After reading our front-page story Wednesday about Maine having “the highest rate of adult obesity among the six New England states,” and the fact that “Maine’s top public health officials” said “federal funding for anti-obesity initiatives is eroding” and that “individuals and communities must take the lead in combating the continued rise of obesity rates,” I realized how timely it was that I heard from Sharon Newcomb of Hampden the day before that story ran.

Newcomb is the leader of TOPS Chapter 48 of Orrington. TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly.

Newcomb called to report that “after 40 years at the same location, our TOPS Chapter has relocated from the Orrington Town Office, across the street, to First United Methodist Church of Orrington, at 14 Center Drive.”

Newcomb said this chapter meets for weigh-ins 5-6 p.m. and conducts its meetings 6-7 p.m. every Monday. The next meeting is Monday, Aug. 25, at the new location.

For information about this chapter of TOPS, you are welcome to call Newcomb at 862-3633.

The mission of TOPS is “to support our members as they take and keep off pounds sensibly,” according to the TOPS Web site.

“TOPS Club Inc. is a nonprofit, noncommercial, weight-loss support organization” based in Milwaukee, Wis., and has chapters throughout the world.

“Its twofold objective is to encourage healthy lifestyles through weight management support groups and to sponsor obesity research.” Annual membership fees are $24.

For information about TOPS, visit www.tops.org/.

Del Davis wrote the Castine Historical Society will conduct its annual meeting 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the Mitchell Room of Abbott School, which is the home of the historical society.

Tours of the former Nelson House, located next to Abbott School on the town green, will be conducted after the “brief meeting to elect officers and conduct other business,” Davis reports, adding “light refreshments will be served.”

The Nelson House was purchased by the historical society earlier this year.

Davis encourages all current and prospective historical society members to attend the meeting.

Janine Feero of Penquis e-mailed that its Retired and Senior Volunteer Program volunteers in the Rockland area, known as “The Knit Wits,” are seeking donations of dark-colored wool yarn to make wool mittens for our servicemen and servicewomen in Iraq.

“The mittens will help soldiers endure the cold, and make their hands more comfortable,” Feero said.

“These special mittens are knit so that the palm can be turned back to expose the fingers” and “each pair of mittens takes 2-to-31/2 ounces of worsted weight wool skeins.”

Anyone who can help “The Knit Wits,” either by making these mittens or donating yarn, is asked to call Ann Smarrella or Patty Ott at Penquis RSVP, 800-585-1605, or write or visit them at Penquis, Suite A, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland.

Cindy Fielding reports Ankh Temple 160 Daughters of the Nile is hosting its ninth annual Golf Tournament, with registration beginning 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Hermon Meadow Golf Club.

Golfers and sponsors are being sought for this best-ball format for teams of three or four players. “Mixed teams are encouraged but not mandatory,” Fielding wrote. “Everyone is welcome.”

The entry fee is $45 per golfer for 18 holes of golf, a cart and lunch. Tee-box sponsorships are $150, and Friends sponsorships are $50-$100.

Proceeds benefit the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, “providing care, at no charge,” and specializing in treatment, research and teaching, Fielding said.

“We are the newest Daughter of the Nile Temple in the Northeast and are very excited to host a fundraiser that offers competition to both women and men.”

Checks can be made payable to Ankh Temple 160 and mailed to Lorena Fenlason, 262 Copeland Hill Road, Holden 04429. Registrations may also be made by calling 989-3664 or faxing 989-6802.

Reservations are limited, so you should make yours now to attend the Monroe Community Church’s “Christmas in August” fundraiser, which is “a turkey dinner with all the trimmings,” wrote Norma Corliss of Newburgh.

The dinner will be 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the church, and tickets are $10 per person.

The reservations are limited, Corliss explained, because this event “is a sit-down, served dinner.”

To reserve your seat, call 525-4431.

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