November 08, 2024
Column

Cool Cafe to warm Winterfest

Most often, we associate Jan Cox with news about happenings of the Brewer Hometown Band, which she directs.

But this time she is “wearing another hat” to provide information for readers.

Cox is a member of the Penobscot Landing Advisory Committee, which is hosting the inaugural Brewer Family Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 22.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in front of the Muddy Rudder Restaurant, Steve Griffith of the University of New Hampshire will create three Brewer-related ice sculptures.

You are invited to watch him work and enjoy coffee and hot chocolate, compliments of the Muddy Rudder.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Doyle Field, individuals or teams of up to 10 members can participate in the Snow Creations contest, with judging and prizes awarded at 3 p.m.

Weather permitting, the Winterfest will end with a bonfire from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Doyle Field.

But what Cox wants to be sure people know is that there will be a Cool Cafe, which she describes as “a warm-up spot,” open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Seniors Room of the Brewer Auditorium.

“We will be serving free coffee, tea, cocoa and Munchkins donated by Dunkin’ Donuts,” she wrote.

She also wants you to know that, throughout the day, live entertainment will be featured in the Cool Cafe.

The Brewer Hometown Band’s Skyliners, “a fantastic swing band under the direction of Peter Polk,” will be playing from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., she wrote.

Then it’s 6 Basin Street, “the all-woman Dixieland group headed by Jan Klitch,” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Theresa Laliberte will lead the Sweet Adelines in four-part harmony from 12:20 to 1 p.m., followed by the Penobscot Winds, formed by Bill Stetson, performing from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.

Closing out the entertainment portion of the day will be the Sweet Adelines from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

“All of these talented musicians are volunteering their time for this event,” Cox wrote, while adding that, “of course, each group has a number of Brewer Hometown Band members, who spread their great gifts in many ways.”

Cox hopes “lots of participants from the day’s festivities,” as well as many others, “will join us for a bit of entertainment and good fellowship over a warm beverage.”

“All this will lead up to the announcement of the winners of the snow sculpting contest at Doyle Field,” which, she wrote, “should all add up to a glorious winter fun day.”

An effort is under way at Center Drive School in Orrington to create a Wall of Fame containing photographs of all the boys and girls basketball teams since that program began.

Boys basketball coach Raymond Vear of Brewer is heading up the project, and he needs your help.

“We have the first- and second-year pictures of the boys teams from 1963-64 and 1964-65,” he said.

And the only reason he has those, he explained, is that his assistant coach, Bob Phillips of Orrington, was a member of the ’63-’64 team, and Phillips’ brother was on the ’64-’65 team.

“But, from there to 1980, we don’t have anything,” Vear said.

He would like anyone who has original photographs of teams from 1965-66 on, boys and girls, to send those photographs to the school.

“We will be glad to take them, have a copy made, and return the original photograph to the owner,” Vear said.

Photographs can be mailed to Pauline Dickey, Center Drive School, 17 School St., Orrington 04474.

If you have questions about this project, you can call Vear at 989-6214 or Dickey at 825-3697.

Maine patrons who participated in McDonald’s World Children’s Day by making specific purchases at local restaurants on Nov. 20, 2002, helped raise an estimated $12,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine.

Nationwide, an estimated $15 million to $20 million was raised by McDonald’s restaurants to benefit children throughout the country.

Gary Eckmann, treasurer of RMHC of Maine, and owner-operator of restaurants in Bangor, Brewer and Dover-Foxcroft, expressed his gratitude for support of the program, which raised “this much money in such a short period of time.”

McDonald’s World Children’s Day coincides with the anniversary of the United Nations adoption of the Convention of the Rights of the Child on Nov. 20, 1989.

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


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