Students, parents and staff of the GEAR UP Program of School Union 96 are “gearing up” for a special event to help a member of their school community.

Sumner Memorial High School GEAR UP adviser Bob Slayton reports that GEAR UP is sponsoring a benefit concert set for 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at SMHS in East Sullivan to help ease the financial burden on the family of SMHS freshman Joe Cusick as he receives treatment for cancer.

Cusick is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

“He’s in the middle of a long battle to overcome it,” Slayton said of the medical process that is taxing not only for the young student, but for his family as well.

Besides lost school time during this process, there is the additional lost work time for Cusick’s parents, Theresa and Daniel Meskell of Franklin, as Cusick is transported back and forth to the hospital for treatment.

Unable to attend school at the moment, Slayton said, Cusick is being tutored in an effort to keep up with his schoolwork.

The benefit concert will feature four bands -SMHS student bands The EBB and Atmospheric Distinction along with the bands Melee and Deeds of Mercy.

The requested admission at the door is a $6 minimum, but you are asked to be as generous as you can with your donation.

If you are unable to attend this enjoyable and meaningful evening that includes food and refreshments, but want to lend your support to the family at this time, you may send your donation for Joe Cusick to Sumner Memorial High School, RR 1, Box 42, East Sullivan 04607.

The sponsoring GEAR UP program is a Maine Department of Education effort to ensure that students from lower-income school districts are prepared for, and encouraged to attend, college.

GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

In this instance, I believe it could also stand for “gaining early awareness and readiness” to face life’s unexpected difficulties.

Obviously, the program is working well in Union 96, as these young people take upon themselves the responsibility of helping someone who is facing one of those unexpected difficulties.

It is not to late to register for one of the Manpower MS Walks that will be held at several sites throughout Maine.

The event, sponsored by the Maine Chapter of the National MS Society, helps raise funds for research and to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis, which is a chronic, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system.

The MS Walks in our circulation area, beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 7, are at Togus in the Augusta area, Husson College in Bangor, Camden-Rockport Middle School in Camden, Guilford Middle School in Guilford and Warsaw Middle School in Pittsfield.

The MS Walk begins at 1 p.m. at the Ellsworth Middle School and at 2 p.m. at Cary Medical Center in Caribou.

Due to weather considerations, two other walks in our area will take place next month.

The MS Walk begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Granite Street School in Millinocket and at 2 p.m. that day at the Eastport Youth Center.

You may register by calling (800) FIGHT-MS or on the day of the walk.

From Bangor attorney Marie Hansen comes word that the Penobscot County Bar Association is inviting entries for its 2002 Law Day Essay Contest.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Assuring Equal Justice for All.”

Entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, April 12.

Entrants must be grade 12 high school students, or equivalent, who reside in Penobscot County.

The essay must include the student’s name, address, phone number, high school and principal or equivalent; the student’s age and certification as a 12th-grader on a separate cover sheet; and must have no identifying information on the essay itself.

The first-place award is a $500 scholarship with $250 awarded for second place, $100 for third place and two honorable mention awards of $50 each.

Entries should be mailed to Law Day Essay Contest, Penobscot Bar Association, P.O. Box 924, Bangor 04402-0924.

Z107’s Cori Skall and radio personality Tom Morelli will host The American Freedom Rocks Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Bangor Auditorium.

The event honors members of the Maine Army National Guard, the Maine Air National Guard, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard serving in our state.

Admission is free for members of the military, and $10 each for members of the general public.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the Bangor Auditorium or at the door the evening of the event.

The opening band is The Blues Prophets, featuring Dave Gill on the harmonica.

The headline act is the funk-rock band Gemini, which has been invited to be part of the Citizen Homeland Freedom Tour, an effort coordinated by Janet Langhart-Cohen to entertain troops stateside.

Sponsors of Saturday’s concert include the Maine Times, Webb’s RV, the Sea Dog Restaurant and Trivita International.

A portion of the proceeds will go toward purchasing thermal imaging cameras for the Bangor Fire Department.

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