The deadline to buy lights as part of the Millinocket Regional Hospital Auxiliary 8th Annual Love Light Tree project is Saturday, Dec. 15.

But no matter whether you live, locally or elsewhere, President Joyce Given and the Auxiliary will be happy to hear from you.

For a small donation, you can purchase a white light in memory of someone, a green light to honor someone, a red light to honor a child, a blue light for friendship and, new this year, a patriotic light for “God Bless America.” The patriotic light was added to demonstrate MRH Auxiliary support for those affected by the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. The donations are $3 for one light, $5 for two lights, $8 for three lights, $10 for four lights, $13 for five lights of any combination you wish. The lights will be placed on an evergreen tree outside the hospital’s main lobby entrance.

Proceeds from the patriotic light will be donated to a Sept. 11th relief fund, Givens reports. Proceeds from the other lights will go toward three $500 Auxiliary scholarships for seniors graduating from Stearns High School in Millinocket, Schenck High School in East Millinocket and Katahdin High School in Sherman Station who plan to pursue careers in the medical field.

Donations for the Love Light Tree project can be sent to Kitty Harvey, 46 Colony Place, Millinocket, 04462. Order forms are available in Millinocket in the hospital lobby and at Katahdin Printing Plus. You can also obtain order forms at Nicholson’s Insurance in East Millinocket.

The public is invited to attend the Love Light Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Last year’s event raised approximately $1,800 and the organization hopes to increase that amount this year.

Are your thinking about quitting smoking?

If so, Peggy Markson of the American Cancer Society New England Division invites you to participate in the 25th Anniversary Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 15. By calling, contacting or writing the ACS, that nonprofit organization will provide you with tips for quitting smoking, contacts for local support resources and up-to-date information on cessation methods. An estimated 47 million U.S. adults currently smoke and the ACS believes approximately half that number will die prematurely from smoking.

You can call the ACS nationally at (800) ACS-2345, visit its Web site at www.cancer.org, write the ACS New England Division, One Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, 04086-1240 or call the Maine toll-free number, (800) 464-3102.

I will have complete information for you closer to the actual dates, but I do want you to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangor is planning a Christmas creche exhibit the first weekend in December. Michelle Thomas of Bangor is chairwoman of the creche exhibit committee.

Those folks are seeking Maine folk art creches to be part of the exhibit. The event is extremely popular and last year more than 100 Nativity scenes were loaned to the church for the event.

If you are a Maine folk artist who has made Nativity arts and crafts of wood, clay or pottery, for example, and you would like to be part of this exhibit, you are urged to call Thomas at 942-7312.

Thanks to the good people associated with Hospice of Hancock County, I am able to tell you that November is National Hospice Month and that this year’s theme is an excellent one: “Begin The Conversation.”

This special month honors patients and families who are coping with terminal illness and the professionals and volunteers who provide care to those who need it. The month offers the rest of us an opportunity to initiate important discussions with our loved ones and health care providers about end-of-life issues.

It is interesting to note that while research by the National Hospice Foundation has shown that 80 percent of Americans want to die at home, less than 25 percent actually do so.

Hospice of Hancock County reminds you that the Medicare Hospice Benefit helps meet the needs of people with a terminal illness and that there are no real barriers to receiving hospice care other than, perhaps, an understandable fear of discussing death.

If you would like to know more about hospice care, call the hospice nearest you.

If you are in the area served by Hospice of Hancock County, write 14 McKenzie Ave., Ellsworth, 04605, call 667-2531 or (888) 266-8035, or e-mail hohc@panax.com.

This month, especially, HOHC urges you to “Begin the Conversation.”

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.