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Areawide

American Legion officers

John Doyle of Bath was elected state commander of the American Legion in Maine at the recent 90th annual convention in Bangor. Doyle will head the 26,000-member organization and will be busy during his one-year term of office visiting many of the 173 posts in Maine.

Doyle is a member of Smith-Toby Post 21 in Bath, where he served as post commander and has held many offices and led many committees on his journey to hold the highest office in Maine. Doyle said with all the outstanding Legionnaires in Maine, the organization is headed toward another banner year in membership and programs. He recently has been state chairman of the homeless veterans committee and internal affairs post development committee.

During his year as state commander, Doyle will focus on the four pillars of the American Legion: taking care of veterans, the Legion’s broad-based children’s programs, Americanism and a strong national defense.

Doyle will be supported by other elected state officers: First Vice Commander Andy Olson, Perkins-Plourde Post 136, Stockholm; Second Vice Commander Randy Kluj, Joseph P. Chaisson Post 41, Milo; Adjutant Ron Sailor, Osier-Hamlin-Morris-Hurd Post 84, Orono; Finance Officer John Hargreaves, Emerson-Lane Post 132, Richmond; Historian Jeff Barnes, Joseph P. Chaisson Post; Americanism Officer Brenda Dearborn, Emerson-Lane Post; Sergeant-at-Arms Dan Ayotte, Veterans Memorial Post 205, Augusta.

Doyle appointed David Cullens, Osier-Hamlin-Morris-Hurd Post, judge advocate; Pete Johnson, Cecil R. Cole Post 94, Greenville, chaplain; and Lester Dearborn, Emerson-Lane, assistant service officer.

Camp Jordan reunion

Calling all former Camp Jordan campers and staff – the Bangor Y’s Camp Jordan will celebrate 100 years of memories Friday-Sunday, Aug. 22-24. The open house is for campers and staff from the past 100 years.

Bring the family and enjoy a weekend of fun, food and classic Camp Jordan activities on the shores of Branch Lake in Ellsworth. Overnight spots are available on a first-come, first served basis. For information, call Jim Bentley at Camp Jordan, 667-8708 or visit www.

campjordan.org.

Bangor

Gilbert and Sullivan

The Bangor Public Library will present the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Hancock County at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, on the library’s garden patio, where they will present a sampling of “The Gondoliers” and other operettas.

The talented and enthusiastic singers of the award-winning group are quick to explain that the librettos of Gilbert, though written in the 1800s, poked fun at human nature and politics, and some things just don’t change.

The comedy of Gilbert and the beautiful music of Sullivan are a winning combination that has the company performing “The Gondoliers” in Ellsworth and Bucksport this summer, with rumors of a full concert performance later in Bangor.

The library will present its summer music series at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in July. Concerts will be held in the park or on the patio next to the library, or in the third-floor Lecture Hall. If the weather is inclement, outdoor performances will move into the Lecture Hall.

Art at the library

The Maine Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will present a month-long exhibit of architectural photographs and graphics this month at Bangor Public Library. The exhibit highlights the winners of the institute’s 2008 Excellence in Design Awards.

Two hundred Maine architects are members of the American Institute of Architects. Award-winning designs range from wilderness getaway cottages to some of Maine’s larger institutional buildings.

Artists Anita McCormick and Henry, her cat, are showing their work in the showcase in the library’s round reading room. Their exhibits are inspiring many would-be fiber artists to express themselves with embroidery and explore the artistic possibilities of textiles.

Art from the Heart

“Art from the Heart” will be exhibited through Sept. 30 at Boyd Place Gallery, 21 Boyd St. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday through Saturday.

The exhibit features works by area art educators representing schools from Milford, Bangor, Deer Isle, Orono, Sherman Mills, Bucksport, Hampden and Hermon.

Artists in the exhibit:

. Helena Bosse, watercolor.

. Kal Elmore, watercolor.

. Michele Gray, pastel.

. Stephanie Leonard, watercolor.

. Wendy Libby, mixed media.

. Nancy Lloyd-Fitch, gelatin print.

. Candy McKellar, oil.

. Leah Olson, watercolor.

. Angeli Perrow, mixed media.

. Sarah Tabor, solar plate etching.

. Esther Taylor, colored pencil.

. Arrah Vanier, cyanotype.

For information, call 941-2837.

Course in home buying

MaineStream Finance will offer a free 12-hour certified training course to aid potential home buyers in making prudent purchasing decisions.

Classes will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, July 14-17, at Penquis, 262 Harlow St., Bangor. Participants must attend all classes.

The course is conducted by a qualified trainer and discusses the roles of professionals involved in the home-buying process, such as attorneys, real estate agents, lenders, insurance agents and home inspectors. Components of the course are budget and debt management counseling and credit counseling.

There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Contact MaineStream Finance at 974-2424, 800-215-4942, ext. 424 or

fperry@penquis.org.

Gardens open to public

Roger and Sally Lycette will open their gardens to the public 1-6 p.m. Friday, July 11, in memory of their friend Ernie Griswold, who recently passed away.

Those who wish may make a donation to help the Griswold family with expenses at the gardens, located at 1348 Ohio St., Bangor, seven-tenths of a mile out from Griffin Road.

‘Around the World’ fun for children

Summer reading fun with an international flavor continues at the Bangor Public Library. “Around the World in 49 Days” lets children travel the globe right at the library.

Mondays are craft days, and at 10 a.m. July 7, a European craft will be featured.

Gail Lane from the Penobscot County Cooperative Extension will present Foods of Maine, a series featuring stories, crafts and healthful snacks for preschoolers celebrating Maine foods, at 2 p.m. Monday, July 7.

Rebecca Garcia will present “A Girl of Spain” at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8. Garcia grew up in Spain and now teaches Spanish locally.

Mother Goose Time, at 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays, is 20 minutes of stories, rhymes, music and bounces for children age 24 months and younger.

Two- to 5-year-olds and their parents or caregivers are invited to “Totally Europe” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, for stories, games, songs and rhymes with a European focus.

Eric Rector of the Monroe Cheese Studio will present “Cheesey Doings” at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 10. He will explain how and why cheese is made and offer samples.

The Essency Marionettes will perform at 10 a.m. Friday, July 11, at the library.

Arthur Essency studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and created marionettes for the Salzburg Marionette Theatre in Austria. The performers he has created will present a European variety show with dancers, a clown, a mule and an opera singer.

The summer reading program schedule is available at the library.

Eddington

Busy at Comins Hall

Comins Hall is a busy place. The first of the monthly suppers kicked off with a traditional ham and bean feed on June 21.

As in years past there will be a different menu each month, including chicken barbecue, trash can turkey and smothered beef. The suppers run through October.

The hall rings with the sounds of guitars, fiddles, banjos and other instruments doing some fine “pickin'” every Sunday afternoon. A diverse group of country musicians and music lovers plays 12:30-4:30 p.m., and all are welcome at no charge.

Grange No. 301, the cornerstone of Comins Hall, meets the first Saturday of the month as it has for more than 120 years. Boy Scout Troop 23 continues to headquarter there, and the ATV club gathers on the last Thursday of the month. These organizations welcome new members and their contact information is posted in the hall.

Margaret McKinney is busy booking weddings, showers, reunions and anniversaries for residents of Eddington and Clifton.

“We held our fifth annual Variety Show on May 17, and it was a great success,” Sue Dunham Shane said. “Almost $1,200 was raised for hall renovations. We had 15 acts – country ballads, old-time rock ‘n’roll, Russian folk songs, contemporary tunes, Broadway, dynamic disco, tap dancing, swing, delightful recitations, puppets and more. Performers ranged in age from 7 to ‘women of a certain age.’ Dave Johnson served as master of ceremonies and kept the show moving along at a smart pace while dispensing the much-loved door prizes.

“It takes a lot of people dedicating a huge chunk of their time to mount this show each year, but the smiling faces and thank yous from departing audience members after the show make the work all worthwhile,” Shane said.

On the renovation front, the board and supper committee are excited that the new stove and hood are operational.

Drawings and materials lists are under way to install a new handicapped-accessible ramp at the front of the hall.

“We are hoping to install the ramp this summer so all our supporters can enter the hall in grand style,” Shane said. “We are pleased that we will once again have the help of the Penobscot Sheriff’s Department Community Service Program this year and are already making a ‘to do’ list of projects which they will help us complete. Their help last year was invaluable.”

Glenburn

Summer reading program

The Glenburn Public Library summer reading program, “Catch the Reading Bug,” will run July 9 through Aug. 7 for preschoolers to children in eighth grade. Crafts, cartooning, computer games, origami and story times will be offered.

Chewonki Foundation will visit the library with its Bugmobile at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31. Learn all about bugs using models and activities, and meet real live Madagascar hissing cockroaches, African giant millipedes and Chilean rose tarantulas.

A picnic and ice cream party will be held Thursday, Aug. 7.

Be sure to pick up a flier, registration form and calendar of events at the library, local stores or the town hall.

Call the library at 942-9897, Ext. 353, for information.

Library summer hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 9-Aug. 7.

Holden

Activities at Fields Pond

These activities are scheduled at Fields Pond Audubon Center:

. Drawing class for children age 4 to 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12. $10 members, $12 others. Carolyn Wallace-Zani will introduce children to nature drawing by recognizing basic shapes as the building blocks to creating artistic forms found in nature. Parents are encouraged to participate. Bring favorite art supplies.

. Art lessons for adults with teacher Carolyn Wallace-Zani, 11 a.m.-noon and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. $10 per lesson, members, $12 others. Learn drawing techniques to capture the essence of the local fauna and flora species with pencil on paper. Bring a regular school pencil, sketch pad, eraser and enthusiasm for drawing and nature.

. Butterfly Walk for all ages, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Participants pay $3 each, which goes to the North American Butterfly Count. Free to children 12 and under. Help count local butterflies with Pat Snyder for the North American Butterfly Count. Counts are held nationwide, and the Fields Pond Butterfly Count supplies important data about declines or increases of butterfly populations to the North American Butterfly Count. Beginners welcome.

For information, call 989-2591.

Orono

Biography on Schrumpf

Everybody knew “Brownie” Schrumpf, or at least they thought they did. A new biography by author and University of Maine alumna Karen Dodge Tolstrup, published by the Maine Folklife Center, fills in many of the details of the diminutive cook and Bangor Daily News columnist’s early life on a Readfield Depot farm.

Tolstrup, of Old Town, spent more than a year researching Schrumpf’s life, using her papers and interviews with friends in the Orono area. The result, “If Maine Had a Queen: The Life of Brownie Schrumpf,” is an affectionate and detailed story of the forces that shaped Schrumpf’s life and work.

Published as a volume of Northeast Folklore, the paperback book includes many early photographs of Schrumpf and her husband, Bill.

Tolstrup is a 2003 UM graduate who earned a master’s degree in history in 2006. A recent VISTA volunteer, she now works part-time at the United Way of Eastern Maine.

A planned book launching ceremony featuring the author will be held in the fall at the Page Farm and Home Museum on campus.

The book is available for $15 through the Maine Folklife Center or at local bookstores.

The Maine Folklife Center can be reached at 581-1891.