Congregation Beth Israel
BANGOR — The formal installation of Rabbi Bill Siemers took place on Nov. 2, at Congregation Beth Israel, 144 York St., with a program of religious and community speakers, music and refreshments.
Annual meeting
BANGOR — The public is invited to the EMMC Auxiliary 121st annual meeting and luncheon noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Springer Drive.
Author and physician Dr. Joan MacCracken will discuss the story behind her book, “The Winter House: A Season of Sharing.” Although a novel, the book may hold the key to Maine’s senior population choosing to winter at home in Maine. Four women living in a rural community in Maine prove that successful aging should be a team sport. The book was released in June 2013.
MacCracken, a retired pediatrician who specialized in pediatric endocrinology, practiced in Bangor for 23 years. Since childhood, she has enjoyed telling and writing stories. Her first book, “The Sun, the Rain and the Insulin: Growing Up with Diabetes,” was published in 1996. In 2005 she adapted a Nicaraguan folk tale, creating the book “Trisba and Sula,” which was named Best Bilingual Children’s Book of 2006 by Skipping Stone Magazine. MacCracken also edited and published “Cracked Marbles,” a collection of Maine stories by the late Dr. Tom Palmer of Bangor.
Reservations for the meeting may be made by sending payment of $20 to: EMMC Auxiliary, P.O. Box 404, Bangor, ME 04402-0404 or by calling 973-7850 by Thursday, Nov 6.
Iraq, Middle East talk
BANGOR — “Understanding the Crisis in Iraq and the Middle East Today” will be presented by Rick McDowell, 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, 96 Harlow St. The presentation will be followed by a discussion and is free and open to the public.
McDowell has accompanied 15 delegations to Iraq, including a delegation of Nobel Peace Laureates, between 1996 and 2002. He lived in Baghdad from 2003 to 2005, serving as the co-director for relief and development for the American Friends Service Committee. During 2005-2007, he served in Washington, D.C., as Senior Fellow for Iraq policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
For information, call 942-9343 or email info@peacectr.org.
Veterans benefit
BANGOR — Bangor Grange and Cornell Mac announced that the fourth annual Veterans Benefit Show will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Bangor Grange hall, 1192 Ohio St. The show will feature The Wildwood Band, Cornell Mac and Judy, John Whitman, Gary Knowles, Kathy and Buzz Vanadestine, and Hall of Fame member Slim Andrews.
The show will be preceded by a turkey supper at 5:30 p.m.
The proceeds from the show will benefit House in the Woods, a military and family retreat in Lee. Tickets for either the supper or show are $8 each, $14 supper and the show. Veterans will receive a $1 discount.
For information, call 973-3976. Bangor Grange is a nonprofit, family organization.
Hot lunch
BANGOR — The Salvation Army in Bangor will offer a hot lunch to those who are without power due to the snowstorm. As part of the Army’s Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen program, hot meals will be available from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday this week.
The storm, which left more than 100,000 people without power, has families and others scrambling to meet basic needs. The Salvation Army will make it possible for them to have a hot lunch each day until power is restored.
“We know that there are families, seniors and individuals who do not have the ability to prepare meals because of the loss of power,” said Capt. Tim Clark, Corps Officer of the Bangor Salvation Army. “We have a hot lunch available every Monday through Friday for the community, and we want to be sure those affected by the storm know that they have a warm place they can come for a hot meal.”
For information, call The Salvation Army at 941-2990.
Sportsmen’s banquet
BREWER — The Central Maine Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will host its fourth annual Conservation and Sportsmen’s Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Penobscot County Conservation Association. A social hour will be at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.
Proceeds from this event will be used to enhance habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other forest wildlife.
The evening will feature live and silent auctions, games, drawings and door prizes, highlighted with a selection of quality firearms, artwork and collectables.
Individual membership and dinner tickets are $70. There is also a membership and spouse package for $95 that includes two dinners, and junior membership and dinner ticket for those 17 and under at $25. Banquet, Conservation, Sustaining and Gold sponsorship packages are also available.
For information about sponsorship or to purchase tickets call Kim Gray at 862-5069.
Brewer Kiwanis news
BREWER — At a recent meeting of the Brewer Kiwanis Club, President Danny Maher opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Past President Karl Laurenovics gave the Invocation.
Guests who attended the meeting were New England District 3 Lt. Gov. Glenn Mower, Key Club adviser Arthur Libby, Key Club member Rachel Largay, Buzzy and Ruth Frost of the Hampden Kiwanis, Past Lt. Gov. Doug Butler and Past President Rick Marston of the Bangor-Breakfast Kiwanis.
Lt. Gov. Mower inducted the following officers for 2014-2015: Debbie Bruns, president; Danny Maher, vice president; Herb Hopkins, secretary, and Lordina Sullivan treasurer.
Past Lt. Gov. Herb Hopkins presented these awards: Perfect attendance, Jim Pooler, one year; Barney Thompson, one year; Bud Bruns, two years; Debbie Bruns, two years; Lordina Sullivan, three years; Danny Maher, four years; Karl Laurenovics, five years; Kim Long, five years; Manley DeBeck, six years; Kurtis Marsh, seven years; and Herb Hopkins, 41 years.
Tokens of appreciation were presented to Danny Maher, past president, and to Lt. Gov. Glenn Mower. Kim Long received the Kiwanian of the Year award.
Rick Marston, chairman of the Charity Bowling tournament, announced that Brewer Kiwanis (bowling for Camp CaPella) won the tournament and received $11,500 that was donated to Camp CaPella.
The next Brewer Kiwanis project will be the Make-A-Wish Gala on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The Brewer Kiwanis Club meets at 6 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays at the Brewer Weathervane. New members are welcome to join.
Angel Pageant
HAMPDEN — The third annual Maine Christmas Angel Pageant, natural beauty pageant for all ages that raises money, food and toys for the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Manna and Toys for Tots, will take place 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Hampden Academy.
No experience is necessary, just a great personality and a smile, organizers said.
For information, go to mainechristmasangel.webs.com to learn how to enter or how to support fundraising efforts.
Race rescheduled
INDIAN ISLAND — The Ralph K. Thomas 8K run, 2.5 mile walk and 1 mile fun run that was to take place on Indian Island on Sunday Nov. 2, was postponed because of the storm. It has been rescheduled to Sunday, Nov. 16. For information about the race, look for it on facebook.com.
Craft fair
LEVANT — The Suzanne M. Smith Elementary craft and vendor fair will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in the school gymnasium. The event will feature more than 30 crafters and vendors, a bake sale and concession stand, and door prizes. Proceeds raised from table rentals will support the Levant PTA. Admission to the fair is free.
Reading the landscape walk
OLD TOWN — Accompany Larry Beauregard on a walk across Hirundo Wildlife Refuge to learn how to recognize signs of human impact on the landscape 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. His presentation will focus on forest succession and how various disturbances, natural and man-made, influence the forest. Meet at the Parker Reed shelter, accessible by Gate 1. Reservations are requested by Saturday, Nov. 8, by calling 394-2171.
The cost is by suggested donation $5, free to school children.
Beauregard is a retired geneticist who is now pursuing his interest in learning about the forests of Maine. He serves as a volunteer at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge and as a mentor in the Maine Master Naturalist Program. He is the Penobscot Valley Chapter Leader for the Small Woodland Association of Maine and is a student in the University of Maine School of Forest Resources.
Shopping trip
VEAZIE — The Town of Veazie is sponsoring a Christmas shopping trip for Veazie senior citizens age 50 or older to the Portland Mall, Trader Joe’s and the Christmas Tree Shop on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Lunch will be at the Cracker Barrel restaurant and shopping will available at the restaurant’s Gift Shop.
The coach will leave the Veazie Community Center parking lot at 1005 Olive St. at 7:30 a.m. and return around 8 p.m.
Transportation cost is $25. This price does not include meals or gratuities.
For information and to register, call Veazie senior citizen Norma Noble at 945-5763. Make checks payable to Town of Veazie and mail to: Norma Noble, 1036 Main St., Veazie ME 04401-7056.
Registration and payment deadline is Saturday, Nov. 15. Seats will be available to seniors in surrounding communities as space permits. Reservations will be honored as registrations and payments are received.