One of the newest and most exciting events of the holiday scene is the second annual Christmas creche exhibit set for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 639 Grandview Ave. in Bangor.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

For out-of-towners not familiar with the church’s location, Grandview Avenue runs between Essex Street and Broadway, some distance from the city center.

Kathy Weinzinger of the creche committee reports the sponsors are very excited about the upcoming event after many months of hard work.

“We have lots of different creches coming in,” she said.

Most of the creches are local or traditional, and Maine-made creches are being featured this year.

Among the exquisite individual exhibits you won’t want to miss is the extensive creche collection of Michael and Marian Aube of Bangor.

“They have creches from all over the world,” Weinzinger said of the Aube collection of Nativities obtained from France, Russia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“They have one creche from the Caribbean that is made from seed pods,” Weinzinger said.

And there is another that, although very different, is very much in keeping with the spirit and atmosphere of the scene the exhibit depicts.

“It’s a creche from Argentina, made of cow intestines,” Weinzinger explained.

Throughout both days of the exhibit, a film, “The Nativity,” will be shown, and other entertainment will be featured.

Andre Winters will perform a trumpet solo at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed a flute and harp duet by Mary Bliss Hassel and Margrethe Hassel.

Bangor Community Chorus will perform at 2 p.m.; a children’s concert is planned for 4 p.m.; and the New Renaissance Singers will entertain at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Hampden Academy Chorus and Show Choir is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by a vocal duet with Tess Franchi and Linda Scribner at 3 p.m.; the Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church Youth Ringers at 5 p.m.; and, via satellite, a live broadcast of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir at 8 p.m.

Silent and live auctions will be part of the 15th annual PICA auction to raise funds for Bangor’s sister city of Carasque, El Salvador, set for 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 120 Park St. in Bangor.

Auction organizer Deborah Brooks of Bangor promises many high-quality items such as pottery, works by local artists and framed prints of well-known artists, all of which have been donated for this fund-raiser to benefit the non-profit Peace through InterAmerican Community Action.

A set of eight antique goblets, weekend getaways at privately owned camps and cottages, new clothing made by clean clothes handlers, and Christmas trees will be on sale.

Members of Youth Adelantando, which Brooks explained means “youth going forward,” have formed their own committee to help with the fund-raiser.

“They’ve been handling most of the promotion, including posters and artwork,” Brooks said.

The admission fee of a $1 donation will be accepted at the door to help cover expenses of the auction.

“We hope new people will come and be introduced to PICA and learn how PICA is changing with the changing times,” Brooks said.

Doors open for bingo for Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Brewer Eagles Club.

The fund-raiser for CMN includes a 50-50 raffle and a silent auction featuring an autographed Stephen King book.

Bingo starts at 1 p.m. and participants may purchase 96 cards of 16 games for $10.

Food concessions will be available and a coverall game will be played for a special prize. For this game, you may purchase six cards for $2.

For information about this fund-raiser, call Carol Lackedy at 947-4606 or 848-7371.

As part of its continuing effort to maintain its new facility and build a new museum in the future, the Pembroke Historical Society invites you to attend a craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Pembroke Elementary School.

Among the featured crafters will be Mark and Arlene Wren of Robbinston, Fred and Patty Hartman of Whiting, Joan Dodge of Alexander, Don Sutherland of Eastport, Fred Knapp of Princeton and Theo McDonough of Alexander.

Many other crafters from surrounding communities will offer a wide variety of items that make lovely gifts, and the event also includes a food sale.

Raffle tickets for a sampler quilt made and donated by members and friends of the St. Croix International Quilters Guild will be available and many other items relating to the history of the area will be on sale as well.

In recognition of World AIDS Day, the public is invited to attend a special remembrance service at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Universalist-Unitarian Church on Silver Street in Waterville

The Dayspring AIDS Support Services sponsors the gathering. Refreshments will be offered after the service.

For information, call DASS at 621-6201.

OOPS!

Volunteers were so caught up in the excitement of publishing their first membership newsletter, which was recently mailed to approximately 1,000 people in our area, that members of The Animal Orphanage in Old Town neglected to include the cost of memberships in the membership mailing.

Roberta Fowler apologizes for the error, but wants interested folk to know that a family membership is $25, an individual membership is $15, a senior citizen membership is $7.50 and a business membership is $50.

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