Bangor

Safety program for kids

The program radKIDS is coming to Bangor, thanks to Rape Response Services and the Bangor Police Department. radKIDS is the national leader in children’s safety education, providing a holistic practical life skills safety program for children and parents, said organizers of the collaboration.

radKIDS teaches children individually in an activity-based, hands-on training classroom, which means every child participates in all activities.

The program provides children with the instinctual options they need to recognize, avoid and, if necessary, respond to potential danger.

Organizers believe that the first few seconds of a potentially violent encounter are critical. When a child is approached or grabbed, the response needs to be immediate, instinctual and absolute.

This response can be taught and enhanced through individual demonstration, training and practice. Through radKIDS training, children become empowered, learning to replace fear, confusion and panic of dangerous situations with confidence, personal safety skills and self-esteem.

Two classes are scheduled at the Bangor Police Department:

. For 8- to 12-year-old children, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2; Friday, April 4; Monday, April 7; Wednesday, April 9; and Friday, April 11. Parents’ informational meeting is 6-7 p.m. Monday, March 31.

. For 5- to 7-year-old children, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 26, and May 3, 10 and 17. The date of the parents’ informational meeting has yet to be announced.

The cost is $20 per child, $10 for second child in same family, $5 for each child thereafter. Scholarships are available. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Call Angel Shaw at 941-2980.

Pot of Gold Super Supper

Tickets are still available for the second annual Bangor Board of Realtors Pot of Gold Super Supper set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Jeff’s Catering 15 Littlefield Way. A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m.

The event will benefit the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor.

The festive evening features a four-course meal, cash prizes of up to $3,000 and many other fabulous gifts, Marcia Bartol said.

Tickets are $150 per couple, with only 100 tickets to be sold, each available for all prizes. Business sponsorships are $250. To order tickets, call Bartol at 989-1607, or e-mail marciabartol@msn.com.

Fiddle Fun for all

Experience the excitement and joy of a live musical performance 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in the Bangor Public Library Lecture Hall.

Laura Galluci and her talented cadre of string players will present “Fiddle Fun for Families and Friends.” The venue is informal and audience members may come and go if tiny music lovers have limited attention spans.

This celebration of music is presented for those of all ages and is a perfect opportunity to introduce children to live musical performance. Refreshments will be served.

On immigration and trade

Peace through Interamerican Community Action invites the public to “Know Us and Them,” the first of a series of community workshops in its project on immigration and trade.

“Looking at our own Immigrant History and Roots: How to Build an Inclusive Community” will be presented 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 5, at PICA-Peace and Justice Center, 170 Park St. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 947-4203.

Every week thousands of people are crossing U.S. borders in search of a better life and transforming communities across the country including here in Maine, organizers said. Meanwhile, Maine has lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, and communities struggle to survive in a global economy.

And in this election year, one hears more and more about “getting tough on illegal aliens,” organizers said. “How is all this connected? What makes some of us aliens and others residents? Is it possible that we have more in common than we realize?”

Career, educational goals

Creating Your Future: Learn and Earn Your Way to Success, a nine-session training in creating career, educational and financial goals, will be offered free by Women, Work and Community at the Bangor Center.

Classes will be held 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, April 2-June 4. Preregistration is required as space is limited. Call 262-7842 or 800-442-2092.

Celebration of Spring

The Temple of the Feminine Divine invites the public to celebrate Ostara and the return of spring at the vernal equinox ritual at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the upper hall at the Unitarian-Universalist Society church, 120 Park St. Use the door located up the hill.

Families are invited to bring their children. After the ritual, snacks and conversation will be enjoyed at Silo Seven, 118 Harlow St. The event is free, but donations are appreciated.

Brewer

Honoring U.S. Army Reserve

Rep. Charles “Dusty” Fisher of Brewer recognized the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army Reserve with a legislative sentiment approved by the House of Representatives on March 13 in Augusta. Fisher is a strong supporter of the troops and a tireless member of the Maine Troop Greeters.

The Army Reserve was established by Congress in 1908 and will celebrate its anniversary on April 23. It is composed of the Ready Reserve, Stand-by Reserve and Retired Reserve. It has a presence in 1,000 communities with 975 Reserve Centers.

“These are truly citizen soldiers, our friends and neighbors and associates at work,” the sentiment says. “Army Reserve soldiers will continue their tradition of distinguished service and sacrifice today and into the future.”

Bucksport

Helping through gardening

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an important ingredient in a healthy diet. For individuals and families with limited incomes, fresh produce can be a costly part of the household food budget. Two programs connect home gardeners and farmers with individuals and families who can benefit from the garden harvest.

H.O.M.E., Bucksport Community Concerns and the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition will sponsor a public forum at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the Jewett Community Center, Bridge Street, Bucksport.

Community residents, gardeners and farmers will learn more about the Plant A Row and Maine Senior Farm Share Programs.

Joyce Kleffner, extension educator from the Hancock County Cooperative Extension Office, will provide an overview and materials on the Plant A Row Program. Deanne Herman from Maine’s Department of Agriculture will discuss the Senior Farm Share Program.

The Plant A Row Program provides fresh fruits and vegetables to needy individuals and families in Maine. Any home gardener may participate by dedicating a row or more of fruits or vegetables that will be donated to a local food pantry program. Plant A Row was developed by the Garden Writers Association of America and is promoted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

The Maine Senior Farm Share Program engages Maine farmers to provide local produce at no cost to low-income older adults. Food is distributed directly from farms to seniors or through approved agencies, with each participating senior receiving a share worth $50 of produce during growing season. Farms are prepaid in the spring for produce they agree to provide later in the season.

For information, write: Mary Jane Bush, Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition, P.O. Drawer X, Bucksport, ME 04416, or call 469-6682.

Glenburn

Silent auction, bake sale

A silent auction to benefit Carey Bessey, who is dealing with cancer, will be held 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the cafeteria at Glenburn School. More than 120 items will be available for bidding, including an Old Town kayak, jewelry, family gift baskets with movie certificates, pizza, a stay at the Holiday Inn, membership to Gold’s Gym, 100 gallons of oil from Pelkey Fuels and Harley Davidson items.

Stop by the bake sale to pick up coffee, doughnuts, cookies, miniloaves of bread and more. Win a delicious dessert in the cake walk.

Enjoy hot pizza, hot dogs and other items for lunch. Check out the Championship Foul Shot Shootout with surrounding towns participating at noon.

A presentation to Carey Besse will be made at 2:30 p.m.

Winning bidders can pick up their items 2:30-3:30 p.m.

For information, contact Shelly Shaw at 941-6765.

Hampden

Property taxes

The due date for property taxes is Wednesday, April 2.

Hermon

Showcase of artists

The first in a series of art shows designed to showcase the talents of Maine artists is open through April 20 at Morgan Hill Event Center, Route 2.

Featuring works in mixed oil, acrylic and watercolor crayon, the show represents artists from Bangor, Hermon and Belfast. The artists range from students at the Hammond Street Senior Center in Bangor to professional artists, including Scott Small of Hampden and Kathy Clegg of Hermon.

The show was organized by Clegg, who teaches art at the Hammond Street Senior Center and has been painting for 35 years, with an emphasis on house portraits and murals in homes and public places.

She said the shows are free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Artists represented in this month’s show include Sylvia Belanger, Barbara Brookings, Charlene Brooks, Sylvia Pomroy, Gloria Sands, Scott Small, Norman Stern, Trenia Sumner, Mui Tang and Laura Tashieko.

Clegg said a new show will be hung each month. Artists interested in showing their works may contact her at 848-3829.

Orono

Dessert party and auction

Spruce Run will hold its annual Gala Dessert Party and Silent Auction 7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Buchanan Alumni House, University of Maine, to celebrate 35 years of working for peace at home.

The Gala Dessert Party is an elegant feast of fabulous desserts provided by the community’s finest restaurants and private bakers.

Chocolate has a starring role but fruit and vanilla are well-represented. Make time to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, listen to excellent jazz, bid on spectacular silent auction items and support Spruce Run at the same time. The cost of admission is $15.

For information or tickets, call Bev at 945-5102.

Jewish folklore lecture

The Maine Folklife Center at the University of Maine will present a lecture by University of Pennsylvania professor Dan Ben Amos, author and scholar on Jewish, Eastern European and Middle Eastern folklore.

“Is There a Jewish Mother in Jewish Folklore?” is the title of the talk, which is free and open to the public. It is scheduled 12:15-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union.

Ben Amos’ appearance will include a discussion of his recent publication “Folktales of the Jews,” a five-volume series to be released over the next several years.

Volume 1, “Tales from the Sephardic Dispersion” and Volume II, “Tales from Eastern Europe,” will be available at his talk. Both books won the National Jewish Book Awards on Sephardic Culture. The 71 tales have been selected from the Israel Folktale Archives at the University of Haifa, Israel.

A professor of folklore and Asian and Middle Eastern studies, Ben Amos was educated at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Indiana University.

The lecture is sponsored by the UM College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, departments of English and anthropology, and the Anthropology Club.

Information is available by calling the Maine Folklife Center at 581-1891.

Winterport

Auditions for ‘Later Life’

Winterport Open Stage has announced auditions for its upcoming production, “Later Life” by A.R. Gurney. Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 24 and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Wagner Middle School Auditorium, Mountainview Drive.

Director Jeri Misler will cast four to six men and women ages 30 and up. Actors will be asked to read from the script – no prepared monologues are required.

“Later Life” will be performed Friday and Saturday, May 9-10; and Saturday through Monday, May 17-19, at Wagner Middle School Auditorium in Winterport. For information, call Jeri Misler 223-0917.