Whenever our friends and neighbors step on stage as cast members in the Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary Follies, we who make up the audience roar with approval.

And that’s not just because of the good works that the proceeds from this once-every-three-year event produces, but because we just love watching folks we know entertain us as only they can.

It’s fun.

It’s funny.

It’s the Follies.

It’s for a wonderful cause.

What more can you ask of an evening out?

To kick off the 2001 EMMC Auxiliary Follies, an original production created by Bob Libbey titled “Paul Bunyan & the Aliens,” you are invited to attend director’s night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Bangor Banquet and Conference Center on Hogan Road in Bangor.

Potential performers, dancers, helpers and technical people will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar while finding out how each can lend his or her particular talent to help make this fund-raiser a success.

Peggy Youngblood, Jane Irving and Sandra Blake Leonard are co-producers of this year’s show, which opens for a two-night stand in mid-October.

Youngblood said proceeds from Follies 2001 will benefit the medical center’s neo-natal unit.

The Follies, which has been a mainstay of Auxiliary fund-raising for a number of years, “is always a lot of fun,” she added.

And those who participate “develop a special camaraderie.”

“Once they get at the work, it spreads like wildfire” she said of the enjoyment of participating in the Follies.

“Many, many people are needed” to make the event a success, Youngblood said.

And that means not just those who actually set foot on stage, but those behind the scenes who make it all come together.

“The important thing to remember is that we have many jobs that need to be done, and we hope people will find what they like,” she added.

Most of all, Youngblood wants people to attend director’s night and learn what might happen to Bangor’s own Paul Bunyan if he met up with aliens.

If, however, you are a performer, and you can’t attend director’s night, you should mark your calendar for Follies 2001 tryouts, which Youngblood said will be held Sunday and Monday, June 10-11.

If you have questions about director’s night, or about the Follies in general, call Youngblood at 989-2190, Irving at 989-1944 or Leonard at 947-5456.

Here’s a real twist on organizing a local high school reunion.

Jay Hayes of Bangor called to say he has heard from 1951 John Bapst High School classmate Bill Hanscom, who lives in New Jersey and said he is planning a 50th reunion for the JBHS Class of ’51.

According to Hayes, Hanscom said the reunion begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Miller’s Restaurant in Bangor.

Apparently, Hanscom has contacted as many members of his class as he can find, but he doesn’t have you all, so he hopes to hear from you.

Members of the JBHS Class of ’51 are welcome to write Hanscom at 33 Willow Drive, Belvidere, N.J. 07840; call him at 908-475-4912, or e-mail him at www. hanscom@yahoo.com.

Speaking of John Bapst, last month, I issued a reminder from Polly McKay of Brewer that the monthly gathering of John Bapst High School alumni had been canceled because of the Good Friday holiday.

At that time, I wrote that the group regularly meets the first Friday of each month, which was incorrect.

McKay called to ask me to remind you that the JBHS alumni meet the second Friday of each month, which means the next gathering will be 9 a.m. Friday, May 11, at Kev-Lan in Bangor.

Polly McKay hopes to see all of her old friends there.

Expect to see nearly 1,000 people hard at work throughout the city of Bangor from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 5, as pupils and families participate in United Way of Eastern Maine’s citywide cleanup.

The work of picking up trash hidden by heavy winter snows – to make our city beautiful – helps fulfill the community involvement requirement for pupils receiving Camp Bangor scholarships.

Parks, public locations, schoolyards, housing areas, city squares and the Kenduskeag Stream walkway are among the many sites on the West Side, East Side and in central Bangor that will get special attention from Camp Bangor participants and their family members.

Following the cleanup, participants will enjoy a free barbecue in Pickering Square sponsored by the city of Bangor, Bangor Beautiful, YWCA Bangor-Brewer, Bangor YMCA, Maine Discovery Museum, Pepsi, Sam’s Club and Unicel.

UWEM’s Camp Bangor scholarships are offered pupils in grades three to six enrolled in Bangor public schools.

Each qualifying Camp Bangor recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Maine summer camp of his or her choice.

Applications are available in the main office of the city’s participating schools.

For more information about the Camp Bangor programs, call UWEM at 941-2803.

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