Bangor Area Homeless Shelter executive director Dennis Marble wrote on behalf of its board, volunteers and guests, to ensure “all who are supporting” the shelter “know how much we appreciate all that help.”

Marble hopes that you will notice the red and white banner on the front of the Main Street building simply stating, “Thank You.”

Describing 2007 as “a phenomenal year,” Marble wrote, “we have never seen so many examples of individuals and businesses stepping forward to help.

“The private, financial support has made big differences in the facility and for the folks who need it,” including “an adequate number of bathrooms” offering “more privacy and dignity,” and investments in “major energy-saving measures.”

Last, but not least, is the record-setting response to the shelter’s annual appeal, which raised more than $70,000, Marble wrote.

“Barring any unforeseen calamity, we will not have a budget deficit this year.

“We are overwhelmed by everyone’s compassion and generosity, and we are humbled by this experience.”

Suze Howe of Eastern Maine AIDS Network announces its second annual Red Ribbon Ball will be held 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 9, at Buchanan Alumni House in Orono.

Tickets are $50 each until Friday, Jan. 25, when the price will be $65 each.

For more information, call 990-3626 or e-mail Jean Lavigne at jelavigne@aol.com.

The Maine Resilience Project is offering a resilience training workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Alpha One, 1048 Union St., Bangor.

The cost is $35. Scholarships are available.

Janet May of the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, which is assisting with the workshop, reports that while similar training has been conducted in southern Maine, this is the first for our area.

The mission of Maine Resilience “is to assist citizens in building resilience, readiness and resources to bounce back from crisis, whether a national disaster or a personal one.”

For reservations and information, call Lynn Slusarz, 800-203-6957 (v/tty) or e-mail lynne.slusarz@umit.Maine.edu.

From my co-worker Lori Ireland comes word the Hampden Kiwanis Club will sponsor a polar plunge at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Camp CaPella on Phillips Lake in Dedham, to raise funds for families and children to attend either Camp CaPella or Camp Sunshine on Sebago Lake.

“Freezin’ for a Reason” participants will seek pledges so the Hampden Kiwanis can sponsor 10 Eastern Maine families to attend Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families; and 10 scholarships for children with physical and mental disabilities to attend Camp CaPella.

A Camp Sunshine family sponsorship is $1,500 a session. A Camp CaPella scholarship is $1,250.

For more information, to contribute or assist in any way, call Hampden Kiwanis president Joseph Dowling, 659-0437, or Camp CaPella executive director, Dana Mosher, 843-5104.

Pathfinders coordinator Linda Boyle reports facilitators are “desperately” needed for training for Pathfinders’ 2008 spring session beginning in March in Bangor.

Various Pathfinders’ groups support those who have experienced the death of a significant loved one.

New facilitator training begins Saturday, Feb. 9. A formal interview is required before training.

To learn how to become a group facilitator, call 973-8269.

Victoria Eastman e-mailed that the Milo Elementary PTO will hold another playground fundraiser.

The Maine Steiners will entertain at 3 p.m. Sunday Feb. 10, at Milo Town Hall.

Tickets are $12.50 for table seating, which includes dessert and beverage, and $6 for senior citizens or balcony seating. Children under 12 are free with a paying adult.

For tickets, call Milo Elementary School, 943-2122.

Ellen Hathaway of Washington Hancock Community Agency e-mailed to say the third annual Night of Warm Hearts semi-formal benefit is Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Ellsworth.

A fundraiser for the WHCA emergency Heating and Warmth Fund, tickets are $60 each, $600 for a table of 10. A portion of each ticket is tax-deductible.

For tickets and sponsorship information, call Joe Perkins at WHCA, 664-2424 ext. 4480.

Merlene Sanborn reports Make a Blanket Day for Project Linus chapters of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Kennebec, Franklin, Waldo and Knox counties will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Penquis Higher Education Center in Dover-Foxcroft.

Call her at 965-8005 to reserve your space.

My husband and I are heading to California to visit the Averill grandchildren. My column returns to this section Thursday, Feb. 7.

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