Festival to honor Joni Averill

ORRINGTON – Bangor Daily News columnist Joni Averill will receive the World of Thanks Award at a ceremony and barbecue in her honor at noon Saturday, July 19, during the Curran Homestead’s annual Olde Fashioned Summer Fair at Fields Pond.

John Mugnai, president of the Living History Farm and museum’s board of directors, has proclaimed Saturday, July 19, as Joni Averill Day at the festival. Mugnai has invited other community groups and organizations to join the museum in thanking Averill for her many years of reporting on the special events, fundraisers, recognitions and benefits that she gives attention to in her column.

Mugnai said, “Joni Averill’s unique ability to bring attention to the work of community groups and individuals has been critical to the Living History Farm’s development over the past 13 years that she has written her popular column, which appears six days a week in the State section of the Bangor Daily News.

“Her work has been instrumental in giving visibility to individuals and organizations performing community service throughout the region,” he said. “Her work has been instrumental in encouraging media coverage and alerting BDN readers to important community events and initiatives happening right here in eastern Maine.”

The festivities in Averill’s honor, along with presentations from a number of community groups, will feature a barbecue by Tim St. Louis and music by Jerry Hughes and The Late Edition in the gathering tent.

Other attractions will include a working blacksmith demonstration, Model T car and wagon rides, open house and tours of the farm’s vegetable gardens planted and maintained by Penobscot County Jail inmates and the Women’s Re-entry Center.

Fair-goers will have the opportunity to meet Bodiccea, the shaggy long-horned cow who roams at A Wee Bit Farm in Orland and learn about the Scottish Highland beef cattle, genetically known for low fat and low cholesterol meat characteristics.

Children will have an exciting opportunity to explore the farm and win prizes by participating in a scavenger hunt that runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The farm will participate in the Maine Department of Agriculture’s statewide Open Farm Day events on Sunday, July 20.

The Curran Homestead Olde Fashioned Summer Fair is hosted and staffed by members and volunteers who are committed to the restoration of the Curran Farm and the creation of a living history museum as an educational center to preserve the turn-of-the-20th-century culture, values, agriculture heritage and rural lifestyle of eastern Maine.

The Curran Homestead is a nonprofit organization at 372 Fields Pond in Orrington. It relies on memberships, donations and the community for its support.

Individuals and groups interested in participating as part of the Curran Homestead’s July 19 celebration of Joni Averill’s contributions may call John Mugnai at 825-3304, e-mail jmugnai@cds.u91.k12.me.us or contact Irv Marsters, 745-4426, or irv@bangorlettershop.com.