Downtown Countdown just keeps growing

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Everyone who wants to participate should be able to enjoy one great New Year’s Eve in Bangor, thanks to the efforts of those involved with Downtown Countdown 2007 on Monday, Dec. 31, in the Queen City.

Representatives of Bangor Center Corp. remind us parking at Pickering Square Garage is free, and we can ride the BAT free to any event location.

A spaghetti dinner and contradance await at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Park Street.

The Bangor Opera House has movies and music; WKIT-FM 100.3 radio will provide dance music and have a live band at the Union Street Brick Church; the Hammond Street Senior Center will offer games and music, and Bagel Central becomes “Blues Central.”

Bangor City Hall will be the setting for a variety of music throughout the evening, and the Bangor Public Library will hold a costume party and dance lessons.

For the children, admission is free after 3 p.m. at Maine Discovery Museum; the Bangor Symphony Orchestra holds an instrument “petting zoo” at its Main Street office; the Briar Patch on Franklin Street offers family game night; and Hammond Street Congregational Church will have games and dance lessons.

Many of these activities may be attributed to the inspiration of Bangor lawyer Stephen Smith who, in 2004, decided to offer his own version of the traditional New York City “ball drop countdown” from the roof of his downtown Bangor building.

With the growth and increased interest in this event, it is appropriate that we recognize and thank the 2007 Downtown Countdown sponsors for their support.

The founding sponsor is Husson College. Venue sponsors are Bangor Metro, Bangor International Airport, the city of Bangor; WKIT-FM 100.3 and the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Supporting sponsors are J Group Advertising, Rudman & Winchell and Merrill Bank.

The producing sponsor is Bangor Center Corp., and the Midnight Ball Drop sponsor is Smith Law Offices.

Media sponsors include The Maine Edge and the Bangor Daily News. The poster sponsor is Bangor Letter Shop.

Times, sites and information are available at www.downtownbangor.com.

It will be a very special evening, and you are sure to enjoy it.

Ron Cropley, finance officer for American Legion Benjamin Berry Post 50 in Unity, e-mailed recently “to thank all those who helped make” that organization’s “raffle and hunters supper a big success.”

And while many enjoyed the hunters supper, Cropley wrote that 12 lucky people who bought raffle tickets won some nice prizes, including a rifle and a birdhouse, all to benefit the work of the members of American Legion Post 50.

Elizabeth Clayton of Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor reports the second show in the EMCC 2007-08 Art Exhibit Series features the work of David Haskins.

The exhibit is open through Monday, Jan. 14, and you may obtain information about Library Gallery hours and days of operation by calling 974-4640.

Clayton wrote, “Haskins’ arrestingly colored landscapes of countryside, from the South and Midwest to the Northeast, are captivating impressions of American terrain.”

While we’re focused on Eastern Maine Community College, I thought readers might like to know about a local business donation that directly assists EMCC students.

During the EMCC Executive Advisory Council meeting in November, with 33 community business leaders in attendance, Kevin Kelly, general manager for Down East Toyota, presented keys to a 2003 Camry to Gene Fadrigan, chairman of the EMCC automotive technology department.

The vehicle will help provide EMCC automotive technology students with access to current computerized systems, educating them in the rapidly changing and complex automotive industry, according to the EMCC release.

Down East Toyota owner Ed Darling coordinated the donation with Toyota Motor Sales, Toyota’s corporate office.

Michael Gleason of Bangor e-mailed that two very special friends “are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Day,” Tuesday, Jan. 1, and Gleason hopes our readers will shower the couple with anniversary cards, “whether you know them or not,” he wrote.

Ken and Gen Thompson “were married right in the middle of World War II. Is that romantic or what?” Gleason wrote.

You may send your greetings to Ken and Gen Thompson, 15 Dyers Point Lane, Addison 04606-3609.

I extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Thompsons who, judging by the photo that was included in Gleason’s e-mail, are a very happy couple.

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