Bangor

Pathfinders spring session

Pathfinders’ 10-week spring session will begin Monday, March 3, and conclude Monday, May 12. The weekly sessions will meet 6-7:30 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex St.

The bereavement program for children will not meet on Monday, April 21, due to April school vacation.

Organizers said facilitators are very much needed for all three adult groups – spouse loss, child loss and general loss.

The adult spouse group provides support for adults whose spouses have died. The adult general group offers support for adults who have experienced the death of a significant loved one, such as a parent, sibling or former spouse. The child loss group is for parents, grandparents or other relatives who have experienced the death of a child.

The adults in these groups have one or more youngsters in the children’s bereavement groups of Pathfinders.

The role of the volunteer facilitator is to provide a safe, trusting, nurturing environment for the group.

Each facilitator is expected to commit to three hours of service 5:30-8:30 p.m. each Monday of the session. Each facilitator also is asked to communicate and plan with a co-facilitator between weekly sessions. Facilitators meet with other facilitators, program coordinator Linda Boyle and program consultant Vicki Trundy at the end of each weekly session to process experiences.

No special counseling skills are required to become a Pathfinders facilitator, but individuals interested in facilitating must complete the training program.

Each prospective new facilitator is required to have a formal interview with Linda and Vicki before attending the training sessions scheduled for:

. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 .

. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.

. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.

. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27.

. 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 1.

Those interested in becoming adult Pathfinders group facilitators may call Boyle at 973-8269.

Those who know of a child who is grieving the death of a parent or close loved one are asked to inform the child’s guardian about Pathfinders and encourage the guardian to call Boyle for information about this successful, time-tested bereavement program for children.

Red Ribbon Ball

Dig out your fancy duds and put on your dancing shoes. It’s time to party for a cause.

Eastern Maine AIDS Network will hold its second annual Red Ribbon Ball 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Buchanan Alumni House, 2 Alumni Road, University of Maine.

The ball will be emceed by Joy Hollowell of WABI and will feature live music by Brian Catell and the Jump City Jazz Band, dancing and a silent auction. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Dress is black tie optional.

Proceeds will go directly toward client services at EMAN, such as HIV intensive case management, emergency funding, support groups and a food pantry, HIV testing and counseling, community HIV prevention education and risk reduction supplies and materials.

The public is invited to contribute items for the silent auction. Organizers said items needed include gift certificates, local arts and crafts, gift baskets and other items. Monetary donations also are accepted.

Tickets for the ball are $50 per person through Friday, Jan. 25, and $65 each after that date.

For information, call 990-3626 or e-mail Jean Lavigne at jelavigne@aol.com.

For information about EMAN, visit www.maineaids network.com or call toll-free 877-990-3626.

New contradance location

The Penobscot Contradancers have moved. The fourth-Saturday contradance is now held at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 120 Park St. The next dance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. Beginners session is at 7 p.m. All dances are taught. No previous dance experience is required.

John Cote, Fiona Schubeck and Seth Yentes will provide music; callers are Joe Dupere and Dave Merrill.

The cost of admission is $6, $15 family. For information, call 525-4538 or e-mail bangor contra@gmail.com.

Valentine’s Day dance

The Anah Shrine Mini-Bikes contingent will host the ninth family Valentine’s Day dance 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the Shrine hall, Main Street.

The event will feature music and a DJ, clowns, prizes for each child at the event, pizza, drinks and snacks. The cost of admission is $10 per person and includes photos taken of those who attend the event. All ages are welcome to attend. For tickets or information, visit or call the Shrine hall at 942-2254.

Flower show trip

The Bangor Garden Club’s annual day trip to Boston for the 2008 New England Flower Show is set for Tuesday, March 11, at the Bayside Expo Center. The title of the show is “Rhapsody in Green.”

The bus will leave from Bangor and makes a stop in Newport. The fee is $70, including admission to the flower show.

For information, call Charlene Holyoke at 942-0066. Proceeds benefit the club’s civic plantings in Bangor and scholarships to students studying botany and forestry at the University of Maine.

Show handling for dogs

Penobscot Valley Kennel Club will hold “Show Handling” classes at 6:30 p.m. beginning Monday, Feb. 4, at Pet Quarters, Stillwater Avenue.

Learn how to show your dog at dog shows. Dogs must be updated on shots, well-mannered and on a leash. The cost is $7 per class.

Infants and toddlers

The Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center is offering the 30-hour training session, “Supporting Maine’s Infant-Toddler: Learning and Development Guidelines.”

The class will be held 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, March 1, 15, 29; April 5, 12, 19; and May 3, at Penquis, 262 Harlow St. The cost of the training is $20.

The training curriculum was designed to guide child-care providers through the history, creation and use of the publication, which outlines learning and development from birth to age 3.

Participants use various tools and strategies to engage in observation, to collect evidence of children’s development and to plan curriculum within the context of Maine’s guidelines for infants and toddlers. Participants complete a portfolio case study of one infant-toddler that utilizes concepts and strategies introduced in the training.

Individuals are encouraged to call in advance to ensure space. For information or to register, call 973-3533 or toll free 888-917-1100.

‘Legacy of Torture’ film

The film “Legacy of Torture” will be shown at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine 170 Park St., Bangor. The event is free and open to the public.

Produced by the Freedom Archives, the film details the case against former Black Panthers in which testimony in the l972 shooting death of a San Francisco policeman rested on the testimony gathered through the torture of three of the black men in New Orleans in 1973. The case was thrown out in 1975 because of the torture. Now, as part of the Patriot Act, the state is attempting to make testimony acquired by means of torture admissible in court, organizers said.

After the showing of the film, a discussion will be led by Michael Vernon and Carol Dove.

For information, call 942-9343.

Bucksport

Auditions for dinner theater

The Riverbend Players of Bucksport have announced open call auditions for their first-ever endeavor in dinner theater. The theme is “Broadway,” with a cabaret format.

Organizers are seeking group and solo performers, including those who play guitar, piano or another instrument, and-or those who also might enjoy accompanying others taking part. Those with any type of theatrical, drama or performance talent are urged to audition.

The dinner theater will take place at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at Kravings restaurant on Verona Island.

Auditions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 6-7, at Jewett School Community Center, Bridge Street, Bucksport. Be prepared to show an example of your talent. Those who wish to audition should arrive a few minutes early in order to have time to fill out an information sheet.

For information, call Suzi Leeman at 469-5885, or e-mail suzi@riverbendplayers.com.

Castine

Audio book talk

Kathy Goldner, audio publisher of Knitting Out Loud, located in Stockton Springs, will talk about her business 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Jan. 28, at Witherle Library.

The latest knitting books available on CD produced by her company are “The Art of Fair Isle Knitting,” by Ann Feitelson; and “A History of Hand Knitting,” by Richard Butt. For information, call the library at 326-4375.

Orland

Poetry workshop

Poets interested in the concept and practice of constructive criticism are invited to register for a workshop with plenty of time for practice. The workshop is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Orland Fire Station, Schoolhouse Road. Storm date is Saturday, March 1.

Practice on work that poets bring to the workshop will follow discussion of what is meant by “constructive criticism” among poets and how to set limits. Registration deadline is Sunday, Feb. 17. A fee of $15 includes soup, bread, coffee and tea. Participants bring other food to share.

Workshop leader is Sharon Bray, poetry editor of the Narramissic Notebook, member of the Salt Coast Sages and prize-winning member of Maine Poets Society. She has more than 30 years’ experience in community education. Her poetry and prose have been published in anthologies, literary journals and newspapers.

To register for the workshop or for information, call 469-7308; or e-mail her at sharonbray@midmaine.com.

Orono

YMCA Rose Ball

The Old Town-Orono YMCA will hold its first annual Rose Ball Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Penobscot Valley Country Club. Cocktail and hors d’oeuvres hour is 6-7 p.m.; dinner is served 7-8 p.m.; and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. will finish the evening. Black tie is optional.

The cost to attend the event is $75 a person, $150 couple, $500 table for eight.

Proceeds will benefit the Old Town-Orono YMCA effort to implement energy conservation initiatives.

Tickets are available by calling Jill Nitardy at 827-9622.

Auditions for ‘Bus Stop’

What might happen in a night where no one can get out and no one can get in? Orono Community Theatre is holding auditions for “Bus Stop” by Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning playwright William Inge, directed by Sandy Cyrus-Lewey.

Auditions for a cast of five men and three women will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, and 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Keith Anderson Community House, 19 Bennoch Road. For information, call 866-5065.

A belligerent cowboy can find humility, a nightclub chanteuse can discover domesticity and a pretentious windbag can mend his ways. Even the weary owner of a roadside diner and a lonely bus driver can find a touch of romance as Inge explores the different ways people respond to the dull ache of loneliness.

“Bus Stop” is the story of eight unlikely people holed up overnight in a 1950s bus-stop diner during a raging March snowstorm.

Available roles are:

. A young, eager and innocent waitress, age 16.

. A weary and seasoned lady restaurant owner, age 30-50.

. A mild-mannered sheriff, age 30-40.

. A pretty but tawdry nightclub singer from the Ozarks, age 20.

. A pretentious former college professor, age 50.

. A lonely bus driver, age 30-50.

. A quiet, guitar-playing ranch hand cowboy, age 40-50.

. An obnoxious and unmannered cowboy set to kidnap the nightclub singer, age 20.

Performance dates for the show are April 18, 19 and 20.

Orrington

Curran Homestead

The Curran Homestead board of directors will hold a fundraising dinner on Monday, Feb. 4, at the Oriental Jade Restaurant in Bangor. Seatings will be available at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Tickets for the event must be pre-sold by Jan. 29. Tickets are $14, $7 children under 12.

Checks may be made payable to The Curran Homestead, and a portion of the proceeds will be given to the Curran Homestead by The Oriental Jade Restaurant.

For tickets and information, e-mail board member Karen Marsters at kmarsters@roadrunner.com.