Bangor

Shabbat Across America

On Saturday, March 8, along with synagogues throughout the United States and Canada, Beth El will host a vegetarian potluck Shabbat Dinner at 6 p.m. with a special “user-friendly” Shabbat worship service at 7:30 p.m.

It is a night for Jews throughout North America to celebrate the Sabbath together. The dinner is free, but reservations are required due to space limitations. Make reservations by calling Beth El at 945-4578.

Congregation Beth El is an open, welcoming and inclusive Reform congregation at 183 French St. For information, call 945-4578 or visit www.me002.urj.net.

Hunt for Stars

The public is invited to a free party to celebrate the Worldwide Hunt for Stars 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Challenger Learning Center.

The event is part of GLOBE at Night, an international organization that engages students in observing the night sky. A local Star Gazers Club will provide telescopes, and there will be plenty of fun star gazing, telescope activities and snacks for everyone.

Reservations are preferred but not necessary. Call 990-2900, ext. 4 for information.

Easter egg hunt

The Bangor Parks and Recreation Department will hold an Easter egg hunt Saturday, March 22, at the Union Street Athletic Complex. The event is for children from preschool through first grade.

The Easter egg hunt for preschool children will take place at 10 a.m. The egg hunt for children in kindergarten and first grade will be held at 10:15 a.m. Early arrival is advised. For information, call the recreation department at 992-4490.

Afternoon traffic delay

The Maine Department of Transportation urges motorists to seek alternate routes to the I-95 offramp on Broadway, Exit 185, as backed-up traffic in the area is causing delays.

Area commuters recently expressed concerns that southbound traffic using the offramp on the Broadway exit is congested during the 3:30-5:30 afternoon rush hour with stopped traffic extending back into the driving lanes on I-95.

Maine DOT is working with Bangor’s city engineers and CPM Constructors to install sensors on the offramp to help move more traffic during periods of heavy use.

The department is placing warning signs in the southbound lane between the Stillwater onramp and the Broadway offramp. The recommended alternate route to reach Broadway is clearly marked beginning at the Hogan Road Exit 187 offramp.

Reading to Patches

A boy and his dog symbolize a close childhood bond. If you grew up with a pet, whether you are male or female, you know you can share your deepest feelings with this trusted animal. Building on that bond, the Bangor Public Library is offering a new program called “Reading to Patches.”

Peggy Smith and her Portuguese water dog, Patches, will introduce parents to this new program 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Story Room. The library will offer times to read to Patches in April.

Patches is not just any dog; he is a Reading Education Assistance Dogs dog. The R.E.A.D. program improves children’s reading and communications skills by encouraging a child to read to a dog – a living thing that will not criticize, complain or correct, but will listen patiently.

R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals that volunteer with their owners as a team. Meet Patches, a really great listener, and schedule a time for your child to read to him at the library. For information about the program, visit the library’s Web site at www.bpl.lib.me.us or call the Children’s Department at 947-8336, ext. 111.

Land Trust activities

The Bangor Land Trust has scheduled events this month:

. Winter Tracks, 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Maine Discovery Museum. Learn about animal tracks in winter and where to look for tracks and signs of different animals around Bangor. Land trust volunteers will be on hand to talk about tracks and different animal habitats on our properties. Land trust members receive free admission to the museum for the day. For information, call 942-1010 or visit www.bangorlandtrust.org.

. Photo Workshop, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 29, at Walden Parke Preserve. Bangor Photo’s Joni Dunn will instruct photographers of all levels during an exploration of Walden-Parke. Sign up in advance and state what kind of camera you’ll be using. Walden Parke Preserve is off Essex Street.

For information, call Lyndsey Marston at 942-1010.

Emotional Wellness class

The Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center is offering training in Professional and Personal Development: Emotional Wellness, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 15, at Penquis, 262 Harlow St. The cost for the session is $15.

The interactive and lively workshop teaches healthy coping skills and ways to deal with stress, both positive and negative, in the early care and education child care setting. Kara Hay will be the facilitator.

For information or to register, call 973-3533 or 888-917-1100.

Music for early childhood

Music builds and strengthens children’s brains. Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program that uses a research-based, developmentally appropriate music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

Surya Mitchell, area director of Music Together, will offer an introduction for children from birth through 5 years and their parents or caregivers.

Sample a taste of the rich musical classroom environment and the spontaneous musical activity it facilitates in the home in this hour-long program at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the Story Room. Register at the Children’s Desk or call 947-8336, ext. 111.

Art exhibit

“Triad,” an art exhibit featuring Rebecca Krupke, Margaret Manter and Kris Spader is on display 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 30, at Boyd Place, 21 Boyd St. An opening reception will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 23.

Krupke will show oil paintings and photographic etchings; Manter, charcoal drawings and work in mixed media; and Sader, paintings, prints and work in mixed media. For information, call 941-2837.

Bridge Alliance egg hunt

The Bridge Alliance is teaming up again with the Maine Discovery Museum to provide the first Easter Egg Hunt for Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Alliance parents and their children of all ages. It is set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at the Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main St.

Easter eggs will be hidden for children to find and the Easter Bunny will be on hand to liven up the festivities. A great time is certain to be had by all. For information, call John Costello at 945-5925 or the museum at 262-7200.

Brewer

Basket bingo

The Brewer office of the March of Dimes, in conjunction with the Eagles Club, will hold a basket bingo at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Brewer Eagles Club, 22 Atlantic Ave. Doors open at 11 a.m.

Baskets are filled with various items, vary in value and are not Longaberger baskets.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the event. For information or tickets, call Gene Staffiere at 989-3376. Proceeds benefit the March of Dimes March for Babies.

Dixmont

Church auction

Dixmont United Methodist Church will hold its third auction at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Dixmont Snowmobile clubhouse. A variety of donated items from local businesses, handcrafted items and baked goods will be up for bid.

Proceeds from the first two auctions went toward a portion of a new roof, drilling a well, repairing the stained-glass window and painting the exterior of the church.

Proceeds from this auction will go toward installing a bathroom and building a meeting room addition so the church can be of greater service to the community and its youth.

On the day of the auction, the kitchen will be open at 4:30 p.m. so that bidders may view the items and have dinner before registering for the auction.

For information call Robin Vile at 234-2451, Lois Whitcomb at 234-2351, Valerie Orcutt at 234-2416 or Chuck Langbein at 884-8727.

Glenburn

Benefit supper

The public is invited to assist the Buckley family of Glenburn with the cost of medical care for their son Jim who is battling the affects of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Donations may be made in the collection jars at Check-Out, BJ’s or Village Variety in Glenburn, or mail a donation to the Glenburn Church with “for Jim” on the memo line.

Weather permitting, a benefit potluck supper will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday March 15, at the church. If the weather looks questionable, call Kathy or the pastor at 947-5695 to see if the date has been changed.

Eddington

Eddington calendars

The Eddington Historical Society has a new shipment of its first edition calendars available at the F.A. Wood Municipal Building or via mail from Kay Mitchell at 843-5542.

Glenburn

Benefit silent auction

A benefit silent auction will be held 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the Glenburn School cafeteria.

The event will support Carey Besse, Glenburn recreation director, who is battling cancer.

Items to be auctioned include heating oil, an Old Town kayak, Harley Davidson merchandise, jewelry, hotel stays, gym memberships, assorted gift cards and much more.

Those interested in donating an item for the auction may contact Shelley Shaw at 941-6765.

Old Town

To benefit cats and dogs

The Old Town Orono Animal Orphanage will hold a phoneathon 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 8. Dedicated volunteers will be dialing for dollars for three hours with the hope of raising much-needed funds that will go directly to animal care.

“This is a great fundraiser for us,” said Roberta Fowler, orphanage board president. “We wanted to alert the public that we would be telemarketing for a few hours. We hope everybody answers their phones. Or people can call us on Saturday at 866-0748 or 827-8777 and we will take their pledge.”

The Animal Orphanage is a no-kill shelter that takes in strays and works tirelessly to find them loving homes. But this comes at a cost and fundraising is paramount to the survival of the organization. This year is especially important as, sadly, some people have turned out their animals because they can no longer afford to keep them. The fortunate ones end up at animal shelters.

As prices rise, so does the cost of the care and feeding of these homeless pets. The public’s support is crucial.

For information, call the Animal Orphanage at 827-8777 or Roberta Fowler at 827-2658.

Orono

Book discussion group

Fields Pond Audubon Center will present a book discussion group, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” by Michael Pollan, at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at Dirigo Pines in Orono. Joyce Rumery will lead discussion. Call 866-3400 for directions.

Pollan examines “our national eating disorder” in a fascinating journey up and down the food chain. You’ll certainly never look at a chicken nugget the same way again. Pollan approaches his mission not as an activist but as a naturalist and isn’t at all preachy.

Winterport

Watershed council meeting

Water quality specialist Alex Wong will speak at the annual meeting of the Cove Brook Watershed Council at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the Victoria Grant Civic Center, Park Street.

Wong works for the Maine Rural Water Association, and has experience working in and with state government. He will speak about the important topic of groundwater-sourcewater protection and will discuss Winterport’s wellhead protection plan that he helped to develop.

The public event will begin with desserts and beverages.

A business meeting and election of officers will be held after the talk.

The Cove Brook Watershed Council is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization formed by local residents in 2001 to conserve the Winterport brook. It is one of the eight waterways in Maine designated as having a wild Atlantic salmon population. The council’s mission is to conserve and enhance the watershed, educate the public about its resources and maintain environmentally sound traditional uses of the watershed.

For information about the event and the council, contact Donna M. Gilbert at 223-4306 or e-mail gilbertdonna@roadrunner.com.