BDN retirement

BANGOR – Wayne Lawton retired as Bangor Daily News advertising director on April 30 after more than 48 years with the newspaper. He started out as an “office boy” with the company in November 1959, but spent nearly all of his career in the advertising department.

BDN Publisher Rick Warren called Lawton’s career with the company “truly remarkable” during an April 29 gathering of nearly 200 co-workers, business and community leaders and Lawton’s family at the Sea Dog.

“His passion for the business back in those days has remained with him during his entire tenure and likely will not go away any time soon,” Warren said.

Lawton and wife Anne plan to remain in the Bangor area.

Lawton also spent many years as a high school and college basketball referee in eastern Maine.

Concerts at Bull Moose

BANGOR – To celebrate the release of its new CD, metal rock band Dead Season of Oxford will perform acoustic in-store performances at Bull Moose stores in Bangor and Lewiston.

The band’s new CD, “When Everything’s Lost,” will be released Tuesday, May 20, and the band will appear that day at the Bangor Bull Moose, Maine Square Mall, 683 Hogan Road. They also will perform Wednesday, May 21, at the Lewiston Bull Moose, Lewiston Mall. Both sets begin at 5:30 p.m. and the band will sign CDs after the shows.

Augusta rock radio station WTOS 105.1 FM will broadcast live from each event. The performances are free and open to the public, for information visit www.bullmoose.com.

Dead Season won WTOS’s Battle of the Bands in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and remains one of the most requested bands on the station. Their anticipated second full-length release, “When Everything’s Lost,” will be on sale exclusively at Bull Moose stores, online at www.bullmoose.com or at Dead Season show’s beginning May 20. The CD will be available everywhere June 21.

Bull Moose was started in 1989 in Brunswick by Bowdoin College junior Brett Wickard. What began as a makeshift store carrying only a few records is now the largest music retailer in Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire. Today the company has 10 stores with more than 100 employees.

To allow its customers the ability to purchase new releases at the earliest possible time, Bull Moose stores in Bangor, Brunswick, Scarborough, Portsmouth and Salem, N.H., are open until midnight every Monday.

Partners in Caring

BANGOR – Child care providers interested in child care training sessions offered online in July must register by Friday, June 6.

Partners in Caring: Families and Caregivers is a 12-hour Maine Roads to Quality training session offered July 8-31. It covers information about families today, roles and boundary setting, and verbal and written communication to reduce potential areas of conflict between families and caregivers. The cost of the training is $15. To register, call 667-2467.

Foundations in Health, Wellness and Safety is an 18-hour Maine Roads to Quality training offered July 14-22. Participants will be introduced to the importance of health, wellness and safety through personal care routines, nutrition education and environmental hazards. The cost of the training is $20. To register, call 973-3533 or 888-917-1100.

Therapy dog, handler test

BANGOR – Green Acres Kennel Shop will hold a Therapy Dogs International therapy dog and handler test 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the shop, 1653 Union St. Rain date is May 18.

Therapy dogs and their handlers, when invited, may visit hospitals, nursing homes and other places to provide people the opportunity to interact with a furry good-will ambassador. The simple act of stroking a dog can be therapeutic and can bring joy to those who no longer have a dog.

A therapy dog is not a service or assistance dog and does not have the same rights to access as people with disabilities and their service or assistant animals.

The Therapy Dogs International test will evaluate dog and handler and how well they work together. The dog must be at least 1 year old. There is no minimum age for handlers, but those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult on visitations and the registration form must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Those taking the test must comply with criteria:

. TDI will not register any dog that has bitten a human being.

. TDI will not register potential applicants who have their dogs registered with any type of therapy dog-related program or organization other than TDI.

. TDI will not test or register deaf dogs.

. During the test, the handler is responsible for the dog’s action. TFI insurance will not cover unregistered dogs.

. Applicants who wish to visit with more than one dog at the same time must be tested by a TDI evaluator with all those dogs at the same time.

A limited number of slots is available for the testing. Advance registration is suggested by calling 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.