Having lost its sources of funding that ranged from a significant grant to individual donations to fundraising events, Literacy Volunteers of Washington County recently announced “a temporary moratorium on the distribution of Imagination Library books to the 552 children” under age 5 “who now benefit from receiving” those free books monthly in the mail, Eileen Campbell said in a recent e-mail.
“The search for funding is a never-ending effort on the part of LVWC volunteers and board members,” Campbell wrote of that effort to “support the enrollment of Washington Country children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”
To help continue this most important project, LVWC is seeking vendors to register for two Imagination Library Carnivals.
The first fundraiser is noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in Reynolds Gym on the campus of the University of Maine at Machias.
The second is noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Washington County Community College in Calais.
Vendor tables are available for $20, Campbell wrote, adding, “We are especially seeking green crafts, demonstrators and farmers-market vendors.”
To reserve a space at either venue, call 726-4688 or 255-0344.
“There is no charge for tables for nonprofits, Scouts and student groups,” Campbell said, and “balloon sellers, face painters, dancers and musicians are all welcome.”
The idea is to “help create a carnival for the 800 children who will be invited to attend these free events, with their whole family,” she added.
Each event will feature a Kazoo Parade at 2:30 p.m., and children “of all ages are welcome to join in the fun,” Campbell wrote, reminding readers there is no admission to attend either event.
The motto for the Imagination Library Carnivals, hosted with support of Maine Community Foundation, is “LITERACY = SUSTAINABILITY.”
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Dee Dee Travis reports that Calais Regional Hospital is inviting the public to view its surgery department during Business After Hours between 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at the hospital.
Travis said that attendees would be able “to tour the surgery department, including areas usually only seen by surgical patients or surgical staff.”
For more information about this event or CRH, call Travis at 454-9227 or e-mail deedee@calaishospital.org.
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Fiddler Cynthia MacLeod of Prince Edward Island will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts.
Admission is $10.
Tickets are available at www.unitymaine.org/theater/ by calling 948-SHOW or e-mailing John Sullivan at jsullivan@unity.edu.
Before the concert, the public is invited to participate in a community jam for which “admission is free,” said Mark Tardiff, Unity’s director of college communications.
“MacLeod has built an international reputation that is expanding around the globe,” Tardiff wrote of this traditional fiddler, who “has produced three, critically acclaimed and top-selling CDs.”
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I have heard from both May Pardy and Louise Snow about the Eastern Maine Orchid Society’s annual orchid sale, which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Clapp Greenhouses on the University of Maine campus in Orono.
EMOS signs will guide you to the sale site.
Pardy reports you can “browse and buy from a selection of beautiful orchid plants” of many varieties, and that “EMOS members will be on hand to assist you with your selections and answer questions on orchid care.”
Snow reminds readers that the sale helps fund the $500 “book award going to a junior majoring in greenhouse management attending the university,” and enables club members to “also give orchid books to students working closely with the orchid collection on campus.”
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Helen Worcester reports that the public is invited to a food sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Carmel Village Market.
Proceeds will benefit the carpet fund of Carmel Union Congregational Church.
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Mireille Le Gal, Women of the World coordinator for the University of Maine, announces its next meeting is noon Monday, April 12, at Church of Universal Fellowship, Main Street, Orono.
The menu is Latin American, as will be the focus of a discussion after the meal, along with “an exhibit table” featuring items from Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, Le Gal wrote.
Admission is $4 for women and children over 10, $2 for children 6-10, free for children under 6 with mothers who are international women, including Americans.
For more information about this organization, call Le Gal at 581-3423.
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; javerill@bangordailynews.com; 990-8288.