Bangor

Big Red Redemption Center

Big Red Redemption Center, a program of Community Health and Counseling Services, is observing its 20th year as a return outlet for recyclable bottles and cans. As part of that observance, Big Red will hold an open house Saturday, May 10, at the redemption center on 12 Barker St.

Big Red and Community Health and Counseling Services have partnered with radio station WBZN-FM 107.3 for a two-hour live remote broadcast from Big Red at 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Free soda, hot dogs and popcorn will be available for all who attend. There will be opportunity to learn more about Big Red and its recycling efforts, as well as CHCS, a private, nonprofit home health and mental health agency that provides services to regional people, families and communities.

For information on the open house and Big Red call Diane Nelson at 947-0366.

Bookmark Contest

The Children’s Room of Bangor Public Library is sponsoring its 12th annual Summer Reading Bookmark Contest. The theme is “Laugh It Up @ Your Library.” The winner will have his or her design professionally printed by Furbish-Roberts and distributed during the summer reading program.

To enter, you must be 5 to 14 years old; use the theme in your design; use only two colors, but no yellow; use 6-by-2-inch paper (available at the Children’s Desk); turn in the entry by May 31; and write your name and phone number on the back of the entry. To learn more, call 947-8336, Ext. 111.

Auditions for play

Northern Lights Theatre will hold auditions for “Why We Have a Body,” an all-female play, at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 120 Park St.

Cast members will be chosen from among women who can play ages 25 to 50, though they don’t necessarily have to be that age. The play will tour from late June to mid-July. For information, call 990-2518.

ArtsShare

Bangor Region Arts and Cultural Council’s ArtsShare will feature University of Maine artist James Kinehan and Linda Jaffe, 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Bangor Public Library.

Linehan will discuss and show slides of his work. Jaffe, executive director of the Bangor Museum and Center for History, will discuss the museum’s upcoming exhibit, “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage,” focusing on several ethnic groups which contributed to the culture of Bangor. For more information, call 990-2805.

Health video, info

Caring Connections will present a video and information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome as part of the Bone Health and Information Support Group at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the Isaac Farrar Mansion at the YWCA.

Officials said that Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects as many as one in five adults in this country. For information, call Robin Long at 941-2808.

Contest for Communities

The Maine Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Sports, Health and Wellness will present the fifth Contest for Communities awards at the State House Hall of Flags, 2-4 p.m. May 15, in Augusta. People and programs will be recognized for the role they play in supporting a healthy Maine through physical fitness and sports programs.

Community Health and Counseling Services’ Fitness and Wellness Program in Bangor and the UMaine Trail System of the University of Maine Recreation Department in Orono received honorable mention in the contest.

To learn more about the about the contest, visit www.mainephysicalactivity.org.

Gay Nineties Revue

It will be a show of bustles, beaux and Gay ’90s bathing suits when the Y-Players present a Gay Nineties Revue at 7 p.m. May 9 and 16; and 2 p.m. May 11, 16 and 18, at the Bangor-Brewer YMCA.

The Y-Players will stroll through the park, dance on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, meet you in St. Louis, ride in a merry Oldsmobile and take an excursion on Moonlight Bay while the band plays on. Admission is by donation. For more information, call 941-2815.

‘I Hate Hamlet’

Penobscot Theatre Company-Maine Shakespeare Festival continues the 2003 season with Paul Rudnick’s comedy, “I Hate Hamlet,” directed by Chris Dolman.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, 16 and 17; 5 p.m. Saturday, May 10; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 11 and 18; 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15; student matinee 10 a.m. Friday, May 16.

“I Hate Hamlet” is the story of Andrew Rally, a successful television actor who learns that his apartment was the home of famous Shakespearean actor John Barrymore, whose Hamlet was legend.

The cast includes Patrick Zeller, Michael Mendelson, Alexie Gilmore, James Bocock, Caroline Lowery and Catherine LeClair. Greg Mitchell designed sets, Sandra London designed costumes and Lynne Chase did lighting design.

Tickets for Penobscot Theatre and Maine Shakespeare Festival productions can be purchased by calling 942-3333. Information is available at www.PenobscotTheatre.org, or www.MaineShakespeare.org.

“I Hate Hamlet” is produced in part with support from the Maine Times magazine, Bangor Daily News, WLBZ 2, WBZN, WEZQ, and Eaton Peabody.

Fire Department open house

The Bangor Fire Department will sponsor an open house to mark the beginning of Emergency Medical Services Week, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Station 5, Hogan Road.

The LifeFlight helicopter, the DEEMI search and rescue helicopter, fire engines and ambulances will be on display. Activities include the Penobscot County smoke trailer, a Roll-Over Seatbelt Convincer, Jaws of Life demonstration, Capital Ambulance’s free blood-pressure clinic and free car-seat safety checks. For more information, call the Bangor Fire Department at 942-6335.

Bangor Humane Society

Members of the Penobscot County Master Gardeners have volunteered to spruce up the grounds, dog walk area and pet cemetery at Bangor Humane Society. Those who would like to help can call Barb Friedman at 942-8902, Ext. 115, or e-mail barbara@bangorhumane.org.

Volunteers who have recently donated time and resources to other needs of Bangor Humane Society are Altrusa International, Pi Kappa Alpha, Kathy Black, Arthur Benson, Merle Eager, Tom Grocze, Cindy Papken, Leanne Parks, Ashley Sharifan, Norma Worley, Jim Young and Les Myers.

The role of hospice

Westgate Manor will kick off National Nursing Home Week with an educational presentation, “The Role of Hospice,” 7-8 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Westgate Manor, 750 Union St.

Family members will learn about when loved ones would qualify for hospice and what services it provides. Guest speakers are Dr. Toby Atkins, Independent Medical Associates; registered nurse Becky Rosen, CHCS; and registered nurse Lorraine Romano, CHCS.

For more information, call Brenda Cough or Elaine Brown at 942-7336.

Moms support group

The MOMS Club, an international support group for at-home mothers, has started a new chapter for the Bangor-Brewer area.

“With so many mothers working outside the home today, it can be extremely hard for stay-at-home mothers to meet each other,” said Leigh-Anna Lavoie, founder and president of the new local group. “The Moms Club allows at-home mothers to get together in a supportive atmosphere.”

The MOMS Club is the only international organization for at-home mothers. Each month, the local group has park play days, special outings for mothers and children, mom’s night out, baby-sitting co-ops, coupon swaps and play groups for preschoolers. All meetings are held during the day and mothers may bring children.

The next business meeting for the local group of the International MOMS Club will be 9-10 a.m. Friday, May 30, at the Bangor Public Library Lecture Hall. For information about the organization or to hear about upcoming activities, call Leigh-Anna Lavoie at 945-6298.

Cherish the Children Walk

Maine Adoption Placement Service will hold its first annual Cherish the Children Walk, 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at Fairmount Park. The walk will benefit birth-mother outreach and parenting support services of the My Choice program. The event features a 1.5-mile walk through the park, a family picnic and children’s activities. To obtain information or a pledge sheet, call 941-9500.

Brewer

Local home on HGTV

A well-known red brick home at 171 Wilson St. will be featured on “If Walls Could Talk.”

Scott Hamilton, who owns the home with Paul Noddin, said the pair has been waiting since HGTV shot the segment last August to find out when it would air. Cable channel HGTV will air the segment during the show at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11.

Hamilton and Noddin acquired the house in 1994 and spent months restoring it – their eighth such project.

The house was built in 1836 for the James Warren family at a cost of $800. About 1890, Marcellus Veazie, grandson of railroad baron Gen. Samuel Veazie, purchased it. The next owners were members of the Dooey family, who lived there until 1994.

The work involved removing additions that weren’t original to the house, repairing the exterior and updating the wiring, plumbing, heating and insulation. Other tasks were scraping off a century’s accumulation of paint, replastering walls and restoring hardware, shutters, fireplaces and original wood floors.

Brewer Class of 1993

The Brewer High School Class of 1993 is planning a 10-year reunion. Members of the class are invited to provide their mailing addresses and e-mail addresses, if applicable, to class president Michael Johnson at 622-1962, at mrj1358@yahoo.com, or the Web site at www.brewerhighschool.org.

The reunion is scheduled for July 25-27.

Glenburn

Fun Days Celebration

Carey Besse, Glenburn recreation director, is seeking groups and organizations to volunteer to participate in a parade or to provide a demonstration during the Glenburn Fun Days Celebration. The event is planned for June 28 at Glenburn Elementary School and June 29 at Lakeside Landing. To learn more, call Besse at 945-3119.

Hampden

Spinning workshop

A one-day workshop for beginning spinners will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in Hampden. The class will include selecting and preparing fiber to spin, the use of hand spindles and other techniques for spinning without a wheel, basic dyeing techniques, and the chance to learn to spin on six foot-powered wheels.

Instructor Helen York has been spinning for 24 years, and was the speed spinning champion of New England three consecutive years. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in arts and crafts, and is the founder of Aunt Rhodie’s Yarns, which sells yarns and fibers across the country.

Class size is limited to six. For information or registration, call 862-5388 or e-mail heyork@hotmail.com.

Hermon

Morita’s School of Dance is looking for alumni dancers interested in performing in the dance studio’s 35th anniversary performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Peakes Auditorium in Bangor. For information, call 848-5083.

Orono

Planetarium shows

The University of Maine Jordan Planetarium in Wingate Hall is offering two public star shows during May. “Our Place in Space: Traveling through the Universe” at 7 p.m. Fridays is for ages 12 to adult. It is an adventure that takes visitors from the center of the earth to the outer reaches of the universe to explore our place in space.

“Our Sky Family” at 2 p.m. Sundays is for ages 4 to 8. It is a light-hearted star show featuring a cast of characters, including Father Sun, who introduces visitors to the planetarium and the solar system.

Admission is $4, $3 for children and senior citizens. Reservations are recommended. Call 581-1341 for information and reservations.

Orrington

Watercolor paintings

Elizabeth M. Littlejohn has donated to Orrington Public Library two watercolor paintings by Maine artist Susan Knowles Jordan in memory of her husband, Robert Littlejohn. The paintings can be viewed during regular library hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The library is located at 15 School St., off Center Drive.

Robert Littlejohn served on the Orrington library committee for four years, two as chairman, the school building committee and on the town’s board of selectmen for nine years.

To learn more about the library and paintings, call librarian Peggy Capen at 825-4938.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin