Marsh River Theatre opens its eighth season with Grand Ole Opry at 8 p.m. both Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, on Route 139 in Brooks.

The event benefits the work of Friends of Marsh River Theatre.

Board member George Wildey informs me that organization has “taken over the scheduling and operation of the theater,” since he and his wife, Alex Wildey, “have stepped back for a break” although they remain on the board of directors and continue to oversee the operation of MRT.

This year’s Theatre Camp will be run by Friends of Marsh River Theatre under the direction of Gerry Button.

Wildey also wrote that during the winter, New England School of Communication held a recording session for Marsh River Singers, who will be the opening act each night for Grand Ole Opry, and their CDs will be available.

Tickets for this performance, which benefits the work of FMRT, are $10 each.

Season tickets range from $60 to $80, and single-performance tickets from $5 to $8.

Reservations can be made by calling 722-4110.

For your summertime planning, the complete MRT schedule follows.

All performances begin at 8 p.m.

The schedule includes Mainely Harmony Saturday, July 3; Two Old Friends with Mac McHale Saturday, July 10; New Trad Septet Saturday, July 17; Theatre Camp Presentation Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24; and Erica Brown and Bluegrass Connection Saturday, July 31.

Evergreen performs Saturday, Aug. 7; Blue Hill Brass Friday, Aug. 14; River City Harmonizers Saturday, Aug. 21; Bill Berlinghoff Saturday, Aug. 28; Marsh River Amateur Night Reunion Saturday, Sept. 4; and Northern Repertoire Theatre Friday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 11.

On behalf of Families and Children Together, Kim Osgood invites you to a huge yard sale to support family connections from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, at 279 Main St. in Orono.

That’s the blue house, with the barn, across the street from the Maine State Police facility.

Proceeds from this fund-raiser will benefit grandparents, aunts and uncles who are raising their grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The sale will include children’s clothing, books and toys; household items and furniture.

Osgood requests, “please, no early birds,” but she also wants you to know that sales will begin promptly at the appointed time, rain or shine.

Gleason Gray of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension invites you to a landscaping with native trees and shrubs field day.

That event begins with a dedication ceremony for the opening of the Eastern Maine Native Plant Arboretum at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26, at that site next to the UMCE office on Maine Avenue in Bangor.

Participating in the opening ceremony will be University College of Bangor Dean Tracy Gran, Judi Perkins of Keep Bangor Beautiful, and Michael DeBonis, director of Project Canopy, the Maine Forest Service program that provided seed money for the Arboretum.

Horticultural workshops will be led by Reeser Manley at 10 a.m.; Bob Bangs at 11 a.m., Marjorie Peronto at 1 p.m. and Hillary Schultz at 2 p.m.

UMCE Master Gardener volunteers will conduct Arboretum tours on the hour.

Fact sheets for each native tree or shrub species also will be available.

Aunt Nellie’s Attic, the thrift shop operated by Hammond Street Senior Center in Bangor, is now open for the season on Route 1A in Holden.

Store hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, at the former World Traders site.

Newcomers should look for a log cabin building with a totem pole out front.

Volunteer Eleanor Lowe of Holden is a member of the advertising and promotion committee for Aunt Nellie’s Attic.

She wants readers to know that any merchandise in good shape, except for clothing, is always needed, and that arrangements can be made to pick up items donated by people in the Bangor area.

Your donations are tax deductible, and all proceeds benefit programs for members of HSSC.

Resale items include books, videos, glassware, dishes, jewelry and much more, since the inventory changes daily.

Lowe also reminds readers that more volunteers are always needed as well and, if you’re interested in volunteering or donating items, you can call her at 843-7683 or Kathy Bernier at HSSC, 262-5532.

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