For staff and volunteers of the American Heart Association in our area, May and June are going to be busy months.

Deb Farnham of Hermon is the Bangor Regional Director of the AHA, and she reports that “our committees have kicked into high gear” as they plan for an upcoming stroke symposium, the 2002 Heart Ball and the J. Garrie Murray Memorial Golf Classic.

The annual AHA Stroke Symposium is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 10, in four locations: Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor and Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft.

The symposiums will offer important stroke-related information, which will be broadcast to attendees via the telemedicine network, and will feature registered nurse and author Polly Grandy Perez and Bobby Russell, manager of Zone Corp.

“Time is critical for people to respond to stroke symptoms,” Farnham said, “and our hope is to continue to educate patients, especially, that if you’ve had one stroke, you’re at risk for a second.

“And we want to educate family members and health care workers” of the warning signs of heart attack and stroke, she said.

“Mostly, it’s people listening to what their bodies are telling them, and remembering to call 911, because every minute counts.”

Tickets for the symposium are $10 for individuals, $15 for couples and $35 for health care providers.

You can call (800) 937-0944 or 848-2888 for tickets, reservations or information.

The theme for the third annual Heart Ball, which begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Norumbega Hall on Harlow Street in Bangor, is “Red, White and Blue: The American Spirit.”

The AHA Diamond Sponsor for the gala evening, which includes dinner, dancing, and a live and silent auction, is J.D. Irving Ltd.

Other 2002 sponsors of the Heart Ball are Northeast Cardiology Associates, Cardiovascular Surgery P.A., Merrill Merchants Bank, Wyeth-Ayerst, Bangor Daily News, Medtronic, Pfizer-Fujisawa, Astrazeneca, Scios, F.L. Putnam and Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker.

Dr. Robert Clough is chairman of this year’s event, during which Rick and Beth Warren of Bangor will be recognized as the Gold Heart Honorees for their outstanding community service endeavors.

Individual tickets and tables still are available by calling the above numbers.

Finally, the J. Garrie Murray Memorial Golf Classic is planned for Monday, June 24, at the Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

A limited number of teams can register, so you need to do that as soon as possible to participate in this shotgun start, best-ball scramble.

Entrants can win prizes and enjoy a dinner and auction following their rounds.

Again, call the above numbers to participate.

Amy Lorenzo of Hampden has written to report that plans are well under way for Hampden Children’s Day that “will begin with a parade at 11 a.m.” Saturday, Aug. 17, and that the Hampden Children’s Day planning committee invites all who would like to participate to be part of that parade.

The parade theme is “The Spirit of America.”

And, Lorenzo wrote, while businesses are encouraged to participate, “you do not have to be a business to enter a float or to march in the parade.

“Clubs, groups and organizations are invited to walk, march or dance in the parade.”

Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

The planning committee urges you to “gather your friends and neighbors to create a float.”

Kidspeace will provide materials and assistance for children who want to decorate their bicycles to ride in the parade.

If you want to enter a float or a group, call Lorenzo at 862-5522 to obtain a parade application.

If you need a flatbed trailer to participate, you are asked to call Carolyn Belanger at 862-3271.

I think many people need this right now, especially with this interesting “spring” weather we’re experiencing.

The Ellsworth Public Library invites you to learn about “Perpetual Posies: Creating Bloom Succession” from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the Riverview Room of the Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State St. in Ellsworth.

The program features John O’Keefe of Rocky Ridge Perennials, who will show you how to keep a steady array of flowers blooming all summer.

His slide presentation and discussion will be accompanied by handouts and a question-and-answer period.

If time and weather permits, O’Keefe might even lead a tour and explanation of the library gardens which he was instrumental in creating.

For more information about this program. or any other programs at the EPL, call Julie Gillette at 667-6363.

Denise Ireland, president of Hampden Academy Dollars for Scholars, reports only about 35 of 300 tickets remain for its second annual basket bingo which is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Hampden Academy.

If you want to purchase a ticket to attend this event, call Ireland at 947-7923.

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