Last year, Kate Dickerson helped found the Greater Bangor Area Chapter of Mothers and More. She is the group’s current co-leader.

Mothers and More membership chairwoman Laura Whittmann wrote recently to inform readers that this nonprofit organization “serves as a support group and a networking association for mothers who have changed their career path in some way to be with their children” and invites interested women to learn more about it.

The group meets 7 to 9 p.m. the second Wednesday and the fourth Thursday of each month, in Room 8 at Bangor Theological Seminary, Whittmann wrote.

The next meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Founded in 1987, the organization now has 180 chapter and 8,000 members nationwide, Whittmann explained.

“Our members are women who have taken time off work and-or have arranged flexible work hours in order to better balance work and family life.”

Some of its members do work part time, either inside or outside the home, she added, “and others have chosen not to work for pay at all.”

“However, many mothers have chosen to de-emphasize their careers in order to emphasize family.”

In addition to meetings focusing on parenting and professional and personal growth, the organization offers “parent-child playgroups, Mother’s Night Out activities and family events,” she wrote.

Recent meetings have focused on discussions ranging from favorite summer recipes to traveling with kids, Meet the Nurse Practitioner, and saving for your child’s education.

If this group interests you, you are encouraged to call Dickerson, 942-3199, Whittmann, 947-8287, co-leader Michele Atherton, 469-2711, or e-mail bangormoms@yahoo.com.

One of my favorite college professors, Dr. Sandy Ives, speaks at the Brown Bag Lecture Series at noon today at Page Farm and Home Museum on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

He will discuss “The Poacher Reconsidered or How I Found a Man Named George Magoon While I Was Busy Looking for Something Else: Serendipity Strikes Again.”

The former English professor retired from UMaine in 1999 after 44 years on staff. He founded the Maine Folklife Center and is the author of many books on Maine and maritime culture.

There is no fee to attend. For more information, call 581-4100.

The Maine Women’s Fund’s Evening to Honor Maine Women and Girls is 4 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

The MWF will honor Lisa Daggett, Susana Hancock, Dr. Vivianne Holmes and the Rev. Virginia Rincon. The Sarah Orne Jewett award recipient is Anne Zill.

Tickets range from $30 to $70, and can be purchased by calling 774-5513 or registering online at www.mainewomensfund.org.

The Castine Arts Association invites you to enjoy Period Three Jazz Combo at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the Unitarian church in Castine.

The student musicians from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill are Duncan Hardy, Mesa Schubeck and Kyle Hardy, all of Blue Hill; Ross Gallagher, East Blue Hill; Sebastian Greene and Seth Brayton, Brooklin; Aisha Woodward, Sedgwick and James Lawsing, Castine.

At the piano will be Jenny Olivari of Castine.

The suggested donation is $5, and there is no charge for students.

The goal of the Maine Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk 2003 is to raise $325,000 for Maine people and their families affected by this disease.

Phone numbers for more information about the walks in our area are Augusta-Waterville, 622-2452; Bangor, 942-73336; Bar Harbor, 288-5800; Fort Kent, 834-3915; Lincoln, 794-6534; Rockland, 594-6808 or 594-6806 and Skowhegan, 474-9686.

The 10th annual Good Will-Hinckley Fall Festival is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, rain or shine, at Good Will-Hinckley School, Route 201 in Hinckley.

The free event features family entertainment ranging from hayrides to the area’s largest corn maze.

On behalf of Robinson Ballet Company, Kelly Holyoke invites you to attend the second annual Beaux Arts Ball, which will be 6:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Norumbega Chateau Ballroom in Bangor.

However, the RSVP deadline is Monday, Oct. 6, so you need to call Helen Munsey, 866-3417, for tickets and reservations.

The elegant fund-raiser, for which semiformal attire is suggested, features a brief demonstration by Robinson dancers after the social hour.

Dinner will be served by Montes International Catering, and The Big Chiefs of Portland will provide music for dancing.

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