Here is a special holiday gift you might never have expected, courtesy of longtime area photographer Lee Sirabella.

Sirabella wrote that he is exhibiting photographs “I have taken over my 61 years as the Sirabella Studio, first at 40 Central Street, Bangor, then at 11 Washington Street in Brewer.”

The photographs can be seen 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at Bangor Public Library on Harlow Street.

The library is closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Sirabella wanted to “let your readers know that I am offering without charge those images where they themselves appear in the photograph.”

The photographs first will be offered to the individual who identifies himself or herself in the photograph, and after that, to relatives of those individuals.

“The photographs are unframed and most are mounted on 16-by-20 mount boards,” he added.

“One image is of a little girl baby I named ‘Tiny Tears.’ The ‘baby,’ by now, will be at least 59 years old.

“You see,” he continued, “I did not take my own advice to always, carefully, write on the back of the photograph who it was, when it was taken and all other information included so that relatives in later years will know who it was in the photographs.”

The exhibit ends Sunday, Dec. 31, at which time “the photographs identified with stickers pasted on the backs” will be distributed.

If you know that you or your family was photographed by Sirabella, or think you might have been, it’s certainly worth a trip to the Bangor Public Library to find out.

You may come home with a very special holiday gift for yourself or a member of your family.

Sirabella started his photography career in the U.S. Army during World War II and is semiretired.

For more information about this offer, call Sirabella at 989-4800.

Brewer Mayor Michael Celli invites residents to join him in kicking off a year of focusing on community service and reaching out to neighbors by participating in the first DASH (Dashing Through the Snow) program at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, by joining a caroling caravan through Brewer.

Caroling by van is 6-9 that night, and is open to the public.

For information about where to meet for the caroling caravan, call Celli at 989-4720.

U.S. Cellular is offering a wonderful Christmas gift to those using the services of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.

The company is providing free local and long-distance calls for individuals to reconnect with family and friends during the holidays.

BAHS program director Michael Andrick said everyone there is “grateful to U.S. Cellular for offering our residents” this opportunity since, for many reasons, they have lost “touch with friends and family members, and a simple phone call can go a long way to lift their spirits.”

The service will be available 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at BAHS, 26 Cedar St. in Bangor.

A very special invitation comes your way to join Everett and Freda Cook and their friends at their 10th annual Christmas Dinner from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25, at the Milo town hall.

Those who are housebound should call 943-2493 by Sunday, Dec. 24, to make arrangements to have your meal delivered.

Everyone is welcome.

Iris Simon of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, and Laurie Jones of Mount Desert Island Hospital, are co-chairwomen of the 2007 Healthy Hancock Lose and Win program, a 10-week, countwide, weight-loss challenge program.

The women report that 40 teams already have registered to be part of a team working together to lose weight while developing a more healthful lifestyle.

The program kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 3, in Ellsworth, and Thursday, Jan. 4, in Deer Isle/Stonington.

However, in order to participate, teams need to be complete by Monday, Jan. 1, 2007.

During Lose and Win 2006, Simon reported, “374 Hancock County residents formed 45 teams and accumulated a loss of 2,630 pounds.”

The program is based on the book, “The Town That Lost a Ton.”

To obtain a team captain registration form and receive more information, call Health-Link at MCMH, 667-2474, or The Healthy Island Project at 348-6332.

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