After all the shoveling you’ve done this week, I’ll bet the farthest thing from your mind just might be the 14th annual Eastern Maine Soap Box Derby, scheduled for May 30 on Buck Street in Bangor, right outside my office at the Bangor Daily News.

But at the moment, rather than thinking about all the snow lining the sides of Buck Street, race director Vicki Vroom hopes you’ll give this event your consideration and attend a registration kickoff at the Soap Box Derby Mall Show from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Bangor Mall.

“Cars will be on display, along with paperwork and information to register,” Vroom wrote.

“We will also have ‘Derby People’ on hand to answer any questions you may have.”

Boys and girls ages 8-17 are eligible “to race in cars built from kits,” she explained, and you may contact the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department at 992-4490 for registration information.

Vroom says plenty of details are at www.emsbd.org.

In addition to getting young people to register, the committee “would like to hear from any business or individual who could help” with this event, Vroom said.

“We have many sponsorship levels, and we truly appreciate any contribution of prizes, or money, that is used to run the race and to send the winners to the All-American Soap Box Derby race in Ohio.”

The committee also needs business owners who would be willing “to sponsor a car for a child to race,” she said.

And, Vroom continued, the committee has one final request.

“In order for our race to happen, we need many more individuals to help with the behind-the-scenes work leading up to the race,” she wrote, “and we also need many people to help handle the cars on race weekend.

“If you, your family, or business, can volunteer some time, we would really appreciate the help.”

To be a race car sponsor, or to become an Eastern Maine Soap Box Derby volunteer, call Vroom at 945-3982.

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Members of Veazie Congregational Church, who have made that facility handicapped-accessible, are now raising money for a new parking lot, said church member Lucille Cardin.

That is why they hope you attend a sale they will hold from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the church on State Street in Veazie.

The sale will feature baked goods, books, crafts, knit items and much more.

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Here’s a reminder from representatives of Penobscot Valley Senior College, which offers classes for seniors at the University of Maine in Orono and at University College of Bangor. Its spring 2009 classes will run from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1:10 to 3:10 p.m. on Fridays, March 6-April 10.

You are encouraged to enroll now for those courses, and you are reminded that the courses are filled in the order of registration.

The sessions for Penobscot Valley Senior College in Bangor will be Room 331 of Camden Hall at University College of Bangor, 25 Texas Ave.

The message phone number is 262-7917, and course descriptions and registration forms are available at www.mainecenteronaging.com.

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The Maine affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has announced that it has hired Sally Bilancia as its first executive director to assist that organization in expanding breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in Maine.

Bilancia worked nearly 10 years for the city of Bangor as its public relations and hospitality manager for the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center. She also has been the city’s business and economic development officer.

The Maine affiliate of Komen was established in 1997 as an all-volunteer organization, and Bilancia first participated in the Komen Maine Race for the Cure in 1999 to honor her sister’s five-year anniversary as a survivor, according to a news release.

From 2002 to 2004, Bilancia served as the Komen Maine’s second board president and has been its Komen Maine affiliate race director since 2004.

Under her leadership, race revenues more than doubled in the past three years, raising $269,000 in 2008 when its participation reached an all-time high of 4,600 entrants.

Bilancia stated that she was “honored to be asked to serve as the Komen Maine affiliate’s first full-time executive director.”

For information about this national organization and the programs, services and fundraisers of its Maine affiliate, call 262-7117 or visit www.komenmaine.com.

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