Dixmont Legion seeks funds for homeless vets

Dixmont American Legion Post 201 Cmdr. James York wrote recently to ask for “assistance in getting the word out” that his post “is undertaking the task of outfitting approximately 35 homeless American veterans with winter wear such as coats, boots, hats and gloves.”

As sad as it is to read, York explained “these items will help the veterans keep warm on cold, winter days when they spend time outside the shelters.”

York reports post members “are reaching out to the community, as well as businesses, in hopes of [obtaining] support for this project.”

The cost of outfitting one veteran “is approximately $60,” York wrote.

All monetary donations, in any amount, can be made by writing a check payable to American Legion Post 201 and forwarding to the post at P.O. Box 35, Dixmont 04932.

Mary McKay of The Salvation Army reports it will begin accepting applications for Christmas assistance, from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning Monday, Nov. 12, at its Family Store, 585 Broadway in Bangor.

Applications will be accepted during those hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for the next three weeks.

McKay wrote those applying for Christmas assistance should bring current income and expense information along with children’s names, ages and birth dates, and suggested gift items and clothing sizes.

For more information, call The Salvation Army at 941-2990.

Sally Burke reports newcomers are welcome to attend the Penobscot Valley Ski Club membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at New Hermon Mountain in Hermon.

“Following pizza, attendees will hear a presentation by Andy Shepard, Mike Yeo and Melissa York of the Maine Winter Sports Center,” Burke wrote of the “organization which has been at work, since 1999, with a goal of re-establishing skiing as a lifestyle in Maine.”

A brief business meeting follows the presentation, and more information is available by calling 234-2326.

A representative of the Maine Immunization Program will provide information and answer questions about a vaccine that protects against cervical cancer and health problems caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the vestry of Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St., Orono.

Sponsored by Penobscot Valley American Association of University Women in cooperation with Orono town nurse Leslie Peterson and the Orono Health Association, sponsors suggest “the session is relevant for everyone interested in, or responsible for, the health of young women in middle school and high school.”

Peterson reminds you that, “thanks to early detection, cervical cancer is not the killer it once was,” and that “the real goal, now, is to turn most cervical cancer into a preventable disease.”

For more information, call Phyllis Borns, 866-4193, or Barb Nichols, 866-5732.

A $10,000 Libra Foundation grant has enabled the Bangor Symphony Orchestra to provide agencies that assist low-income individuals with 500 free tickets for their clients to attend the BSO holiday concert, Spirit of Bangor, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, or 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Bangor Auditorium.

Agency representatives who want to offer tickets to their clients can call the BSO office at 800-639-3221 or 942-5555.

Ticket requests by agencies must be made by Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Johnna Lacey of the BSO reports that participating agencies will be listed on the BSO Web site at bangorsymphony.com on the Spirit of Bangor page.

Since phone calls and inquiries from individuals will not be accepted through the BSO office, Lacey explained, “individuals will need to contact their agency to see if the agency is on the list” if they do not find it on the BSO Web site.

Directed by music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li, Spirit of Bangor features the BSO and eight other performing arts organizations in this holiday spectacular.

For the sixth year, owner Cathy Anderson of the children’s bookstore The Briar Patch is sponsoring donations of children’s books for the holidays for families in the Maine Kids-Kin program, reports Janelle Wuoristo of Maine Kids-Kin.

During regular business hours, now through Sunday, Nov. 25, at The Briar Patch, 27 Central St. in downtown Bangor, customers receive 20 percent off the book they donate to Maine Kids-Kin and an additional 20 percent off another book, for themselves, of equal or lesser value. For information, call 941-0255.

Maine Kids-Kin is a program of Families and Children Together, serving relatives who are raising other relatives’ children.

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