Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is here, reports Maria Staples of Penquis. In recognition of this month, Staples wrote, the Penquis Breast and Cervical Health Coalition will hold a fundraiser Thursday, Jan. 24, at UNO Chicago Grill near the Bangor Mall.

Staples said that “if you dine at UNO … or order takeout, and present a Dough Raiser donation ticket, up to 20 percent of your check will be donated back to the Penquis Breast and Cervical Health Coalition.”

You can obtain your free Dough Raiser Donation tickets by calling Staples at 973-3586.

Staples reminds readers that “according to the American Cancer Society, about 11,150 new cases of invasive, cervical cancer were expected to occur” in this country last year.

“Annually, in Maine, an average of 55 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer,” she wrote, “and an average of 15 women will die from cervical cancer.”

PBCHC, she said, “provides education concerning breast and cervical health, and information on no-cost mammograms and Pap smears available to eligible women through the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program.”

If you are a woman between ages 40 and 64, with no insurance or insurance that does not cover Pap tests or mammograms, you can call 800-350-5180, or Staples at the above number, for more information.

In the meantime, if you plan to eat out next week, consider helping this program by dining at UNO.

Speaking of UNO and its community efforts, I talked with the restaurant’s new general manager, Brett Settle, who is looking forward to connecting with organizations and schools through several programs the restaurant has to offer.

Settle invites any organization or program needing to raise funds, either for a project, event, or team activities, for example, to participate in the Dough Raiser Program mentioned above, and other UNO fundraisers.

He also wants school administrators to know that UNO provides field trips for children in kindergarten through sixth grade that include a tour of the kitchen, learning how pizza is made, and then enjoying a pizza party.

UNO’s manager said he and his staff are most interested in Community Outreach and will offer their time as volunteers or helping you find volunteers for a project or program.

Settle said you “can speak with any member of our staff. They know all about our programs.”

All you need to do to take advantage of UNO’s offers is to call the restaurant at 947-5000; write Settle at UNO, 725 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 04401; or visit the restaurant near the Bangor Mall.

Staff of the Marine Environmental Research Institute invite you to attend a MERI Ocean Environment Lecture, “Herring: The Most Important Fish in the Sea,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at MERI, 55 Main St., Blue Hill.

According to the MERI release, “The decline of herring in Maine’s waters and the impacts of industrial trawl fishing on the marine ecosystem and local fisheries” will be the subject of the lecture by Peter Baker, project manager of the Atlantic Herring Campaign for the Pew Environment Group.

Before the lecture, you are invited to attend a wine and cheese reception and the presentation of a short, silent film, at 6 p.m., at MERI.

The film “footage is a rough collection of home movies” from the collection of Dr. Ernest Stillman taken by him in the ’30s and ’40s of Bar Harbor, and includes “extensive footage of herring weirs and sardine carriers” and other fishing activities in the Mount Desert area.

Northeast Historic Film of Bucksport has made the material available to MERI for this event.

Inez Segien called to report that a book signing of “Emily, a Love Story,” written by the late Elsie O’Dell, is planned for 2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Senior Citizen Center on Boynton Street in Eastport.

In attendance will be O’Dell’s daughter Dr. Bonnie L. Trott of Exeter, N.H.

O’Dell, who was 80 when she died unexpectedly in mid-December, was a resident of Eastport.

An English and creative writing teacher, singer, active church member and community volunteer, O’Dell was also a self-published author.

Segien, who was a cousin of O’Dell, told me that this book is quite different from the author’s previous works, since its focus is a passionate “eternal triangle tale of an early, 19th century woman,” filled with romance, intrigue, mystery, “secrets, lies, blackmail and heartbreaking confessions.”

The public is most welcome to attend.

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