The Maine Council of Senior Citizens will be holding a series of public forums throughout the state to inform not only seniors but also the general public on privatization of Social Security and Medicare.

Questions will be answered on what Social Security does, what private accounts do, how it would affect seniors and how it would affect younger workers, as well as respond to the need for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare.

Some of our speakers will include Representative John Baldacci, schedule permitting. Chellie Pingree, candidate for the Senate; and John Moran, president of the Maine Council for Senior Citizens Area legislators.

The public is invited to attend these meetings. Hearing sites throughout the state will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the La Maison Acadienne in Madawaska, 12 French St.; 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at Concord Apartments, 220 Franklin St. in Rumford; 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Samoset in Rockland; 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Oak Park, Oak Street in Lewiston; 2 p.m. at Cotton Mill, 2 Academy St. in Hallowell; 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, Ramada, location to be confirmed, Lewiston; 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at J. Richard Community Center, 189 Alfred St., Biddeford; 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Ogunquit Town Hall; and 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, 100 State St., Portland.

The meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Lecture Hall of Bangor Public Library has been cancelled. A new meeting will be announced later.

For more information, call John Moran at 622-3151 or Neena Quirion at 452-8794.