AUGUSTA -- The following local war veterans were recognized at a State Silver Star Honorable Service Medal presentation in the Hall of Flags at the State House on Thursday. The medals are awarded to veterans who were prisoners of war or received the Purple Heart for wounds.

Purple Heart recipients: Benjamin H. Lyons of Waterville, during World War II; and Charles P. Magaw, of Vassalboro, also during the war.

Former prisoners of war in Germany: Omar E. Sanborn, Winslow; Raymond E. Spenard, Winslow; and Kenneth Workman, Belgrade.

Guard band to play today

SKOWHEGAN -- A concert befitting the Fourth of July weekend is set for today in Coburn Park.

The Maine Army National Guard band named Five Star will perform the "music of our nation" from 12:30-2 p.m. Musical selections are to include classic and modern rock, blues, country and patriotic songs.

Mercer office announces hours

MERCER -- The Mercer Town Office will be closed on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday during the daytime.

The office will remain open during the regular evening hours, Tuesday and Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Chamber office closed today

WATERVILLE -- The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce will be closed today in observance of Independence Day.

The office will reopen Monday and resume regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Man dies in ATV crash

STANDISH -- The Maine Warden Service is investigating an all-terrain vehicle crash in Standish that killed a 79-year-old Gorham man.

Officials say the accident happened late Tuesday afternoon when Donald Levesque and a friend were riding at slow speeds down a rocky hill that had experienced erosion because of the recent heavy rains. Levesque died a short time later at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

PETA to artist: EAT vegetarian

ROCKLAND -- Artist Robert Indiana isn't too keen on adding the word "vegetarian" to his famous EAT sign that went on public display for the first time in 44 years last month.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it has sent a letter to Indiana asking him to add the word to the sign. PETA says the change will move people to make the switch to a vegetarian diet. Indiana, who lives on Vinalhaven, jokingly responded that he was thinking of dangling a lobster from the sign, but reckoned that wouldn't go over too well with PETA.

Indiana's EAT sign -- five 300-pound discs, each 6 feet in diameter -- is on top of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland as part of an exhibition of Indiana's works.

Compiled from staff, wire reports