Retired teacher and minister Kathryn Dessureau of Dover-Foxcroft has endured many difficulties in her life, from cancer to cataract surgery to “a bad accident, years ago,” that left “plates and screws in her body,” according to Ina Jane Gerow of Milo.

Gerow said Dessureau is “enrolled in a five-year cancer treatment program, at a Michigan cancer center, and needs to travel there, twice a year, for those five years.”

Before Dessureau can have that treatment, however, “she will need a clean bill of health,” from all her health care providers, Gerow said, which includes taking the plates and screws out, and a knee and elbow replacement.

Fortunately, the woman who taught and preached in the Dover-Foxcroft area has family in Michigan with whom she can stay while she is having cancer treatment, but “she still needs to get there,” Gerow said.

To help with Dessureau’s mounting and continuing expenses, friends are hosting a benefit supper for Dessureau from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the American Legion Hall in Dover-Foxcroft.

Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12, and donations will be gratefully accepted.

Several area merchants have made contributions to the meal, which consists of pasta, meatballs, salad, garlic bread, punch, coffee, tea, and “gingerbread with whipped cream, we can’t forget that,” Gerow said.

People who remember the woman who taught them at SeDoMoCha or Foxcroft Academy or in adult education, and who ministered to them, as well, now have the opportunity to help a very special person who dedicated her life to serving others.

Dena Whitehead, co-chair of Bangor’s 14th Street School Parent Teacher Organization, says the school’s PTO yard sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the school, rain or shine.

All proceeds will benefit the 14th Street School PTO, she wrote by e-mail, adding that the sale is expected to feature “mostly children’s items.”

Debbie Long e-mailed that the Molunkus Valley Sno-Drifters will host their sixth annual family fun day, beginning with registration for the rubber duck race at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at 58 North St., Sherman.

All ages are welcome to participate, she wrote, adding that other activities will include a sack race, a three-legged race, an egg toss and “some surprises, too.”

The event features a food sale of hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, soda, milk, water and coffee, and Long hopes you will attend so you won’t “miss the fun!”

For more information, call her at 267-1200.

Norma Binan wrote the Bangor Area Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will offer a “Quilt as you Go” class from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Hampden Municipal Building.

The cost of the class is $10 for members and $15 for all others, and the class is open to the public.

To register and obtain the “needs list,” Binan wrote, call 941-8815 or 278-7270, or visit the Guild’s Web site at www.bangormeasg.com.

Maureen Carter will teach the class in which you will learn how to do “both sides, made at once, on either a place mat or table runner,” Binan said.

Mike Cornett of Orono called to inform residents and visitors to our area that the Maine Aviation Museum is opening for the season.

MAM will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, beginning May 10, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, at its Maine Avenue location at Bangor International Airport.

Admission is $2, $5 for families, and free for children under 12 and active members of the military, including the Reserve and National Guard.

The MAM members meeting is 10 a.m. Saturday, at MAM, Cornett said, adding “everyone is welcome to attend” that meeting.

For more information, call the MAM message phone at 941-6757.

Cornett said the phone line “is checked every night.”

In Friday’s column, I gave you introductory information about a series of Pirate Rec Day fundraisers to help girls in SAD 4 attend a basketball camp at Colby College in Waterville.

Rory Schmand, who provided that information, e-mailed me that she had written the wrong telephone number for Darius Desmarais, who you can call if you want to have returnables picked up for a bottle drive on Pirate Rec Day, which is planned for Saturday, May 17.

To have bottles picked up, call Desmarais at 564-3627.

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