Were you ever, in any way, associated with the North Bucksport United Methodist Church?

If so, you will be pleased to learn that church will celebrate Heritage Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, in the church sanctuary, 1147 River Road (Route 15) in Bucksport.

Dortha Brouty Grey wrote that “we are inviting persons in the community” to attend the event “as well as former and present pastors, past and present church members, and past and present Sunday School pupils and teachers, and others affiliated with the church … to come celebrate this occasion with us.”

Grey also wrote, for those who consider attending that “if you have items of historical interest, or photos of the church’s past or present events, please call.”

If you wish more information about this celebratory Sunday, call Grey at 469-3592 or Pastor Janice Rhenow, 469-7896.

We’ll be waiting to hear the total weight loss for the participants of the Healthy Hancock Lose and Win program, after their celebratory gathering beginning at 5:45 tonight at Ellsworth Middle School.

Iris Simon reports the event will feature the award-winning Ellsworth High School Jazz Band, a guest speaker, the awards presentation and special recognition.

The Lose and Win program is based on the book, “The Town that Lost a Ton.”

Tickets must be purchased, in advance, for the buddy2buddy Spring Fashion Show 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

No tickets will be sold at the door.

Hosted by WLBZ News Center 2 anchors Donna Gormely and Matt Friedman, the fundraiser benefits Caring Connections, which provides breast health education, outreach, screening, diagnostic and treatment services for uninsured and underinsured women in our area.

Sponsored by the Breast & Osteoporosis Center at Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Junior League of Bangor and WLBZ 2, the event helps kick off Women’s Week.

Local retailers displaying spring fashions include Talbot’s, TJ Maxx, Terra Cotta, Pretty Woman and The Grasshopper Shop.

To reserve your seat, call EMMC Healthcare Charities, 973-5055.

On behalf of the host Shirley Community church, the Rev. Dr. Everett Parker invites you to its Maple Syrup Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Shirley town hall.

Now in its 10th year, this popular event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the church.

Local cooks will prepare blueberry and regular pancakes, baked beans, breakfast casseroles, hash browns, muffins, biscuits and fruit cup, all to be enjoyed with juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

The fresh maple syrup will come from Charlie Baker’s Sugar Shack on West Road, where you are also invited to visit with Charlie and Debi Lynne Baker, who will demonstrate how maple syrup is made.

Admission is by donation for this major fundraiser, and all proceeds benefit the Shirley Community Church operating fund.

For more information, call Parker at 695-3163.

The Bangor Garden Show makes its annual appearance at the Bangor Civic Center and Auditorium April 6-9.

Once again, reports Jan Cox, members of garden clubs in the Penobscot District are hosting a Standard Flower Show as part of that event.

“Submitted entries will be judged,” Cox wrote, adding that “Sally Mowbray, flower show chairman, is asking garden club members to gather native horticulture and enter them in the show.”

The categories are Forced Branches, Evergreen Branches, Container-Grown Plants, Combination Plantings and Mother/Daughter Plants.

For more information, call Sonia Cianchette at 368-5972, or e-mail caddy@gwi.net.

From Jill Coffren of Jay comes word that Maine families are needed to host Japanese exchange students, ages 12-18, as part of a two-way exchange program sponsored by the Maine 4-H program.

The Japanese youth will be here four weeks from mid-July to mid-August. The exchange is open to families living in Maine with children close in age to the Japanese participants.

Families without children of this age will be considered as hosts for Japanese adult chaperones.

You need not be involved in 4-H to participate and do not need to know Japanese, since the students have all studied English.

The program includes a background check and home visit.

Host family applications are available through the Franklin County Extension Office, (800) 287-1478, or your local Cooperative Extension Office.

Questions can be directed to Coffren by e-mailing coffren@megalink.net.

For your additional information, host families are also needed for the school year.

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