Bangor

Police officer retirement

Officer Dan Frazell retired from the Bangor Police Department on April 30 after 22 years of service to the city. Frazell was hired March 17, 1986. He worked for four years as a patrol officer.

A graduate of Bangor Christian High School in 1977, he began his law enforcement career in 1983 when he was hired by the Skowhegan Police Department.

Frazell graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s 48th Municipal-County Basic Police School in May 1984.

In November 1988, Frazell and Don Winslow, who later became chief of the Bangor Police Department, were trained to become the first certified Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., officers in Bangor. Frazell was assigned to the Fairmount School as D.A.R.E. officer in January 1989, where he taught the D.A.R.E. program to thousands of children over a 17-year period.

Frazell attended D.A.R.E. mentor training in February 1991. He used the knowledge he gained to train hundreds of police officers in Maine and around the United States to be D.A.R.E. officers in their communities. He became president of the Maine D.A.R.E. Officers Association in 1993. He also received the Governor’s Award for his work with children and D.A.R.E..

In addition to his work in the schools as a D.A.R.E. officer and as a mentor to other D.A.R.E. officers, Frazell served as the Bangor Police Department community relations officer. He conducted tours of the police station, presented educational talks to adults, organized and conducted child fingerprint clinics, made presentations and appearances at Kids Safety Days and Winter Safety Fairs, and performed many other community-related functions. He also was a weekly guest on a local radio talk show where he spoke on law enforcement related topics.

During his tenure as president of the National D.A.R.E. Officers Association – he was named to the post in 1998 – he began sharing his ideas about the impact music and the media were having on students.

His presentation was called “In the Name of Rock and Roll,” but later renamed “How the Media is Killing our Children.” The presentations grew in popularity and Frazell began traveling the state, country and Canada, inadvertently becoming an ambassador for the Bangor Police Department. His presentations were delivered to thousands of parents, teachers and other interested adults. As a result, he received hundreds of letters of thanks and support.

Frazell received an award from the Bangor Police Department in June 1999 recognizing his “untiring and devoted efforts to D.A.R.E..” He received in a proclamation from the Bangor City Council in July 1999 thanking him for his efforts. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maine D.A.R.E. Officers Association in April 2000.

History tours

Follow the footsteps of Bangor’s history as the Bangor Museum and History Center begins its summer and fall 2008 tour schedule.

The Mount Hope Cemetery Tour leaves from the cemetery superintendent’s office, 1048 State St., and visits the gravesites of many who left their mark on Bangor and its surrounding communities.

Learn about Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s vice president; Samuel Veazie, who paid to have a town named for him; and Al Brady, the gangster brought down when the FBI came to town. The tour also highlights the design and features of the cemetery itself. Tour dates are 5 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10.

During the history center’s Ghost Lamp Tours the streets of downtown Bangor are illuminated with dim lights and bright tales.

Spinning stories of Bangor’s rich architectural history along with tales of a ghost or two, these tours offer an opportunity to experience a side of Bangor you may have missed. Ghost Lamp Tours begin at 7 p.m. on the Bangor Waterfront. Tour dates are Tuesdays, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Sept. 30, Oct. 14 and Oct. 28.

Both tours are led by costumed narrators and offer a glimpse into Bangor’s rich and colorful history. The complete tour schedule is also available at www.BangorMuseum.org or call 942-1900 for more information 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A land ‘Down Under’

The annual summer reading program at the Bangor Public Library has been traveling “Around the World in 49 Days.” On Monday, July 21, it begins a journey to the land Down Under.

Mondays are craft days at the Bangor Library, and at 10 a.m. July 21, an Australian craft will be featured.

Preschoolers are invited at 2 p.m. to meet Gail Lane of the Penobscot County Extension Office, whose program, “Foods of Maine,” offers stories, crafts and snacks from healthful Maine-grown foods.

Take a trip to Australia, Earth’s smallest continent, with traveler and photographer Sally Arata at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 22.

Children 24 months and younger are invited to Mother Goose time at 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays for 20 minutes of stories, rhymes, music and bounces in the Story Room.

Experience Totally Australia, a program for 2- to 5-year-old children and their mom, dad or caregiver, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 23.

The library presents “Ah-h-h, Pavlova!” at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24. What is a Pavlova? It’s the Australians’ favorite dessert, and children who attend the session will see it prepared and get a chance to try it.

The famous Slim Goodbody, an advocate for good health and nutrition for 30 years, will appear at 10 a.m. Friday, July 24, at the library. Humor, music and incredible visuals are part of Slim’s performance.

Pick up summer reading program schedules at the library. A free music concert is held at 7 p.m. each Wednesday in July at the library.

Astronauts’ Ball

Wellman Commons in Bangor was the location for the Challenger Learning Center’s first annual Astronauts’ Ball, a fun-filled evening of fine dining, dancing and door prizes from local businesses, plus the grand prize of a three-day trip to Orlando, Fla., that includes the opportunity to tour the Kennedy Space Center or watch a space shuttle launch.

Chad Thomas, a graduate of Bangor High School and student at Husson College, was chosen as the winner of the trip from among more than 100 guests.

The event also featured special guests, actual astronaut artifacts and exhibits from NASA.

As guests arrived, a large statue of an astronaut, on loan from Maine Military Supply in Brewer, greeted them from the walkway.

Display cases on loan from the Bangor Museum and History Center held NASA artifacts including a satellite heat shield, Apollo mission patches on loan from Dick Cattelle, a tray of astronaut food, a joystick that astronauts used in training, and mission flight manuals on loan from Richard Glueck.

Framed autographed photographs and a model of the Skylab also were on display, as were a floor exhibit of the moon from NASA and panels of galaxies. Each guest received souvenirs to take home, including fiber-optic wands donated by Oxford Networks.

Special guests, former astronaut William F. Readdy and Bridget Ziegelaar, an extravehicular activity flight manager at NASA in Houston, inspired guests with their talks about the important role the Challenger Learning Centers play to inspire students about space, science, math, engineering and technology.

Readdy led attendees in a rousing countdown to greet the summer solstice. After a dinner catered by Anne Marie’s Kitchen and the prize drawings, music by Brian Catell and Jump City Jazz drew many to the dance floor.

Proceeds will benefit the Challenger Learning Center’s mission to inspire Maine’s students.

Organ concerts

St. John’s Organ Society will hold concerts featuring the E. & G.G. Hook Organ at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday in July at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, 207 York St.

Kevin Birch will be featured at the organ with Anatole Wieck on violin, Sascha Zaburdaeva, violin, and Marisa Solomon, cello, on Thursday, July 24.

Steve Burgess will be guest organist on Thursday, July 31.

The concerts are free. For more information, call Kevin Birch at 942-6941.

Brewer

Yard sale and barbecue

The Penobscot County Conservation Association will hold a yard sale and chicken barbecue Saturday, July 19, at 570 North Main St. The yard sale will run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The barbecue will be 5-6 p.m., with tickets $6 adults, $3 children.

The Conservation Club sponsors 50 local children who attend conservation camp each summer. Proceeds from the sale and barbecue will help fund that project.

Kiwanis news

At a recent meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, President Jessica Tilton opened the meeting with a verse of “America,” the Pledge of Allegiance, and an invocation given by Carlton King.

The New England District of Kiwanis annual convention will be held Aug. 22-24 in Danvers, Mass.

A club Leadership Education Seminar sponsored by the New England District of Kiwanis for all new and old officers will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Lt. Governor Paul Bernard, a Kiwanis International certified CLE instructor, will teach the seminar.

Bob Dion gave a report on sale of tickets on the Chamberlain bridge to help pay for the fireworks as part of the Bangor area Kiwanis Fourth of July.

Chairwoman Cathy Maher introduced the speaker for the evening, personal trainer and fitness specialist Scott Kahkonen. He spoke on kinesiology, the study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement.

Kahkonen specializes in cardiac rehab, nutrition and group fitness. He mentioned how important it is for everyone to do some type of exercise at least three times a week, and to eat nutritious foods. He works at Union Street Athletics as a personal trainer. For more information about fitness, call him at 659-4259.

After the regular meeting, the board of directions voted to provide a full campership to Camp CaPella in the amount of $1,200; to donate $500 to the Senior Little League World Series; and to donate $300 to the New England Kiwanis Foundation as part of its Skip-A-Meal program.

The next Brewer Kiwanis meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant.

Clifton

Historic buildings tour

The Clifton Historical Society will conduct a tour of the Harold Allan School House and the old Clifton town hall 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 19. To get to the historical buildings, turn onto Route 180 from Route 9 in Clifton.

Eddington

Benefit barbecue

Barbecue chicken, homemade baked beans, chop suey, potato salad, coleslaw, rolls, cranberry sauce, pies and cakes are on the savory menu for a supper to be held at 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Comins Hall, 1387 Main Road. Tickets are $6, $3 children.

Proceeds for the event will benefit the Comins Hall restoration fund. The 129-year-old building is a registered National Historic Landmark.

Holden

Yard sale at Fields Pond

A yard sale to benefit Fields Pond Audubon Center will be held 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, and 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at the center, 216 Fields Pond Road. Items not sold on Saturday will go for half-price on Sunday. Jim and Kathy Zeman are the organizers of the event.

Donated items may be dropped off 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 14-18 at the center.

To obtain information or to volunteer, call the center at 989-2591.

Class on mushrooms

Calling all fungi lovers! Greg Marley, founder of Mushrooms for Health, will offer a mushroom class 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Fields Pond Nature Center.

“Identifying Maine Mushrooms” is a lecture and field class packed into a day of learning. Lecture and discussion will be interspersed with outdoor identification and exploration. The class also will head to the kitchen for cooking and tasting mushroom samples.

With a focus on the wonders of wild mushrooms, the class will build the skills and knowledge to identify common mushroom species.

Marley is the owner of Mushrooms for Health, which provides education and health-promoting products made with Maine medicinal mushrooms.

With enthusiasm for mycology, Marley will weave in information about medicinal mushrooms, collection basics and ethics, cooking tips, and more. Participants are encouraged to bring in mushroom examples for identification.

The cost for the class is $40 Audubon members, $45 others. Advance registration and payment is required. Call 989-2591 to register.

Areawide

Pine Tree Quilters

Several local quilters will have works on display at an upcoming quilt show.

The Pine Tree Quilters Guild 31st annual show will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 25-26, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the Augusta Civic Center. More than 650 quilted items will be on display. Admission is $8.

Proceeds from the guild’s annual silent auction will benefit the fight against heart disease in women.

Area women who will display quilts at the show are Julie Thomas, Bangor; Holly Lutz, Bucksport; Jane Ogolvie, Carmel; Joan Thelwell, Castine; Heather Armstrong and Priscilla Hoekstros, Etna; D. Marie Jackson, Frankfort; Jody Dickey, Hampden, Denise Sullivan and Susan Randall, Old Town; Mary Lou Drake, Orono; Linda Kasperski, Verona Island; and Khristine LaChance, Winterport.