Youngsters who want to improve their writing skills are invited to the Summer 2006 Young Authors Camps, featuring programs at five sites.

Jean Plummer of Washington Academy in East Machias is director of the Maine Writing Project’s Young Authors’ Camps.

Plummer wrote these programs to offer students “the opportunity to enjoy a week developing proficiency in their academic and creative writing” under the guidance of “experienced classroom teachers who are Teacher Consultants of the Maine Writing Projects.”

Workshops can range from learning to write an autobiography to poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and teacher-authors will share “insights into the process and love of writing.”

MWP Young Authors’ Camp will be conducted on the following dates at the following sites. All camps run from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day and transportation is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Young Authors’ Camps are Monday, July 10, to Friday, July 14, at the University of Maine in Orono and at Benton Elementary School in Benton; Monday, July 17, to Friday, July 21, at Sebasticook Valley Middle School in Newport; Monday, July 24, to Friday, July 28, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick; and Monday, Aug. 7, to Friday, Aug. 11, at The College of The Atlantic in Bar Harbor.

The registration fee of $100 includes snacks, T-shirt, certificate, group picture and a camp work anthology.

Plummer suggests you check with your school or local community organizations with questions about scholarship assistance.

More information and registration forms may be obtained by calling the University of Maine YAC at 581-2438.

The seventh year of the nonprofit Sign-N-Kids summer camp program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children is about to get under way.

Founder-president-director Carrie Pierce, who is deaf, reports the program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday through the end of July. The program begins July 5.

The program is made up of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, children of deaf adults, and their siblings, Pierce said. The camp is at a donated site in Kenduskeag.

“We have both deaf and hearing role models who run the camp,” she added.

Because the camp is a nonprofit organization, your support would be appreciated.

“We need cash donation to continue with our successful program,” Pierce wrote. “We also need donations of glitter glue, glue sticks, glue, poster paint, finger paint, oak tag paper and other arts and craft supplies.”

Additional contributions are welcome, and arrangements can be made to have them picked up.

The current cost for each child is just $15 a day, Pierce wrote of the children who “come from long distances, and often drive” 11/2 hours to get there.

“Our goal is to provide a place for children who communicate through sign language, see other children like them, and feel good about themselves.”

With so many children “mainstreamed in public schools … , often the only place they see other children like them is at our summer camp.”

Activities include arts and crafts, field trips, sports, such as horse riding, and programs to help enhance self-esteem.

Checks may be made out to Sign-N-Kids Inc., 33C Ledgewood Drive, Hampden 04444.

If you have questions, e-mail signnkids@aol.com, call 884-7864 for a voice phone or 862-2029 for TTY/FAX/Videophone.

For those who would like to become online supporters of “Summer in the City: The Campaign for Dakin Pool” to help restore Bangor’s first, public swimming pool, visit its Web site at www.dakinpool.com.

There you will find all the latest information on the 50-year-old pool on Bangor’s East Side.

Alicia Nichols of Newport is campaign director for the $100,000 fundraiser, and any assistance you could provide would be most welcome.

A hearty “well done” to the 250 of you who participated last May in the 2006 March of Dimes WalkAmerica event in Bangor.

Your commitment raised more than $30,000 to help support efforts by the March of Dimes to save babies from premature birth through research, education, community programs and advocacy.

Cindy Ault of the MD Brewer office thanks the 2006 WalkAmerica volunteers, walkers and sponsors.

“We’re proud … to have a great support system in this area,” she wrote.

Plans are under way for the Brewer High School Class of 1961 45th reunion beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Sea Dog Restaurant in Bangor.

Fran Verow reports that interested class members may call the reunion committee for more information at 989-7032.

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