Bangor

Free holiday meals

The Unitarian Universalist Society, 120 Park St., will serve free holiday meals:

. Baked bean supper, 4-5 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29.

. Turkey dinner with fixings, 4-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24.

Adoption information

The Bangor office of the Department of Human Services will hold a public meeting about adoption and foster care at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7. To learn the location of the meeting, call A Family For ME at (877) 505-0545.

Brain Gym training

The Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center will offer training in “Brain Gym: Kids, Movement and Learning,” 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 19, at Penquis, 262 Harlow St. The cost of the training session is $15.

Brain Gym is a whole brain program using 26 simple movements to help complete neurological development, release learning blocks and reduce stress.

Brain Gym is for all ages and can increase self-confidence and maximize mental, physical and creative abilities. Teacher Margaret Marshall will present the program.

To obtain information or to register for the session, call 973-3533 or (888) 917-1100.

Volunteers needed

Maine Discovery Museum needs adult volunteers to help with a variety of skilled and unskilled jobs. The responsibilities range from running errands around town to helping with building and exhibit repairs to maintenance. Those who have carpentry skills or other skills and flexible hours, and would enjoy working with the children’s museum staff, should call Laurie at 262-7200 for more information.

Solstice celebration

Turning the Wheel: Winter Solstice 2007 will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 120 Park St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

All are welcome to an evening of performance and participation to “sing in” the winter solstice and mark the turning of the wheel of another season.

The event is produced by Indigenous Spirituality, an earth-centered small group ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor. Performers include Women with Wings, the USSB drummers group, the USSB choir and others.

Admission is by donation, and $5 is suggested.

Winter solstice celebration

Celebrate the winter solstice with the Temple of the Feminine Divine at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 120 Park St.

Come celebrate the return of light with the Japanese myth of Amaterasu. In conjunction with the celebration, the annual Temple Yule bazaar will be held. Members will offer their crafts and artwork for sale.

The temple also is conducting a raffle, with drawings taking place after the ritual. Items include framed needlepoint art, necklace and earring set, watercolor painting, two talisman necklaces, handmade basket, pottery bowl, sea treasure glass art, goddess pillow, chalice, cape and massage.

Raffle tickets may be purchased at Silo 7, 118 Harlow St., from priestesses or at the event. For information, call 941-0261.

Dance recital

Top Hat II Dance Studio’s holiday show, The Toy Shop, originally scheduled for 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, has been rescheduled.

There will be one performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School. Tickets purchased for the Dec. 16 shows will be accepted for this show. Tickets also will be available at the door. For more information, call 843-6028.

Brewer

Stormwater management

The state of Maine honored Ken Locke of the city of Brewer recently for his innovative and exemplary municipal stormwater program aimed at protecting and improving the local waterways of Brewer and the Penobscot River.

Locke received the first Steve Ranney Award for Stormwater Management Excellence from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for developing the most innovative and effective program in the state.

Addressing stormwater issues is essential because polluted stormwater runoff from lawns, driveways, parking lots and municipal activities is the greatest source of pollution for Maine waterways.

To describe what stormwater pollution is all about, the ThinkBlueMaine coalition produced the “rubber duck” TV advertisement that shows pollution, such as pet waste, oil drips and fertilizer, morphing into ducks that flow into the storm drain and then out into waterways.

Twenty-eight municipalities in Maine are required through the federal Clean Water Act, due to urban density, to take specific actions to protect and restore waterways from the effect of stormwater pollution. Brewer is one of them.

David Ladd, the DEP’s statewide stormwater coordinator, said that Locke was most deserving of the award because “Ken continuously seeks ways to make municipal operations more efficient and implements a program that goes well beyond the state’s minimum requirements.”

Another nomination stated that Locke “has set the standard for high-level compliance and proactive stormwater management thinking in the greater Bangor urbanized area and, I believe, the state of Maine.”

The Stormwater Management Excellence Award is named after the late Steve Ranney. He was city engineer and stormwater manager for the Auburn, where he developed an outstanding stormwater program and inspired staff to continue his efforts.

Brenda Zollitsch, coordinator for the Bangor Storm Water Group, said, “Steve Ranney would have appreciated Ken’s low-key ‘stick-to-it-iveness’ and would have been immensely proud of the changes that Ken has been able to make happen as a result of his hard work and perseverance.”

The award citation states: “The Steve Ranney Award for Stormwater Management Excellence 2007 Honors Ken Locke. In recognition and appreciation of his leadership and exemplary stormwater program benefiting the residents of Brewer, the Penobscot River Watershed, and the state, and for his tireless commitment to the environment.”

Rural Development loan

U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced that the city of Brewer had been awarded $6.5 million in loan funding for the construction of its new public safety complex from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agendy.

The 30,000-square-foot complex is set for Parkway South, allowing for improved police and Fire Department response. Brewer’s existing public safety building was constructed in the 1950s and is not centrally located. The city employs 41 public safety workers.

Corinth

Christmas cantata

The Corinth United Methodist Church choir will present “Heaven’s Light,” a cantata for Christmas, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23.

A Christmas Eve service, “No Wonder,” will be offered at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24. It is a musical presented by the puppet ministry of the church, designed as a Christmas story for both young and old.

Corinth United Methodist Church, 275 Main St., is wheelchair-accessible. Rides can be provided in the Corinth area.

To obtain information about the cantata or the Christmas Eve service, or to arrange a ride, call the church office at 285-3557.

Eddington

Christmas Cantata

The North Brewer Eddington United Methodist Church Christmas choir will present a Christmas cantata, “Light of the World,” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at the church at the Bend. The cantata is directed and arranged by Herbert Hopkins, with narration by Merrill Boynton.

Mike Strang will be the soloist and Melva Kent, Coralie Giles and Cheryl Long will sing as a trio. All are welcome.

Child care will be provided and refreshments will be served after the concert.

Those taking part in the cantata are Bob Adams, Judy Adams, Merrill Boynton, Donna Boyle, Pam Bull, Gail DeBeck, Doug Gardiner, Coralie Giles, Anne Kenniston, Melva Kent, Roscoe Kent, Andrea Long, Cheryl Long, Jessie Mellott, Michelle Mercier, Mandi Oechslie, the Rev. Tracy Reeves, Jean Royal, Jim Royal, Cheryl Russell, Jacqui Squires and Mike Strang.

Orono

DADGAD coffeehouse

The public is invited to join in at the DADGAD Open Mike Coffeehouse on Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Keith Anderson Community House, Bennoch Road.

Open jam is at 6 p.m. and open mike signup is at 7 p.m. Admission is $3, children under 12 free. Coffee and goodies are included. Call 942-3827 or visit www.dadgadcoffeehouse.com for more information.

Winterport

Nativity pageant

Winterport’s 40th live Nativity pageant is set for 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, at the Union Meeting House.

The pageant is dedicated to Winterport’s Boy Scouts, who have cut boughs for the creche for many years in a row. This year they built a new creche.