Bangor

Exhibits at museum

The Bangor Museum and Center for History will offer two exhibits. Both will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday at the museum at 6 State St.

“Crossing the Bridge: Bangor in the Twentieth Century” features Bangor’s 20th century history in six themes: fire and water, economy, infrastructure, transportation, entertainment and civic organizations. The exhibit includes a scaled-down replica of the Morse Covered Bridge and activities for children.

“In Our Own Words: Bangor Rotary Oral History Gallery” exhibit includes oral history interviews of some of Bangor’s most interesting residents.

For information, call 942-1900. For upcoming events visit www.bangormuseum.org.

Chamberlain book talk

How was it that Constitutional lawyer Jeremiah Goulka of Washington came to author a book on Maine’s own Joshua Chamberlain?

Much is explained when one learns that Goulka did undergraduate work at Bowdoin College, where former General and Governor Chamberlain served as the president in the 1870s and 1880s.

Goulka will talk about his book, “Grand Old Man of Maine: Selected Letters of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, 1865-1914,” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at Bangor Public Library. Call 947-8336 to obtain more information.

Then, Civil War re-enactors and costumed greeters will join the group for an ice cream social and book signing at 7 p.m. at the Thomas A. Hill House, 159 Union St. Goulka will be on hand to sign his book. 942-1900.

Bangor Symphony Orchestra

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will hold auditions on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Hall, School of Performing Arts, University of Maine.

Available positions are: principal clarinet, principal viola, horn 3 and section strings. Substitutes are needed for all instruments.

Contracted musicians are paid on a per service basis, with mileage and housing arrangements included. The 2005-06 season includes six classical concerts, three youth concerts, three performances of the “Nutcracker” ballet, plus summer pops events.

For audition requirements and more information, call Surya Mitchell, personnel manager, at 942-5555 or (800) 639-3221, or e-mail surya@bngorsymphony.com.

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1896, is the oldest continuously operating community orchestra in the United States. Music director and conductor, Xiao-Lu Li, is beginning his fourth season on the podium.

More information is available at bangorsymphony.com.

Diversity in child care

“Many Eyes, Many Voices,” a training for child care professionals, will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 18, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St., Bangor. The class is being offered by the Penquis Community Action Program Resource Development Center in conjunction with the Maine Humanities Council.

Young children are aware of differences in skin color, body shape, gender, language, family structure and living arrangements from a very early age.

This training uses vividly illustrated children’s books as a vehicle for having meaningful conversations about differences. Activities accompanying the children’s literature are included in a guide. Each participant will receive books and the guide.

There is a $15 registration fee. Current child care providers may apply to the Penquis Resource Development Center’s Scholarship Fund for reimbursement. For information or registration, call 973-3533.

Unlead Ed. program

Penquis Community Action Program has received a $15,675 grant from the Penobscot Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to support the Unlead Ed. program, an effort to help homeowners, landlords and tenants learn about lead poisoning risks and how to use lead-safe practices when doing home renovations.

Elevated lead levels may do permanent damage and cause developmental delays, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, lowered intelligence and decreased growth in children. At toxic levels, lead can cause stunted growth, mental retardation, severe brain damage, coma and even death.

Lead can be ingested or inhaled, with poisoning occurring most often from renovations of older homes or from the deterioration of lead paint. Children under age 6 are most vulnerable to lead poisoning because of their lifestyles – playing on floors, crawling, mouthing toys and hand-to-mouth contact. They are the most affected because of their increased absorption rate.

“The Maine Community Foundation grant is greatly increasing our ability to educate the public about lead poisoning and assist in efforts to minimize risks,” said Lucille Averill, deputy housing director for Penquis CAP. “I encourage anyone who would like more information about lead hazards and how to reduce the risks of lead poisoning to call Penquis CAP at 973-3550.”

School supplies

Manna Inc. is holding a drive to collect new school supplies for children whose families cannot afford them. These items are needed:

Backpacks, three-ring binders, assignment books, book covers, child scissors, colored pencils, compass-protractors, notebook dividers, erasers, notebook paper, folders, markers, pens, rulers, scientific calculators and spiral-bound notebooks.

Drop off the supplies 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Manna, 629 Main St., in the former Beal College building.

Brewer

Talented young dancer

Sachi Cote, who has studied with, taught and choreographed for Northern Lights Dance Arts, has signed to be represented as a dancer by Triiiple Threat Talent Agency of New England, based in Boston. She auditioned for the agency June 5.

Cote, 17, who attended Brewer High School her junior year, has trained with nationally known dancers such as Brian Friedman, who choreographed for Britney Spears; Dave Scott, choreographer for the movie “You Got Served;” and Wade Robson.

She has studied jazz with Frank Hatchett of the Broadway Dance Center, modern dance with Michael Foley at New World School of Arts in Miami and Afro-Caribbean dance with Richard Gonzales of New York City.

Cote, the daughter of Kathie Jamison Cote, plans to pursue her dance career next year in Los Angeles.

For information, contact Northern Lights Dance Arts at 989-9800.

Castine

Library book sale

The Friends of Witherle Library, the oldest library in Maine, will hold their 35th annual book sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, in the Field House on the Maine Maritime Academy campus. An exceptional collection of thousands of high-quality used books on all subjects will be displayed by category, including a special section of rare and unusual books.

Refreshments and baked goods will be offered by the Castine Women’s Club.

The book sale is the main fundraising event for Friends of the Library.

After browsing the book sale, visitors may want to visit the Penobscot Expedition exhibit at the Castine Historical Society, stop in at the Wilson Museum or take in the harbor scene.

To learn more about the book sale, call the library at 326-4375 or 326-9576.

Photography exhibit

A photography exhibit, “Castine Light,” by Laurent Jean Torno Jr. is on display at the Wilson Museum through Wednesday, Aug. 24.

The opening reception will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

Torno is an architect, artist and photographer who is a graduate and James Harrison Steedman Fellow of the Washington University School of Architecture.

His interest in photography was stimulated in his student years by the work of Aaron Siskind, Brett Weston, Harry Callahan, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams.

Torno’s first camera, received in payment for an architectural rendering during his sophomore year, was a 4-by-5 Crown Graphic, which came with only three film holders.

Limited to just six photos for a day’s outing, he learned to ponder his subjects with care before expending those precious six sheets of film – a skill honed through the selective vision required in drawing subjects “en plein air.”

After 45 years, Torno has not lost interest in selective views of the world around him.

The Wilson Museum is open 2-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 107 Perkins St. For information, call 326-9247 or check www.wilsonmuseum.org.

Town Band concert

The Castine Town Band will present a concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, on the Town Common, Court Street. In case of rain, the concert will move to Trinitarian Parish Church on Main Street. For information, call 326-0820.

Etna

Spiritualist activities

The Etna Spiritual Association will open its 129th season on Saturday, Aug. 6, with programs presented through Labor Day at Camp Etna on Route 2.

Activities will include an astrology workshop, Aug. 6; Mediums Day, Aug. 13; and a Shamanism workshop, Aug. 20.

Organizers welcome the public to share the campground of 27 acres, visit the healing rock or take a walk to Etna Pond. Mediums, healers and other teachers are always available.

For information, call 269-2094.

Old Town

Collaborating on recreation

The public is invited to a community meeting to discuss the collaboration efforts between Old Town Parks and Recreation and the Old Town-Orono YMCA at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, in the Herbert Sargent Community Center.

Participants will include Peggy Daigle, Old Town city manager; Jill Nitardy, executive director, Old Town-Orono YMCA; Brianna Bryant, director, Old Town Parks and Recreation; and Todd Rand, YREC Camp director.

Staff from the YREC Camp will provide games and activities for children attending. Pizza will be served. Call Parks and Recreation at 827-3961.

Orono

Historical society meeting

The annual meeting of the Orono Historical Society will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, downstairs in the Treadwell Building, Bennoch Road. Refreshments will be provided. Guests and new members are encouraged to attend the meeting.