First Bangor ALS walk hopes for good turnout

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Earlier this month, committee members Carol Lamb, Janice Von Brook and Heather Cyr reported that the first-ever, Bangor-area walk to raise funds and awareness for the ALS Association New England Chapter already had more than 100 walkers, but they are hoping many more people will participate.

The women all have family members affected by ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The Walk to Defeat ALS begins with registration at 9 a.m., a short program at 10 a.m. and the walk at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Hayford Park on 13th Street in Bangor.

Jackson Laboratory researcher Dr. Greg Cox will be the guest speaker.

Anyone interested in donating, volunteering, walking or forming a walk team can go to alsanne.org, then to 2008 Walk to Defeat ALS and click on “For more information.” You may also call Lisa Kingsbury at 659-5019 or e-mail l.kingsbury@roadrunner.com.

The women remind readers ALS “is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe” and that, from the time of diagnosis, the average life expectancy of someone with ALS is two to five years.

Funds raised will go toward ALS awareness and research.

Sundial Framing and Photography owners John and Leslie Wombacher invite you to a grand opening to view the renovations in their new location, during regular business hours, Friday, Aug. 22, at 16 Main St. in Bucksport.

And for those who can’t make it during the day, the public also is invited to browse and enjoy food and drink from 6 to 8 that evening, at the new location.

However, the Wombachers hope all who visit will join them as they work with Marsha Mushrall of Bucksport Community Concerns to help provide school supplies to those in need.

Recently, 70 backpacks have been donated to this project, and the Wombachers’ goal is to help fill as many of those backpacks as possible.

To succeed in this effort, they are asking people who stop by, for the grand opening, to bring school supplies to help fill the backpacks.

For more information about this event, or this project, call Leslie Wombacher at 469-6060.

Benita McMullen of the YWCA of Mount Desert Island e-mailed that the statewide organization, Designing Women, will hold a craft fair to benefit the YWCA MDI, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Atlantic Oakes in Bar Harbor.

The fair features “25 nationally known artists,” McMullen wrote, adding that “lunch will be served by the women of the YWCA.”

More information is available by calling Lisa Eaton at 985-4448, the YWCA MDI at 288-5008, or at designingwomen.org.

The Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge annual Eldon Bean Memorial Golf Tournament begins with a 1 p.m. shotgun start, Saturday, Aug. 23, at Lakewood Golf Course in Madison.

Mike Lange reports the registration fee is $50 for Lakewood members and $60 for nonmembers; the fee includes cart rental; and all teams must include two Elks Lodge members.

The event features a meal and awards, and a chance to win a new car, provided by Hight Chevrolet, for a hole-in-one.

All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Skowhegan-Madison Youth Scholarship Fund and the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

For more information, call Bruce McCollor, 474-3962; Bob Meckley, 612-2684; or the Elks Lodge at 474-3111.

A musical jamboree follows the public Grange dinner featuring spaghetti and assorted pies for dessert, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at South Sangerville Grange.

Carol Flagg reports admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children, and invites you to “bring your chair and enjoy” the entertainment after your meal.

Joni Miller reminds residents and visitors that one of the oldest homes in Calais, the Holmes Cottage-Museum, is open 1-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, until Saturday, Aug. 30.

Maintained by funds from memberships in the St. Croix Historical Society, and by contributions, the facility is circa 1800 and features a massive center chimney, fireplaces and Dutch oven.

The facility is named for Dr. Job Holmes, the first doctor in Calais, who occupied the house with his wife, Vesta Hamlin Holmes, who was the sister of Hannibal Hamlin, vice president to Abraham Lincoln during his first term in office.

To tour the cottage during other hours, call Miller at 454-2830 or Fred Becker at 454-3695.

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