Bangor residents can take pride in the fact that the city’s recycling program is one of the largest voluntary curbside recycling programs in the state, with a high rate of combined commercial and residential participation.

Taking that fact into consideration would lead one to believe that residents of Bangor should be able to come up with some fantastic recycled artwork – the talented among us, at least.

You have a chance to prove what type of art can be produced if you participate in Keep Bangor Beautiful’s fourth annual Recycled Art Contest, which will be judged between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday, May 12, at the Bangor Recycling Center, 530 Maine Ave., in Bangor.

The only requirement for your entry is that the art be created from recycled and-or recyclable materials.

Last year, 65 entries were judged in a variety of categories.

It is the goal of the sponsor, Keep Bangor Beautiful, that this year’s contest will attract at least 100 entries, said Judy Vardamis of KBB.

The judging is based on three criteria, which carry equal weight: artistic content, imaginative use of recyclable material, and conveying a message that encourages people to recycle and reuse.

Entries must be delivered to the Bangor Recycling Center for judging on the day of the event.

Cash prizes will be awarded in the following grades and categories: kindergarten through grade five, grade six through grade eight, grade nine through grade 12 and adult.

In those categories, the first-place cash prize is $100, with $50 for second place and $25 for third place.

Ribbons will be awarded for runner-up places in those categories, Vardamis said.

The family-group-collaborative category will award first through third prizes and best overall.

As always, everyone is welcome to enter and encouraged to participate individually, as a family or as a group entry.

Winners will be notified by telephone.

You should remember, however, that unless you specify otherwise prior to the judging, your artwork becomes the property of Keep Bangor Beautiful.

For more information about the contest, write to: Keep Bangor Beautiful, P.O. Box 1548, Bangor 04402-1548, or call the Keep Bangor Beautiful office at 990-1201.

Representatives of the Abnaki Girl Scout Council hope you will join them in honoring the 1,100 troop leaders Sunday, April 22, which is designated by Girl Scouts of the United States of America as Girl Scout Leaders’ Day.

This is an opportunity for you to say “thank you” to those volunteers who are making a difference in the lives of 5,000 Maine Girl Scouts in northern, eastern and central Maine.

Individuals volunteer to help those young people who range in age from the 5-year-old Daisy Girl Scouts to the Brownies, who are between the ages of 6 and 8, to Junior Girl Scouts, Cadette Girl Scouts and Senior Girl Scouts.

Laura Johnson Dorrer, Abnaki Council director of adult development, urges you to join her in recognizing that what these individuals do is important, because it is “helping our girls grow strong.”

She also urges you to thank these leaders “for making Girl Scouting happen for our girls.”

We join Dorrer in extending to those volunteers our best wishes for a happy Girl Scout Leaders’ Day.

Although Manna Ministries, which operates a soup kitchen at 180 Center St. in Bangor, continues to receive financial support from individuals and organizations throughout the state, it still needs specific help at specific times.

For example, although Manna this week received a $1,000 donation from the Maine Credit Union Campaign for Ending Hunger, Manna still needs special items to help respond to people’s needs.

Manna has run out of spaghetti noodles, macaroni noodles, canned tuna fish and boxes of macaroni and cheese.

If you can donate any of these items to Manna, it would be greatly appreciated.

The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To the members of the Maine Credit Union League, our congratulations on an extremely successful 2000 Campaign for Ending Hunger.

The MCUL set a new record with more than $143,000 raised this year, which is $10,000 more than the previous high.

Children currently in treatment for cancer, as well as children up to 10 years in post-treatment for cancer, are eligible to attend Camp Rainbow, which runs from Sunday, June 17, to Saturday, June 23, at Camp Jordan on Branch Lake in Ellsworth.

The American Cancer Society, in cooperation with Eastern Maine Medical Center, the Bangor Ronald McDonald House and the Bangor YMCA’s Camp Jordan, offers this free camping experience to children with cancer, thanks to financial contributions from friends and donors to ACS.

Children ages 4 through high school, as well as their siblings, can participate in traditional camp activities, meet others affected by cancer and enjoy the opportunity to boost their self-esteem and confidence while strengthening supportive relationships and just having fun.

Children ages 4-6 may attend with a parent or guardian; those 7 and older may attend alone. Attendance is subject to approval of the medical director.

And while children from Maine are given preference in being considered for admission to Camp Rainbow, children from other states can apply as well.

For information about attending Camp Rainbow, or to obtain an application, call Cheryl Tucker at ACS, (800) 464-3102, Ext. 3709.

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