Bangor

Employees of Maine Public Broadcasting collected teddy bears and stuffed animals during the holiday season for hospitals in Bangor, Lewiston and Portland.

In Bangor, Elna Campbell-Wade, human resources assistant, presented the toys to the pediatrics unit at The Acadia Hospital. Campbell-Wade and Richard McNutt, director of human resources, presented the stuffed animals to the extended care unit and the pediatrics unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

New graduates of the certified nursing assistants program at Eastern Maine Medical Center are: Judy Poplaski, Kim Bronson, Tanya Chagnon, Paul Banville, Kim McCafferty and Liz Martin.

Lilian Mahan is the interim department head of respiratory medicine at Eastern Maine Medical Center. For 20 years, she has been supervisor and clinical coordinator of the department.

Susan F. Cullen is now clinical nurse educator of the Rosen Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at EMMC. In recent years she has worked in both the ICU and NICU.

Mike Lantz, a licensed clinical social worker, is now employed in the Employee Assistance Program at Affiliated Health Services. He is trained in couples and adolescent counseling, and has experience in substance abuse work.

John I. McKay retired from the EMMC Paint Shop in December after 26 years.

NASCAR Winston Cup racing driver Ricky Craven, a native of Newburgh, visited patients and parents in pediatrics at EMMC over the holidays and delivered gifts from Wal-Mart.

Jack E. Quirk received the Norbert X. Dowd Award recently during the 91st annual dinner of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

Albert Randall of Bangor received four military medals Jan. 11 for service during World War II. The ceremony was held at Bangor City Hall, with U.S. Rep. John Baldacci presenting the medals.

Women with Wings is looking for an artist to do the cover art for its CD and songbook, “Hand in Hand & Heart to Heart,” to be published later this spring. Those interested should send a sample of their work and ideas to Women with Wings Art Search, P.O. Box 1125, Bangor, ME 04402. For information, call 990-0131.

Women are welcome to join the group, which sings at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Park Street.

Manna Ministries is looking for donations of several items to help it serve other food providers: tuna, eight-inch foam plates, baked beans, soup, toothpaste, shampoo and canned spaghetti products. Donations may be dropped off 8-5:30 p.m. weekdays at Manna, 180 Center St., telephone 990-2870.

Dedham

The Dedham Board of Selectmen is establishing a screening committee to help search for a treasurer-tax collector-finance director and a town clerk-office assistant, to be employed July 1.

Two committee positions are open for Dedham residents. Those interested in serving should send a letter by Jan. 31 to Alfred Jellison, chairman, Town of Dedham, P.O. Box 760, Holden, ME 04429, or drop it off at the town office.

Hermon

The Hermon Little League Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Municipal Building.

Old Town

Chad Hayes, a senior at the University of Maine, has been invited to play in the Rotary Gridiron Classic at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Hayes, a graduate of Old Town High School, is spending this week practicing with other all-stars from across the country.

As a member of the University of Maine Black Bears football team, Hayes was named first-team All-Atlantic 10; first-team All-American, American Football Coaches Association; and he also was named to several second teams.

Randy Nason, general manager of Signature Professional Cleaners, a division of Keith Trembley Builders Inc. in Old Town, has been certified as a master restoration technician by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration.

Nason has traveled the country to receive training and become certified in nine specialties: carpet cleaning; upholstery and fabric cleaning; journeyman cleaning technician; journeyman water restoration; journeyman fire restoration; water damage restoration; odor control; carpet repair and reinstallation; and fire and smoke restoration.

Orono

Orono Parks and Recreation will hold its annual Valentine Dance from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Orono Middle School gym.

Boys and girls in grades one through five are welcome to attend with a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, older sister or brother, or other special adult for an unforgettable night. There will be music, dancing, games, dessert and refreshments. Sport coats and dresses are the suggested attire. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 a couple, and $2 per additional child. For information, contact the recreation office at 866-5065.

Orono Parks and Recreation will hold a Little Master Chefs Program for 4- and 5-year-olds on Wednesdays, Feb. 6, 13 and 27, and March 6. The class is intended to promote independence, develop self-confidence, and teach children to be clean and careful while preparing and eating food. The cost is $8 for Orono residents, $12 for nonresidents. Sponsored by Orono Parks and Recreation, 866-5065.

Orono Community Theatre will hold an organizational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 downstairs at Keith Anderson Community Center on Bennoch Road.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the next production and plans for future projects. Those interested in joining the theater, whether to work on stage or back stage, are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served.

For information, contact Orono Parks and Recreation at 866-5065.

Dog licenses must be renewed by Jan. 31. The second payment on property taxes is due at the town office Feb. 8.

Flu shots are available from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays through January in the Orono town nurse’s office at the municipal building.

The winter parking ban extends through April 15. Motor vehicles must be parked off streets between midnight and 8 a.m.

The Orono Fire Department purchased a portable defibrillator with the assistance of a $1,000 grant from The Prudential Helping Hearts Program. Jan Currier of Prudential presented the grant Jan. 14 to Fire Chief Loren LeCleire. By the end of 2000, Prudential had made grants to some 2,400 squads.

Winterport

Priscilla Platt of Yarmouth, a former resident of Winterport, was named Volunteer of the Year by Maine Public Broadcasting.

Platt is a seven-year member of the Maine Public Broadcasting Community Advisory Board.

MPBC officials said Platt was instrumental in developing new governing policies to improve the effectiveness of the board. In addition, she devoted many hours assisting MPBC staff as they responded to programming changes.

While a resident of Winterport, Platt was a librarian at Eastern Maine Medical Center and a school librarian for SAD 22.