The third annual Washington County Community College Dressing For Success event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, in the Assembly Room on the WCCC campus in Calais.

However, this wonderful opportunity for young men and women about to enter the business world can’t be a success without your help, so Rhonda French of WCCC is asking you to clean out your closet and help provide a new wardrobe for job interviews or the first few weeks on the job.

“In job hunting, first impressions are critical,” French wrote.

“The first thing a potential employer sees when greeting a person is his-her attire. Although dressing properly will not guarantee a person’s getting the job, it will give him-her a competitive edge and a positive first impression.”

New or used clothing is being sought.

“We are looking for clothing of all sizes for both men and women,” French wrote, [including] “business suits, dresses, skirts, suit jackets, blazers, ties, shoes, accessories, etc.”

She stressed that all items should be clean and not in need of repair and, “if possible, items on coat hangers would be a great help.”

All items should be dropped off no later than Friday, April 14, at the event site.

For more information or to ask questions, call French at 454-1058 or e-mail rfrench@wccc.me.edu.

Here’s a last-minute request for anyone who wants to help make the annual summertime Hampden Children’s Day a success by participating in one of its major fundraisers.

Amy Lorenzo reports a bowl-a-thon will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. and bowling at noon Saturday, March 18, at the Sports Arena on Outer Hammond Street in Bangor.

If possible, teams of four should raise at least $100, and Lorenzo can e-mail you a registration form.

For further information or to receive a form, call Lorenzo at 862-5522.

Many volunteer opportunities are available from April to August, including placing telephone calls, picking up donated items and assisting with activities on the day of the event.

If you can help in any way, call Lorenzo at the number above; call Don Darling at 947-2866; or just show up at any of the regular Hampden Children’s Day committee meetings at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Hampden Town Office.

You are invited to the 10th annual Maple Festival & Irish Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at The Curran Homestead, 372 Fields Pond Road, Orrington.

Admission for members is $5 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12. For nonmembers, the fee is $7 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12.

From learning how maple sap becomes maple syrup to listening to stories of the past, you’ll have a wonderful time at this living history museum.

Bob Croce and Jill Martel will demonstrate the sap-to-syrup process. Paul Shumaker will oversee all the samples of delicious food set out for your enjoyment. John Hannington will give a clock demonstration. Carroll Adams will recount stories of days gone by.

For more information about The Curran Homestead and its activities, call Adams, 989-2340; board president Richard Stockford, 947-3701; Irv Marsters, 745-4426; or Wayne Killam, 989-1791.

Lucille Averill of Penquis Community Action Program in Bangor reports that next week is National Poison Prevention Week, and Penquis CAP is hosting a free lead-based paint homeowners awareness course from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 20, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St.

Anyone intending to paint, repair, renovate or live in homes where lead paint is present should find this session helpful.

Penquis CAP will have high-efficiency particulate air vacuums to lease to families dealing with lead paint, and the class is a prerequisite for borrowing the vacuums.

Pizza will be served at 5:30 p.m. and, although the course is free, registration is required.

To register, call Penquis CAP at 973-3553 or (800) 215-4942.

Recently, Bob Westhoff of Bangor stayed at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter on Main Street.

“Everyone was nice, treating you like a human being,” Westhoff wrote.

“We are the lonely, the brokenhearted, alcoholics, misfits, confused, impoverished clinging onto hope,” he wrote. “Thank you to all who take the time to feed us these fantastic meals. May God bless you all. Without these courteous acts, a lot of us would simply give up. Thank you for your compassion.”

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