Now through Saturday is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and some significant efforts and opportunities are available to all.

Nancy Grimes of Winterport is president of the Bangor Affiliate of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

She reports that for the first time, a collaborative effort is being made this year in recognition of this special week.

“OHI, Community Health and Counseling Services and NAMI are all working, together, to increase Bangor’s community awareness of mental illness issues and, hopefully, erase some of the stigma and discrimination, too,” she said.

The organizations have many avenues for the public to learn more about mental health issues.

For example, throughout the week you will find NAMI education tables at the Bangor Public Library, Edythe Dyer Community Library in Hampden, the Orono Public Library and libraries on the campuses of Eastern Maine Medical Center, Husson College, Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor Theological Seminary and University College of Bangor.

NAMI Education Tables also will be found at Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart and Acadia Hospital.

A family education workshop is planned for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at CHCS, 42 Cedar St., in Bangor. This event is free for caregivers and families, and an information packet will be available.

Psychiatrist Judy Burk will discuss bipolar disorder and answer questions during a speaker’s night at NAMI’s Bangor Support Group meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Acadia Hospital in Bangor. Refreshments will be provided.

OHI will offer a family education workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at OHI in Twin City Plaza, Brewer.

And a NAMI education table featuring depression screening will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Access Center of Acadia Hospital.

“NAMI feels very strongly about education,” Grimes said.

“Our good news is that our ill children and adult relatives with mental illness really do experience a 60 to 80 percent success rate, in recovery, when given proper treatment. This even applies to severe diseases such as schizophrenia,” she said.

More information about Mental Illness Awareness Week activities may be obtained by calling Bev Uhlenhake at OHI, 848-5084, Ext. 113; Diane Nelson at CHCS, 947-0366, Ext. 260; or Grimes at 223-5686.

The 10-week fall session of Pathfinders: Support for Grieving Children, begins at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at Bangor Christian Schools.

Hospice of Eastern Maine trains volunteer leaders for the group, which is designed for children ages 3-18. To help defray costs, the fee is $50 per family, but a limited number of scholarships is available.

Call Alicia Guite, 973-8269, for information.

Jane Rioux, nurse manager of the emergency room and intensive care unit of Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, invites area youngsters to bring their favorite dolls, teddy bears or other beloved stuffed toys for “treatment” during the sixth annual Teddy Bear Clinic.

That event, planned to accommodate children’s bedtimes, is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the lower level conference room of Forest Hill Manor, 25 Bolduc Ave., in Fort Kent.

The clinic is an effort by hospital nurses to introduce children to sights, sounds, equipment and supplies they might encounter if they were brought into the hospital’s emergency room.

Contest registration for the ninth annual Festival of Scarecrows, which launches Rockland’s Harvest Day Celebration, is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Farnsworth Garden of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland.

The scarecrows will be on display after registration through Saturday, Oct. 25.

Individuals, families, organizations, schools and businesses will compete for the honor of having created the most original scarecrow.

Prize winners will be announced between 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, during Harvest Day Celebration festivities.

For information, or to make special arrangements to register your scarecrow or participate in the Farmers or Crafters Market accompanying this event, call Niki Dabrio-Wall, 596-6457, Ext. 143.

Arleile Banks celebrated her 95th birthday during an open house Saturday, Sept. 6, at Boyd Place in Bangor.

Joining the celebration were her three children, their spouses and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Banks extends her sincere thanks to the more than 100 people who attended the event and helped make it a memorable day for her.

She is most appreciative of the many cards and notes she received in celebration of this very special occasion.

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