For six years, the Millinocket Area Rotary Club has hosted a benefit auction to help improve the lives of those it serves.

This year, money raised will be used to purchase an item greatly needed in an area with many lakes and rivers: a rescue boat for the Millinocket Fire Department.

A portion of the proceeds also will benefit Katahdin Friends, Inc., which assists individuals with disabilities and operates the Chickadee Preschool.

The remaining funds raised through the benefit will go into the Rotary treasury to assist with the many charities it supports throughout the year.

Under the leadership of auction chairwoman Carol Coffin, Rotarians hope to raise $20,000 through the event, which begins with a roast beef dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall on Colby Street in Millinocket.

Returning to bring down the gavel on the first item to go up on the auction block will be the entertaining and popular Kevin Cote.

Tickets are $10 each. They can be purchased at Katahdin Printing Plus, from any Rotary Club member or at the door.

Donald Casko is head of the procurement team gathering items for the auction.

He said that group has more than 100 items waiting for attendees to bid on, including “an original Jean McLean painting,” a gas stove donated by Dead River Co. and two kayaks: a whitewater kayak donated by New England Outdoor Center and a lake kayak donated by Two Rivers Canoe.

Club member Barbara Waters wrote me recently with further information about the auction and the need for the funds raised through this event.

She wrote that in open-water season, the MFD often is called upon “to respond to numerous water-related emergencies.

“Sometimes, valuable time is lost when the department has to scout around for a private boat to use in such emergencies,” she explained, adding that “the boat also will be available for emergency use in other parts of the tri-town area.”

Of the need to assist KFI, Waters wrote that organization “aids the disabled to become part of the regular community,” and that Chickadee Preschool “serves both the disabled and nondisabled child.”

She pointed out that KFI “in the past year was hart hit by funding shortfalls that made its mission, especially that of the preschool,” more difficult, and that the recent fire in downtown Lincoln “destroyed the Katahdin Friends office.”

For those who live in and visit Greater Millinocket, the money raised through this event certainly will enhance and, quite possibly, save lives. By attending and bidding successfully you can help the Rotary Club meet its $20,000 goal.

If you didn’t get your tickets in advance, you can still attend the gala dessert party set for 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Spectacular Events Center, 395 Griffin Road in Bangor.

The event benefits Spruce Run Association, which serves people affected by domestic abuse.

Although chocolate-dessert makers are featured, fruit and vanilla also will be on the menu for the benefit, which offers entertainment by the Breakfast Rotary Quartet.

Raffle tickets and door prizes add to the fun. Tickets, at $10 each, are available at the door or by calling 945-5102.

If you are unable to attend but would like to help Spruce Run with its work, send a donation to Spruce Run Association, P.O. Box 653, Bangor 04402-0653.

Plans are well under way for the Corinth Old Home Days to be held Friday through Sunday, June 21-23, so individuals, organizations and businesses wishing to participate should mark those dates on their calendars.

Laura Baker Goulet and Tara Pineo are heading up the parade committee.

They are particularly interested in hearing from representatives of any bands that would be willing to participate in the parade and-or perform at the town recreation field throughout the day Saturday, June 22.

People interested in participating in the parade can call Pineo at 285-7282.

Advertisements also are being sold to help finance the event. If you would like to lend your support in that manner, your contribution will help bring a musician, an Elvis Presley impersonator and a magician to Corinth as well as enabling event planners to offer an ice cream social, antique car show, tractor pull, dance, climbing wall and other carnival games and activities for everyone to enjoy.

People interested in purchasing advertisements must call Goulet by Sunday, March 31, at 285-7808.

The Corinth Old Home Days Committee also is actively seeking volunteers to help run the carnival games. If you are able to do that, call Stephanie Chesley at 285-3568.

A piano master class for piano teachers, students, pianists and observers is being offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23, at All Souls Church on Broadway in Bangor.

The class will be taught by solo recitalist, chamber musician, teacher, mentor and scholar Patricia Stowell and international competition prizewinner Silvana Sokolov-Grubb.

The class is part of the Steinway series featuring the Arlan A. Baillie Steinway Grand, a 1916 piano restored in memory of the late Curtis and Ruth Hutchins.

For more information about this event, call 942-1474.

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