Bangor

Bangor Fire Department

The Bangor Fire Department reminds Bangor businesses and apartment owners that exits and fire escapes must be kept clear of snow and ice. Fire inspectors and firefighters report there are a number of exits and fire escapes still blocked by snow and ice.

Thomas C. Hudgins art show

Bangor Theological Seminary will present “The Solo Art Show” featuring local artist and designer Thomas C. Hudgins of Bradford.

Hudgins depicts various subjects through media and photography. He currently teaches painting with acrylics at Bangor Adult Education.

“The Solo Art Show” will open with a public reception at 7 p.m. Friday, April 1, in the Wellman Commons Gallery, Bangor Theological Seminary. The show will run through May 31. The gallery is open to the public 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information call Sue Davenport, director of administration, Bangor Theological Seminary, 942-6781, ext. 124, or e-mail sdavenport@bts.edu.

Comedy Institute

Is Bangor funny? Last year, Chris Quimby of the Bangor Daily News walked away with the highest honor in the first Comedy Institute sponsored by Eastern Maine Community College.

Quimby will be back to defend his title as class valedictorian, as will salutatorian Dave Rode of Q106.5 radio.

Dean of Comedy Gary Crocker will be at the lectern.

Appropriately scheduled on the calendar for Friday, April 1, the event will be held at Rangeley Hall on Sylvan Road. Appetizers, desserts and a cash bar will be available at 6 p.m. The stand-up classroom begins at 7 p.m.

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

Julie Lisnet of Bangor will direct “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a comedy to be presented at The Grand in Ellsworth.

Lisnet is well-known in the Bangor area as both an actor and director.

Cast members, some of them also from the Bangor area, are Sofia Patience Wilder, Bonnie Meyers, Tony Cox, Arthur Morrison, Charlie Alexander, Bob Myers, Jim Pendergist, Tim Searchfield, Brent Hutchins, Dave Closson, Jenny Bragdon, Dick Salisbury and Will Stephenson.

The play will be presented at 7 p.m. March 25 and 26; and at 2 p.m. March 27, at The Grand in Ellsworth. Tickets are available through the box office at 667-9500, at (800) 363-9500 or online at www.grandonline.org.

‘Hard Work’

In 1888, Flora Haines of Bangor interviewed and surveyed working women in Maine about their work in shops and factories. The answers and written responses Haines received are a rare glimpse into the issues of health, safety, long hours, low wages and challenging living conditions that Maine women experienced.

With Haines’ research at its core, award-winning filmmaker Jim Sharkey takes a look a the working women of the late 19th century in his film “Hard Work.” The film will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at Bangor Public Library.

After the film, Sharkey and Maine historian Carol Toner will lead a discussion and answer questions.

Mineral, lapidary lecture

The Maine mineral exhibit at the Bangor Public Library features a wealth of beautiful gems and minerals found throughout the state. The Penobscot Mineral and Lapidary Club set it up in the rotunda on the third floor of Bangor Public Library to show off the diversity of gems and minerals found in Maine. The display includes jewelry made by local artisans from native materials.

The Penobscot Mineral and Lapidary Club, a new organization, will offer a lecture on Maine gems and minerals at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, in the library’s lecture hall. The program is free and suitable for all ages.

The group hopes to organize trips to gem and mineral sites in Maine for its members.

Food drive

Manna is seeking donations of food to stock its shelves. Needed items are ramen noodles, soup of all kinds, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, peanut butter and boxes of gelatin. Bill Rae, the agency’s executive director, reports that as many as 56 people per night seek food at the facility at 629 Main St.

New district office

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud’s office, formerly at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building, has moved to 23 Water St. in the Key Bank building. For information, call 942-6935.

Brewer

David Mallett concert

Maine songwriting legend David Mallett will make his annual spring concert appearance at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Brewer Middle School.

The Sebec resident has written hundreds of songs and his works have been recorded by a wide range of singers, including Alison Kraus, Emmylou Harris, Peter, Paul & Mary, Hal Ketchum and John Denver. He received rave reviews on his most recent CD, “Artist in Me.”

The concert also will feature an appearance by Maine native, singer-songwriter Kate Schrock. Schrock has earned critical praise and a loyal following for a series of self-produced CDs, including “Indiana,” “Live at the Majestic” and “Dames Rocket.”

Tickets are $15, and are available at The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor, Brewer Middle School and at the door. Proceeds will benefit Brewer Youth Theatre programs.

For information call 989-8640.

Benefit dinner, auction

A chicken pie dinner and silent auction to benefit Paul Haley and Pat Kirby will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Jeff’s Catering.

Entertainment will be provided by the Bangor Fiddlers Group with Charles Kadyk, and by guitarist Ralph Cheney of Richmond.

The event is sponsored by the Friends in Fellowship Group, and the donation is a minimum of $11 a person. Tickets are available from First Baptist Church of Bangor, 945-9694, or pastor@fbcbangor.org.

Stories and monologues

Chris Newcomb of Orono will present “A Night of Smiles, Laughter and Wonder” in stories and monologues at 8 p.m. Friday, April 1, at Brewer Middle School auditorium.

An actor and storyteller, Newcomb has appeared in a variety of plays, commercials and independent movies. He is the host and producer of “Off Center with Chris Newcomb,” an award-winning public access TV show airing in Portland.

Newcomb is a teacher of the gifted and talented in the Brewer School District. His stories contain interesting characters who bring unique twists to long-held notions.

Admission is $3, but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Brewer Middle School Robotics Team.

For more information about the performance, call 866-4866.

Kiwanis Club news

The Brewer Kiwanis Club recently sponsored a casino for the Maine State Veterans Employees at the Samoset resort in Rockland. Participating members were Bill Newberry, Herb Hopkins, Andy McPhee, Art Monk, Dusty Fisher and Wes Archer.

The Brewer Kiwanis will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Brewer Auditorium. The club will donate two bicycles as prizes. Brewer High School Key Club members will assist with the project.

The Brewer Kiwanis meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Brewer. Call 945-0746 to obtain more information.

Eddington

Variety show

The East Eddington Grange will hold a variety show April 30th and is searching for performers. If you have a talent such as singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, telling jokes, performing skits, or reading-reciting poetry or stories, call Ruth Perry at 843-5132 before April 1 for more information.

Hampden

Property tax reminder

Hampden taxpayers are reminded that the second half of the 2004-2005 tax bill is due April 4. No notices will be sent.

Pharmaceutical drug collection

Hampden Public Safety, in conjunction with Penobscot Area Triad, will hold a pharmaceutical drug collection 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Graves Supermarket.

People are encouraged to bring in their expired or unused medications for proper disposal. Drug collections can assist families in reducing the risk of theft and accidental consumption of medication. For information, call Hampden Public Safety at 862-4000.

Orono

3 Bands Concert

The ninth annual 3 Bands Concert to benefit youth services at The Acadia Hospital will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the Maine Center for the Arts, University of Maine. The event will feature performances by the University of Maine Concert Band, Bucksport High School Band and Brewer High School Band.

David Shaffer will serve as guest conductor. Shaffer is a teacher and composer with more than 250 compositions and arrangements in print. His works have been performed at clinics and music festivals around the world and placed on several state contest lists. He is in demand for new music reading sessions, music festivals and music education seminars. He is a free-lance composer, arranger and clinician, and is in the music faculty at Miami University in Ohio.

Concert tickets are $6, $3 for students with ID, those under 17 and seniors over the age of 62. Tickets will be available at the door or by calling Eastern Maine Charities at 973-5055. Tickets also may be purchased online at www.acadiahospital.org.

Access road construction

Sunset Development Inc. is seeking a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to place fill material in freshwater wetland off Main Street-Route 2, in Orono. The proposed work is to fill 20,226 square feet of freshwater wetland in conjunction with the construction of an access road for Black Bear Heights, a 57-lot residential subdivision. Those wishing to make public comments about the proposal should write U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office, Attn: Shawn Mahaney, 675 Western Ave. No. 3, Manchester ME 04351. Comments should be mailed no later than March 30.

Orrington

Maple festival

Karen Marsters, president of the Orrington Living History Farm and Museum board of directors, has declared the last Saturday in March as Curran Homestead Maple Festival and Irish Celebration Day. Eastern Mainers need a party at the end of a long cold winter, Marsters said.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26, the Curran Farm at Fields Pond will be alive with live Irish music by the Late Edition and a maple-to-sap-making demonstration under the direction of Bob Croce and Jill Martel. Food made with maple syrup and turn of the 19th century recipes will be offered, including baked beans, kettle corn and ginger ice cream. Information about how to tap trees, make syrup and cook with maple syrup will be available.

Paul Shumaker will oversee food offerings of Irish stew, biscuits, coleslaw, hot chocolate and coffee.

Other activities of the day include a coloring contest, a clock demonstration with John Hannington, storyteller Carroll Adams, and spinning and rug hooking demonstrations.

Admission is $3 for members, $2 for child members; $5 and $3 for others. For information, call Irv Marsters at 745-4426.

Nature poetry reading

Poetry lovers are invited to read a poem about nature by a favorite author or to read one they’ve written themselves at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, Fields Pond Audubon Center. Listeners are invited, too. For more information, call 989-2591 or 941-1670.

Verona

Town meeting supper

The Verona Island Women’s Club will host the annual town meeting supper 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the town hall.

The menu will include baked beans and chop suey, as well as homemade pies. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children. For information, call Janice Minson at 469-6324.