BANGOR - Parents who are interested in registering their children to be recipients of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas gifts for children from birth through age 17, should contact the Bangor Citadel Corps for an appointment immediately by calling 941-2990. Registration began Oct. 19.

Each year, The Salvation Army in Bangor assists hundreds of families with toys and food for Christmas. Last year alone, nearly 600 families received Christmas help, an increase of 100 from the previous year. With the struggling economy, it is expected that more families will have limited resources to provide the extras such as new toys and a special meal this Christmas. Because of this, families are urged to register early so the Army is able to plan for adequate resources to meet the need.

Child Development Services for all families

BANGOR Women today really want to have it all: a career, a family, a social life. But it can be difficult if not downright impossible to find that perfect balance. Many moms struggle with the guilt associated with placing their children in day care, and finding a place that can not only help assuage the guilt but make the parents feel like they're making a healthy decision is key.

Penquis has several Child Development Service centers in Bangor that are open to families of all incomes and offers quality child care to area families.

New gym opens on Columbia Street

BANGOR - A personal trainer from Hermon has decided to stretch his muscles and open his very own studio in Bangor called LA Training. Louie Morrison said being a business owner is something he never envisioned when he entered the physical fitness industry, but when the opportunity presented itself it was something he couldn't resist. 

"I had plenty of business where I was at but saw a lot of people who wanted to be trained and weren't comfortable in a big gym environment, so I found a way to expand by downsizing," Morrison explained.

BANGOR After 15 years of filling the airwaves with witty banter, laughs, good will, and the occasional interesting radio moment, Kiss 94.5's morning team Mike and Mike aired their last show as a team on Friday, Oct. 18. (They swear the show ending has nothing to do with the list of Zumba Johns that was released recently.)

I was able to sit in on one of their shows during the final week as they reminisced about good times, good people and a great experience that was 15 years of 'The Mike and Mike Show.' We can't possibly fit it all in one small space, but you can go to our website and listen to the interview.

BANGOR  Becky (Stacey Scott) is a middle-aged wife and mother who has sunk into the tepid routine of her life with her loving but average husband, Joe (Ron Lisnet), and her 26-year-old perpetual student son, Chris (Brad LaBree). Though she isn't looking for it, temptation for a new life literally walks in while she is working late one evening and Walter Flood (Ken Stack), a rich and absent-minded widower bumbles into her life.

Flood assumes that Becky's spouse has also passed away and begins making romantic overtures toward her. Flattered and confused, Becky doesn't deflect them as well as she could have and finds her simple life becoming more interesting and much more complicated in turns.

Halloween is nigh, and there are tons of themed events taking place all over that range from fun to hair-raising. So whether you're just looking to gorge on candy and dress in a sexy/hilarious costume or to have the crap scared out of you, there's something for you. Unless you're against Halloween and all it stands for. Then you're out of luck.

Listen to a musical conversation

Dan Tepfer will be performing his 'Goldberg Variations, Variations' live and solo at the Gracie Theatre and in The gWatson Gallery in Stonington. Tepfer notes that playing solo is quite different than performing as a trio.

The end of an era

Making fun of celebrity foibles is certainly an enjoyable pastime; it is what has made this space one of the more popular ones in our publication since its inception. Gentle (or not-so-gentle) mockery of the misdeeds of the rich and famous oftentimes makes for great entertainment.

However, sometimes an opportunity arises where we can celebrate the celebrities among us rather than debase them. This is one of those times. It was recently announced that The Mike and Mike Show, a longtime staple of area morning radio, is bringing its 15 year run to an end.

The Maine Regional Training Institute grand opening

BANGOR There's a new training space for Maine's National Guard tucked away on Hildreth Street. Many wouldn't even know that a new 105,849 square-foot state-of-the-art facility even exists. But it does, and members of the National Guard from across the country are making use of the training offered there.

Officially called the 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI), it is the primary military training site for military personnel in the state. And they don't use the term 'state of the art' lightly. The campus offers something called 'flexible training space,' which allows the classrooms to be adapted to suit various applications. Though it technically opened for classes in early August, the RTI held its grand opening ribbon cutting on Oct. 12.

Seats set up at Bangor Mall for viewing & testing

BANGOR - The new Bangor Auditorium is one step closer to completion now that the seating inside the new Cross Insurance Center has been selected. Hussey Seating Company, a family-owned company in North Berwick, will be supplying and installing 8,000 of its seats inside the new arena next month. However, the public can test them out this month when they stop by the Bangor Mall. That's where a couple of the chairs are currently on display.

"I think it's important for people to get a firsthand view of what the new seats are going to look like," said Adam Pearson, director of sales operations at the Hussey Seating Company.