Brooksville Elementary School teacher Nada Lepper reports that thethird-, fourth- and fifth-graders who recently returned from a weekin Alaska attending the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race are 'continuingto share our adventure with as many people as possible.'
The young Iditarod travelers invite the public to view a digitalslide show at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at the school.
Their next public appearance will be a 'video of our adventurefrom Bangor to Anchorage to McGrath and back again,' Lepper wroteabout a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the AlamoTheatre in Bucksport.
A year in the planning, the trip was an extension of a study uniton the Iditarod.
Pupils, family and friends worked hard to raise $40,000 to makethe trip that found the eastern Maine youngsters in Anchorage for thebeginning of the race and then took them to McGrath, one of thecheckpoints along the route, where they visited pen pals at the localschool.
For those unable to attend either presentation, Lepper has anotheroffer.
The group is willing to share its story with 'other classrooms ororganizations,' she wrote.
Lepper reminds you that 'a child with a dream is a child with afuture.'
These Brooksville Elementary School children now know that,although it takes hard work, dreams do come true.
Anyone interested in reliving this grand adventure with theseyoungsters can call Lepper at 326-8500, e-mail lepper@prexar.com orwrite her at Brooksville Elementary School, Brooksville 04617.
I received a note containing a bit of 'weather history' from JerryBallanger of Brewer, who has been a test center supervisor for theCollege Board SAT Program for 35 years.
Ballanger wrote that the first SAT test he has ever had topostpone because of bad weather was the one scheduled for Saturday,March 12.
Students who were supposed to take the test that day are takingtheir SATs today.
On behalf of the Arcady Music Society, its artistic and executivedirector Dean Stein of Bar Harbor invites the public to attend thesociety's annual Fiddle Festival and Country Dance.
The Fiddle Festival, featuring three levels of fiddle workshopsled by master fiddler Greg Boardman, is 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, April3, at Hampden Academy.
The Family Supper and Country Dance follows at 5 p.m. at theacademy. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children age 10 andunder.
For more information, visit www.arcady.org, call 288-2141 or e-mail arcady@arcady.org.
Committee members organizing the 6th Annual Bob Gagnon Cancer FundDinner and Auction are accepting donations that will be picked up bycommittee members.
That event begins with dinner at 5 p.m., followed by the auctionat 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Elks Lodge on Rankin Street inRockland.
Local auctioneer Bruce Gamage will preside, and Marlene Hall andthe Bar Code Band will entertain.
Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under.
A raffle of just 100 tickets, at $50 each, will offer fivedrawings, with the winners receiving $500.
To purchase tickets, call Brenda Gagnon, 594-4259; BrendaAtkinson, 785-5792; Joni Hilt, 354-6405; Bill Benner, 594-4847 orBarbara Guy, 594-7225.
The Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge will host an indoor yard salefrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the lodge.
Eight-foot tables are available for rent for $10, and chairs willbe provided at no cost, first come, first served.
Tables also will be available for donated items and baked goods,and hamburgers and hot dogs will be sold from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the Togus VA Medical Center. For moreinformation, call Mike Lange at 474-3111, or e-mail elks2531@gwi.net.
As a member of the Bangor Daily News sports staff for 15 years, Ihad the pleasure of writing about Michigan State University women'sbasketball coach Joanne Palombo McCallie from her Brunswick HighSchool playing days (where she surpassed 1,000 points as a junior) toher years coaching the University of Maine women's basketball team.
I am as proud as I can be of her accomplishments to date.
Congratulations, Joanne.
There was never a single doubt in my mind that, one day, you wouldbe where you are today: the NCAA Women's Final Four.
I share with thousands of Maine basketball fans best wishes foryour continued success.
Go, State!
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402;
990-8288.
