Doors open for The Country-Western Jamboree at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Milo Town Hall for what will be a memorable and emotional event, judging from the information provided by organizer Ron Knowles of Milo.

Knowles said that while this event is open to the public, “everyone must be seated by 5 p.m., when the doors will be closed, and no one will be admitted,” while American Legion Post 41 “pays tribute to all POWs and MIAs.”

“During this tribute,” Knowles wrote of the 15-minute ceremony, “total silence will be requested from all those attending.”

He added that anyone “who has not seen this moving tribute should not miss it.”

Doors reopen to the public after the presentation.

Immediately after that ceremony, a program running 20 to 30 minutes will feature a military color guard, the Community Band of Dover-Foxcroft and Milo, and the Penquis Valley High School Band of Guilford, Knowles wrote.

The Country-Western Jamboree is expected to run from 6 to 9 p.m. and feature “country, bluegrass and gospel” music, Knowles wrote.

Admission is by donation, and all proceeds “will be used to start a fund for a military monument to be erected in Milo for all military veterans,” Knowles said.

A 50-50 raffle will be offered, and proceeds from the sale of refreshments during the jamboree will benefit PAWS, a local animal shelter.

Knowles reminds you that “seating at Town Hall” is limited to 450 people, “so please be early to be sure of seating.”

Between Friends Gift Shop and Performing Arts Center is hosting a Benefit Concert for Bucksport firefighter-paramedic Lance Sanborn, who is recovering from injuries he suffered in a February automobile accident.

The concert is 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, May 23, at Between Friends, 39 Center St., Brewer.

Mike Sinclair reports the featured performers will be his students, guitarist-singer Emily Guillow of Hampden and guitarist Joel Adams of Hermon, whom he will accompany.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Bill Burke of the 2008 Hampden Project Graduation committee reports the first round of “Dancing Like the Stars” was “a fabulous evening” that generated positive feedback and energized everyone for the finale, which is 7 p.m. Saturday, May 24, in the Hampden Academy gymnasium.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, and $15 for families.

In addition to the finalists, the other couples “still get an opportunity to share their routines,” Burke wrote, adding that memorabilia from the television show “Dancing with the Stars” will be featured in a silent auction.

Winterport Union Meeting House president Gerie Smith e-mailed that the Meeting House Grand Reopening & 175th Anniversary Celebration is 2 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at the Meeting House.

The celebration includes a “brief ceremony, refreshments, a building tour and a free concert featuring local musicians.”

Although the building “is now structurally sound,” Smith wrote, it “needs more work to ensure that this historic landmark continues to serve Winterport and its neighboring communities.”

Built in 1833 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been closed to the public for two years.

For more information about the continued support needed to maintain this facility, call Smith at 223-9950.

Sunday afternoon, more than 500 people made their way up the hill to the ninth tee of what he termed “Maine’s Most Scenic” golf course, Country View Golf Club in Brooks, to bid farewell to its co-owner, Carl Brown, who died accidentally last week while working on the land he so loved.

The sun shone, a soft breeze blew, and friends and family laughed, cried and applauded as memories of this very special person were shared during a service in his honor.

That so many people from near and far should come to pay their respects to this man, his wife, Irene, daughters, Cynthia and Claudette, his grandchildren, brothers and all his family, is no surprise.

Everyone who knew Carl Brown cared for and respected him, as he did us in return.

He was a selfless gentleman; committed to family, friends and community; always ready to offer a warm welcome to strangers and a helping hand to those in need.

Brown will rest in peace at Country View, watching over family and friends, as they carry on his legacy of extending kindness and generosity to all who pass this way.

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