New business? Expansion? Promotions? E-mail information 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

School dollars

Hannaford Helps Schools, a program through which shoppers could earn “school dollars” for the school of their choice, raised more than $270,000 in 2003. Under the terms of the program that ran Sept. 6-Dec. 6, shoppers could raise funds for local schools by purchasing certain products.

There was no limit on the amount that could be raised by each school. As a part of its commitment to learning, each of Hannaford’s 122 stores will award an additional $1,000 education grant to the one school registered through that store with the highest earnings.

Bangor International

Bangor International Airport reported that passenger traffic posted a 30 percent increase in February 2004 from last year.

BIA Director Rebecca Hupp said, “The fact that we now offer daily jet service to five major points of connection makes us an easy choice for travelers for our region. We look forward to announcing additional service and perhaps some new destinations in the near future.”

Contract specialist

Beth Chapman of Old Town will take up new duties as contract specialist with USDA Rural Development. She has 18 years of experience in the agency and has worked in single-family housing and community programs. She was promoted from her previous position as a rural development technician at the Bangor area office.

Business excellence award

Gov. John Baldacci presented the 2004 Governor’s Award for Business Excellence to six Maine companies recently, including television station WLBZ 2 and Webber Oil Co., both of Bangor, during ceremonies at the 53rd Annual Colby Institute for Leadership at Colby College.

The Governor’s Award for Business Excellence is distinguished from other business awards because recipients must not only demonstrate success in how they operate their business, but also show a commitment to their employees and the communities in which they are located.

Hampden

New business

Denise Dinsmore has opened Home Living, which provides housing and community support for adult consumers of the Department of Mental Retardation. The facility currently operates two supported-living homes and is in the process of establishing a day program. Dinsmore, the owner and administrator, has 23 years of experience in the field.

The homes are staffed 24 hours a day. Staff members assist clients with making meals, doing laundry, helping with medications and keeping appointments.

Home Living’s office is located at 9 Emerson Drive in Hampden. The office is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and may be reached at 862-2358.

Orono

Discussion of free trade

ORONO – The Orono Town Council Chambers will feature the Evensay Project’s “Free-Trade’s Winners and Losers: Where’s our Country Heading?” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 1. This will be a presentation by a delegation from Maine that traveled to El Salvador in October 2003, on a trip dubbed the “Federal Trade Area of the Americas Reality Tour.”

By looking at a country depicted as a free-trade success story, the group hoped to get a look at where the United States might be headed.

The presentation will be an opportunity to hear about the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Panel members are Sara Stalman, Margaret Baillie, Lesley Lichko, Katie Greenman and Dennis Chinoy.

The Evensay Project encourages community members to attend, speak up and become involved. For more information, write Mary Phillips or Connie Carter, c/o Operation Breaking Stereotypes, Box 633, Orono 04473.