Absolutely delightful was my reaction to an e-mail from Dave Wollstadt of Old Town, who wrote with this “comforting commentary” relating to Riverfest 2003, Old Town’s three-day celebration that takes place this weekend.

“If you happen to come up to Old Town’s Riverfest celebration,” Wollstadt wrote, “you might note that this will also be the inauguration of the new ‘comfort station’ that has been erected in the city’s waterfront park.”

Wollstadt considers the establishment of this facility newsworthy because it was constructed through a unique partnership between the city of Old Town and the Old Town Rotary Club, he said.

Wollstadt wrote that starting in July, Rotarians volunteered nights and weekends to build the structure and do the landscaping, painting and interior finish work.

The city, he explained, provided the building materials and paid subcontractors to do the masonry, roofing and siding, plumbing and electrical work.

The project, he wrote, “was completed this past week, just in time for Riverfest.”

Wollstadt added with pride that club president Charlie Oliver of Milford “estimates that the club’s use of volunteer labor reduced the total cost of the project by about $35,000.”

So, all of you attending Riverfest, know that, thanks to the city and the Rotary, you will be doing so in comfort!

Football and fireworks kicked off the festival last night, and one highlight of today’s activities is the parade with Old Town native and ESPN sportscaster Gary Thorne as grand marshal.

It begins at 10 a.m. today at the high school and ends at Holy Family Parish.

The Bangor Museum and Center for History features a special exhibit now through Friday, Oct. 31.

In conjunction with the Bangor Humane Society’s annual fund-raiser, Paws on Parade, which begins at 9 a.m. today at the Bangor waterfront, executive director Linda Jaffe invites you to view the temporary exhibit, “Give Me Shelter: The History of the Bangor Humane Society.”

The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission is free. For information, call 942-1900.

Lil Mayo reports a public supper is planned for 4:30-6:30 p.m. today at the Atkinson town building.

The event benefits David Hall and family, “to help with medical expenses due to cancer,” Mayo wrote.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12.

The menu includes baked beans, hot dogs, salads, casseroles, chop suey and beverages.

For information, call Mayo at 564-3191.

The public is invited to an opening reception for “Arts for the Animals Week” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Punchinella’s Fine Art, 363 Main St., Southwest Harbor.

During the weeklong event, Punchinella’s will donate 20 percent of all sales to the Acadia Wildlife Foundation.

Punchinella’s is open from noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

For more information about AWF, call director Ann Rivers, 288-4960.

Acclaimed concert pianist Frank Glazer of Porter will perform works by Beethoven, Schumann, Debussy and Liszt at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, as part of the Arlan A. Baillie Steinway Performance Series at All Souls Congregational Church on Broadway in Bangor.

Admission is free. A reception follows the performance.

You are invited to dine with Gov. John Baldacci during a spaghetti supper at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Bangor Motor Inn on Hogan Road.

The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets can be purchased at Wal-Mart stores in Bangor and Brewer.

Proceeds benefit the neonatal intensive care unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

If you can help set up or serve, call Don Emmons at 947-5254.

The folk group St. Huckleberry features Laura Gallucci on viola, Richard Silva on mandolin, Phil Pitula on bass and vocalist Mike Gallucci on acoustic guitar.

St. Huckleberry will perform an afternoon of folk and blues music at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Winterport Union Meeting House, Route 1A in Winterport.

Also performing will be guitarist-dobro player Phil Kaelin, who will perform original compositions.

Tickets are $5 at the door. Proceeds benefit the WUMH Roof Repair Fund.

A new network to provide information and support for women with heart disease will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at Affiliated Health Care System, Union Street, Bangor.

For more information about the group affiliated with WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, call Alice Page at 285-7592.

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