Last year, Vicki Farrell and her fellow members of the Calais Rotary Club weren’t sure just how the Washington County area would respond to a new fund-raiser.

But they found the response great enough that the group is sponsoring the Second Annual Calais Rotary Club “Taste-ival,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at the Washington County Technical College gymnasium in Calais.

Last year, nearly 40 different dishes, representing countries from all over the world, were featured. The club made nearly $1,000 on the fund-raiser, Farrell said.

And that came about despite the fact fewer people attended than they hoped, she added.

Last year’s “Taste-ival” took place on a rather warm Saturday in April and, Farrell said, “I think people just wanted to go out and play that day.

“This year, we’re having it in March so maybe we’ll get people who are looking for a little cabin fever relief.”

However, in order for this project to be a sure-fire moneymaker again, your help is needed.

“We’re asking folks who have an international dish from the old country, or from a foreign country, to cook something for us,” Farrell said. “At this time, we have 14 cooks lined up, but are we hoping for many more.”

Farrell said Pepsi Bottling Group of Brewer is supplying the beverages. “And the people at the technical college are just wonderful,” Farrell added.

“If it weren’t for them providing us the space, this wouldn’t be possible.”

Farrell is also hoping to get the International Student Club at the University of Maine Machias involved in the event, as they were last year. In fact, she said, “some of the students did five or six different dishes,” which greatly increased the variety and choices available.

But it’s really up to the folks who live in the Washington County area to provide the food that will make this fund-raiser for Calais Rotary Club charities a success.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you are given dinnerware “and then you start at one end of the line and go along to the people, who are set up along the sidelines of the gym,” Farrell explained.

“You get to talk with them,” which is fun, because some of the cooks come wearing clothes of their native lands.

“And that’s something we encourage, too,” she said of people appearing in costume.

“The line does move a bit slowly, at times,” she said, “because people get talking and discovering what they really like.”

When you are seated at your table, servers bring beverages, and then it’s back to get another taste or two.

“There is a lot of food, “Farrell said.

Once the fund-raiser is officially closed, however, it’s time for the contributors to enjoy the remains, if any exist.

“Last year we had a smaller turnout that we expected so all the cooks who volunteered went to everybody else’s stations. We had quite a party,” Farrell said.

If you have a specialty foreign dish you are willing to share with others, and you think this is a good way to help the Rotary help the community, Farrell asks that you contact any Rotarian you know or call her.

Volunteer cooks can reach Farrell, during the week, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 454-2211.

“My co-workers know how important this is to me,” Farrell said of the fund-raiser, “so if anyone calls when I’m not here, they will take a message.”

We extend our heartiest congratulations to President Ruth Nason and members of the Mayo Regional Hospital Auxiliary of Dover-Foxcroft upon the completion of a significant multiyear fund-raising project.

Last month, Auxiliary members approved the final $500 contribution to complete its $26,000 pledge to pay for a bone densitometer for Mayo’s Imaging Center for Women.

Fund-raising for this piece of equipment, which assists in the diagnosis of osteoporosis, began in August 1998.

Many fund-raisers contributed to the successful completion of this Auxiliary undertaking.

The money was raised through Auxiliary sponsored events such as its annual Summerfest sale, a variety show, public suppers, candy and bake sales, bingo and game nights, its Christmas tree lighting project, raffles and the operation of the Auxiliary’s gift cabinet in the Mayo Hospital lobby.

While Auxiliary members are now in the process of selecting another worthy project to enhance hospital services,

Nason recognizes that raising money for the bone densitometer was possible not only because of the hard work of Auxiliary members, but also by the strong support of community members who participated in those fund-raising projects.

To the Auxiliary, and the community members who supported their efforts to purchase this equipment, we extend a sincere “well done.”

The Maine Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, has announced that Manpower Temporary Services will be its title sponsor for the 2001 MS Walk.

The statewide fund-raiser is scheduled for Sunday, April 22, at 13 locations in Maine, and more than half are in our circulation area.

Those walk sites are Augusta, Pittsfield, Camden/Rockport, Bangor, Ellsworth, Guilford, Eastport and Caribou.

If you are interested in helping the walk committee in your community, or in participating in the walk, call MS Walk 2001 manager Jean Spaulding, (800)-639-1330.

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

990-8288.