Folks in the Mars Hill area will enjoy an extra special evening when members of that community host a Benefit Ham Supper for Carol Carlin Lake, fondly known as the “Gifford Ice Cream lady,” and her husband, Harry Lake.

Carol Lake, a 1972 Presque Isle High school graduate, is a four-year cancer survivor who recently underwent a bone marrow transplant in Boston during which she received her brother’s stem cells.

The supper, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Central Aroostook High School Gymnasium in Mars Hill, will help with out-of-pocket expenses for travel, lodging and missed work time for the couple while she was receiving treatment.

There will be an auction after the dinner, for which a $6 donation is being requested.

Besides being an opportunity to express support for the popular couple, attendees also will have the opportunity to hear from a terrific young performer with great promise, 12-year-old Molly Bouchard of Caribou, who was a finalist in a recent CBS-TV “Star Search” competition.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call Pam Townsend during the day at 429-9449 or in the evening at 429-9678.

Those who are unable to attend but who would like to help are welcome to mail a donation to Pam Townsend, P.O. Box 71, Blaine 04734.

Randy Judkins of Scarborough, a unique motivational speaker, facilitator and comedian, is the celebrity auctioneer for the Dystonia Support Group of Greater Maine Auction beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Brewer Eagles Club, 22 Atlantic Ave. in Brewer.

The auction items can be previewed beginning at noon.

All proceeds from the event benefit dystonia patients, their families and dystonia medical research.

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder that causes muscles in the body to pull or spasm.

For more information about the auction or the Support Group, call Pat Leavitt, 234-7225, or Dottie England, 942-3650.

“Women of the Church Choose ‘The Better Part'” is the theme of the keynote presentation of Maine author, speaker and retreat presenter Gloria Hutchinson during a “day of reflection” from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3, at St. John’s Catholic Church Parish Hall on York Street in Bangor.

Hutchinson will discuss women in time of conflict, and there is no fee to attend.

Rachel Ferguson reports the St. John’s Women’s Council invites all interested women “to join us on this day, just bring your own bag lunch. Beverages and dessert will be provided.”

For more information, call the parish office at 942-6941.

During the past 12 months, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine has fulfilled wishes of 23 children with life-threatening illnesses living in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties.

The organization is currently working to fulfill the wishes of 11 other children.

The foundation’s Walk for Wishes and Dash for Dreams fund-raisers all begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at three locations: Bass Park in Bangor, Ellsworth Middle School and the Dennysville Congregational Church.

Registration and pledge forms can be obtained at Maine.wish.org or by calling (800) 491-3171.

Preregistration is $15 per person, but you can register for $20 on the day of the event.

Participants can pay their own entry fee or raise pledges for that amount.

Steve Brown, president of Steve’s Real Food for Pets, Dr. Mark Hanks of the Veazie Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Drew Benson of the Broadway Veterinary Clinic in Bangor and Certified Pet Dog Trainer Don Hanson are the featured speakers for a four-session, two-day Holistic Pet Care Seminar.

The sessions begin at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. both Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, at the Four Points Sheraton at Bangor International Airport.

Proceeds from the seminars, hosted by Green Acres Kennel Shop, will be donated to the Bangor Humane Society.

Seating is limited, and advance registration of $25 per seminar, or $80 for the four seminars, is required.

To register or receive more information, call Green Acres at 945-6841 or visit owner@greenacreskennel.com.

Members of The Bangor Land Trust, “an organization working to increase awareness of our natural environment,” says Dick Andren, invite you to “come and use a microscope to take a close look at the creatures that live in the Penjajawoc Stream.”

Participants will gather for the 1-hour event at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Bangor Humane Society parking lot on Mount Hope Avenue.

For more information, call Andren at 234-2706.

The Bangor High School Pops Concert begins with an auction at 6:30 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the high school on Broadway.

My typo listed the event as May 1 in yesterday’s column!

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