For three years now, three members of the Hermon Historical Society have been working on what Rosanne Gray describes as “a history of Hermon; as complete and as accurate as it can possibly be.”

Gray, Mary Gaudreau and Bunny Heath have undertaken a monumental task as they search out the history of their community and the stories of all who contributed to it.

“We’re going back to the early, early settlements, the 1800s and before,” Gray said. “We have just about finished the part about the veterans in Hermon, and we have been working on that since last June. That was a year’s work.”

But now they’ve reached a dead end, and they need your help.

The women can find nothing, absolutely nothing, about the history of Girl Scouts in Hermon.

Gray said they plan a chapter on the Girl Scout movement in that community, “but I’m having trouble locating someone to talk to about when it started here.”

“I would like to talk with anyone who has been a field director, or a president, of the Abnaki [Girl Scout] Council to get more information.”

She knows that the Abnaki Council began in 1962, so it is possible Girl Scouts could have been organized in Hermon about that time, but it might have been even earlier.

The women would love to hear from anyone who can help them complete this special chapter in their history of Hermon. If you can help, you are asked to call Gray at 848-3862, or write her at 12 Stage Road, Hermon 04401.

If you would prefer, you can get reach Gaudreau by e-mail at meg@midmaine.com.

Compiling a community’s history is a daunting task, and these women are to be highly commended for undertaking that responsibility. I hope someone out there can help them fill in their missing chapter on the history of Girl Scouts in Hermon.

The 10th season of the award-winning University of Maine Youth Sports Program opens Monday, June 24, on the Orono campus.

If your family meets Department of Health and Human Services income guidelines, you should not miss the opportunity to register your child or children for this wonderful, free day camp.

The six-week program, which is valued at $1,000 per participant, is a partnership between the U.S. government and participating universities, with oversight by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The camp offers sports from swimming to soccer, as well as math-science laboratory activities and an outdoor adventure for children between the ages of 10 and 16 who live within an hour’s distance of Orono.

The program provides transportation, a breakfast snack and lunch, and runs from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 2.

Directed by Professor of Education Steve Butterfield, the program is committed to helping campers achieve the goals of believing in themselves, getting along with others and experiencing success through individual and team achievement.

To register or receive more information, call the camp’s UMaine office at 581-2466, or e-mail diane.legrande@umit.maine.edu.

The latest word from Bill Rae and staff at Manna Ministries in Bangor is that the organization needs supplies, not only for individuals who obtain their meals there, but also other food providers who depend on support from Manna.

Manna staff reports the organization is out of boxed macaroni and cheese, baked beans, all types of pasta except lasagna, all kinds of canned soups, and 8-inch Styrofoam plates for its soup kitchen.

They remind you that in the first quarter of this year, more than 36,000 families and individuals received food either from soup kitchens or food pantries throughout Penobscot County, and that Manna supplied 23 percent of that food.

Items can be dropped off at Manna from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 180 Center St. in Bangor.

For more information, call Manna at 990-2870.

We said farewell this week to a man whose life can truly be said to “have counted” far and above whatever he might have believed: A man whose professional career and outside activities made a marked difference in the lives of people of all ages – of all generations.

A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Nathan “Nat” Diamond was 81 when he died last week in Bangor of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Nat was an integral part of the flavor of this community and region, especially through his teaching and his music, which ranged from the Nat Diamond Band to the 195th Army Band.

He was a beloved math teacher, an honored veteran and a greatly appreciated supervisor for the American Contract Bridge League while doing a little painting, photography and gardening on the side.

Many of these activities – particularly his band and bridge – he did in partnership with his wife, Ellie, to whom he was married for 57 years.

To Ellie and her family, who were so fortunate to be so loved, I extend my sincerest condolences on the passing of this man whose trumpet is now silent, but whose melodious memories will live on forever.

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

990-8288.