Got something for Community News? E-mail it to weekly@bangordailynews.net, or mail it to The Weekly, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or drop it off at the front desk of the Buck Street entrance of the Bangor Daily News, 491 Main St. Bangor.

Bangor

City Proclamations

The Bangor City Council issued several proclamations on Jan. 26 to recognize the efforts of Bangor fire, police and public works departments for their efforts in fighting the Jan. 15 fire at the Masonic Hall on Main Street.

. Firefighters were cited for battling the fire during intensely cold weather when wind chill factors were at 40 degrees below zero, for facing and responding to structural dangers when a floor began to collapse and for remaining at the fire scene for two days. During that time some firefighters worked 20 or more hours, attempting to knock down the fire.

. Police officers were praised for their efforts during the Masonic Hall fire to provide continuous scene control to protect the public and fire personnel, to redirect traffic and minimize inconvenience to the public and downtown merchants, and for their significant assistance to firefighters and public safety personnel.

. Public Works personnel also were recognized for their role in fighting the Masonic Hall fire. They provided barricades, kept catch basins open to capture water flows, removed ice accumulations from streets in the firefighting area, and assisted utility personnel as they worked to ensure uninterrupted water and electrical service to downtown.

. The Bangor City Council also proclaimed Feb. 6 to be Wear Red for Women Day in Bangor. Citizens are urged to wear red in recognition of family, friends and neighbors who have suffered from heart disease, and as a show of support to fight it.

Author, author

“Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times” will be Zoe Weil’s topic at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Borders Books. Weil is the author of “Above All, Be Kind,” which teaches parents how to raise children to be humane in the broadest sense – to become more compassionate in their interactions with family and friends, and to grow up to make life choices that demonstrate respect for the environment, other species and all people.

The book includes chapters for early, middle, teenage and young adult years. Weil is the co-founder and president of the International Institute for Humane Education. She developed the first graduate education program in humane education in the United States and conducts frequent humane education workshops.

Shoreland zoning

The City Council will hold a special meeting in conjunction with the Planning Board, board of appeals and Historic Preservation Commission. The topic of the meeting, to begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29, at City Hall, will be shoreland zoning.

Full Circle Summer Fair

Community radio station WERU-FM 89.9 in Blue Hill and 102.9 Bangor is seeking local artists to submit designs for the Full Circle Summer Fair logo. The logo will be used for posters, publications and on T-shirts. The deadline for entries is Saturday, Feb. 14. Entries should be mailed to: WERU-FM P.O. Box 170, Orland 04431.

The Full Circle Summer Fair will be held July 24-25 at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds in Blue Hill. Visit www.weru.org for more information about logo design specifics.

Mardi Gras Charity Ball

This year, the Project Atrium Mardi Gras Charity Ball, set for 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 7, at Husson College’s Peabody Hall, will take attendees back to the 1950s. Those who attend the ball are encouraged to dress up as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe or other celebrity icons of the era.

The event, which benefits Project Atrium of Bangor, includes Hula-Hoop and dance contests, and food from Montes Catering. Absolute Sound, a DJ service, will provide music. No one under age 21 will be admitted. The cost for the charity ball is $50 per person, or $500 for a table that seats 10.

Project Atrium assists young people in overcoming substance abuse and mental health issues.

To reserve tickets for the Mardi Gras ball, call 941-2825.

Union Street Brick Church

Folk musician Billy Jonas, co-founder of the musical duo The Billys, and special guest Martin Swinger will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Union Street Brick Church in Bangor.

A children’s concert will be at 3 p.m. and a musical instrument-building workshop will be at 1:30 p.m. The cost for the children’s concert is $5. The cost for the evening concert is $10 for WERU members, $12 for others. The cost of the workshop is $5 per child, free to adults who are with a child. Tickets are available at the door for both concerts. Reservations are required for the workshop. To obtain more information, call Denis at 469-6600.

Chamber of Commerce news

The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce held its 93rd annual dinner at the Bangor Civic Center Jan. 21. Mayor Shirley A. McAlary of Saint John, New Brunswick, was keynote speaker at the event.

The Chamber’s Business of the Year Award was presented to WABI-TV 5. Longtime businessman Charles F. Bragg II received the Norbert X. Dowd Award for community service.

Art and the library

The relationship between Bangor Public Library and the Bangor Art Society has a long history that goes back more than 100 years. The art society’s first exhibit at the library was 1885. This tradition will continue with an exhibit of the Bangor and Old Town art societies during February in the library’s Lecture Hall.

The Bangor Art Society has many notable alumni, including Jeremiah Hardy and his daughter, Annie, and Waldo Peirce. The society provides support, education and opportunities for local artists to enhance their talents and display their work. The society’s annual juried exhibit will be at the library in May. To learn more about the Bangor Art Society or the exhibit, call the library at 947-8336.

Corinth

Rabies clinic

The town is offering a rabies clinic from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Corinth Veterinary Clinic on Route 15.

There is a fee of $6. After Jan. 31, a $15 charge will be assessed per dog. For more information, call the Corinth Town Office at 285-3271.

Hampden

Citizens for Quality Education

The annual meeting of Citizens for Quality Education will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden. The public is invited to attend.

Locally known as CQE, the organization is a nonprofit citizens’ group in SAD 22 – Hampden, Newburgh and Winterport – working to fulfill unmet needs in the district in the areas of curriculum, character development, performing and fine arts, athletics and recreation.

In the two years since the group’s inception, members have achieved several goals, including the Hampden Academy Laptop Initiative. It funded the purchase of 28 laptops for Hampden Academy faculty, as well as providing training to use them effectively as next year’s freshmen – the first group to have experienced the junior high laptop program – enter high school.

CQE also led the charge to acquire the latest technology in distance learning, an opportunity that will allow children and adults to be included in courses that SAD 22 would otherwise be unable to provide.

Honoring HA graduate Mike Bordick for his overall achievements and record-breaking season as shortstop of the Baltimore Orioles with the newly constructed ballpark that bears his name, CQE members constructed the park at no cost to the school district or the community.

Another project is the multipurpose synthetic field, which enhanced the quality and safety of the school district’s athletic fields by constructing the first high school synthetic field in the state of Maine. CQE continues to raise money to pay off this project’s guarantors, and is at the halfway mark in the $1 million capital campaign, “Turning Dreams Into Reality.” For more information on this project, contact Jon Eames, fund-raising chairman, at 947-8611.

In addition to these major projects, members of CQE are closely tracking the progress for a new Hampden Academy, as well as continuing to raise money for new seating and a press box for the synthetic field.

All district citizens are encouraged to attend the annual meeting, CQE officials said, “and to become members of CQE – joining us in our effort to ensure greater opportunities for our children.”

For further information, contact Herb Sargent, chairman of the board, 990-1735; or Karen Reynolds, CQE secretary, 223-5255.

Hermon

Kindergarten registration

Kindergarten registration for Hermon children who will be 5 years old on or before Oct. 15 will be held 1-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9; 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10; and 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 11, at Hermon Elementary School.

Parents must bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and the child’s social security number. Children need not attend the registration. A day for children to meet teachers and to participate in screening activities is planned for April.

Levant

Pine Tree Ride-In breakfast

State Rep. Chris Greeley will be the guest speaker at the Pine Tree Ride-In breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Hungry Hollow 76ers Snowmobile Club in Levant.

Greeley will speak on legislative issues pertaining to snowmobiling, as well as general issues pertaining to Levant, Glenburn, Kenduskeag, Orono and Corinth.

For information, call Steve Galen, club president, at 884-8340.

Orono

Caucus forum

Those who wonder how the presidential caucus works and where various candidates stand on the issues will have the opportunity to learn about the process from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Keith Anderson Community Center.

Candidates will make brief presentations after an information session about the caucus process. Discussion will follow.

The Orono Peace Group and members of the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine are sponsoring the forum. To learn more, call 942-9343.

Statewide

Calling all bird watchers

The Great Backyard Bird Count organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, N.Y., runs from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 and covers the United States and Canada. Tens of thousands of people take part and Mainers, including families, individuals, school children and community groups, are asked to count the numbers and kinds of birds they see during the seventh annual bird count.

The event will create a continentwide snapshot of which bird species are where and in what numbers. The count will help researchers understand the status of birds throughout North America.

Backyards are an important way to create greenways for birds between parks and wild areas, officials said. They allow for the cultivation of native plants and provide essential sanctuary to migratory and resident birds. The Great Backyard Bird Count gives a firsthand account of how important bird-friendly backyards are to many species.

The survey is done via the Internet and participants log their sightings into the Birdsource database at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.