Last year, 919 Bangor schoolchildren in grades 3-6 participated in the United Way of Eastern Maine Camp Bangor program and the hope for this summer is that even more young city residents will take advantage of this marvelous opportunity.

Young people and their parents can learn all about the Camp Bangor program by attending the UWEM Camp Fair from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Bangor Civic Center.

The Camp Bangor program offers pupils a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Maine summer camp of their choice.

The only qualifications are that pupils meet citizenship guidelines and volunteer in the community.

UWEM vice president Nancy Roberts reported that 65 Maine camps will have representatives at the Camp Fair to explain and demonstrate what their summer camps have to offer.

And, from what she told us, it should be a most enlightening and entertaining fair.

“They’re going to be kept busy,” Roberts said of activities that will be offered to give the children “a taste of what the camp will be like.”

Camps for golf, basketball, arts and crafts, horses, music and more will have material and activities for the youngsters to get a feel for the various camp offerings.

In addition to the camp representatives, UWEM has invited several other organizations to participate in the fair.

Representatives from Bangor Public Library will be on hand to register youngsters for library cards.

State representatives of the Cub Care Program, which provides health insurance for low-income families, will be there to help people enroll in that program, Roberts said.

Since one of the qualifications for obtaining the scholarship is volunteering in the community, UWEM will have representatives of its United Volunteers program with a display and handouts to inform parents and youngsters how and where they can volunteer.

“We will also be having our citywide cleanup day on Saturday, May 5, and the youngsters can volunteer for that,” Roberts said while pointing out that the City of Bangor has been very helpful in working with UWEM on the Camp Bangor program.

“The city has been very generous in offering the Civic Center to us at reduced rate, and it will sponsor the cleanup and barbecue that follows the cleanup in May,” Roberts said.

Roberts had other great news to report about the program.

The Camp Bangor program is funded by The Libra Foundation, a private foundation established by the late philanthropist Elizabeth B. Noyce.

Originally, this would have been the second year of a two-year grant from The Libra Foundation to fund this program, which is administered through a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation.

However, last fall, Roberts said, The Libra Foundation announced it was making a 10-year commitment to the camp programs in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor.

“And The Libra Foundation has not only agreed to fund the program, but to provide funds to administer the program,” Roberts said. The first Libra grant provided funds for scholarships only.

Since the King Foundation provided administrative funds for two years, The Libra Foundation will pick up that funding beginning next year.

However, The Libra Fund administrative grant has now enabled UWEM to hire a new administrator for the Camp Bangor programs.

Sara Yasner of Orrington has joined UWEM in that capacity.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and a master’s degree in psychology from Naropa University, she most recently worked as a home-based family therapist in Machias.

The new Camp Bangor director has worked for several children’s programs, including serving as co-program director of the Bar Harbor YMCA Senior Camp.

Yasner also will coordinate UWEM’s Keeping Kids on Track and Communities for Children programs.

More than 1,000 people attended the Camp Bangor Fair last year.

Roberts said she is hoping this year even more will attend and participate in the program.

We hope so, too.

This is absolutely one of the greatest opportunities offered Bangor to children, and we hope every eligible child is able to take advantage of it and go to camp this summer.

The Maine Chapter of the 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 of those 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 local area, or in participating in the walk, call MS Walk 2001 manager Jean Spaulding, (800) 639-1330.

We remind you that Friday, March 9, is the deadline for advance orders of daffodils through the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days campaign.

The bouquets of 10 flowers for $6 can be ordered in advance by calling the ACS at (800) 464-3102, ext. 300, or 989-0332.

A minimum of five bouquets is required for delivery of daffodils.

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