Bangor, Maine News Update: March 11, 2019

Oxford’s Fire Chief has died after suffering a medical emergency while at the memorial service for another firefighter. Officials say Chief Gary Sacco passed away on Sunday, after collapsing at the public memorial service for Berwick Fire Captain Joel Barnes, who died while fighting a fire earlier this month. Governor Janet Mills said Sacco lost his life while honoring that of a fallen brother.

Nearly 70 soldiers from the Maine National Guard’s 286^th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Bangor are being deployed to Poland. Major General Douglas Farnham says the mission is to build readiness and enhance bonds between allies and partners through a series of training events. A send-off ceremony in Bangor is planned when the 286^th departs in April.

Clocks were set ahead over the weekend, and so the Bangor Fire department has issued a reminder for residents to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. In addition, if the detector is more than 10 years old, it needs to be replaced altogether. Officials say detectors should be tested once a month to make sure they’re working properly.

A march in Ellsworth yesterday celebrated women and encouraged unity. Last year’s Mid and Northern Maine Women’s March took place in Bangor, but organizers told WVII-TV that they wanted to reach women from more rural communities this year. The gathering took place the day after International Women’s Day.

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor will host the annual Literacy Tea on March 31^st, which is the organizatin’s biggest fundraising event. Each table at the event will be decorated around a different children’s book theme, with tea and plenty of delicious snacks, as well as a visit from Maine author Liza Gardner Walsh. Find more information On the website for Literacy Volunteers of Bangor.