Stepping Stones, in operation since 1999 and formerly known as My Choice, is a residential and transitional living program of Maine Adoption Placement Service in Houlton.

It was formerly housed in a converted garage at MAPS headquarters.

Today, Stepping Stones houses its residential program in the former Christian Science church at 2 High St., and its transitional living program is next door at 6 High St.

Attached to the new residential facility is a youth drop-in center where young people, particularly the homeless, have access to computers, phones, laundry and bathrooms among other opportunities.

Tanya Pasquarelli is the financial manager of Stepping Stones.

She said the new quarters have enabled the organization to widen its horizons, and one of its next projects is “to develop some green space” around the facilities that would include a playground and gardens.

For that purpose, Stepping Stones is conducting a brick fund-raiser.

“For $50 or $100 you can buy a brick and have it engraved with whatever you want,” Pasquarelli said. For example, the bricks can be donated in honor or memory of someone.

The bricks will be used to make a planter outside the residential facility.

Stepping Stones hopes to sell 500 bricks by June 15.

“They would make a nice graduation gift,” and would also be very appropriate for Memorial Day, Pasquarelli said.

For $50 you can purchase a 4-by-8-inch brick, or an 8-by-8-inch brick for $100.

“Order forms are all over town,” Pasquarelli said.

They can also be ordered by calling Stepping Stones, 532-6689, or writing Stepping Stones, P.O. Box 189, Houlton 04730-0189.

The public is invited to view all the new facilities, and purchase bricks as well, during an open house from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the High Street facilities.

Carol Kutz, whose husband is deployed in Iraq with the 133rd Engineer Battalion, thanks Operation Community Support, the Family Assistance Center and Burger King for enabling families of deployed soldiers to attend the recent Harlem Globetrotters basketball game at Bangor Auditorium.

She will e-mail her husband digital photos of their three children meeting the Globetrotters and “getting their little basketballs autographed.”

While it “may not seem like much to others,” she wrote, “for a soldier far from home, [it is] a morale booster” to know that “his family is enjoying events such as these in recognition of his sacrifices.”

“Thank you, again, for a wonderful evening.”

Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy the free annual All-City Jazz Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at Brewer High School.

The program features the BHS Jazz Ensemble, Brewer Middle School Jazz Band and, as special guests, the Stearns High School Jazz Band of Millinocket.

Waldo and Kathleen Tarbell of Pembroke will celebrate their 77th wedding anniversary Friday, April 9.

The couple would enjoy hearing from old and new friends in recognition of this very special occasion.

You can send your greetings to the Tarbells at 40 Middle St., Pembroke 04666.

An Easter basket is the door prize for one lucky person attending the Veazie Congregational Church Supper from 4:45 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the church on State Street.

The event includes beans, hot dogs, casseroles and dessert, as well as music for dining and seasonal decorations. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children.

The popular Friends of the Eastern Maine Community College Library fund-raiser, BOOKS2EAT2004 will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Rangeley Hall on Sylvan Road at the EMCC campus in Bangor.

Admission is free for those who submit an edible book and $7 for all others.

Now in its third year, the focus of this International Edible Book Festival is Maine food products.

The fund-raiser includes a high silver tea with refreshments by EMCC Culinary Arts students featuring Maine food products such as smoked salmon, blueberries, cheese and apples.

Voting for the best edible book will be 3:30-4:30 p.m., after which the entries will be eaten.

For information or to submit an entry, call or e-mail Deb Perro, 974-4601, dperro@emcc.edu, or Sue Jagels, 973-8227 or sjagels@emh.org.

To view examples of previous entries, visit www.emcc.edu/library/fol/ or www.colophon.com/edible

books/.

It’s time to do what the young people do and take a “spring break.”

My column will return on Wednesday, April 14.

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