Had Georgine Butman of Greenville not e-mailed me this information, I would not be able to share it with you, so for that, I thank her.

Butman explained that she is “the Department of Maine American Legion Auxiliary Junior Activities chair,” and she wants our readers to know that “April is observed as the month of the military child.”

“Our men and women” serving in the military “make sacrifices every day,” Butman wrote.

“Having a family is hard on any soldier,” she continued, and while the focus of many people’s efforts has been “on our soldiers overseas,” Butman is concerned “about the families that they leave behind for months on end.”

Butman recognizes that “most military families are always remembered during the holiday season,” but she asks you to think about what life is like for them during their “everyday life.”

“There are ways to say ‘thank you’ to a military child in your neighborhood,” Butman wrote, suggesting you could take a child “to the bowling alley for a game or two; play checkers or card games” with that child; “put a puzzle together; read a story; make cookies or color, just to name a few.”

She added that her organization is putting together “thank-you” boxes for military children in the area. They will include “playing cards, books, stationery items, hand-held games and anything else you would like to add.”

Butman asks that you “remember that these children sacrifice their dads, moms, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and even grandparents” who are serving our country.

If you can contribute an item, Butman wrote, call her at 695-2806 or mail donations to ALA Junior Activities, P.O. Box 75, Greenville 04441.

Laurie Rose is the youth services librarian for the Orono Public Library. She e-mailed that the library foundation and the Peace and Justice Center are joining forces “to present the annual 5K Fun-Run at the Hope Festival.”

The Hope Festival, which is free and open to the public, is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Field House on the University of Maine at Orono campus.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and includes a $5 fee. The run starts at 11 a.m. near the bear statue in front of the Memorial Gymnasium on campus, Rose said.

“The library is continuing to raise funds for a new, free-standing library,” Rose added, “and this is just one of many events this spring that will benefit the campaign.”

Gail Peters wrote that “the most important news this month from the Roque Bluffs Community Center is the benefit bean supper for Donna and Vernon Preston Sr.”

That event is planned 5:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the RBCC.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12.

Tickets may be purchased at Seaside Flag on Route 1 in Machias, and they will be available at the door.

For tickets or to help, Peters wrote, call 255-8980 or 255-4740.

Peters said the Prestons “had a fire in March with devastating consequences,” and she urges you to get out and “show support for our neighbors.”

Judy Markowsky asks, “Do you wish you could be a naturalist or a park ranger?”

If you do, she continued, “here’s your opportunity.”

“The Fields Pond Audubon Center needs volunteers to be naturalists. They can teach you all you need to know to lead children on nature walks in two two-hour sessions.”

Markowsky explained that volunteers lead small groups of children “across a boardwalk, through a swamp and into a marsh,” while teaching the children “about wetland plants and animals.”

Volunteer training is 12:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, and Thursday, May 1; 12:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30; and 9:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, May 2, at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.

“Then you’ll lead a nature walk once a week on the day and time of your choice,” Markowsky said.

For information, call Ruth Perry at 989-2591 or e-mail her at rperry@maineaudubon.org.

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