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‘The Wizard of Oz’

BANGOR – The John Bapst Players will present the musical “The Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, at the school auditorium at 100 Broadway.

Based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s favorite, the production will feature more than 60 students on stage and many more off stage in the orchestra and on various crews.

In this classic, Dorothy Gale of Kansas dreams of what lies over the rainbow. When a twister hits her farm, Dorothy and her dog Toto are carried away to the wonderful World of Oz and journey with their new friends – the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion – to find their way home. Dorothy and her friends soon discover the true meaning of friendship, courage, family and home.

Tickets for “The Wizard of Oz” are available in the fine arts office 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays.

The John Bapst Players also will perform the musical for several local junior high schools on Thursday, March 27.

Poetry Out Loud

LEWISTON – The Maine Arts Commission announced that 10th-grader Kate McKeown of Leavitt Area High School in Turner will represent Maine at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington.

Kate’s poetry recitation skills were stretched to the limit among a closely matched field at the state final. All 10 finalists were well-prepared as they performed their three poems with tremendous skill on March 8, at Schaeffer Theatre in Lewiston.

Runner-up was Lydia McOscar of Bangor High School.

Among the audience was Maine first lady Karen Baldacci, who presented the trophies. Baldacci, an educator herself, said, “The arts are at the core of creativity, and creativity is at the core of learning.”

The Poetry Out Loud competition is made possible by a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation and the nation’s state arts agencies. It begins with more than 100,000 students in the United States competing, more than 1,000 of them in Maine this year.

As winner of the state final, McKeown received $200, and her school receives a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books.

McOscar will receive $100, with $200 going to her school library.

Challenger Vacation Camp

BANGOR – The Challenger Learning Center will offer an April Vacation Camp and free public events. The schedule is:

Camps

. 9-11 a.m. Monday, April 21, session 1, Cosmic Cuisine. Create and sample spill-proof, tasty menus for space. For children in kindergarten to grade three.

. 1-3 p.m. Monday, April 21, session 2, Rocket Launcher. What makes a rocket fly? Build one and find out. For children in kindergarten to grade three.

The cost is $20 per session, or pack a lunch and stay 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for a cost of $50.

. 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, session 1, Space Fitness. Exercise in Zero-G, now that’s a challenge. For children in kindergarten to grade three.

. 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, session 2, Life in Zero-G. Picture yourself in free-fall and learn how it works. For kindergarten to grade three.

The cost is $20 per session, or pack a lunch and stay 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for a cost of $50.

. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Engineer a Space Station, build a model of the International Space Station, use Space Station robotic arms, experiment in an isolation chamber. For children in grades three to six. The cost is $45.

. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Mission Specialist Training. Experience how Mission Controllers fix problems for the astronauts. Use a spectrometer to analyze a gas sample. Use headsets to give task directions. The cost is $45.

Other events

. Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin embarked on the historic first manned space flight on April 12, 1961. Twenty years later on April 12, 1981, the United States launched the first space shuttle flight. Celebrate Yuri and the Space Shuttle at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Admission is by donation. Preregistration is preferred.

. Bimonthly Expanding Your Understanding Family Forum. Hollywood “Science,” 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 24. How far “out in space” is the science in those classic space movies? Junior version with activity for children will be offered. Admission is by donation. Preregistration is preferred.

For information or registration, call 990-2900.

Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club

INDIAN ISLAND – The Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club has been awarded $50,000 from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, which supports projects that address the underlying causes of social and environmental problems, as well as those that address the consequences.

The Boys and Girls Club will implement three after-school programs – Power Hour, for after-school homework help; the Family Support Program; and the Fine Arts Program.

Through the programs, members will be exposed to a broad range of arts education activities and encouraged to develop new skills and talents, to express themselves and to expand individual creativity. At the same time, these activities will contribute to improved academic performance.

Activities are intended to keep families intact through a range of prevention and support services delivered with flexibility, personalized attention and cultural sensitivity.

“We are extremely grateful to be receiving this gift,” said Carla Fearon, club director. “Providing quality programs is our priority, and organizations like the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation make that possible.”

Prekindergarten in Bangor

BANGOR – Registration for next fall’s prekindergarten program for residents of Bangor will be held 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8. Register your child at the school he or she will attend. Enrollment is limited. Registration will continue until all slots are filled. Notification of selection will be made promptly.

The pilot program is oriented toward building language skills and quantitative concepts through an active experiential class structure. The social skills of classroom interaction will be emphasized.

The classroom will be an instructional setting and will be educationally focused, even in play activities. The program also will provide regular out-of-class activities that involve the children with experiences they otherwise might not have.

Students must be 4 years old by Oct. 15. Bring the child’s legal birth certificate and immunization record.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be held at Abraham Lincoln School, 941-6280, 45 Forest Ave.; Downeast School, 941-6240, 100 Moosehead Blvd.; Fruit Street School, 941-6270, 175 Fruit St.; Vine Street School, 941-6300, 66 Vine St.

Morning sessions only will be held at Fourteenth Street School, 941-6350, 224 Fourteenth St.

Cushing Academy

ORRINGTON – During an athletic awards ceremony in December, Joseph Gagne of Orrington was awarded a varsity letter as a member of the Cushing Academy varsity boys soccer team in Ashburnham, Mass.

Hermon High School

HERMON – Administration and faculty have announced students of the month for January at Hermon High School:

. Freshman, Justin Holbrook, son of Randall and Mary Holbrook of Hermon.

. Sophomore, Haley Carle, daughter of Bruce and Robin Carle of Hermon.

. Junior, Jody Demmons, daughter of Dennis and Kimberly Demmons of Hermon.

. Senior, Amanda Page, daughter of George and Andrea Page of Hermon.

Scholarships for women

BANGOR – The BPW Futurama Foundation established by the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women offers five scholarships to be awarded to Maine women through the BPW Maine Foundation Scholarship Program.

Scholarships available are the Rachel E. Lemieux Youth Scholarship, Continuing Education Scholarship, Jeanne L. Hammond Memorial Scholarship, Arline Andrews Lovejoy Youth Scholarship and Career Advancement Scholarship.

Each scholarship provides $1,200 for school expenses. Application forms may be obtained at high school or college guidance offices, or by calling Pat Leture, scholarship chairwoman, Uptown BPW, 866-4500.

Completed applications must be endorsed by a local BPW club before they are considered by the state federation scholarship committees.

Colleges

Eastern Maine Community College

BANGOR – Eastern Maine Community College will host a spring open house for prospective students and community members 9 a.m.-noon Friday, April 11. RSVP is not required.

Staff from all departments will be available to answer questions about applying and enrolling at EMCC, applying for financial aid, attending classes at off-campus centers, transfer options and campus housing.

Faculty members will be on hand, as their classes allow, to answer questions about specific programs of study. A number of departments will provide presentations and demonstrations in shop and lab areas. Tours will be offered by current students.

Those interested are encouraged to consult the Eastern Maine Community College Web site at www.emcc.edu. Click on Admission and Registration to locate the Open House link or call the admissions office at 974-4680 or 800-286-9357 for details on the best time to arrive depending on program interests.

Eastern Maine Community College

BANGOR – Kelli Geagan of Bangor was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Eastern Maine Community College. She is studying early childhood education.