Word comes to us from Portland and Millinocket that now is the time for interested individuals to volunteer to plant new Pink Tulip Project Gardens for the Maine Cancer Foundation, and that the deadline to sign up is Thursday, Oct. 1.

The project was founded in 2006 by Robin Whittle of Portland, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. More than 30,000 pink tulip bulbs are scheduled to be planted during the week of Oct. 19, the MCF release states.

During that week, “hundreds of volunteers” will plant more than 70 gardens all over the state, from Portland to Millinocket.

To establish an official Pink Tulip Project garden, or make a donation, visit www.pinktulipproject.org, call the MCF Pink Tulip Project coordinator at 773-2533 or e-mail pinktulips@mainecancer.org.

Jan Moore e-mailed that the Women’s Fellowship of Millinocket is preparing to plant its Pink Tulip Garden in honor of all women “who have touched our lives who have been affected by breast cancer,” at the Millinocket Community Garden of Hope.

The group has ordered 200 bulbs, “100 to plant and 100 to sell,” Moore added.

For your $3 contribution, $1 will purchase a bulb for the garden in memory or honor of someone; $1 will purchase one bulb for the donor; and $1 will benefit the MCF Women’s Cancer Fund.

And, Moore added, “100 percent of the funds raised stay in Maine.”

To join the Millinocket Community Garden of Hope Pink Tulip Project, call Moore at 723-8081 or Nancy Porter at 723-9293.

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Elizabeth Johns of Orono, a board member of the Maine Women’s Policy Center based in Augusta, reports that organization is interested in learning about the experiences of women who are working or who have “worked in the past five years, at a job that did not provide paid time off when you got sick.”

If you are one of those women, you are invited “to join a focus group” meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in Bangor.“Participants will be offered a $30 stipend for their time,” Johns said.

If you want to be part of the group, or for more information, call Charlotte Warren at 622-0851 or e-mail cwarren@Mainewomen.org.

The MWPC “is a nonprofit that works to expand opportunities for Maine women and girls,” Johns wrote.

“Access to paid sick leave is especially relevant now, given concerns about the spread of the flu virus.”

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Louise Depew e-mailed that the Stillwater Chapter of TOPS will hold an open house at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Stillwater Federated Church on Bennoch Road.

“TOPS is a nonprofit organization with emphasis to fight obesity,” Depew explained of the “weekly weight-loss support group for men, women and children 7 and up.”

The $26 annual membership fee “entitles you to a monthly TOPS News magazine full of great inspiration, success stories, recipes and tips to help you on your weight-loss journey,” she added.

Depew urges you to “join us and make 2009 your time to become healthier.”

For more information, call Depew at 827-6410 or leader and area captain Martha Nason at 827-6098.

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The community is invited to attend a Harvest Supper “as guests of the Hancock Women’s Club,” wrote Diana Arney of the meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Community Center in Hancock.

Guest speaker Jackie Thurber will present a program about the work of the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, and special guest Jane Shaw, president of the Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs, will install the incoming HWC officers.

For more information, call Arney, 422-9993, or HWC president Jackie Nicholson at 422-6852.

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