Ellsworth area by becoming a Meals for Me volunteer, call Vail-Speck at 800-432-7812.

The University of Maine has announced registration is open for its fall session of the UMaine Community ArtWorks Program for pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The five-week session conducts classes from 3:30 to 5 p.m., beginning Oct. 12 and continuing through Nov. 9, in Lord Hall on the Orono campus.

According the university release, the program offers children the opportunity to explore a variety of visual media, learn about the history of art and view other artwork.

UMaine art professor Constant Albertson is program director of ArtWorks. Class sections are organized by grade level and limited to 22 pupils. Acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis and a waiting list is available for vacancies.

The $25 course fee covers the cost of materials used in class, and a limited number of scholarships are available.

The classes are taught by art education students under the supervision of Albertson.

For more information, call Albertson at 581-3251; the UMaine Department of Art, at 581-3245 or e-mail constant.

albertson@umit.maine.edu.

Applications can also be sent to University of Maine, Department of Art, Lord Hall, Orono 04469-5743, Attn: ArtWorks.

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