Everyone associated with the many organizations that are co-sponsoring the 14th annual HOPE – Help Organize Peace Earthwide – Festival is excited and looking forward to celebrating Earth Day and “our connections to each other,” wrote Ilze Petersons, program coordinator for the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, one of those sponsors.

This year’s HOPE Festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, in the field house on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono. There is no admission charge.

The highlight of this year’s event will be a Green Expo, Petersons said of that portion of the festival, which will feature “entertaining films about climate change, an electric car and a display of miniature windmills and solar panels to play with and learn from.”

Petersons added that “more than 60 organizations and businesses will share information” about the many ways you can contribute to “creating a better world.”

The event, organized by Sandy Tardiff, also will feature a minifarmers market, children’s programs with puppeteer Richard Merrill and juggler Zack Field, and a great variety of musical entertainment.

Free and open to the public because “performers and many others volunteer their time,” Petersons wrote, you may obtain more information about this event by calling 942-9343 or visiting www.peacectr.org.

Patricia Henner reports this week’s edition of the Brown Bag Lunch series at noon Wednesday, April 16, at Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine in Orono, will feature Cindy Kilgore, livestock specialist with the Department of Agriculture.

According to Henner, Kilgore will answer the question, “Where’s the beef?”

Henner wrote that Kilgore “will offer information and advice to those interested in Maine-raised beef,” and “will provide information on starting a herd, including how to find, house and feed cattle; how herd health issues are handled” and provide information about “local ordinances affecting cattle farms.”

This series is supported by Tilton’s Auctions in Corinth. More information about this program and the series can be obtained by calling the museum at 581-4100.

Kristin Canders reports New Moon Restaurant in Bangor is supporting members of Bangor Ballet to help them raise $40,000 for a French cultural exchange this spring.

New Moon will offer a four-course, French cuisine dinner, accompanied by a French wine tasting at 6 p.m. Friday, April 18, at New Moon.

The cost is $65 a person, and proceeds benefit the Bangor Ballet French Cultural Exchange Fund.

Each course will include information about the accompanying wine and why it is chosen to go with the particular food, Canders wrote.

Reservations can be made by calling New Moon at 990-2233.

Carol Higgins Taylor of Eastern Area Agency on Aging in Bangor e-mailed me that as of Thursday, April 10, Meals for ME has raised $7,100 of its $10,000 goal to qualify for the Feinstein Foundation Challenge.

The Feinstein Foundation, based in Rhode Island, will divide $1 million among nonprofit nutrition programs that participate in this challenge, which is why Meals for ME must reach its qualifying goal.

Meals for ME serves approximately 200,000 meals each year to people 60 and older living in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties, who may be housebound or unable to cook for themselves. Meals are either delivered to their homes or served in public facilities.

Tax-deductible donation can be made out to Meals for ME Challenge and sent to Meals for ME, 450 Essex St., Bangor 04401.

Today we have a very important request from Helen Pennington, the information center coordinator for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

“The tourist season is quickly approaching,” Pennington wrote, and the BRCC “is looking for volunteers to work in the Information Center, from May through October.”

“If you enjoy meeting people, sharing your knowledge of the area, and can spare a couple of hours, per week,” she asks that you call her at 947-0307 or e-mail her at infocenter@bangorregion.com.

The BRCC is located on the corner of Main and Dutton streets, next to Paul Bunyan Park and, with all the activity taking place in that area, this sounds like it would be a great summertime volunteer opportunity.

It offers volunteers a wonderful way to meet new people and is a great way to extend the welcoming spirit of Maine residents to those who choose to visit Vacationland, so I hope you’ll give Pennington a call.

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