Once again, through the cooperation of local Cumulus Broadcasting radio stations and Hannaford stores, the public is encouraged to raise a “Ton of Pasta,” or 2,000 boxes, to feed the needy.

Michael O’Hara of Cumulus Radio in Brewer reports this successful annual event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at four sites, where Cumulus radio personalities will be broadcasting live.

You can donate a box of pasta or a jar of sauce (plastic is preferred) at Hannaford in Brewer and meet staff of WQCB Q106.5.

You can do the same at Hannaford on Broadway in Bangor, where staff of WEZQ 92.9 will be stationed; at Hannaford on Union Street at the Airport Mall in Bangor, where representatives of WWMJ I-95 will be broadcasting; or with the folks of WBZN Z107.3 at Hannaford in Old Town.

Last year, O’Hara told me, expectations were actually exceeded when more than 3 tons of pasta was collected for area food cupboards.

“We’ve had a great reception” to this program, O’Hara said, adding that he believes the timing is good.

“The holidays are over with; that is all well and done,” he said, “but the need never goes away, which is why this is the perfect time to do it.

“Hopefully, we still catch people in the giving spirit.”

He noted that Cumulus Broadcasting has also had an excellent response to its efforts to assist The Salvation Army during the holidays, and that people were most generous with other programs to help the needy who received assistance from these local radio stations.

O’Hara reminds you that one box of pasta, which equals 1 pound, can easily feed “a family of four”; that “at this time of year, food cupboard supplies are running low”; and that there is no other organized food drive in the area until the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive in May.

“Many Mainers are faced with terrible decisions as to whether to pay for food or fuel,” O’Hara wrote, adding that we have “a terrific tradition of Mainers helping Mainers.”

With the efforts of these four radio stations, these four Hannaford stores and your contributions, that tradition continues.

In my column on Dec. 28, I told you about a free, two-hour workshop offering you the opportunity to learn what hypnosis is all about.

Hypnotist Evelyn Conrad invites you to attend that event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Absolute Hypnotherapy, which is located at 60 Washington St., Brewer – not in Bangor, as I wrote in that December column.

I thank Conrad for her gracious correction of my error, and encourage anyone who wants to learn more about this subject to attend the workshop.

Conrad reminds you that Friday, Jan. 4, is World Hypnotism Day, and if you want more information about this event or about hypnosis, call her at 945-9804, or e-mail evelyn@absolutehypnotherapy.com.

Because of bad weather, reports Julie Lisnet, managing director of Robinson Ballet-School of Robinson Ballet in Bangor, its free dance workshops originally scheduled for Dec. 29 had to be postponed.

The workshops, led by new instructor Stevie Dunham, will take place Saturday, Jan. 5, at School of Robinson Ballet, 107 Union St., Bangor, which is above the Greyhound bus terminal.

The times and classes are as follows:

For younger dancers, a modern dance workshop will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. that day, and a jazz workshop will be conducted from 10:45 a.m. to noon the same day.

For experienced dancers, a modern dance workshop is scheduled from 1 to 2:15 p.m. that day, and a jazz workshop follows from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

You are asked to preregister by calling 989-7226. Class sizes are limited to 30 students each.

More information is available by visiting www.robinsonballet.org.

On behalf of the Brewer Hometown Band, director Jan Cox e-mailed the Bangor Daily News to thank its “patrons for the overwhelming success of the food drive” the band conducted during its December concert at the Brewer Auditorium.

According to Cox, the drive collected not only “a significant amount of food” but $120 in donations as well.

Cox wrote that the band members know that money “can make a huge difference for people who need help this year,” and they all thank you for your generosity and support.

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