Bangor

Theater auditions

Ten Bucks Theatre Company Inc. invites the public to audition for its July production of “Shakespeare Under the Stars: As You Like It.” Putnam Smith of Ten Bucks Theatre will direct the play.

A pastoral comedy, “As You Like It” includes some of the most memorable and beloved Shakespearean characters – Rosalind, Touchstone and the melancholy Jaques.

The production, to be staged outdoors with microphones, will feature live old-time music. If you play guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or jug – bring it. The play will be set in post-Civil War Appalachia.

Auditions will be held 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 28, and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at the Robinson Ballet dance studios, 107 Union St., above the Greyhound Bus Station. Entrance is around the corner to the right.

Callbacks will take place 4-6 p.m. Saturday, May 5.

Roles are available for 14 actors. Monologues are welcome but not required. No accents are required.

“As You Like It” will be performed at 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 20-22, and Thursday through Saturday, July 26-28, at Indian Trail Park in Brewer. For more information, e-mail Putnam Smith at itchysabot@hotmail.com.

Kiwanis auction and social

A Maine tourmaline jersey donated by Quality Jewelers and a jersey autographed by the University of Maine Hockey team are among items up for bid during the Bangor Breakfast Kiwanis Club’s live and silent auction and dinner social 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at the Bangor Banquet & Conference Center on Hogan Road.

Proceeds will benefit local Kiwanis children’s charities, with 25 percent dedicated to the Senior League World Series in August at Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium in Bangor.

Tickets for the auction and dinner are $23 per person, including a buffet dinner. A cash bar will be available.

Other items up for auction include 100 gallons of heating fuel, dozens of gift certificates and handcrafted items.

For information or tickets, call Carissa Marsh or Doug Damon at 942-6310.

The Bangor Breakfast Kiwanis Club is a service organization and member of Kiwanis International. It supports several children’s charities in the Bangor area. The club meets 7-8 a.m. Thursdays at Geaghan’s Roundhouse Restaurant at the Best Inn on Main Street.

Guests and prospective members are welcome. For information, call membership chairman Bill Esty at 942-6310.

‘Music Off Broadway’

As a fundraiser to support a variety of community programs, the Bangor Rotary Club will present its second annual “Music Off Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Peakes Auditorium, Bangor High School, 885 Broadway. The show will feature the talents of many familiar faces for an evening of entertainment.

Rotary member Roger George is producing the event with music director Josh Schmersal. The show celebrates Broadway composers from the 1940s to the present. A cast of more than 30 chorus members and soloists, including a group of high school students, will sing many popular show tunes.

“Based on the overwhelming success of last year’s show, we are excited to present an even bigger event this year,” George said. “Many of the singers from last year will perform again by popular demand.”

Funds raised will support groups and organizations in Bangor, including those that serve the homeless, the hungry and middle school children. And because many cast members are part of Bangor Community Theatre, a part of the proceeds will go to BCT.

Tickets for “Music Off Broadway” are $15, $10 children under 18, $40 family. Tickets may be purchased at the Grasshopper Shop and BookMarc’s Bookstore downtown, and at Patrick’s Hallmark Shop in the Broadway Shopping Center.

Talks at the library

Dr. Sandra Hutchison of the University of Maine will speak at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the Bangor Public Library Lecture Hall. She is the author of “Chinese Brushstrokes: Stories of China,” a book that considers China in the wake of the Open Door Policy.

Hutchison, a former journalist who lived and worked in China for more than a decade, will speak on “When China Opened Its Doors to the West.”

The library’s Lecture Hall is an appropriate backdrop, as “China: Exploring the Interior, 1903-4” is the April exhibit. The photographs are the work of Maine native R. Harvey Sargent, who visited rural China just weeks after the Boxer Rebellion.

The exhibit was organized by Sargent’s grandson, Robert Sargent of Sargentville, who will present a program about the exhibit at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in the Lecture Hall.

Perennial plant sale

It’s time for the event eastern Maine gardeners wait for all year: PICA’s plant sale.

Once again PICA has partnered with Peter and Julie Beckford of Rebel Hill Farm in Clifton. The sale is a unique opportunity to choose from more than 100 varieties of hardy, field-grown perennials, including many plants native to Maine or New England.

A portion of every sale goes to support PICA’s work. Remember, these plants have been through the toughest weather a Maine winter can deal out. Now for the first time, those who wish to buy plants may view the full catalog online.

Deadline for placing orders is May 1. Payment is due on delivery. Plants are expected to be available for pickup from a PICA contact on, or shortly after, the weekend of May 19.

Shipping is not available. Plants must be picked up in the Bangor area. For information, visit www.pica.ws/plantsale2007.htm to find the full plant sale catalog with photos to pore over as you watch the April snow melt, instructions and a downloadable order form. Or, call the PICA office at 947-4203.

Earth Team volunteers

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will honor its Earth Team volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 15-21. Last year, some 200 volunteers donated more than 11,200 hours to conservation in Maine.

The Earth Team Program, created in 1985, offers opportunities to those over age 14 who are interested in volunteering and making a difference for the nation’s natural resources.

Earth Team volunteers help conservationists provide conservation technical assistance, teach and generate awareness about conservation through the use of community projects. Volunteers can be found helping with projects impacting water quality, community beautification and erosion control. Also, Earth Team volunteers can work in NRCS offices.

“We at the NRCS are proud of the dedicated volunteers and employees who have committed their time and talents to conserving and protecting soil, water and wildlife for their community and everyone in it,” said Joyce Swartzendruber, state conservationist. “We hope that National Volunteer Week will motivate others to volunteer their time and talent to help NRCS and its mission as we continue Helping People Help the Land.”

Information on NRCS programs and assistance and the Earth Team volunteer program is available online at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

Mother-son dance

The Bangor Parks and Recreation Department invites mothers and their sons ages 5 to 10 to a special Mother’s Day Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Bangor Motor Inn Conference Center on Hogan Road.

Tickets are $15 per couple for Bangor residents and $20 for others. An extra $2 will be charged for each additional son.

Tickets are available 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department, 647 Main St. For further information, call 992-4490.

Earth Day Clean Up

Fields Pond Audubon Center will sponsor an Earth Day Clean Up 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 22, in the Bangor Mall area. Audubon naturalists are looking forward to another gathering of trash. Volunteers have the option of meeting at Borders, Staples or Hannaford to help clean litter from the area before it blows into the Penjajawoc Stream, an important wildlife corridor.

Staples employees said that an otter frolics regularly in the stream near the store. Bald eagles often are spotted overhead during the clean up.

No registration is required to participate in the Earth Day Clean Up. Just show up and organizers will put you to work. Call 989-2591 or e-mail htwining@maineaudubon.org for more information.

Dance workshops

Robinson Ballet will offer two one-hour dance workshops in Latin and ballroom dance on Saturday, May 12, in the dance studio at 107 Union St., above the Greyhound Bus terminal on Main Street.

Robinson Ballet’s artists-in-residence, Rebecca Sweet and her dancing partner, Jean-Paul Gronek, of the Viva Dance Studio in Cleveland, will run the workshops.

Rebecca Sweet, owner of Viva Dance, spent 10 years in New York City performing, competing and teaching Latin and ballroom dance. Louis VanAmstel, “Dancing with the Stars” professional partner to Lisa Rinna, has been Sweet’s dance coach since 1995.

The Latin dance workshop will begin at 1 p.m., with the ballroom dance workshop at 2:30 p.m. The cost of the workshops is $12 per person or $10 per person if both workshops are taken. To register, call Robinson Ballet at 989-7226.

For more information on Robinson Ballet and its upcoming dance show featuring its guest artists in residence, visit www.robinsonballet.org.

City personnel news

The city of Bangor said good-bye to several employees recently. Police Chief Don Winslow retired after serving with the Bangor Police Department since April 1979. He had been the city’s first community relations officer, a detective and was instrumental in instituting the DARE program for kids. He attended the FBI National Academy in 1994.

Sgt. Donald “Ward” Gagner retired after 331/2 years with the department. He had been patrol supervisor, a detective and recently the supervisor of the Airport Division. His awards included commendations for saving people’s lives.

Officer Orval “Butch” Moor retired after 261/2 years with the department. He served in the Airport Division and the Patrol Division, and for six years was a detective, specializing in child abuse investigations. He also attended Homicide Investigation School in Kentucky.

T.J. Martzial, who has worked for the city for 27 years, has resigned as housing programs manager. He will be the director of Housing and Neighborhoods Services for the city of Portland. In Bangor, he had been coordinator of the Greater Penobscot Continuum of Care.

New employees for the city are Sarah Sha’afi, assistant at the STD Clinic; and Stuart King, an operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Promoted are Scott Low, to automotive lead mechanic at the Motor Pool; and Walter Ryan, print shop production technician at Central Services.

Hampden

Senior citizens luncheon

The Weatherbee School invites Hampden senior citizens to a lunch and concert at noon Thursday, May 3. Performers will be third-graders.

The lunch menu is turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce, oatmeal yeast roll and a filled cookie.

Those interested in attending the event should RSVP at 862-3254 before Friday, April 27. The school will be closed for vacation the week of April 16.

Writing, speaking awards

Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4 and its Ladies Auxiliary will honor Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen District winners at a recognition banquet at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at the Hampden VFW Post Home, Canoe Club Road.

Honorees are:

District Voice of Democracy:

. First place, Drew Winningham, Hermon High School, sponsored by VFW 4633, Hampden.

. Second place, Denise Spencer, Bangor Christian Schools, sponsored by VFW 1761, Bangor.

. Third place, Jean Gamperle, Old Town High School, sponsored by Old Town VFW 3381.

Patriot’s Pen

. James Singletary, Hancock Grammar School, sponsored by Ellsworth VFW 109.

District chairmen of the event are Paul Colburn of the Bangor VFW Post and Cheryl Clukey of the Hampden Ladies Auxiliary. District commander is Charles Gould of the Hampden Post and district president is Cheryl Snow of the Bangor Auxiliary.

Holden

Earth Day food, fun

Celebrate Earth Day at 6 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Fields Pond Audubon Center with food and fun. Bring your favorite dish to share in a potluck feast. Participants will be divided into teams and have a good time testing nature knowledge in a trivia game. No worries, no pressure, just fun. RSVP by calling 989-2591.

Old Town

Special baby shower

How does one help a mother short on money? Donate baby necessities – from diapers to diaper ointment.

In many communities, parents of babies and toddlers are struggling to meet the needs of their families. St. James’ Episcopal Church in Old Town is asking for help in collecting diapers, infant cereal and formula, baby wipes, lotion, powder and baby shampoo.

Drop off the baby necessities on Mother’s Day morning, Sunday, May 13, at St. James’ Episcopal Church. The church will sponsor a baby shower in the undercroft immediately after the 10 a.m. Eucharist. Items will be donated to Crossroads Ministries in Old Town.

St. James is located at the corner of Center and Main Streets. This is the second year that the church has assisted with the drive to collect necessity items for babies.

Crossroads Ministries Inc. is an ecumenical food pantry founded in 1991 by Brenda Davis. It serves families in Old Town, Orono, Milford, Bradley and surrounding towns.

For more information, call Paula Baines, 947-0087, or e-mail prbaines@yahoo.com.

Public forum

A public forum has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 23, at Old Town Elementary School, 576 Stillwater Ave., to discuss concerns regarding emissions from the Red Shield facility. State Sen. Elizabeth M. Schneider, state Rep. Richard Blanchard, state Rep. Robert Duchesne and state Rep. Ben Pratt plan to attend.

A representative from Red Shield, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection David Littell, George MacDonald from the State Planning Office, a representative from Casella Waste Management and other officials also will attend.

Orono

Free gardening workshop

As the ground thaws, the air warms and the sun shines longer, the Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine is planning a free lunchtime workshop on spring gardening, providing tips for backyard gardeners.

At noon Thursday, April 26, the museum will host a presentation, “Getting Ready for Spring Gardening,” by UM Cooperative Extension’s ornamental horticulture specialist Lois Stack. Participants are invited to bring a bag lunch.

Stack is an expert in the field and consults for nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers and other businesses that depend upon healthy, hearty plants. She also contributes to the Master Gardener program, and speaks frequently to gardening groups.

For more information, call the museum at 581-4100.