For any family with a special-needs child, an opportunity for everyone to get away for a weekend, together, is certainly an occasion for celebration.

A weekend when all family members can escape the rigors of day-to-day living, that includes everything from the care of the individual with special needs to just doing the dishes after every meal, is a weekend worth experiencing.

The 19th annual Special Family Weekend is planned for May 31-June 2 at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.

The weekend attracts families from all over Maine who come to the Castine campus to share their experiences; and participate in workshops, family support meetings and recreational activities while enjoying outstanding entertainment.

However, in order to attend Special Family Weekend, you must register by Wednesday, May 15.

“We have to let MMA know how many to expect,” Special Family Weekend volunteer Cynthia Vaughn of Levant reports, “so we need to know, by that date, who is coming.”

You can make your reservations with Vaughn by calling her at 884-8898.

Vaughn wanted to make sure, she said, “that people understand this weekend is for families of any child, of any age, with special needs of any kind.”

And she’s very excited about the entertainment this year.

“The big thing is that Frog Mountain Puppets of Bar Harbor will be there,” she said. “They will come in Saturday afternoon, before the show, so that the kids will get to ‘meet’ the puppets in child care before the show.”

She also explained that although the cost of the weekend has not yet been made final, “it will be very affordable.”

So, if you’re looking for a wonderful getaway weekend for your special family, call and register for this event that’s been designed with you in mind.

Caring Connections, a cooperative program of the YWCA Bangor-Brewer and Eastern Maine Medical Center of Bangor, invites you to learn about stress, how it affects our health, and acquire some positive suggestions on how to cope with it.

The Bone Health Information and Support Groups have planned two sessions on stress.

One session is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, and the other is 10 a.m. Friday, April 26. Both meetings will be held at the YWCA’s Isaac Farrar Mansion, 17 Second Street in Bangor.

Counselor Susan Hoovler-Russell will conduct the meetings, which are intended to help you gain insight into this particular aspect of our lives that can have a negative effect upon our physical and mental health.

For information, call the YWCA at 941-2808.

Marla Saliba of the Greater Bangor-Brewer 4th of July Celebration called to inform readers who are interested in participating in the Fourth of July parade that they should call parade chairman Fred Brown of Merrill Merchants Bank at 942-4800.

“They can call him if they want to participate, or if they have any questions about the parade.”

Members of the local police and fire departments will be grand marshals for this year’s parade.

Saliba also emphasized that the 4th of July Corp., which is sponsoring the event, is hoping not to have to “depend on big corporations” to fund the celebration, and said her group is actively seeking the support of everyone in helping to the costs.

“Small donations are wonderfully, graciously accepted,” she said.

“We want people to know that contributions of $5 or $10 are just fine and that, in fact, we hope to get more of them because the big corporations are always asked to do so much.”

Donations of any amount to help support this celebration can be send to Bangor 4th of July Corp., c/o Marla Saliba, 46 North Main St., Brewer 04412.

Members of the Center Drive School PTG in Orrington are conducting two fund-raisers, one of which is in process, and the other upcoming.

The current fund-raiser is a first release in a series of original Fernwood of Maine keepsake collectibles at $18 each, which are being sold exclusively through the Center Drive School PTC.

Production of the first shipment is limited, so if you want to add these local landmarks to your collection, you need to order them as soon as possible.

Orders can be made by calling PTG President Angela Rosengren at 825-3068.

Proceeds benefit the PTG’s support of the educational efforts of Center Drive students and faculty.

Also, the group is planning a spring fair set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, which includes booths and a yard sale.

One of the major fund-raisers for this organization, the profits are earmarked to help support the expanding arts programs offered at the school.

If you would like to rent space in the yard sale, or have questions about the fair, call Rosengren.

If you or your community group is interested in renting a booth to sell your products or services, or to increase awareness of your groups’ cause, call Sue Pate at 825-4143.

Amy Lorenzo reports that the recent Hampden Children’s Day bowl-athon to raise funds for this summer’s upcoming event “was a tremendous success, with 10 teams participating” and more than $3,000 raised.

“It was a lot of fun, and everyone enjoyed themselves,” she added.

The HCD committee “appreciates the time and effort that everyone contributed,” she wrote while extending the committee’s thanks to the participating teams: Town & Country Realtors, McK’s Variety, Hampden Fire Department, Sunrise Glass, Hampden Wellness Committee, the Pindevils and three teams from PDQ Door.

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