How fortunate we are to have the opportunity, particularly at this time, to celebrate our diversity so close to home.

The International Student Association and the Office of International Programs at the University of Maine is sponsoring Culturefest 2001 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Memorial Gymnasium field house on the Orono campus.

The daylong event culminates International Week, which runs now through Saturday.

Culturefest 2001 is a celebration of international cultures represented on the UMaine campus.

“What the recent events have shown us is that we, more now than ever, need to have a real understanding of the people of the world,” said James Leck, international student and scholar adviser at UMaine.

Culturefest, which is free and open to the public, is most meaningful in view of the tragic events of Sept. 11, and affords us all the chance to recognize and reaffirm the simple fact that we are a nation of multiple heritages.

“After Sept. 11, we realize the need to come together as citizens, from all countries in the world,” said Karen Boucias, director of the Office of International Programs, “and Culturefest does that for us, both at the University of Maine and for our community.”

Culturefest is a long-standing university-sponsored event, “and our students work very hard” to provide information about their countries, Boucias added.

Leck reports that Culturefest will feature “a variety of country-culture exhibits” and the opportunity to purchase foods from around the world.

Sviata Duma, a group from Winterport that sings Bulgarian folk songs, will open the talent show at 1:30 p.m. to honor the 10th anniversary of the American University of Bulgaria and the University of Maine’s unique relationship with AUBG, Leck reports.

Also, as part of the talent show, Leck said, a group of international students representing six countries from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor will perform a “candle dance.”

A style show follows the talent show and features traditional clothing from more than 20 countries.

Children’s activities will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the field house, and it is expected that 200 international and domestic students from nearly 20 countries will participate.

Among them will be Ebenezer Obeng-Nyarkoh, who will tell a story and teach youngsters a song from Ghana; Anastasia Kalea, who will teach Greek dancing; and Wei Chen, who will demonstrate paper cutting and writing names with a brush in Chinese.

Members of the Latino student club, Los Colores Unidos, will teach Latino dances, and Julile Colis of the Philippines will tell a traditional story.

Of course, Culturefest would not even take place without the dedication and hard work of the international students themselves.

Shamarukh Mohiudin of Bangladesh and Ukeme Awakessien of Nigeria are co-chairing the event. Asiya Varbanova of Bulgaria heads the exhibits committee; Alex Poulev of Bulgaria leads the food sale committee; and Anand Tapria of Nepal is in charge of the style show committee. Chitra Ramalingham of India will serve as mistress of ceremonies for the talent show.

Events celebrating International Week 2001 are numerous and varied, and most are free and open to the public.

For example, you might want to stop by the Hudson Museum at the Maine Center for the Arts between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., throughout the week to view “Rhythms of Creation: A Family’s Impressions of Indigenous People of the World.”

The Office of International Programs will host an open house from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 100 Winslow Hall.

Or you can learn about international careers, short-term work abroad and the Peace Corps by listening to an international careers panel from 2:15 to 3 p.m. in the Coe Room of the Memorial Union.

Culturefest brochures are available throughout the campus, and a complete schedule can be viewed by visiting www.ume.maine.edu/~international.

But for most people, the major event of the week is Culturefest, and those who have worked so hard preparing this special day certainly hope you will attend.

Here is a clarification of a short article that was printed in our paper on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

It was not obvious from the wording of the press release supplied to the NEWS that a support group for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease is being formed by Wayne Moore, L.C.S.W., and Mary Lingley, R.N., of Neurology Associates of Eastern Maine, P.A.

Moore called to say that some people apparently interpreted the article as indicating the group is ongoing, but that is not the case. It is not yet organized and no meeting dates have been established.

Moore reports “the group will begin meeting after a minimum of six individuals have expressed interest” in forming such a group.

Thanks to the cooperation of staff at Westgate Manor in Bangor, that facility will provide a meeting space for this new group, which will meet concurrently with the Westgate Alzheimer’s Support Group for Family and Friends.

The goal of the Early Stage Alzheimer’s Support Group is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which individuals can share and learn from each other’s experience with the disease.

Moore said the facilitators “will integrate informational presentations that address such topics as coping, community and financial resources, and care options.”

If you are interested in becoming a member of this support group, call Moore or Lingley at 947-0558.

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