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Voice of Democracy contest

HERMON – A Hermon High School freshman placed third in the 2007 Voice of Democracy essay contest sponsored by the Maine Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Jordan Lorenz, 15, won a $500 scholarship for his essay on the topic, “My Role in Honoring America’s Veterans.”

Kevin Woodward, Department of Maine VFW Voice of Democracy chairman, said there were more than 800 entries this year and Lorenz was the only freshman whose essay advanced to state competition.

Lorenz placed first in the Hermon High School contest, said Cathy Lacey, English teacher and school contest coordinator. Senior James McGowan won second place and senior Greg Winningham took third place.

Lorenz’s essay advanced to the competition in District 11, which includes Bangor High School, Bangor Christian Schools, John Bapst Memorial High School, Brewer High School, Hampden Academy, Old Town High School and Ellsworth High School.

Lorenz won the district contest, and his tape-recorded essay advanced to the state competition.

It is the second consecutive year that a Hermon High School student placed in the state contest. Last year, junior Drew Winningham placed second in the state contest.

Brian Walsh, Hermon High School principal, said, “This speaks greatly, not only to the entrants, but of the school and the community. I’m very proud of Jordan, not only for entering the contest as a freshman, but for excelling. I look forward to the next three years, and I hope Jordan will be a role model for other students.”

Lorenz is vice president of his class, a member of the student council, a member of the one-act play competition cast and a member of the Key Club. He is the son of John and Cheryl Lorenz of Hermon.

Youth with disabilities

BANGOR – The Maine Transition Network Region 3 School to Life program will hold a forum on the employment needs of youth with disabilities 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the conference room at Alpha One, 1048 Union St.

The forum will address these questions: Can the Department of Labor-Vocational Rehabilitation help me? What is the difference between competitive and supported employment? Will I lose my Social Security benefits if I go to work? What can a job developer or employment specialist do for me? What are employers looking for when hiring a young worker? How can I get a job if I have a disability?

Panelists will include Stephen Conroy and Mary Knowlton, transition counselors, Department of Labor-Vocational Rehabilitation; Joyce Santerre, Disability Program navigator at the Career Center, TDC; Mark Swan and Kelly Davis, employment specialists, Amicus-Phenix Employment Programs; Frank Hartnett, employment specialist, Allies Inc.; Jeff Hooke, employment specialist, KFI Vocational Services; John Jones, Maine Vocational Associates; and several local employers who have hired special needs youth, including Phillips-Strickland Home and L.L. Bean.

Call Cindy Tuck, coordinator of the program, to register at 992-2270, or e-mail schooltolife@midmaine.com.

Discovery Museum doings

BANGOR – Parents’ Night Out Plus is set for 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb 9. Don’t hire a baby sitter – plan to drop off the children, age 4 and up, at the Maine Discovery Museum for a pizza dinner, an art and science activity, expert care and supervised playtime in the Museum. The cost is $24 members, $26 others, siblings half-price.

Parents’ Night Out Plus is sponsored by Cristor’s Irish Public House and New Moon Restaurant. Preregistration is advised since space is limited.

Other activities scheduled at the museum are:

. Practice paper-folding skills with Valentine origami, 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Learn how to make fancy cards and hearts with colorful paper and simple folding techniques. Recommended for children age 3 and older.

. Fancy Valentines, 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb 10. Make a special Valentine mailbox, heart wreath or heart magnet to show someone just how much you fancy them on Valentine’s Day. Recommended for children age 2 and older. A $1 materials fee will be collected per child.

. Celebrate Chinese New Year, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Enjoy a variety of activities and crafts throughout the afternoon: Tai Chi demonstration for children age 3 and older, 2 p.m.; sample dumplings and lucky noodles, 2:15 p.m.; dragon dance and performance, 2:30 p.m.; calligraphy workshop for children age 5 and older, 3 p.m.; Erhu concert, traditional Chinese string instrument, 3 p.m.

For information, call www.mainediscoverymuseum.org or call 262-7200.

Unless otherwise noted, activities are generally free with an admission of $6.50 per child.

School vacation fun

BANGOR – Look for a week of fun during February school vacation at the Bangor Public Library. The schedule is:

. 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, learn how to make a bird feeder, and find out what our feathered friends need during the cold of winter. Jason Harris of Blue Seal Feeds brings his expertise and bird treat door prizes, too.

. 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, Mary Hart will share experiences of her travels in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Hart, a member of the Bangor Camera Club, will show her photographs and talk about her visit to those equatorial regions.

. 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, Make It, Shape It and Take It – with play dough that is. Make a batch of play dough. The library will provide the ingredients and recipe. You provide the imagination.

. 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, meet the flute. Meet the one member of the woodwind family that doesn’t have a reed. Musician Helen Marasco will provide the introduction. Learn how the flute works and hear how nicely it plays with other instruments.

. 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Library Dads will be guest readers for story time, and a delicious doughnut and milk will round out the fun.

. Watch for details of the Dr. Seuss birthday party March 1 at the Bangor Public Library.

Bangor High School

BANGOR – Plymouth resident Levi Washburn has received a Faculty Scholarship at Cedarville University.

Cedarville University awards Faculty Scholarships to first-year students who have high ACT-SAT scores and a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.2 or higher. The renewable scholarship amount ranges from $2,000 to $2,500.

Washburn, a senior at Bangor Christian High School, is a member of the National Honor Society and has been named a Scholar Athlete. The son of Mark and Vickie Washburn of Plymouth, he plans to study communication arts.

Valentine’s Day dance

HAMPDEN – The Hampden Academy sophomore class will sponsor a Valentine’s parent and child dance 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, in the Hampden Academy cafeteria. The cost is $5 per person and $12 per family. Parents must accompany their children. The event is open to SAD 22 pupils in grades three, four and five. Refreshments will be provided and prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

Hermon Middle School

HERMON – An open house and ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Hermon Middle School. A tour of the facility will be conducted 6:15-7:30 p.m.

Middle school staff and students started the school year in renovated facilities that include a new “gymateria,” music room, multipurpose room and administrative offices. To recognize the efforts of the school committee, Town Council, building committee, WBRC Architects-Engineers and E.L. Shea Construction, a brief ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium.

Phillips Exeter Academy

EXETER, N.H. – Freshman Thomas Guthrie of Bangor achieved high honors for the spring semester at Phillips Exeter Academy. He is the son of Cliff and Ulrik Guthrie.

Unicel scholarships

BANGOR – Volunteers of all ages strengthen and add to the quality of life in towns and cities across America. As part of Unicel’s commitment to being part of the communities it serves, the company will recognize outstanding high school students who have served their communities by volunteering.

Unicel created the High School Heroes program to celebrate high school seniors who give of their time and talents to improve the lives of others. Scholarships for $2,000 will be awarded to students at the end of this school year.

High school seniors may nominate themselves, or family members, teachers, mentors or friends may nominate a student they believe is qualified. Nomination forms may be picked up at any Unicel store or downloaded at www.unicel.com/scholarships. The deadline is March 31.

“Unicel strongly believes in supporting the communities we serve. The High School Heroes program reflects the company’s commitment to maintaining the rural way of life and to providing its neighbors with exceptional personal communications tools,” said Peter Hyszczak, Unicel sales director.

Colleges

Beta Theta Pi sleep-out

ORONO – Beta Theta Pi, the University of Maine’s oldest fraternity, will hold its 15th annual sleep-out fundraising event Feb. 19-23 to raise money and awareness for Rape Response Services of Bangor, an organization offering education, counseling and sexual assault-prevention services to the public.

The brothers of the Beta Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi will sell raffle tickets in Memorial Union during the week preceding the event.

At the end of the week, the brothers will participate in a 12-hour sleep-out, from 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. All 44 brothers will be locked out of the fraternity house at 12 Munson Road and will not be allowed back in until the following morning. They will camp on the front lawn for the night.

Raffle tickets will be sold into the evening of Feb. 23. Winners of various prizes, donated by businesses in the Bangor area, will be drawn. A bonfire also will burn through the night as the central symbol of the annual tradition.

Last year’s sleep-out raised more than $4,100.

“This year we would like to raise $5,000,” said Jack Keenan, public relations chairman for the fraternity.

Members of the university and surrounding communities are encouraged to drop by to show support and make a donation. For information, call Jack Keenan at 581-4161, or e-mail arthur.keenan@umit.maine.edu.

Donations may be mailed to Sleep-Out, Beta Theta Pi, 12 Munson Road, Orono, ME 04469.

Creighton University

OMAHA, Neb. – Chrysalis Wild of Orono was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Creighton University.

Eastern Maine Community College

BANGOR – If biotech is the industry of the future and Maine is looking for new industries to replace old ones, does the central and eastern region of Maine have what it takes to develop a viable biotech presence?

That was the question brought before Eastern Maine Community College’s advisory council meeting on Jan. 17. As the college’s regional sounding board, touchstone and advice givers, the council gathers six times a year to consider current issues as the college strives to provide educational vitality and relevance.

Dr. Laurent Beauregard of the Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health – a consortium comprising Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, the Jackson Laboratory and the University of Maine – framed the discussion by outlining the critical conditions necessary for attracting outside players in developing a specialized niche:

. Proximity to a world-class research center.

. Access to talent.

. Access to funding.

. Quality of life.

. Appropriate, adaptable and affordable lab and office space.

. An entrepreneurial environment.

. Access to patients and markets.

. Favorable incentives and tax treatment.

The council also heard from two biotech industries already operating in Maine. Dr. Bruce Davis located Trillium Diagnostics in Brewer, where it develops and markets new diagnostic products for laboratory hematology.

Bar Harbor BioTechnology, a Jackson Lab spinoff located in Trenton, focuses on producing a line of products that streamline parts of the research process for other research centers. Dr. Robert Phelps, president of Bar Harbor BioTechnology, markets these products internationally, bringing the world to Maine on a regular basis.

With a closing presentation by Dr. Christopher Easton, chairman of Eastern Maine Community College’s Math and Science Department, educational factors in coordinating such a collaboration were introduced.

Distributing course descriptions of the biology, microbiology and genetics classes offered at the college, Easton described the development of these courses in conjunction with the University of Maine, the University of New England and Unity College to ensure students build their education smoothly as they prepare to fill the array of jobs created by a specialized industry.

Hollins University

ROANOKE, Va. – Melanie Craig, a junior majoring in chemistry, was named an Honor Student for the fall semester at Hollins University. She is a graduate of Bangor High School and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Craig of Bangor.

James Madison University

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Junior Josie Donaher, who is majoring in sociology, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at James Madison University. A 2005 graduate of John Bapst Memorial High School, she is the daughter of Richard and Judy Donaher of Orrington.

Tufts University

MEDFORD, Mass. – Bangor area students named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Tufts University are:

. Emily Lad, Glenburn.

. Denise St. Peter, Old Town.

. Ryan Lena, Orono.

University of Tulsa

TULSA, Ola. – James Bailey, Bangor High School graduate of 2005 and a student at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, just completed a semester abroad in Antibes, France. He took fall semester classes at CERAM Sophia Antipolis in the Euro-American Institute. While there, he often traveled throughout France and to the nearby countries of Spain, Italy, Switzerland and England.